Tag Archives: Dayton Playhouse

The next auditions at Dayton Playhouse are for THE ROAR OF THE GREASEPAINT, THE SMELL OF THE CROWD. Monday & Tuesday, November 23 & 24, starting at 7:00 P.M. each evening at Dayton Playhouse, 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave, Dayton, OH 45414

Auditions will consist of:

• Vocal auditions (bring sheet music for a Broadway-type song that shows off your voice – an accompanist will be provided).
• A dance audition (you will be taught a short routine – dress comfortably so you can show off your ability to move and to follow directions).
• Readings from the script.

Headshots and résumés are appreciated, but not required. Be prepared to list all conflicts between November 23, 2015 and February 7, 2016.

THE ROAR OF THE GREASEPAINT, THE SMELL OF THE CROWD will run weekends between January 22 and February 7, 2016.

GREASEPAINT is the 1965 tuneful follow-up to Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse’s 1962 smash Stop the World, I Want to Get Off. While more known for its many hit songs (many of which are still played today: “A Wonderful Day Like Today”, “Who Can I Turn To?”, “The Joker”, and the ever-popular “Feeling Good”), the plot is possibly more relevant today than it was in the 1960’s. Cocky and Sir are deeply involved in a game in which Cocky always loses because Sir changes the rules to suit himself. Only after Cocky realizes that it is he who is being played, is there a hope for the future and a fairer game.

Director Jim Lockwood, Music Director Judy Mansky, and Choreographer Allison Eder will be looking for actors to fill these parts:

• Cocky – (Tenor with a nice lower register) the ever-hopeful loveable loser with a strong Cockney accent. He is all but a slave to Sir, but dreams of a life of freedom. The game seems to promise a rosier future, but loss after loss is discouraging.
• Sir – (Bass-Baritone) – the boss and the rule-maker for the game. He claims to be concerned with fair play, but is actually more concerned with winning. A scoundrel, but still loveable in his own way. Strong upper class British accent.
• The Kid – (Mezzo) a sassy young (or young in spirit) woman with a Cockney accent, who helps Sir cheat Cocky. She also leads the Urchins.
• The Girl – (Soprano) – almost speechless, the young expresses herself in song and dance, and mime. She is the love interest of Cocky, but as a prize in ‘the game’, she is won by Sir, and has no say in her fate.
• The Negro – (strong Baritone) – a black man who wanders into the game area and is invited to play; his presence reveals the deeply held prejudices of both Sir and Cocky. While they argue about the rules, The Negro manages to win the game, and sing triumphantly, “Feeling Good”.
• The Bully – (non-singing) – one of Sir’s pawns; he is costumed in imitation of The Girl and serves as the prize in a final session of The Game. Cocky’s win is his worst loss.
• The Urchins – (sopranos and altos) 8 young women (mid-teens to 30) – the inhabitants of the beautiful land in which the game is played. They sing and dance a lot, on their own, and in combination with the other players

For more information, contact Jim Lockwood at jeckleday@msn.com.

Dayton Playhouse is pleased to announce auditions for THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, newly adapted by Wendy Kesselman. Director Jennifer Lockwood has recruited a talented production staff including Brian Sharp (Asst. Director), Jared Mola (Stage Mgr.), Chris Newman (Scenic Designer) and J. Gary Thompson (Sound Designer).

Auditions are Sept. 21 & 22 at 7pm at the Dayton Playhouse, 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave, Dayton, OH 45414

Production dates are Nov. 6-15.

This powerful new adaptation, based on The Diary of a Young Girl: Anne Frank, not only shows us the day-to-day lives of 8 people forced into hiding in an attic for over 2 years but provides glimpses of who they were before. Most of all, we see and hear Anne’s natural teenage struggles with parents, identity and romance and her dreams for both her future and a more peaceful, compassionate world.

The director will be seeking to fill the following roles:

• Anne – 13-15, energetic, romantic, very smart but not always thoughtful
• Otto – 50’s, Anne’s father, patient, generous to a fault, educated
• Edith – 40-50, Anne’s mother, more retiring than her outgoing daughter, worn down by years of upheaval and fear
• Margot – 15-18, Anne’s older sister, very like her mother, shy, marvels at her sister’s exuberance in the face of this ordeal
• Peter Van Daan – 16-19, quiet and intelligent, has a temper but also a sweet, appreciative side
• Mrs. Van Daan – 40’s, pushy and spoiled, she romanticizes the past to keep from thinking about the present
• Mr. Van Daan – 50’s, quick to take charge but also to back down when challenged, quick-tempered
• Mr. Dussel – Mature, curmudgeon, uncomfortable around groups and especially children
• Meip – 20’s, sweet young woman, devoted to Mr. Frank and his family
• Mr. Kraler – Mature, businessman

Audition scenes will be posted on Facebook in the next couple of weeks. Please don’t worry about memorizing, but familiarize yourself with the scenes if possible.

To the young ladies auditioning for Anne: You are encouraged to read the book The Diary of a Young Girl: Anne Frank so you have a feel for who Anne was prior to the time of the play. It will also help you place her monologues in context. You will be asked to read some monologues at auditions. Again, don’t worry about memorizing. I will probably give you some direction and worrying about words will just get in your way.

A final note about the rehearsal schedule: The 8 primary characters are onstage for most of the show. Even when they are not active in a scene, they are usually in view. This means once initial blocking is done in the first couple weeks; everyone will be called for most rehearsals. Anne is always on stage and will be called for all rehearsals. The plan is for rehearsals beginning at 7 PM Monday-Thursday through mid-October with possible Friday rehearsals after that.