Tag Archives: Playhouse South

OPEN AUDITIONS FOR FEMALE ACTRESSES

When: 7pm – 10pm, July 18th & 19th – possible callbacks on the 20th (Cast list will be announced on the 21st, providing that all actors have accepted their roles.)
Where: 3750 Far Hills Ave, Kettering, OH 45429

Performance Dates: September 15-16, 22-23 at 8pm & 17, 24 at 2pm

Director: Jordan Eechaute-Lopez
Assistant Director: Tim Madden
Stage Manager: Aaron Eechaute-Lopez

Synopsis
Hamlet’s a challenge for any actor, but when Jessica is cast as the titular character in a New York production, it sends her into an existential tailspin. It doesn’t help that her acting coach is borderline abusive, or that every Starbucks barista with an MFA tells her she’s too young for the role. Or that she’s somehow managed to make Sir Patrick Stewart her nemesis. Not to mention the fact that she’s a woman. How can Jessica figure out “to be or not to be,” when she can’t even figure out herself?

Featuring an all-female cast performing multiple roles

Cast

• Jessica – Late 20s, an actress, quirky, smart
• Gwen – Female acting coach
  
• Humanities Professor – male, overconfident
  
• Ghost – male, Hamlet’s father
  
• Starbucks Actress – Female, works at Starbucks
  
• Priest – Male, Catholic, celibate
  
• Bicycle Messenger – male, streetwise and hip
  
• Emily Ostergaard – Female, Jessica’s computer-geek niece
  
• Barfly – Female, alcoholic
  
• Home Shopping Network Model – Female, bubbly
  
• Rosy – Female, a young soap-opera starlet
  
• Lord Derby – Male, English Shakespeare scholar
  
• Minnesota Mother – Female, Jessica’s mother
  
• Male Psychiatrist – Male, a Jewish Freudian psychiatrist
  
• Bartender, Male, rough, tough, and tattooed
  
• Home Shopping Network Hostess – Female, bubbly
  
• Gilda – Female, grande dame soap-opera star and stroke victim
  
• Gravedigger – Male, a Cockney pun-master
  
• Stage Manager – Female

Each actress chosen to perform will play multiple roles, except Jessica. This includes performing as males in reflection of Shakespeare’s original tradition of males performing all roles. 

Auditions
Please prepare to perform cold readings and test your improv skills with improv games or tasks.

Announcing Open Auditions for ONCE UPON A MATTRESS

Playhouse South
3750 Far Hills Ave
Kettering Ohio 45429

Auditions are June 5th and 6th at 7pm
Callbacks are June 7th at 7pm

Director: Nick Bellmyer
Assistant Director: Carrie Thurston
Music Director: Judy Mansky
Choreography: Jill Proudfoot

Auditions

• Please prepare 32 bars of a musical theatre song in the style of the show.
• Please bring sheet music in the correct key. An accompanist, CD player, and speakers will be provided.
• Be prepared to do cold readings from the script
• Please bring dance attire and be prepared to learn a dance combination.

Synopsis:
If you thought you knew the story of ‘The Princess and The Pea,’ you may be in for a walloping surprise! Did you know, for instance, that Princess Winnifred actually swam the moat to reach Prince Dauntless the Drab? Or that Lady Larken’s love for Sir Harry provided a rather compelling reason that she reach the bridal altar post haste? Or that, in fact, it wasn’t the pea at all that caused the princess a sleepless night? Carried on a wave of wonderful songs, by turns hilarious and raucous, romantic and melodic, this rollicking spin on the familiar classic of royal courtship and comeuppance provides for some side-splitting shenanigans. Chances are you’ll never look at fairy tales quite the same way again.

Character Bios

Minstrel-Tenor
The handsome narrator of the story, as well as in the musical story line. He becomes smitten with Lady Larken and tries to persuade her to flee to Normandy with him. He and the Jester join forces to stop the Queen’s Plans

Wizard-Baritone
The egotistical, ex-performer who directly serves the Queen. He is the Queen’s Henchman and thinks of all the Princess’ tests. He prides himself in his position and basically obeys all of the Queen’s orders.

Lady Larkin- Soprano
The Queen’s Lady-in-Waiting but is put in charge of Princess Winnifred. She is madly in love with Sir Harry and desperately wants to marry him because she is pregnant with his baby. She tries to flee the Kingdom after having an argument with Sir Harry, but is convinced by Winnifred to reunite with him.
Queen Aggravain- Alto
The loud, talkative woman who really rules the country. She is an overprotective, stubborn, sly Mom who is trying to keep her son, Prince Dauntless, from getting married.

Prince Dauntless- Baritone
A nice, not too smart, everyday type of young Prince who desperately wants to get married, but is prevented by his mother’s strict tests that she gives to all potential candidates.

King Sextimus the Silent- Mute
A kind, expressive, playful, and comedic character who is silent due to a curse placed upon him by a witch before the birth of Dauntless. He likes to chase girls through the corridors of the castle. Needs good improv skills.

Jester- Tenor
An energetic and peppy man who is the King’s right-hand man and assists him with every endeavor. The Jester also plots with the Minstrel to spoil the Queen’s plans.

Sir Harry- Tenor
He is the Queen’s Champion-in-Arms – the Lancelot of Knights – the macho, slightly egotistical, brave, romantic knight who decides to leave the kingdom to search for a princess, and finds Princess Winnifred in the swamp. Easily jealous, but loves Lady Larken with all his heart. Harry cannot marry Lady Larken until Prince Dauntless has found a suitable bride.

Princess Winnifred the Woebegone- Mezzo (Strong Belt needed)
A feisty, outspoken, independent, strong, optimistic, and free-thinking princess from the swamp lands. She isn’t too good with manners. She wants to get married, but must go through the queen’s unfair test as well. The Prince, naturally, falls madly in love with her.

Ensemble:
The Ladies-in-Waiting and Knights and are all waiting for the Prince to get married so that THEY can get married to each other.

Show dates will be Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 7:30pm from August 4th through August 13th at the North Park Amphitheatre in Springboro. Contact Nick Bellmyer with any questions at nickbellmyer86@gmail.com.