UPDATED AUDITION SCHEDULE DETAILS |
Agatha Christie’s MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS
Directed by Laura Downing-Lee
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE
Original Musical Adaptation
Directed by John Shillington
Music Direction by Janis Dunson Wilson
Choreography by Alyce Finwall
Vocal Direction by Tina Lloyd Meals
SRJC Theatre Arts Casting Policy
Actors of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, ages, shapes and sizes will be considered for all roles.
SRJC Auditions are open to the entire community, including high school students.
(Middle school students and children are also welcome to audition when a production includes younger roles.)
Once cast, everyone enrolls in at least one class so then everyone becomes an SRJC student.
SPECIAL REMOTE AUDITIONS FOR FALL 2020
• You can choose to either submit a pre-recorded Preliminary Audition or attend one of the two Live Zoom Preliminary Audition sessions.
• Audition Registration Forms: Whether you submit a pre-recorded audition or audition live via Zoom, you need to complete an audition registration form.
Links to the audition registration forms and instructions are posted below.
• If you choose to audition via Zoom, you only need to attend one date of the two slated for the Preliminary Auditions.
Auditions are by drop-in only on a first-come, first-serve basis. Once you complete your registration, you will be given a time slot for your audition during the session.
• If you choose to submit a Pre-Recorded Audition: links to the submission instructions and recording tips are posted below.
• Auditioning for both shows is easy…and encouraged.
PRELIMINARY AUDITIONS:
CHILDREN’S AUDITIONS for It’s a Wonderful Life
Live Zoom Auditions and Pre-Recorded Children’s Auditions
(Please complete and email audition form first; then, we’ll send the Zoom registration meeting invite code.)
AUDITIONS FOR TEENS AND ADULTS for Both Shows
NEW SCHEDULE
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PRE-RECORDED AUDITION SUBMISSION DEADLINE Extended: Send in by 12:00 pm on/before Friday, August 28, 2020
LIVE ZOOM AUDITIONS
FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2020
5:30pm – Online Registration begins for It’s a Wonderful Life
6:00pm – Online Registration begins for Murder on the Orient Express
and
SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2020
12:00pm – Online registration begins for It’s a Wonderful Life
12:30pm – Online registration begins for Murder on the Orient Express
CALLBACKS:
Callbacks will be conducted live via Zoom
SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2020
Zoom Callbacks for It’s a Wonderful Life: 1:00 PM-5:00 PM*
Zoom Callbacks for Murder on the Orient Express: 6:00-9:00 PM*
(*Actors being called back may be asked to attend all or only a portion of the callbacks.
Should an actor have a conflict with the callback schedule, we will try to accommodate.)
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AUDITION LINKS Online Audition Video Recording Tips YouTube Video Submission Instructions
LIVE ZOOM AUDITIONS Instructions in 3 Easy Steps and Tips (Updated)
AUDITION REGISTRATION FORMS Agatha Christie's Murder on The Orient Express It's A Wonderful Life - Teen/Adult
SEND ALL AUDITION REGISTRATION EMAILS TO |
WHAT TO PREPARE
• Carefully read the detailed instructions for each show below for what to prepare for each show's specific auditions.
AUDITION CRITERIA FOR Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express
By Ken Ludwig
• About the Auditions
Preliminary auditions will consist of performing a short monologue (see "What to Prepare" below). Callbacks will consist of reading from the script and possible dialect work, as well as a brief interview with the director.
• About the Show
All aboard! With a burst of steam, the luxurious Orient Express departs Istanbul for Paris filled with an eccentric ensemble of international travelers ready to be pampered. Yet, by morning, the train is trapped in a snowdrift, a passenger is found brutally stabbed to death, and the brilliant detective Hercule Poirot must employ all his “little grey cells” to solve the crime. Adapted by one of today’s foremost comedic playwrights, this sparkling retelling of Christie’s world-famous mystery is sure to delight. Staged as a 1934 radio play and broadcast live online, audiences are in for a suspenseful, thrilling ride!
• Roles
The cast will consist of 6 women and 6 men, as well as a live sound effects performer. Actors of all races, ethnicities and gender identities will be considered for all roles.
Click here for Character Descriptions for Murder on the Orient Express
• Production Schedule
Rehearsals start: September 1, 2020. (Rehearsals will be held in the evenings, Tu-F & Sun.)
Performances: October 16-25, 2020 (4 live streaming performances)
• What to Prepare
Please prepare a short monologue, comic or dramatic (60-90 seconds); material can be from any play written after 1890. No dialects or accents are required for the preliminary audition. Read about Agatha Christie. If you have time, read the original novel or watch one of the film adaptations.
What's a monologue? What if I don't have a prepared monologue?
Scroll to the bottom of this page to find the answers to these good questions. If you have never auditioned for us before, please use the monologues at the bottom of this page.
• More Information
The script contains descriptions of violent acts, which may be triggering to some individuals.
We will have a professional dialect coach to help the cast with the many dialects and accents used in the play.
The production will be staged as a 1934 radio play, with the actors in period costume and visible during the performance. Therefore, their ability to bring their character to life both vocally and physically will be important.
• If you have a show-specific question…
Please contact the director Laura Downing-Lee ldowning@santarosa.edu using the subject line “Audition Question.” Include the reason for your request, your contact information, and whether or not you are auditioning for both SRJC fall shows.
Auditions CRITERIA for It’s A Wonderful Life
• About the Auditions
Preliminary auditions will consist of a short vocal audition (see Vocal Audition Requirements below); you can choose to submit a pre-recorded audition or audition live via Zoom.
Callbacks on ZOOM will consist of a dance/movement audition, a vocal audition in which actors will sing specific songs from the show with limited preparation time and reading from some scenes. We plan to post songs from the show in the near future to be used in call backs so please keep coming back to this audition site!
• About the Show
Inspired from the 1946 holiday film, this heart-warming story has been transformed into a Musical with original music and dance. Set in Bedford Falls in the early half of the 20th century, George Bailey’s dream of going beyond the boundaries of his hometown take him on a journey beyond his imagination.
It's A Wonderful Life music medley - click here to listen!
• Roles
There are 5 major roles, numerous featured roles, and 3 children roles between the ages of 7 – 12. All of the characters sing and most of them dance. The music ranges from rap to standard Broadway.
George Bailey - Tenor
Mary Bailey - Soprano
Ma Bailey - Soprano
Clarence - Baritone
Mr. Potter - Baritone
Casting approximately 22 actors
• Production Schedule
Rehearsals start: Tuesday, September 1, 2020. (Rehearsals will be held in the evenings, Tu-F & Sun.) with two Saturday night rehearsals close to opening night.
Performances: November 27th and 28th and December 4th and 5th. (4 live streaming performances)
VOCAL AUDITION REQUIREMENTS FOR It’s a Wonderful Life
• What to Prepare
Please prepare 30 – 60 seconds (under 1 minute) of singing from a Broadway song.
- Your audition piece should demonstrate your singing ability and allow you to play a character; remember we want to see you act while singing.
- Please play your accompaniment (karaoke recordings are fine) on a second device in the location where you are singing your live Zoom audition or pre-recording your audition. While we would prefer to hear you sing to recorded accompaniment for these auditions, you may sing it without accompaniment if you do not have a second device to play the accompaniment.
- Choose a standard Broadway (ie My Fair Lady or The Sound of Music). There are numerous options of karaoke versions on YOUTUBE from Standard Broadway shows.
- We prefer that you find and prepare a Broadway song in advance that suits your individual strengths. However, if this is your first musical audition or you don’t have a song chosen, you are welcome to sing one of the songs in this link.
DANCE AUDITION REQUIREMENTS FOR it’s a Wonderful Life
For Callbacks Only
Our wonderful choreographer, Alyce, will be creating delightful dances for this show. However, you do not need to be a dancer or have prior dance experience to be cast. We will only covering dance in the callbacks.
• Show-Specific Questions:
Contact the director John Shillington, jshillington@santarosa.edu using the subject line “Audition Question.”
Include your request, your contact information, and whether or not you are auditioning for both SRJC fall shows.
REALLY HELPFUL AUDITION RESOURCES
What's a monologue?
A monologue is a speech from a play where one character speaks for an extended period of time to another character, him/herself, or the audience. Actors are asked not to select a monologue from the play for which they are auditioning.
What if I don't have a prepared monologue?
Not to worry. If you've never done this before OR found out about auditions at the last minute, you may use one of the 'generic' monologues linked at the bottom of this page under "GENERAL AUDITION RESOURCES." Since you have limited time, do not worry about reading the play the monologue is, although that does help you prepare. Reading about the play’s plot and characters online can help too.
RESOURCES
Note: Some of these resources are prepared specifically for live, in-person auditions. However, they still contain lots of good information that can be helpful to consider when preparing your pre-pre-recorded or Zoom auditions.
How to Prepare a Musical Theatre Audition - 8 Steps
How to Prepare a Musical Theatre Audition
Singing Auditions for Musical Theatre
GENERAL AUDITION RESOURCES
Crash Course in Auditioning at SRJC
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PLEASE SEND ALL AUDITION EMAILS TO |
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS FOR SPRING 2021 AUDITIONS
WILL BE POSTED LATE FALL 2020
FOR GENERAL QUESTIONS, CONTACT US
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Leslie McCauley (707) 527-4248 |
Angela Hunter Geiss (707) 527-4417 |