KELSEY THEATRE OPEN AUDITIONS

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GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER?

• The MTM Players
• DIRECTOR: Diane L. Parker
• STAGE MANAGER: Rob Michael Lasky

 

The MTM Players and Kelsey Theatre are committed to advancing an environment of diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. We aim to foster an inclusive environment for people of all races, genders, religions, sexual orientations, creeds, socio-economic statuses, nationalities and abilities.

 

ABOUT THE SHOW:

It's 1967 and a progressive white couple's proud liberal sensibilities are tested when their daughter brings her black fiancé home to meet them in this fresh and relevant stage adaptation of the iconic film. Blindsided by their daughter's whirlwind romance, Matt and Christina Drayton quickly come to realize the difference between supporting a mixed-race couple in your newspaper and welcoming one into your family. However, they aren't the only ones with concerns about the match, and soon a multi-family clash of racial and generational difference sweeps across the Draytons' idyllic San Francisco terrace. At the end of the day, will the love between young Joanna and John prevail? With humor and insight, this drama begins a conversation sure to continue at dinner tables long after the curtain comes down.

 

AUDITION DATES & TIMES:

• Saturday, November 16, 2024 (1pm-5pm)
• Sunday, November 17, 2024 (7pm-9:30pm)
• Callbacks (if needed) by invitation only, Monday, November 18, 2024 (7pm-9:30pm)

 

Auditions will be held on the Mercer County Community College West Windsor Campus. Check the Kelsey Theatre sign board for a room location on the day of your audition. MCCC is located at 1200 Old Trenton Rd, West Windsor NJ 08550

 

APPOINTMENTS:

You must sign-up for a 15-minute audition slot at: http://www.tinyurl.com/GuessWhoAuditions

 

QUESTIONS:

For any questions, contact the stage manager: stagemanager@mtmplayers.org

 

PREPARE:

You should arrive 10 minutes prior to your audition time slot.

• Sides will be provided for you for your desired role – please have all sides provided for your desired character ready for your audition.
• Download the audition packet at: http://www.mtmplayers.org/guesswhoauditionpacket.pdf
• Fill out the application and find your audition sides there.
• Photo (if none available, we may take your photo for audition purposes only)
• Acting Resume (if none available, there is space on the audition application included in the packet)

 

REHEARSALS:

The first meet-n-greet rehearsal will be Sat., Dec 7, 2024 at 1pm or Sun. Dec. 8, 2024 at 6pm on the MCCC West Windsor Campus. Consider this when auditioning. Rehearsals will be both on-campus and virtually throughout December-February. Everyone cast must be available all afternoon Sunday and evening and all evenings for tech week, Sunday, February 9 -Thursday February 13, 2025.

         

SEEKING:

Roles being sought are of specific ethnicities due to the nature of the story narrative; however, roles are open to all gender identities, sexual orientations, body types, ages (over 18) and abilities.

 

Seeking: 4 women and 4 men of adult age – ages listed are approximated and subject to adjustment - specificities below.

NOTE: THE ROLE OF ‘TILLIE’ HAS BEEN CAST.

 

All roles are Non-Equity, unpaid

 

CHARACTER INFORMATION:

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• JOHN PRENTICE, 37, Black man. A Medical Research Doctor. Dr. Prentice is an accomplished and well-respected medical doctor who has asked Joanna to marry him. He is a Black man in 1967 America and Joanna is white. He comes to her parents’ home to ask them for their blessing to marry their daughter. He is a passionate man who has found meaning out of great tragedy in his life.

 

• MATT DRAYTON, 67, white man. Publisher of San Francisco newspaper, The Guardian. Mr. Drayton is Joey's father. He is quite surprised that his daughter has become engaged to Dr. Prentice, a Black man. He owns a newspaper in San Francisco and loves his wife deeply. He is against John and Joey's marriage but makes sure everyone knows that it is not up to him to decide if they should marry or not.

 

• CHRISTINA DRAYTON. 64, white woman. Runs the Drayton Gallery. Christina is a successful businesswoman in San Francisco who owns an art gallery. She is married to Matt, and they have one daughter, Joey. She learns that Joey is engaged to a man she met in Hawaii, and he is Black. She is surprised about his race but eventually understands the love they have for each other. She backs Joey and John's engagement even against her husband.

 

• JOANNA DRAYTON, 23, white woman. “Joey’’ recently interned for a medical research hospital in Hawaii where she met and became engaged to Dr. John Prentice, a Black physician originally from Los Angeles. She brings John home to meet her parents and tell them about the engagement. Joey is dead set on marrying John and won't allow her parents to interfere with her decision.

 

• MONSIGNOR RYAN, 75, white man. Catholic Priest and a longtime family friend of the Draytons. He is a warm, affable, and open-minded character who serves as a voice of reason and guidance. Monsignor Ryan is distinguished by his compassion, wisdom, and progressive views, particularly regarding racial issues.

 

• JOHN PRENTICE, SR., 63, Black man. Retired School Teacher. Mr. Prentice is John's father. He and his wife go to San Francisco to have dinner with the Draytons after learning that John is engaged. Mr. Prentice is upset to learn that Joanna is white and does not approve of their marriage.

 

• MARY PRENTICE, 59, Black woman. Department Store Clerk. Mrs. Prentice is John's mother. She is a woman who loves her son and knows him deeply. Her husband won't approve of John and Joanna's marriage, but she trusts her son that he is making his decision based on the love he has for Joanna.

 

• HILARY ST. GEORGE, 43, white woman. Associate Director of the Drayton Gallery. Though she presents herself as cultured and sophisticated, Hilary’s underlying racist views come to the forefront during a conversation with Christina about the interracial relationship between Joey and Dr. John Prentice. Hilary epitomizes the upper class, well-mannered yet subtly prejudiced attitude of many in society at that time.

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KINKY BOOTS

 

• Producers: Beverly Kuo-Hamilton & Laurie Gougher
• Director: Matthew Johnson
• Assistant Director: Andrew Devlin
• Music Director: Laurie Gougher
• Choreographer: Sheilla Kraft
• Technical Supervisor/ Sound Designer: Evan Paine
• Stage Manager: Fabiola Bien-Aimé

 

THANK YOU 5 PRODUCTIONS and KELSEY THEATRE are committed to advancing an environment of diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. We aim to foster an inclusive environment for people of all races, genders, religions, sexual orientations, creeds, socio-economic statuses, nationalities, and abilities.

 

ABOUT THE SHOW:

Kinky Boots is the big-hearted musical extravaganza that won six Tonys including Best Musical, the Grammy for Best Musical Theatre album and London’s Olivier Award for Best Musical. Kinky Boots features a joyous, Tony-winning score by pop icon Cyndi Lauper, and a hilarious, uplifting book by four-time Tony winner, Harvey Fierstein. 

Charlie Price has reluctantly inherited his father's shoe factory, which is on the verge of bankruptcy. Trying to live up to his father's legacy and save his family business, Charlie finds inspiration in the form of Lola, a fabulous entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos. As they work to turn the factory around, this unlikely pair find that they have more in common than they realized... and discover that when you change your mind, you can change your whole world.

 

AUDITION DATES:

• Monday, December 2, 2024: 6PM - 9PM
• Tuesday, December 3, 2024: 6PM - 9PM
• Wednesday, December 4, 2024: 6PM - 9PM
• Callbacks Saturday, December 7, 2024 by invitation only.

Auditions will be held on the Mercer County Community College West Windsor Campus.

MCCC is located at 1200 Old Trenton Road, West WIndsor, NJ 08550

***THOSE SEEKING ADULT ROLES SHOULD AUDITION IN PERSON. THE TWO CHILD ROLES, YOUNG CHARLIE AND YOUNG LOLA, WILL BE FILLED VIA VIDEO AUDITION AND CALLBACK BY INVITATION ONLY***

 

APPOINTMENTS FOR LIVE AUDITIONS:

Sign up for an audition time slot, walk-ins are welcome and will be seen as time allows.

 

QUESTIONS:

PLEASE CONTACT hello@thankyou5productions.org

 

PREPARE: 

• 16-32 bars of a song in the style of the show.
• Please bring sheet music accompaniment. A pianist will be provided. Acapella or pre-recorded music will not be allowed.
• Be prepared to dance. Please wear comfortable clothing. Dance shoes recommended, not required.
• Audition form (available online or provided at audition)
• Conflicts for December 2024 through March 2025

 

REHEARSALS: 

Read through in December, rehearsals will begin in January. Expect one to two rehearsals per week on weekday evenings and one rehearsal on the weekend. Not everyone will be called to every rehearsal. 

 

ALL ROLES ARE NON-EQUITY, UNPAID. 

 

ADULT ROLES (All age ranges listed are stage age):

Charlie Price

• A bit confused, a bit unfocused, a hero hiding under a victim's mantle.
• Gender: male presenting
• Age: 20 to 30
• Vocal range: Tenor (C3-B4)

Lola/Simon

• A prize fighter's physique draped in satin. A talented drag queen with a killer voice and winning ways.
• Gender: Given the nature of this role, the actor must be comfortable presenting both masculine and feminine qualities
• Age: 25 to 35
• Vocal range: Tenor (E3-B4)

Nicola

• Charlie's long-term girlfriend. Driven, uncompromising.
• Gender: female presenting
• Age: 20 to 30
• Vocal range: Mezzo - High Belt/Mix (E3-F#5)

Lauren

• Intelligent, quirky and somewhat neurotic factory worker
• Gender: female presenting
• Age: 20 to 30
• Vocal range: Mezzo - High Belt/Mix (Bb3-F#5)

Don

• Lola's nemesis. Burly hypermasculine factory worker. 
• Gender: male presenting
• Age: 20 to 40
• Vocal range: Baritone (A2-F4) *D5 in falsetto for Finale

Pat

• Office manager who will let loose her wild side when allowed. 
• Gender: female presenting
• Age: 20 to 40
• Vocal range: Mezzo - High Belt/Mix (Bb3-F#5)

Trish

• Factory worker with a family to support.
• Gender: female presenting
• Age: 20 to 40
• Vocal range: Alto (Bb3-D5)

George

• Factory manager who is focused on maintaining traditions. Reserved, yet open-minded.
• Gender: male presenting
• Age: 30 to 60
• Vocal range: Baritone (G#2-D4)

The Angels

• The drag performers who populate The Blue Angel Nightclub.
• NOTE: Not all Angels must be solo singers. Looking for strong dancers who are comfortable in high heels.
• Gender: male presenting, but will perform in drag
• Age: 20 to 30
• Vocal range (Featured Angel singers): C4-C#5

Mr. Price

• Charlie's father.
• Gender: male presenting
• Age: 50 to 80
• Vocal range: Baritone (G2-F4)

Simon Sr.

• Lola's father. An unforgiving tower of anger.
• Gender: male presenting
• Age: 50-80
• No solo singing

Harry

• A contemporary of Charlie's but his opposite. Successful and self aware.
• Gender: male presenting
• Age: 20 to 30
• Vocal range: Tenor (F#3-F#4)

Richard Bailey

• Nicola's boss. An overly confident and successful man.
• Gender: male
• Age: 30 to 50
• No solo singing

Ensemble

• Hooligans, Factory Workers, Pub Patrons, Photographers, Club Patrons

 

CHILD ROLES: (No In-Person Audition Necessary - Please submit a video for consideration)

Young Charlie

• Charlie as a young boy. Lost, quiet, reflective.
• Gender: male presenting
• Age: 7 to 10
• Vocal range: Alto - Unchanged Voice (G4-D5)

Young Lola/Simon

• Lola as a young boy who already knows he's destined to wear high heels.
• Gender: male presenting
• Age: 10 to 12
• Vocal range: Alto - Unchanged Voice (G3-D5)

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PLEASE CHECK BACK LATER FOR MORE AUDITIONS