AUDITION NOTICE​

The Strand Theatre announces auditions for its summer production, The Drowsy Chaperone.

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Winner of five Tony Awards, including Best Book and Best Original Score, The Drowsy Chaperone is a loving send-up of the Golden Age musical, featuring one show-stopping song and dance number after another. Hailed by New York Magazine as "The Perfect Broadway Musical," The Drowsy Chaperone is a masterful meta-musical, poking fun at all the tropes that characterize the musical theatre genre.

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With the houselights down, a man in a chair appears on stage and puts on his favorite record: the cast recording of a fictitious 1928 musical. The recording comes to life and The Drowsy Chaperone begins as the man in the chair looks on. Mix in two lovers on the eve of their wedding, a bumbling best man, a desperate theatre producer, a not-so-bright hostess, two gangsters posing as pastry chefs, a misguided Don Juan and an intoxicated chaperone, and you have the ingredients for an evening of madcap delight.

 The Drowsy Chaperone will run July 25 and 26 at 7:00pm and July 29 at 2:00pm. Shelby Garrett will direct, Justin Jones will serve as music director, Renee Storm will choreograph, and Meta Lasch will serve as technical director.

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Auditions are Tuesday, May 27 at 6:30pm at the Strand. You only need to attend one night of auditions. Please prepare 16-32 bars of a song from either a musical or an upbeat pop song. An accompanist will be provided. Auditions will also consist of cold reads from the script as well a dance combo, so wear comfortable shoes you can move in. Callbacks will take place on Wednesday, May 28, at 6:30pm. Audition ages are high school students through adults. Auditionees are encouraged to listen to the cast recording for inspiration.

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Rehearsals will begin the week of June 9, and run Monday-Thursday evenings for approximately two to three hours per rehearsal. A complete schedule will be created following auditions and distributed at the first rehearsal. Please visit www.strandtheatrewv.com/drowsychaperone for character descriptions and complete audition details. Contact Shelby Garrett at segarrett11@gmail.com with questions.

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CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS

Man In Chair

Musical theatre aficionado who mourns the end of the Golden Era. He narrates the show as he listens to the record on vinyl.

Gender: male | Age: 30 to 50 | Speaking role

 

Mrs. Tottendale

The air-headed, proper, and bossy host of the wedding.

Gender: female | Age: 50 to 60 | Vocal range: G3-Db5 (alto)

 

Underling

Mrs. Tottendale's savvy butler who is thrifty and stiff yet has an understated sense of humor.

Gender: male | Age: 35 to 50 | Vocal range: Ab2-G4 (tenor)

 

Robert Martin

The dashing, ever-cheerful groom; played by matinee-idol Percy Hyman.

Gender: male | Age: 25 to 35 | Vocal range: C3-Ab4 (tenor)

 

George

Robert's anxious, dim-witted best man who has Robert's best-interest always at heart.

Gender: male | Age: 35 to 50 | Vocal range: F3-Bb4 (tenor)

 

Feldzieg

Broadway producer who is desperate for his star to return to his show; played by Jack Adler.

Gender: male | Age: 25 to 35 | Vocal range: Db3-Db4 (baritone)

 

Kitty

Feldzieg's dim-witted companion who has hopes of being a star; played by Sadie Adler.

Gender: female | Age: 25 to 30 | Vocal range: Bb3-F5 (soprano/belt)

 

Gangsters

Posing as pastry chefs, this duo is intending to collect from Feldzieg; played by the vaudeville duo Tall Brothers.

Gender: male | Age: 35 to 45 | Vocal range: Db3-Gb4 (tenor)

 

Aldolpho

European self-proclaimed "ladies man"; played by former silent movie star Roman Bartelli.

Gender: male | Age: 35 to 45 | Vocal range: A#2-G4 (bass/baritone + falsetto)

 

Janet Van De Graaf

The famous bride. Glamorous and talented star of Feldzieg's Follies; played by rising star Jane Roberts.

Gender: female | Age: 25 to 35 | Vocal range: G3-E5 (alto + belt)

 

The Drowsy Chaperone

Janet's alcoholic confidante and friend; played by well-established stage actress Beatrice Stockwell

Gender: female | Age: 45 to 55 | Vocal range: F3-D5 (alto + belt)

 

Trix

The brave and brash female aviator who, by chance, is recruited to perform the wedding.

Gender: female | Age: 30 to 40 | Vocal range: Ab3-Eb5 (alto)

 

Ensemble

Staff; Reporters (soprano, alto, tenor, bass)