Auditions are Thursday, Sept 9 4:30-7:00pm and Saturday, Sept 11 9:00am -12:00pm, you only need to come one day. Come prepared! Things to bring: music, audition form (please make sure your email is legible, as that is how we share information throughout the rehearsal process), and Conflict calendar. Failure to report all conflicts could result in losing your role or Varsity Letter. For example: sports practice & games, church events, vacations ect. Be honest! Conflicts greatly affect the rehearsal calendar and casting. Both forms can be found on the cast resources page.
The audition process will be similar to previous years in small groups. Auditions will take place in the PAC this year. When you get there, you will check in and receive a nametag & number, and have your picture taken. The small groups will be called in and led through vocal warm ups. Next, you will sing your audition song you’ve prepared. Pitch & tone are important for leads & supporting, for all roles I am looking for character choices, you are telling your story through your actions & your facial expressions. In theater looks can be a deciding factor as well. This year the dance section will be after rehearsals have started. The highlighted dance solos will be cast after one of the first dance rehearsals. This will also be true for some of the music solos and lines. Another reason to make sure you don't miss rehearsals. ;) Callbacks- are by invitation for those who we need to see read a specific role or hear sing again. The call back list will be posted on the cast webpage by Saturday night @ 10 pm. Emails will be sent out with any information or music you will need for callbacks. Callbacks will be held on Monday 4:30 pm-8:00 pm. Just because you are not invited to Callbacks DOES NOT mean you are not cast! If you have any questions, feel free to use the question form on the home page of our webpage.
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Our last character post before auditions! We will start with the show openers Albert & Rosie. Albert is very high strung, who happened to be Conrad Birdies agent and is anxious to make another hit before Conrad goes into the Army. He loves Rosie and is caught in the middle between her and his mother, Mae. He is a strong singer. Once play by the lovable Dick VanDyke and Jason Alexander, what a range, no type for this role. :)
His other half: Rosie, is on the edge of ready to be done. She has put up with Albert (and his mother) for 8 years. We learn that she is a strong, Hispanic woman who is fiery, underappreciated, yet patient. Our hopes is that she is a strong singer & dancer. The MacAfee family, I would say is a typical American family for that time period. Starting with the quiet, kind Doris MacAfee. A typical “50’s mom”. Pairing her with the grumpy Harry MacAfee who is easily fed up with his family and Conrad. Comedic, dry comedy would be a plus, he leads two fun songs “Kids” and “A Hymn for Sunday”. Since Randolph, the youngest of the MacAfee’s already has been addressed, we will move onto Kim. As President of the Conrad Birdie Fan Club, she is overjoyed to receive Conrad’s “One Last Kiss”, even though she was just ready to “grow up” and give it all up because of Hugo’s pin. She is a strong character who shows many different emotions throughout the show, building her motivations will be key. This week we are focusing on some fun supporting roles. First up is the title name: Conrad Birdie, an Elvis Presley type, over-the-top rock star and teen heartthrob who was recently drafted into the military. Now, Conrad does have tons of personality and charm when on camera. But what we learn is he is not so charming off camera. This character will be a fun one to build and what drives Conrad.
Two teens that are a big part of the show are Hugo Johnson & Ursula Merkle. But close friends of Kim, Ursula being her best WAY over the top friend. Her energy is contagious and yet a bit eyebrow raising, like…”wow”! That’s a way to put that. Hugo is Kim’s recently “pinned” boyfriend. He grows more jealous and desperate as the show goes on, feeling he is losing Kim to Birdie himself. Hugo is a good supporting role that is not dependent on any solos or singing. Speaking of over the top and desperate leads us to Mrs. Mae Peterson, Albert’s mother. She thinks she has Albert’s best intentions in her sights, but goes about it in a naggin, controlling way. She is a very fun comedic character that could have a melodramatic solo, complete with fur coat and “rubbers”....covers for your shoes in the rain. As every other musical, the chorus is the backbone of the show. They fill each and every scene with multiple personalities to watch, little moments & reactions that bring the scene to life. Bye Bye Birdie is filled with a high energy cast. Some of the highest energy roles are found in the Teen chorus. Members of the raucous fanatics of the teen club are: Deborah Sue, Margie, Alice, Nancy, Penelope, Helen, Suzie, all with solos & lines. They are led by Ursula Merkle, Kim’s best friend. She needs to be overflowing with energy and enthusiasm...almost on the edge of crazy. The Teen chorus is also in the biggest dance numbers: “Telephone Hour”, “A Lot of Livin’ to Do”, and both of Conrad’s vigorous, hip swaying, toe tapping rock songs.
Other highlighted roles popping in and out of the show: Gloria Rasputin, someone who Albert’s mom uses to try to replace Rosie. She has a fun solo dance number, doesn’t need to be perfect, just over the top...splits at the end would be a plus! Then there's Maude, the rough bartender who lends an ear and could be a part of a quartet. Randolph MacAfee, Kim’s adorable younger brother, although part of the MacAffee family and is on stage with them all the time, he doesn’t have a ton of lines. He is constantly trying to win the love of his father. Featured parent roles (all details of the characters can be found on the cast page), these parents have lines and take part in the fun song “Kids”. The Mayor & his wife, Mrs. Merkle, Mr. Johnson. Although these roles don’t have solos they get to be caught up in the Conrad fever, which is probably funnier than that of the teen chorus reactions. This year’s musical is a retro classic, Bye Bye Birdie. It was revived on Broadway in 2009 with John Stamos and for a while there was a slated LIVE version, but that was pushed back. If you are unfamiliar with the Elvis-like crazed story there are two movie musicals out there to view. The original 1963 can be rented on many streaming services and the 1995 version can be viewed for free on IMDB or rented on other streaming services.
This musical was the first CLHS did when they started musicals in 2004! Bringing it back #17yearthrowback. It has a really fun Elvis flare with super high energy! Fun fact, I was Mrs. Merkle and a teen soloist and you can check out the cast picture in the glass case outside the auditorium. Plus, I am sure I can dig up some fun relics to share in the coming weeks. Through the upcoming weeks until auditions, the first week of school (planned right now: Sept 9 & Sept 11) we will be introduced to all the stage rolls💋, audition process🎶, and NEW STAFF😎 so stay tuned! For anyone wanting to be involved in the show, starting a character study will help. Look into family life and teenagers from 1958-1963. Culture, dress, hairstyles and lifestyles were very different! Start your homework, listen to the music, watch the movies, know the story! |
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