sweeny auditions

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/2/05 at 6:47pm

audition list posted on Playbill....

SWEENEY TODD – Equity Principal Auditions
Roundabout Theatre Company, Ambassador Theatre Group, Producers LORT
Stephen Sondheim, Music and Lyrics
Hugh Wheeler, Book
John Doyle, Director
Sarah Travis, Musical Director
Jim Carnahan, Casting

1st Rehearsal: July 2005, 1st Preview: Sept. 2005, Opens: October 2005.

NOTE: EVERY PERFORMER MUST PLAY THE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT(S) SPECIFIED FOR THE CHARACTER.

There are nine performers in the show total. There is no ensemble.

Seeking:
SWEENEY TODD (mid 40s – 50s): Recently released from prison he returns to London to destroy the people who stole his family and his freedom. A barber, he finds vengeance in his blades by systematically slitting the throats of all his enemies – and some of his friends. He is so consumed by his thirst for blood that he is unable to see anything else. Must play clarinet

MRS. LOVETT (mid 40s – 50s): Worn-down owner of a pie shop on Fleet Street. Hard edged but with a sense of humor she finds love and success when Sweeney rents the room above her shop. LOVETT aids Sweeney in his massacre by making meat pies out of his victims. Must play trumpet.

JUDGE (mid 40s – 50s): Contemporary of Sweeney’s and the man responsible for his downfall. Pompous, self-centered and powerful, he believes the world should kneel in submission at his feet. He plans to wed his charge Johanna (the daughter of Sweeney) despite the age difference between the two and his position as legal guardian. Must play flute.

JOHANNA (early – mid 20s): The daughter of Sweeney Todd. Young, innocent, romantic and beautiful. After the disappearance of her mother and the imprisonment of her father, she becomes the ward of the Judge who wants to make her his wife. The appearance of Anthony awakens her sexual yearnings and strengthens her desire for freedom. Must play Cello and Double Bass.

ANTHONY (early – mid 20s): Young, handsome sailor who meets and helps Sweeney on his return to London. He immediately falls in love with Johanna upon seeing her on her balcony. Mistakenly, he takes Sweeney into his confidence about his feelings and his plans to free the girl from the Judge’s grip and marry her. Must play Cello and Piano.

TOBIAS (20s): Assistant to Pirelli, he is an orphan who knows how to take care of himself and survive alone on the mean streets of London using his cunning and daring. However, he finds himself most needed and at home at the now-bustling shop of Mrs. Lovett whom he views as a surrogate mother figure. Must play Flute and Piano.

BEADLE (mid 30s – late 40s): Henchman of the Judge. Serving as the Judge’s right-hand man, he can be subtly terrifying or outright threatening. He lurks about the streets of London spying for his boss. He knows how and when to make his presence known. Must play Piano and Double Bass.

PIRELLI / FOGG (Female, late 30s – to 40s) NOTE: A WOMAN PLAYS BOTH ROLES. PIRELLI: An Italian traveling salesman/scam artist who "invents" a hair tonic and sells it to the inhabitants of Fleet Street. Long-winded and brazen, she challenges Sweeney to a shaving match – and loses. FOGG: The stern head of the Asylum for the mentally insane where Johanna gets put away. Must play Piano.

BEGGAR WOMAN (mid 40s – 50s): Mentally unstable homeless woman and prostitute, she is seemingly helpless and naïve until she lifts up her skirts and propositions any man who walks by. It turns out that she is the wife of Sweeney. Must play clarinet.

All roles will be understudied.

The Theatre recognizes that all roles where race, ethnicity, gender, or the presence or absence of a disability is not germane shall be open to non-traditional casting. Actors of all ethnicities are encouraged to attend.
Friday, February 25, 2005
9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Lunch from 1 - 2.

If you play the piano, please prepare a song you can accompany yourself on when you sing (preferably Sondheim). If you play another instrument, please prepare a song to sing and a short piece on that instrument. Piano provided, performers who play other instruments should bring them. Please bring a picture and resume, stapled together.

Actors' Equity Association Audition Center
165 West 46th Street 2nd floor
New York City

[Chevstriss]

Posted: 2/2/05 at 7:37pm

Wow. I hope La Lupone brushes up on her tongueing.

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 2/2/05 at 7:49pm

Pardon my ignorance, but why do the actors have to play instruments?

[Justice]

Posted: 2/2/05 at 8:54pm

Um...I don't think I want to see this production...

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 2/2/05 at 8:55pm

And, for that matter, why is Pirelli a woman all of a sudden?

[timote316]

Posted: 2/2/05 at 8:59pm

In this production, as in Cabaret, the actor's are also serving as the orchestra.

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 2/2/05 at 9:00pm

They are gonna have a hard time finding people who so both. I mean it ust be hard enough to find the perfect Sweeney, but to have them play the clarinet as well? Now thats with the whole cast? eep!

To play Johanna you have to play the cello? Oh god God. They are gonna have a horrific time trying to cast this.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 2/2/05 at 10:17pm

Riiiiight. Well, I guess since NYCO just did the standard Hal Prince version, if we're going to have another New York production right away it might as well be original.

It could work. But honestly, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. The concept had better be REALLY good if they're going to stray so far from what Sondheim had intended.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 2/2/05 at 10:18pm

Oh yeah--and Pirelli being played by a woman? I'm sorry, but nothing can justify that.

[Nokros]

Posted: 2/2/05 at 10:27pm

I don't know. It could work, and I think that there's a possibility of it being really good. There is a lot to be said for a new way to present a concept... obviously, they've found some way to make it work with the instruments, and the female Pirelli. I'm withholding judgement until I see it, because I think right now we're getting bits and pieces of the concept of the production, and disconnected, they're not going to make a lot of sense; whether or not they make sense as a whole is to be determined. Unless someone who saw it in England can come here and talk about it...

Besides, it's Sweeney Todd, which means I'm going to New York for the first time in ages...

[sweetaspie]

Posted: 2/3/05 at 1:09am

THIS DOES WORK!
Ah! I saw this format in the Trafalgar Studio Theatre here in the uk. It was haunting and amazing!
The cast pretty much all came from rose bruford/guildhall/lamda etc and they were phenomenal to say the least. I’ve seen sweeny todd a few times, but never have I seen one quite as innovative and outstanding.
Check out the reviews for a better idea of what it was like.

Oh and Sam Kenyon (Tobias) is going to be a star!

Xx

http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/londontheatre/reviews/sweeneytodd04.htm
http://www.dynamiclisting.com/dl/page.php?page=details&id=L0535203545

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 2/3/05 at 1:14am

I'm with Eponine on this one. I just don't think it's going to be easy to find a Johanna that plays cello and double bass! This will be interesting to say the least.

[apdarcey]

Posted: 2/3/05 at 1:55am

they're going to have a b!tch of a time casting this show i think... truly... however, i think if/when they do it has the potential to be amazing... the reviews from london were amazing... and personally i love new, original interpretations of a work that we always see in one light... as for pirelli being a woman... good luck to the actress they cast, because she's going to have a lot of critics... the one thing i have to say will be great about this is that it will probably be 9 totally unknown actors, so that might be cool... we'll see... here's to hoping. andrew

[BroadwayBound06]

Posted: 2/3/05 at 6:38am

Why can't we just ship the London cast over? Because Lane went over there to do Producers, it's sort of the same thing. Updated On: 2/3/05 at 06:38 AM

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 2/3/05 at 6:16pm

WOW, I want to do this!!!!!!!!!! How should I go about this???? I need some advide.................

[BroadwayBound06]

Posted: 2/3/05 at 10:37pm

What role? I'd audition, if i was equity, and if i knew how to play the Piano, Cello/Flute

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 2/3/05 at 10:50pm

well unless stokes has a hidden talent it seems he isn't playing sweeney

[QHDramaQueen]

Posted: 2/3/05 at 10:50pm

I think they are going to have a horrible time casting... Sweeney and Mrs. Lovett are hard enough to cast well without having to play an instument. On a totally seperate note, I never thought of the Begger Woman as a prostitute. true she did have those moments throughout the show w/ sweeny and anthony, lifting of the dress, coaxing, etc... but i always attributed it to mental instabilty. maybe im wrong but I just never thought of her that way.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 2/3/05 at 11:49pm

How do you get equity???? The only way I know how is to be in show from theaters that give equity points, I think they are called. But still, I don't know anything about this side of professional theater. I need some help....what are they????????

[Whatchmacallit]

Posted: 2/4/05 at 12:51am

My best friend saw this production in London and said it was amazing. I can hardly wait.

If you fit the casting requirements, you might want to try mailing a submission to the casting director, or attending the EPA's.

My old roommate worked in Carnahan's office, and the Cabaret auditions were known to be pretty sparce because of the lack of people who are a quadruple threat.(when compared to a normal EPA) Most casting directors will allow a non-eq sign up sheet at EPA's, to be seen if time permits. At Cabaret, (and I would assume at this audition) time was usually available.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 2/4/05 at 3:06am

thank you so much. I still don't really understand what equity is, and how you can get it.

[BroadwayBound06]

Posted: 2/4/05 at 7:29am

It's like SAG for Theatre. It's the Theatre Actor's Union.

[jasonvanemburgh]

Posted: 2/4/05 at 11:02am

First of all you have to be in the union...no open call

[jasonvanemburgh]

Posted: 2/4/05 at 11:09am

Well, MTV, you can achieve Equity status in a few ways. First, you could get lucky and they can offer you an Equity contract, but thats only after they are not interested in the Equity actors. Or, you can gain the points by becoming ane EMC (equity membership candidate), which means you are working at an equity theatre gaining 1 point/week. An EMC ususally understudies, at least in Philly where I live, but a lot of times in a large equity show they are allowed to employ a few NE, which means you would be performing along side Equity actors. Also some childrens theatres that cast out of NY will offer you an Equity card when you complete the contract. If you are in SAG and work a principal role the previous year, you can join the sister union Equity. Another little known route is to Assistant stage manage a show, sometimes that will do the trick. I recvd mine with a combination of most methods above. Good luck.

[Chevstriss]

Posted: 2/4/05 at 3:26pm

MTVMANN:

if you really are right for one of these parts, take the appropriate instrument w/ you and wait outside the audition that day. I'm seriously doubting they will fill up audition slots- most actors aren't musicians of that quality.

If you're there, and they like your looks, they'll let you audition if they have time. If they have empty time slots, but still won't let you audition, it probably means the show is cast.