AUDITION PACKET FALL 2016

Hoboken Children’s Theater www.hobokenchildrenstheater.com

646-339-8485

GODSPELL begins Friday, September 9

from 4:00-6:30. We will have auditions, followed by everyone learning one of the group musical numbers. These auditions are no pressure and there is no need to worry or panic. Just have fun and only do the things you are comfortable with and that make you happy. To help you through the audition process, we have prepared this packet for you. If you still have questions, ask in an e-mail to: [email protected] and we will get right back to you.

HOW AND WHAT TO PREPARE

• If you are interested in A SPEAKING ROLE AND A ROLE WITH SOLO SINGING SINGING, you should memorize the monologue and songs provided in this packet.

•If you are interested in A ROLE WITH SOLO SINGING BUT NO SPEAKING LINES, you should memorize and sing the songs provided in this packet, but you are not required to do the monologue. •If you are interested in A ROLE WITH LINES BUT NO SOLO SINGING, you should memorize the monologue provided in this packet, but you are not required to sing. •If you are only interested in a GROUP ROLE ROLE, you do not have to do the monologue or sing at the auditions. But we would LOVE to hear you!

EVERYONE MUST LEARN ALL FOR THE BEST AS WE WILL BE WORKING ON IT THE FIRST DAY.

WHAT TO BRING

•Your AUDITION FORM at the end of this packet. •Comfortable clothing and shoes you can dance in. HAIR MUST BE PULLED BACK! •A PENCIL!!!!! •Water! •If you have a phone or recording device, you may use it to record your harmonies.

NOTE FROM DIRECTOR

GODSPELL is a unique piece of ensemble theater, based on stories of the bible. The structure of the musical is that of a series of parables, interspersed with a variety of modern music set primarily to lyrics from traditional hymns. I understand that everyone has a different relationship to the bible, God and religion. In my vision of this show, I try to step away from those aspects that can divide and bring in the current world, relationships and life lessons that unite the actors. Along those lines, though the script may say Jesus, Judas or John the Baptist, I use the actor’s actual names. I also cast this gender blind, so everyone should learn all they can in this packet. The songs and music by Stephen Schwartz make this show a classic. The way I approach it with children make it timely and hopefully important. Chase Leyner Artistic Director

MONOLOGUE TO MEMORIZE FOR AUDITION Please make interesting choices when you tell this story. Know what you are talking about and if you are speaking as one of the characters, make sure we can tell it is someone else talking. Memorize as much as you can. The amount you are able to memorize will help us determine your readiness for different sized roles.

NARRATOR: Once upon a time there was a man who had two sons, and the younger said to his father: Father, give me my share of the property. So, he divided his estate between them. A few days later, the younger son turned the whole of his share into cash and left home for a distant country, where he squandered it in reckless living. He had spent it all, when a severe famine fell upon the country, and he began to feel the pinch. (Ouch!) So he decided to attach himself to one of the local landowners....Who sent him on the farm to mind the swine. He would have been glad to have filled his belly with the pods that the pigs were eating...But no one gave him anything. Then he came to his senses (BOING!) and said: How many of my father’s paid servants have more food than they can eat, and here I am starving to death? I will set off and I will go to my father and I will say to him: Father, I have sinned against God and against you; I am no longer fit to be called your son; treat me as one of your paid servants. So he set out for his father’s house, but while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and his heart went out to him. (Lub-dub, lub-dub, lub-dub, lub-dub) The son ran to meet his father, threw his arms around him, and kissed him, saying: Father, I have sinned against God and against you; I am no longer fit to be called your son; treat me as one of your paid servants. But the father called to one of his servants: Quick, fetch me my robe, my best one. Put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet and bring the fatted calf and kill it. And let us have a feast to celebrate the day, for this son of mine was lost and is found. And the festivities began! Now, the elder son was out on the farm, working. (Whew!) And on his way back, as he approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called to one of the servants and asked him what it meant. The servant said: Uh, uh, uh, your nephew, nope, nope, nope, your cousin, nope, nope, your brother, yup, your brother’ s come back home again and your father’s killed the fatted calf cause he has him back safe and sound, yup, yup, yup!

SONGS TO SING FOR AUDITION-Memorized

EVERYONE MUST LEARN THIS SONG WHETHER AUDITIONING OR NOT , AS THIS IS THE GROUP NUMBER FOR OUR FIRST DAY.

GODSPELL- Audition Form (Please have filled out form on the first day.)

NAME_______________________ AGE______ GRADE_______ Circle answers I would like to be considered for A SPEAKING ROLE. Yes No I am comfortable with this amount of memorization and can have it memorized by the 4th rehearsal. Small Amount Large Amount Medium Amount. (Several lines)

(Featured Role)

(Leading Role)

I would like to be considered for A SOLO SINGING ROLE. Yes No I am comfortable with this amount of solos. Medium Amount. Large Amount Small Amount (Part of a song or duet)

(A full song)

(Several Songs)

I am fine playing a boy. (This is for girls!) Yes No I would prefer a GROUP ENSEMBLE ROLE, no lines or solos. Yes No Anything you would like us to know about you: _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ Do not write below line ________________________________________________________________________________________

S 1 2 3 4 5 SA 1 2 3 4 5

A 1 2 3 4 5

P 1 2 3 4 5