Imagination Theater Audition Notice for 2015 Holiday Production: MARY POPPINS
Adult Women (Age 18+): Tues. April 14, 2015 7:00-9:00pm
Vocal Auditions
Adult Males, Teen Boys and Girls (13+): Wed. April 15, 2015 7:00-9:00pm
Vocal Auditions
Children (Boys & Girls Ages 8-12): Sat. April 18, 2015 9:00am-Noon
Vocal Auditions & Cold Reading
(Some adult women may be called back for the children’s auditions to read with the children)
All Auditioners: Dance & Movement Sun. April 19, 2015 7:00-9:00pm
Call-Back Auditions: Mon. April 20, 2015 7:00-9:00pm
Cold Readings & Vocals as necessary
Additional Information
1. For all vocal auditions, auditioners must provide their own electronic accompaniment (backing) track on a cd, computer, ipad, mp3 player, ipod, or cellular phone. A player with connecting cables will be available. A keyboard accompanist will not be available. Backing tracks must be without accompanying vocals.
2. All auditioners must be prepared to sing a musical theater type of song of their own choosing (from the show or not from the show). Rock and pop songs are discouraged. All singers must sing with accompanying music. Lyrics must be memorized.
3. Auditioners for the role of Mary Poppins must prepare two audition songs: (1) a musical-theater type of song of their choice not from the show and (2) the song from the show, “Practically Perfect.” (An instrumental version without backing vocals is available at www.Karoke-version.com).
4. For Dance Auditions, auditioners are encouraged to wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing and shoes. Tight skirts, pants, and blouses should be avoided. Dancing bare-footed or in sandals is not allowed. Auditioners are encouraged to improve their tap dancing skills prior to auditions.
5. Auditioners are encouraged (but not required) to provide a resume and a recent photo. Elaborate resumes and expensive head-shot photographs are not required.
Performance and Rehearsal Schedules
Rehearsals for the company will be primarily from July-November, 2015.
Actors in the roles of Mary Poppins, Bert, and the Banks children will have a light vocal rehearsal schedule during May and June, 2015.
Imagination Theater’s Holiday Production will have 18 performances on the following dates:
November 21, 22, 28, 29
December 3, 4 ,5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
Roles
Notes: (1) Ages listed are approximate only. Casting of specific roles will be based upon appearance within the ensemble and cast.
(2) Male and female teenagers are invited and encouraged to audition for ensemble roles.
Women
MARY POPPINS. Jane and Michael Banks's new nanny. She is extraordinary and strange, neat and tidy, delightfully vain yet very particular, and sometimes a little frightening but always exciting. She is practically perfect in every way and always means what she says. A mezzo soprano with strong top notes, she should be able to move well. She can have a more traditional soprano sound, but precision and diction is the key. Role requires strong movement and tap dancing skills. Female, 20-35 yrs. old in appearance. Range: Gb3 - C6
WINIFRED BANKS. George's wife and Jane and Michael's mother. A former actress, she is a loving and distracted homemaker who is busy trying to live up to her husband's desire to only associate with "the best people" as well as be a model wife and mother. She suffers from the conflicting feelings that she's not up to the job of "being Mrs. Banks," yet, she is, and more. She has a great warmth and simplicity to her tone. Female, 30-40 yrs. old. Range: A3 - D5
BIRD WOMAN. Covered in a patchwork of old shawls, and her pockets are stuffed with bags of crumbs for the birds. She tries to sell her crumbs for the birds. She tries to sell her crumbs to passerby, who ignore her as if she doesn't exist. Sings "Feed the Birds." There can be a gruff, folksy quality to her voice that reflects the hardness of her life. Female, Older appearance. Range: Gb3 - C5
MISS ANDREW. George's overbearing and scary nanny. With her bottle of nasty-tasting brimstone and treacle to keep naughty children in line, she is a bully who only knows one way of doing things - her way. A soprano with an alto belt, there can be some heaviness to her voice along with the range. Female, 40-60 yrs. old. Range: Gb3 - F5
MISS LARK. The haughty next-door neighbor of the Banks family who treats her dog, Willoughby, as if he were her child. Female, 30-50 yrs. old
MISS SMYTHE. The Bank Chairman's humorless secretary. Female, any age
MRS. BRILL. The housekeeper and cook for the Banks family. Overworked and harassed, she's always complaining that the house is understaffed. Her intimidating exterior is a cover for the warmth underneath. Mrs. Brill doesn't have a high opinion of nannies in general and Mary Poppins in particular. She does not have to be a strong singer. Female, 50-60 yrs. old. Range: F#3 - D#5
MRS. CORRY. Owns a magical gingerbread shop. She is a mysterious woman who speaks with a Caribbean accent (or any accent that would make her seem exotic). Female, 35-50 yrs. old
Men
BERT. The narrator of the story, is a good friend to Mary Poppins. An everyman, Bert has many occupations, including hurdy-gurdy player, sidewalk artist, and chimney sweep. Bert watches over the children as well as the goings on in Cherry Tree Lane. He has charm, speaks with a Cockney accent, and is a song-and-dance-man. Strong movement and dancing skills required. Male, 25-40 yrs. old. Range: B2 - F#4
GEORGE BANKS. The father to Jane and Michael Banks and is a banker to the very fiber of his being. Demanding "precision and order" in his household, he is a pipe-and-slippers man who doesn't have much to do with his children and believes that he had the perfect upbringing by his nanny, the cruel Miss Andrew. His emotional armor, however, conceals a sensitive soul. A baritone, George may speak-sing as necessary. Male, 40-45 yrs. old. Range: Bb2 - Eb4
JOHN NORTHBROOK. An honest businessman seeking a loan to build a factory for his community. He speaks with an accent from Northern England. Can also be Ensemble. Male, 25-60 yrs. old
ADMIRAL BOOM and BANK CHAIRMAN. ADMIRAL BOOM is a retired Royal Navy man and neighbor of the Banks family. A physically large man with a loud and booming voice, he speaks in Navy jargon and has a soft spot for his neighbor, Miss Lark. Can be any vocal range as needed. Male, 50-70 yrs. old. BANK CHAIRMAN is the head of the bank where Mr. Banks is employed, is an Edwardian stuffed-shirt. He can speak/sing his lyrics if necessary. Male, 50-70 yrs. old Range: Baritone
VON HUSSLER. A businessman seeking a loan from the bank for a shady business deal. He speaks with a German accent. Male, any age. Can also be Ensemble
ROBERTSON AY. The houseboy to the Banks family. Lazy, sleepy, and grumbling, he never gets things right and believes himself to be useless. Male, 15-30 yrs. old. Range: F3 - G#4
Children
JANE BANKS. The high-spirited daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Banks, is bright and precocious but can be willful and inclined to snobbishness. Strong dance skills required. Female, 11-13 yrs. old in appearance. Range: A3 - F#5
MICHAEL BANKS. The cute and cheeky son of Mr. and Mrs. Banks. Excitable and naughty, he adores his father and tries to be like him. Both he and Jane misbehave in order to get the attention of their parents. Strong dance skills required. Male, 10-12 yrs. old in appearance. Range: A3 - E5
Male and Female Ensemble Roles
NELEUS. The statue of a young boy or girl posed with a dolphin in the park. Neleus was separated from his/her father, Poseidon, and misses him very much. A small and lonely being, he/she is very happy to befriend Jane and Michael. Strong movement and dance skills required. . Male or female. 14-20 yrs. old. Strong dancer
PARK KEEPER. Uniformed and officious, he makes sure no one breaks park regulations. His life is defined by rules, but he secretly hankers after his childhood. Male, 40-60 yrs. old
POLICEMAN. A neighborhood fixture who is respected by, and observant of, the households on his beat. Male, 30-50 yrs. old
QUEEN VICTORIA. A statue in the park. Female, 40-60 yrs. old
ADDITIONAL ENSEMBLE DANCE, VOCAL, AND SPEAKING ROLES: Annie, Fannie, Valentine, Teddy Bear, Mr. Punch, Doll, Chimney Sweeps, Toys, Bankers, Customers, Park-Goers. Played by children and young teens through adults
