Auditions for children will be held from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Please email info@cumberlandtheatre.com to schedule your audition appointment.
Video auditions will also be accepted and can be emailed to kim@cumberlandtheatre.com.
The season includes:
Fool for Love (March 1st – 11th)
Gypsy (May 10th – 27th)
Mamma Mia (July 12th – 29th)
Noises Off (August 16th – 26th)
Closer (September 13th – 23rd)
Night of the Living Dead (October 11th – 28th)
White Christmas (December 6th – 23rd)
A synopsis for each show and character descriptions are listed below. Information is also available at www.cumberlandtheatre.com.
AUDITION INFORMATION
-- If you wish to audition for both the musicals and the plays, you may perform a one (1) minute monologue and/or 16 bars of a song. You may bring sheet music or digital accompaniment.
-- Please make sure the beginning and ending of your selection are clearly marked on the sheet music. Please make sure your music is in the correct key as our musician will not transpose music
-- If you would like to be considered for the plays only, please prepare a one (1) minute monologue.
-- Actors being considered for specific roles will be asked to read from the script(s) and may be asked to sing small selections from the score(s).
-- There will be two dance calls: 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. If you wish to be considered for any of the musicals, you will be asked to attend one of these sessions. Please wear clothes that are form fitting and easy to move in as well as shoes you can dance in. Females are asked to bring heeled character shoes. There will be a tap combo included in the dance audition.
-- Email info@cumberlandtheatre.com for an audition time. Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your scheduled audition time to warm up and let the Audition Manager know you have arrived.
-- All actors should bring a headshot and resume.
-- All roles are paid and housing is provided for out-of-town actors.
SHOW INFO & CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
Fool for Love, by Sam Shepard
Winner of the Obie Award and, often called Shepard’s purest play, this masterfully constructed work brings searing intensity and rare theatrical excitement to its probing, yet sharply humorous study of love, hate and the dying myths of the Old West. The scene is a stark motel room at the edge of the Mojave Desert. May, a disheveled young woman, sits dejectedly on a rumpled bed while Eddie, a rough-spoken rodeo performer, crouches in a corner fiddling with his riding gear. When he attempts to console May, who is distressed by Eddie's frequent absences and love affairs, she seems, at first, to soften—but then she suddenly attacks him. As the recriminations pour out, and the action becomes at times physically violent, the desperate nature of their relationship becomes apparent—they cannot get along with, or without, one another, yet neither can subdue their burning passion
Character Breakdown
Eddie (Male, 30 – 40) The play's protagonist. A broken cowboy type, Eddie is a larger than life, multi-dimensional character. Ability to do rope tricks a plus, but not required.
Old Man (Male, 50+) Eddie's and May's father. The Old Man appears only in the minds of May and Eddie.
Martin (Male, 30 – 40) A simple, innocent, and kind man who lives in a town near May's hotel. Martin is a blue-collar, hard-working type.
Mae – this role has been cast
Gypsy, a musical by Arthur Laurents
Regarded by many theater professionals as the greatest musical ever created, GYPSY is the ultimate tale of an ambitious stage mother fighting for her daughters’ success… while secretly yearning for her own. Set all across America in the 1920’s, when vaudeville was dying and burlesque was born, Arthur Laurents’ landmark show explores the world of two-bit show business with brass, humor, heart, and sophistication.
The celebrated score, by Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim, boasts one glorious hit after another, including: “Let Me Entertain You,” “Some People,” “You’ll Never Get Away from Me,” “If Momma Was Married,” “All I Need Is the Girl,” “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” “You Gotta Get A Gimmick,” “Small World” and “Together Wherever We Go.”
Character Breakdown
Adult Roles
Mamma Rose – this role has been cast
June (Female, Late Teens – Early 20s) Rose’s daughter, pretty, talented and frustrated with Mom's domination. Strong character actress, belter and dancer. Vocal Range: A flat – D
Louise (Female, Late Teens – Early 20s) Rose’s other daughter, shy and loyal. At Mom's prodding, she becomes the famous stripper, Gypsy Rose Lee. Strong actress, belter and dancer. Vocal Range C sharp – E flat.
Herbie (Male, 40 – 60) Candy salesman and Rose's manager. Reluctant manager of the act. Loves Rose and the girls, but his patience has limits. Vocal Part: Baritone
Tulsa (Male, Late Teens - Early 20s) Singing and dancing member of the "Farm Boys". Dreams of having his own act with his special girl. Strong vocal and dance skills needed. Vocal Range: F- G
Mazeppa (Female) An experienced and wisened Burlesque performer. Specialty - Trumpet stripper. Trumpet skills optional. Vocal Range: G (below middle C) – B flat
Electra (Female) An experienced and wisened Burlesque performer. Specialty - Lightbulb stripper. Vocal Range: B flat – D
Tessie Ture (Female) An experienced and wisened Burlesque performer. Specialty - Ballet stripper. Ballet skills a plus. Vocal Range: C# - D flat
Uncle Jocko (Male) Vaudeville master of ceremonies at a weekly kiddee talent show. Hates stage mothers. Would rather be drinking. Non-singing role.
Pop (Male, 50+) Rose's father. He does not believe that she or the girls will ever amount to anything. Non-singing role.
L.A., Yonkers, Angie – Singing & Dancing members of the “Farm Boys”
Marjorie May, Dolores, Thelma & Gail – Singing & Dancing members of the “Hollywood Blondes”
Children’s Roles
Baby June (Female, 9 – 12) Rose's baby daughter. An extroverted, talented child star. Vocal Range: E flat – E flat
Baby Louise (Female, 9 – 12) Rose's other baby daughter and June's introverted, shy older sister. Vocal Range E flat – E flat
Newboys (Males, 9 – 13) Boys Rose has kidnapped to be part of the “Newboys” singing and dancing group
There are several featured speaking roles for adults and children.
Mamma Mia, a musical featuring the music of ABBA
The ultimate feel-good show! A mother. A daughter. Three possible dads. And an unforgettable trip down the aisle. Writer, Catherine Johnson's, sunny and funny tale unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter's quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother's past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago.
The songs of the pop group ABBA provide the score for this romantic comedy that contrasts the dreams and desires of a young woman about to become a bride with those of her mother, a free spirit of the 70s who never married. Mamma Mia! takes place at a taverna on a Greek island. The cast should be quirky and offbeat; WE ARE NOT SEEKING OBVIOUS MUSICAL THEATRE PERFORMERS. Our ensemble is composed of contemporary dancers and singers. Some ensemble men have dance specialties for which any acrobatics are a plus; some ensemble men and women are featured as singers and actors. ALL ARTISTS SHOULD HAVE A ROCK SOUND AND BE ABLE TO MOVE WELL.
Character Breakdown
Donna (Female, late 30s-early 40s – the mother of a 20 year old girl) Attractive and free-spirited. A former lead singer in a group called “Donna and the Dynamos” who now owns and runs a hotel/casino on a Greek island. A strong feminist who also has a zany and vulnerable side. Principal role.
Sophie (Female, 18-25) A very special young woman who is determined to find the romance and happiness she feels eluded her mother. Has a wild, zany spirit even though she pursues a conventional marriage. Pop soprano. Principal role.
Tanya (Female, late 30s-early 40s) A former singer in the “Dynamos”. Rich, sophisticated, acerbic, funny, and witty. Supporting Principal role.
Rosie (Female, late 30s-early 40s) Also a former singer in the “Dynamos” who now writes for and runs a feminist press. She’s confident, strong, and funny on the outside but shy underneath. Kooky and fun, good comic actress, bit of a clown. Actress who sings. Supporting Principal role.
Lisa (Female, 18-25) Sophie’s friend who arrives to be a bridesmaid. Very energetic and kooky. Should be African-American, Hispanic-American, Asian-American, Native American or any non Caucasian young woman. Should sing and dance well. Featured Ensemble role.
Ali (Female, 18-25) Sophie’s friend. Impulsive and fun. Should contrast to Lisa and Sophie. Featured Ensemble role.
Sam (Male, 35-45) May be Sophie’s father. Left Donna 20 years ago because he was engaged to another woman. Charming, successful architect. Actor who sings. Baritone. Supporting Principal role.
Harry (Male, 35-45) May be Sophie’s father. British financier, weathy, buttoned-up, and conservative but trying to reconnect with his freer, youthful self. Must do a very convincing English accent. Also an actor who sings. High baritone, tenor. Supporting Principal role.
Bill (Male, 35-45) May be Sophie’s father. A travel writer with no possessions or strings. Good-natured, always ready for adventure. Funny, preferably a big or imposing man. Supporting Principal role.
Sky (Male, late 20s) Sophie’s fiance. Athletic, attractive – has given up his life as a successful young businessman in order to make over Donna’s taverna and marry Sophie. Featured Ensemble role.
Pepper (Male, 20s) Sky’s friend. Helps run the hotel. Charming, loves women, always flirting. Must be a good mover/dancer. Acrobatic skills a plus. Baritone/tenor. Featured Ensemble role.
Eddie (Male, 20s) Another friend of Sky and hotel worker. Laid-back, easygoing. Also a mover/dancer role. Baritone/tenor. Featured Ensemble role.
Ensemble: Strong singers, movers and dancers of all ages.
Noises Off, by Michael Frayn
Called “the funniest farce ever written,” Noises Off presents a manic menagerie of itinerant actors rehearsing a flop called Nothing’s On. Doors slamming, on and offstage intrigue, and an errant herring all figure in the plot of this hilarious and classically comic play.
Character Breakdown
Dotty Otley / Mrs. Clacket: (Off stage Dotty) A late-middle-aged actress. Forgetful. Dating Garry, though she attempts to make him jealous by meeting with Freddy. (On Stage Character: Mrs. Clackett): A Cockney Housekeeper for the Brent's home in England. Hospitable, though slow.
Brooke Ashton / Vicki: (Off Stage: Brooke) A young inexperienced actress. Pays no attention to other performers, either in performance or backstage. She seems as though she is not really present – like she is somewhere else inside her head. Is always losing her contact lenses. One-third of a Lloyd–Poppy–Brooke love triangle. (On Stage Character: Vicki): An English woman who works for Inland Revenue and is trying to woo Roger.
Belinda Blair / Flavia Brent (Off stage Belinda): Cheerful and sensible, a reliable actress. She may have feelings for Freddy. (On Stage Character: Flavia Brent): Phillip Brent's English wife. She is dependable, though not one for household duties
Poppy Norton-Taylor: Stage Manager. Emotional and over-sensitive, and envious of Brooke, whom she understudies. Carrying Lloyd's child. One-third of a Lloyd-Poppy-Brooke love triangle.
Lloyd Dallas: The director of the play, Nothing On. Temperamental. One third of a Lloyd–Poppy–Brooke love triangle.
Garry Lejeune / Roger: (Off stage: Garry) An American actor who never finishes a sentence. Always is completing sentences with, "you know..." Easily fired up, repeatedly tries to attack Freddy after believing that Dotty was cheating on him with Freddy. Speech affectations disappear onstage but are everpresent offstage. Dating Dotty. (On Stage Character: Roger): An English Real estate agent who is attempting to rent Flavia's and Phillip's home, but uses it for his own personal benefit.
Frederick Fellows /Phillip Brent / Sheikh : (Off stage: Freddy) An American actor with a serious fear of violence and blood. Gets nosebleeds easily. Often questions the meaning of his lines and moves. Blames himself often for things going wrong. (On Stage Character: Phillip Brent): An Englishman who lives out of the country with his wife Flavia to avoid paying taxes. He enters the country knowing that if he is caught by Inland Revenue, he will lose most of the year's income. (On Stage Character: Sheikh): A Middle-Eastern, Interested in renting Flavia's and Phillip's home and is the spitting image of Phillip.
Selsdon Mowbray / Burglar: (Off Stage: Selsdon Mowbray): An elderly alcoholic Englishman who hides his bottles onstage. If he is not in sight while rehearsing, the stage crew must find him before he passes out. Is hard of hearing when he wants to be. (On Stage Character: Burglar): Old Cockney man in his seventies, breaking into the Brent's home.
Timothy Allgood: An over-worked American Assistant Stage Manager. Understudies Selsdon and Freddy
Closer, by Patrick Marber
Four lives intertwine over the course of four and a half years in this densely-plotted, stinging look at modern love and betrayal. Twelve scenes chronicle the love affairs, rivalries, seductions, and betrayals of four characters (two men, two women) in a spare, intense style -- sometimes coarse, sometimes obscene, but calling for real sensitivity and vulnerability in the acting.
Closer opened at London’s Royal National Theatre in 1997 won the Olivier award that year for Best New Play. After its premiere on Broadway it also picked up a Tony Nomination, won the New York Drama Critics Award for Best Foreign Play, and was adapted into a screenplay in 2004 for a major film. It has since been produced in countries all around the world.
All characters are intelligent and highly verbal. The play, which spans almost 5 years in 12 staccato scenes, is the modern successor to Noel Coward’s “Private Lives” and Scnitzler’s “La Ronde” sharing the theatrical landscape of Pinter’s “Betrayal” and Hampton’s “Les Les Liaisons Dangereuses”. No specific accents/dialects will be required for this production.
Character Breakdown
Dan (Male, 27 – 37) Obituary writer and aspiring novelist, he is charming and sensitive but selfish. He is a romantic, to the point of obsession, but his emotions are transitory. He deals with love and relationships in an addictive manner – always looking for the next high, wanting to be happy but never satisfied with where he is or what he has.
Alice (Female, 18 - 28) A gamine waif with a turbulent past, attention seeking, actively creating herself, she has a loose relationship with the truth. She is tough yet vulnerable, a free spirit but desperately dependent. Actress must be comfortable with blatantly using her sexuality and being scantily clad while working in a strip club.
Larry (Male, 40 - 50) Dermatologist, competitive, pragmatic, presents and promises stability, a solid “nice guy” he is bluntly, even brutally, honest and can have a cruel streak when hurt, like an injured animal.
Anna – this role has been cast
Night of the Living Dead
Fall out from a satellite probe shot to Venus returns to Earth carrying a mysterious radiation that transforms the unburied dead into flesh-eating zombies. Seven people trapped in an isolated farmhouse, held hostage by the ravenous ghouls, begin to turn on each other as the dead encroach. A gripping terror-filled monochromatic play that brings all the fright of the cult classic to life.
Character Breakdown
Ben (Male, African-American, 25 – 40) Hero; full of dry wit, muscle and a quick mind pinned as the unlikely protagonist
Barbara (Female, 20 – 35) Dim often vacant and full of constant worry; damsel in distress overtone.
Tom (Male, 20 – 30) Agreeing type often caught not able to make a decision on his own with some hilarious delivery
Harry (Male, 35 – 60) Stubborn, bull-headed and quick-tempered; knows what's right at all times, even when he doesn't.
Helen (Female, 30 – 50) Doting mother and housewife.
Judy (Female, 20 – 25) Tom’s girlfriend, spunky, yet devoted to her man
Karen (Female, 13 – 17) Harry & Helen’s daughter, very small but fun role
There are a number of featured roles for both men & women such as zombies, newscasters, reporters, etc.
White Christmas, a musical by Irving Berlin
Based on the beloved, timeless film, this heartwarming musical adaptation features seventeen Irving Berlin songs and a book by David Ives and Paul Blake. Veterans Bob Wallace and Phil Davis have a successful song-and-dance act after World War II. With romance in mind, the two follow a duo of beautiful singing sisters en route to their Christmas show at a Vermont lodge, which just happens to be owned by Bob and Phil's former army commander. The dazzling score features well known standards including Blue Skies, I Love A Piano, How Deep Is the Ocean and the perennial favorite, White Christmas.
Character Breakdown
Bob Wallace (Male, 35 - 40) A major singing star, Bob is the guiding force behind the song and dance team of Wallace and Davis. He wears his fame easily, but has some trouble with social and romantic interactions. Despite occasional gruffness, he is a deeply kind and principled man who is searching for true love. Excellent singer with a crooning style who moves very well. Tap and Jazz. Baritone.
Phil Davis – this role has been cast
Betty Haynes (Female, 30 - 40) – Sensible, responsible half of the Haynes sisters act. Classic elegance. Destined to be a star, but hesitant to take the spotlight. Devoted to her sister. Hides a yearning for true love under a protective shell. Female singer of quiet beauty and charm with a rich chest mix and soprano extension. Must move well.
Judy Haynes – this role has been cast
General Henry Waverly (Male, 55 - 65) Retired Army general with a curmudgeonly military exterior, adjusting to retired life in post WW II America. Precise and orderly, struggling to run the Inn in Vermont. A man of integrity. Underneath a warm compassionate man in need of family and love. With the exception of one line, can be a non-singing role.
Martha Watson – (Female, 45 - 65) Once a Broadway star, now the General’s housekeeper. The true force behind running the Inn. Very dry wit and frank with a wisecracking sense of humor. Big hearted, but unsentimental. Irrepressible meddler, believing she acts on everyone’s best behalf. Strong singer and mover, Broadway belter.
Susan Waverly (Female, 9 - 12) The General’s granddaughter. Lovable and outgoing. A bit precocious, but wise beyond her years. Gets bitten by the stage bug and is great at it. Excellent belt voice, must move very well.
Ralph Sheldrake (Male, 35 - 45) – Jokester Army buddy of Bob and Phil’s, now a major television executive. Fast talking, loud, brash New York professional with a good head on his shoulders.
Rita and Rhoda (Females, 20 - 30) – Bob and Phil’s two star chorus showgirls. Brash, sexy and fun. Perhaps not the brightest.
Ezekiel Foster (Male, 45 - 60) – Practical, the ultimate laid back New Englander. A man of few words. Caretaker at the Inn. Takes life at a very very leisurely pace.
Mike (Doubles as Mr. Snoring Man, Winter Tourist) – this role has been cast
Tessie – (Female 25 - 35) Young Character woman to play Bob and Phil’s secretary, also plays Head Seamstress and Mrs. Snoring Man, winter tourist. Mezzo-soprano, belter.
Male and Female Ensemble of Dancers – (early 20’s to mid 30’s) to play assorted speaking roles as well as being a strong singing ensemble. Strong in Ballroom, Jazz and Tap. Dance style is 1950’s Hollywood movie musical style.
Four Band Singers, Backup vocalists seated onstage – 2 men, 2 women. Excellent singers who move well and can handle tight harmonies of the period.
