Auditions for the summer season at the Heritage Theatre Festival will take place in Charlottesville, VA on Saturday, February 25, 2017 between 9:30-4:00 in the UVA Drama Building at 109 Culbreth Road.
Those unable to attend this on-site audition may submit a video audition with headshot and resume by March 15 to: heritage@virginia.edu
The 2017 season includes (pending acquisition of rights):
Middletown by Will Eno
Woody Guthrie’s American Song Songs and Writings by Woody Guthrie. Conceived and Adapted by Peter Glazer
Chapatti by Christian O’Reilly
Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery
Company Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Book by George Furth
Except for Chapatti, all roles in all shows are open (see breakdown below).
There are no roles for actors under the age of 18.
Auditions will be by individual 5-minute appointments scheduled through our online sign-up here.
AUDITION PREPARATION - PLEASE READ THOROUGHLY
ACT
Prepare two 1-minute contemporary monologues that demonstrate range: one comedic and one dramatic. Be prepared to be redirected, asked to “play” with your monologue and/or asked to read a side from one of the season plays.
SING (only if you are auditioning for one or both of the musicals)
Prepare 32 bars of a song or, if you are auditioning for both musicals, prepare two songs. Bring sheet music with you in the key in which you plan to sing—an accompanist will be at the audition.
Those auditioning for Woody Guthrie’s American Song should prepare a piece from Woody Guthrie’s canon or a folk/bluegrass song in a similar style. If you can play guitar, fiddle, etc. please bring your instrument (you may accompany yourself if you like).
Those auditioning for Company should prepare a Sondheim song — a song from Company is preferred. If you are auditioning for Robert sing “Being Alive.”
DANCE
No dance audition will be scheduled at this time, but please include dance experience on your resume/audition form.
SIGN UP
Audition appointments are 5 minutes in length. Schedule an audition time online here.
Note: your name/contact information does not appear to others on the sign up page (only to the site administrator: Colleen Kelly, Chair of Drama/Interim Artistic Director of Heritage).
COMPLETE AUDITION FORM
Please bring a resume and headshot. You will need to complete an audition form. Although a hard copy of the form will be available when you check-in to audition, it is preferable that you complete the form in advance and bring it with you to the audition. The form is available here.
CALLBACKS
If needed (and if you are available), you may be contacted for a callback on Sunday, February 26 or an agreed upon date in the near future. We intend to have casting decisions announced before April 1, 2017.
AVAILABLE ROLES
Middletown— Population: stable. Elevation: same. The main street is called Main Street. Average as average can be. Or is it? Certainly not your traditional Our Town, but you may just recognize something of yourself in playwright Will Eno’s flippant, yet, poignant take on simple townsfolk battling life’s absurdities in their effort to become “normal” human beings.
Rehearsals Begin: Monday, May 29 / Performance: June 23-July 1 in the Ruth Caplin Theatre.
6 WOMEN ENSEMBLE/DOUBLE CASTING
MRS. SWANSON
FEMALE TOURIST / WOMAN ON DATE / ATTENDANT 2
AUNT / FEMALE DOCTOR / INTERCOM
LIBRARIAN
TOUR GUIDE / ATTENDANT / MUSIC HOST
SWEETHEART
6 MEN ENSEMBLE/DOUBLE CASTING
PUBLIC SPEAKER / GREG / MALE DOCTOR
MALE TOURIST / FREELANCER / RADIO HOST
MECHANIC
COP
JOHN DODGE
LANDSCAPER / GROUND CONTROL / MAN ON DATE / JANITOR
Woody Guthrie’s American Song celebrates the resilience and tenacity of the human spirit. Guthrie’s songs, written in response to the trials of the depression era in America, have become inspiring folk anthems that reflect all times and speak to all people. Songs and Writings by Woody Guthrie. Conceived and Adapted by Peter Glazer. Orchestrations and Vocal arrangements by Jeff Waxman.
Rehearsals Begin: Monday, June 5 / Performances: June 30-July 8 in the Culbreth Theatre (Rights Pending).
ENSEMBLE CASTING/MULTIPLE ROLES
CAST: 3-6 MEN, 2-4 WOMEN (SOME ACTORS SHOULD PLAY GUITAR)
BAND 3 TO 4 MUSICIANS, COVERING GUITAR, BANJO, FIDDLE, MANDOLIN, HARMONICA, BASS
Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery that is far from elementary. The classic game is afoot, but the players may well outnumber the clues in Ludwig’s madcap adventure featuring five actors portraying forty characters. Join Holmes and Watson as they brave the desolate moors before the Baskerville family curse dooms its newest heir.
Rehearsals Begin: Monday, June 26 / Performances: July 22-29 in the Ruth Caplin Theatre.
SHERLOCK HOLMES
JOHN WATSON
ACTOR 1 MALE (plays about 14 characters)
ACTOR 2 MALE (plays about 8 characters)
ACTOR 3 FEMALE (plays about 14 characters)
Company, directed by former HTF Artistic Director Bob Chapel, is a Tony Award-winning musical featuring Stephen Sondheim favorites such as The Ladies Who Lunch and Being Alive. On the night of his 35th birthday Robert, a confirmed bachelor, begins contemplating his unmarried state and, over a course of time that includes a hilarious array of interactions with advice-giving married couples and temporary girlfriends, he finds himself questioning his commitment to bachelorhood. Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Book by George Furth.
Rehearsals Begin: Monday, July 3 Performances: July 28-August 4 in the Culbreth Theatre (Rights Pending)
6 MEN
Robert (Baritone)
Harry (Baritone)
Peter (Baritone)
David (Baritone)
Paul (Tenor)
Larry (Baritone)
8 WOMEN
Susan (Soprano)
Sarah (Mezzo-Soprano, Alto)
Jenny (Soprano)
Amy (Mezzo-Soprano, Alto)
Joanne (Alto)
April (Mezzo-Soprano)
Marta (Mezzo-Soprano)
Kathy (Soprano)
