|
|
|
The Voice of the Prairie is an ode to the
art of storytelling. Davey Quinn is an itinerant farmhand in the American
Midwest of the 1920s. He is also a captivating storyteller with a gift for
touching his listener’s hearts. Many of his stories involve Frankie, a young
blind girl with whom he had run away years before and then lost. Into Davey’s
world comes a new medium – radio. Soon stories of Davey and Frankie and their
slightly scandalous adventures of long ago are capturing imaginations throughout
the Midwest and a simple farm boy has become a celebrity – and far away, a
staid, respectable teacher of the blind named Frances is suddenly being asked
some very pointed questions by a very curious fiancé. The Voice of the Prairie
entwines the lives of two fascinating characters, with the excitement of the
birth of a dominant new medium. It’s different, it’s charming, and it’s full of
wonder.
Audition Dates
Sunday,
May 20 from 6:30-9:30pm and
Monday,
May 21 from 7-9:30pm
Audition Requirements:
The play is an ensemble piece written for 3-6 actors who
play about 20 characters. Leaning towards a cast of 5-6. An
approximation of a Midwestern accent, a plus. Prepare a comic or
dramatic monologue (2 minutes or less).
Auditions will be held by appointment at the Theatre. Call
508-358-4034
and leave a message with your name, phone and preferred audition time.
You will receive a return call to confirm.
Performances:
Thursday-Saturday at 8:00pm from July 19-August 4 with 2:00pm matinees
on July 28 and August 4.
Character List:
DAVEY QUINN: Appears as a child and an adult. First and foremost, a
natural storyteller; the ability to comfortably spin a yarn is critical
to the role. On the surface a simple farm boy, but he's led an
interesting life and is far more canny than he appears.
FRANKIE/FRANCES: Appears as an adult and a child. As a child, although
blind, she is utterly fearless (almost feral). As an adult, quite
proper, until a reunion with Davey reawakens the mischief in her soul.
LEON SCHWAB: The only non-Midwesterner. A NY hustler hawking radio sets
in an area with no radio stations.
(Young and mature Davey and Frankie may, in each case, by played by the
same or different actors, depending upon what happens at auditions). |
|
Sunday in the Park with George
Music/Lyrics by
Stephen Sondheim
Book by
James Lapine
Stage Direction by
Laura Espy
Musical Direction by
Don Boroson
|
|
One of the most acclaimed musicals of our time, this
moving study of the enigmatic painter Georges Seurat won a Pulitzer Prize for
its deeply insightful and highly personal examination of life through art and
the artist. Act One follows the inarticulate Seurat as he fights a losing battle
to maintain a relationship with his mistress Dot as he creates his painting “A
Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte” amid the scorn of the
artistic community. The second act takes place 100 years later, introducing us
to his American descendant, also an artist, burned out and uncertain of the path
he must take.
Audition Dates
Sunday, June 3
from 6-10pm and Wednesday, June 6,
7-10pm.
Callbacks will be held on Saturday, June 9 at 12:30 pm.
Audition Requirements:
Prepare 16 measures of a ballad musical theater song (not from Sunday in
the Park with George). Choose a song that tells a story, clearly creates
a character and shows-off both singing AND acting skills. Sheet music
must be provided to the accompanist and must be in the correct key – no
A cappella.
Please bring a headshot or any clear head and shoulders photo of
yourself to your audition appointment.
Auditions will be made appointment. Contact
sundayaudsvokes@gmail.com to schedule an audition time or
with questions. As of May 15, appointments may also be made calling the
Vokes Theatre Audition Line at
508-358-2011. Leave a message
with your name, telephone number and preferred audition date and time.
Performances:
Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings October 25 – November 10 at 8:00
pm. Saturday Matinees at 2:00 pm on November 3 and 10. Note: Actors cast
must be available for a possible extension through November 15-17.
Rehearsals:
First read-through will be the week of August 20th. Rehearsals will
likely be Sunday/ Tuesday/ Thursday evenings, based on cast
availability.
Character List (7F/7M/1G):
Almost every cast member will have two
roles – one for each act. This is truly an ensemble piece. All
characters have solos or solo lines to sing.
George Seurat/George: Looks early - late 30s. George Seurat: Handsome,
dark, brooding. Genius painter, struggling to find his voice. He is
obsessive, somewhat self-absorbed, and has extraordinary passion and
self-criticism. George: a modern day artist and the great-grandson of
Seurat. Also a struggling artist, consumed by his work and unable to
make connections with those around him. Both of these men are not
selfish; they have an inability to balance their work and their lives.
(VOCAL PART: Tenor - high note G, with a few A-flats).
Dot/Marie: Should read late 20s - mid 30s. Dot: Beautiful, sexy and very
feisty. Hungers for connection and love, wanting to be more to George
than his work. She is George’s muse, and is deeply in love with him.
Tries to better herself in all aspects. Vivid and full of life, we watch
her grow and mature in order to make choices as to where to take her
life. Marie: George’s grandmother, very old and wise. She makes her
point in the quiet moments and is trying to get her grandson to see the
importance of his family connections. (VOCAL PART: Mezzo - to D-flat).
An Old Lady/Blair Daniels: Should read 50+. Old Lady: Slightly senile,
she is George’s mother. She has a skewed version of her past and
requires the constant attention of a nurse. Perhaps it is she who George
most needs approval from. Blair Daniels: An art critic who generally
respects and supports George, but who feels that he needs to grow and
change as an artist. (VOCAL PART: Mezzo).
Nurse/Mrs./Harriet Pawling: Should read mid 30s-40ish. Nurse:
Responsible for patiently putting up with the Old Lady’s demands but
lives her secret passions through an affair with Franz. Mrs: A role for
a skilled comic character actress, she is an American tourist visiting
Europe. Rather exaggerated and stereotyped because George sees her that
way. Requires a Southern accent. Harriet: A very stuffy art patron,
possibly more interested in being seen at an event than any piece of
art. (VOCAL PART: Mezzo).
Jules/Bob Greenberg: Should read 30-50ish. Jules: An artist who is
fiscally successful and socially accepted by painting what is popular
and expected. He is jealous of George’s talent, and this shows itself in
his behavior. His friendship with George is somewhat awkward as both men
seek the approval of the other while struggling with their own
insecurities. Bob: The awkward museum director who is trying to keep his
museum afloat. (VOCAL PART: Baritone).
Yvonne/Naomi Eisen: Should read 30s-late 40s. Yvonne: Jules’ proper wife
and protector who understands her role in society. Strong, domineering
person who is actually covering a deep vulnerability and an envy of
Dot’s passion. Comic skill a plus. Naomi Eisen: The quirky, lesbian
composer who works with George on his presentations. (VOCAL PART:
Mezzo).
Boatman/Charles Redmond: Should read 30s-40s. Boatman: a blue collar and
proud of it individual who sees through society’s pretenses and tells it
how he sees it. Though he is uneducated, he has street smarts and an
understanding of how the world really works. Charles Redmond: a visiting
curator from Texas. (VOCAL PART: Baritone/ Bass).
Celeste #1/Waitress: Should read 20s - early 30s. Celeste: A giddy shop
girl whom, along with her friend, come to the park to watch the people,
gossip, and try and find new beaus. Young and very superficial. Seeking
actor/singer Waitress: A waitress at the exhibition (VOCAL PART:
Soprano).
Celeste #2/ Elaine: Should read 20s- early 30s. Celeste: Another flirty,
forward, superficial shop girl looking for a new beau and some good
gossip. Elaine: George’s loving, honest, grounded ex-wife. Seeking
actor/singer (VOCAL PART: Soprano).
Franz/Dennis: Should read late 20s-40s. Franz: Servant to Jules and
Yvonne. Married to Frieda. Secretly attracted to the Nurse. Feels the
pressure of being a lower class citizen and is critical of how the upper
class coasts through life. Yet he secretly wishes he could be one of
them. Comedic role, German dialect required. Dennis: a friend to George
who has been at his side since the beginning but yearns to move on and
work on something else. (VOCAL PART: Baritone/ Tenor).
Frieda/Betty: Should read 20s-late 30s. Frieda: Cook to Jules and
Yvonne. Married to Franz. Unlike him, she is content with her lot.
Secretly has an attraction and eventually an affair with Jules. Comedic
role, German dialect required. Betty: An artist at George’s exhibition.
(VOCAL PART” Mezzo).
Soldier/Alex: Should read late 20s-early 30s. Soldier: Very handsome
(and he knows it), strong, a bit still and controlled. “Lives” a
soldier’s life. Dry charm. He speaks not only for himself, but his
silent friend (a cut out!). Has his eye on the Celestes. Alex: A
somewhat whiney artist who is jealous of George. (VOCAL PART: Baritone).
Louis/Billy Webster: Should read mid 30s–50s. Louis: A kind, sweet,
awkwardly handsome baker … “that’s the trouble, nothing’s wrong with
him”. Dot’s safe choice instead of George because he is stable. Billy:
Harriet Pawling’s somewhat judgmental and agreeable friend. (VOCAL PART:
Baritone).
Mr./Lee Randolph: Should read late 30s-50s. Mr.: A role for a comedic
actor, an American tourist visiting Paris with his wife. Largely
exaggerated and stereotyped because this is how George sees him.
Southern accent required. Lee: The museum’s publicist. (VOCAL PART:
Baritone).
Louise: Should read 9-12. An annoying child who runs around the park
seeking attention by any means necessary. She has next to no
relationship with her parents because they simply tolerate her
existence. This is a role that only participates in Act I and the
opening and closing moments of Act II. (VOCAL PART: Mezzo). |
|
