Auditions for
Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812
VOCAL AUDITIONS
Wednesday, Aug. 28, 7-10:30 pm
Thursday, Aug. 29, 7-10 pm
three-minute vocal slots
additional slots added Wednesday 10-10:30
DANCE CALLBACKS
Saturday, Aug. 31, 1-3 pm
(Prepare to hold this entire time
for callbacks, but you will hopefully
only be needed for a half hour
within this block of time.)
VOCAL CALLBACKS
Saturday, Aug. 31, 3-5 pm
(Prepare to hold this entire time
for callbacks, but you will hopefully
only be needed for a half hour
within this block of time.)
PRINCIPAL CALLBACKS
Sunday, Sept. 1, 12-6 pm
Exact schedule will be determined but will involve working on callback vocal sides. When providing your conflicts for this date, please make yourself as available as possible during this time block. Callback sides are available here.
AUDITION SIGNUP DEADLINE
Please submit both the Audition Info Form and the Audition Signup Genius by Wednesday, Aug. 28 at noon.
PERFORMANCES
Oct. 31 – Nov. 3, 2024
Empie Theatre, Baker Center for the Arts
The audition sign up process has FOUR steps:
- Read this casting email carefully.
- Complete the audition information Google form
- Read the script! Seriously, please read the script before you audition!
- Choose a song! Guidelines below.
- Sign up for a three-minute vocal audition slot using the SignupGenius form.
Audition Preparation:
Each audition slot is three minutes of total time — including entering the stage, talking to the accompanist, singing and leaving. You should use the time in whatever way shows you to your best advantage!
For the initial round of auditions, actors are welcome to offer any material NOT FROM THE SHOW itself. You will need to acquire the sheet music and bring it to the audition. Your music should be in a binder, double-sided, in the correct key and with all instructions for the accompanist clearly marked. You cannot bring recorded accompaniment or sing a cappella. Sing what you sing well, highlighting your talents to their best.
We want to see and hear you!!!
The score is vocally very demanding.
As part of the callback process, you may be asked to learn specific material, material potentially new to you.
Here are some notes to help guide the actor zero in on what we're looking for in their audition.
A Broadway pop sound would be appropriate for the leads but no scooping or belting; for the character roles, speak-singing material would be appropriate for Balaga and Bolonsky and acting-driven material for Marya and Helene. Whether the actor wishes to be considered for a lead and/or chorus, they should offer something that shows as much vocal and dramatic range as possible Vocally, this applies especially to the traditional male roles.
It is recommended actors learn music on their own (plunking out notes on the piano, locating a track, asking someone, a coach perhaps, to help, etc.). If the actor chooses to listen to the cast recording to do so, they will be expected, if requested, to make on-the-spot adjustments, whether vocally, stylistically, or in some other way. This applies to both the audition and rehearsal processes.
Below are some titles the actor might consider mining for material. These are only suggestions. This list is by no means exhaustive, other properties could also be considered.
- A Doll's Life
- A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder
- Bernardo Alba
- Chess
- Doctor Zhivago
- The Drowsy Chaperone
- The Full Monty (Man, specifically but not limited to this selection)
- Giant
- Grey Gardens
- Jesus Christ Superstar
- The Light in the Piazza
- The Mystery of Edwin Drood
- Titanic
- Violet
Rehearsal Information:
Rehearsals will begin the week of Sept. 2 and will generally be held Mondays through Fridays, 7-11 pm. There may be some other days and times based on company availability.
No student involved in the project will have more than 20 hours of rehearsal a week, except for the week of Oct. 21, when we begin technical rehearsals.
Technical rehearsals will be held Tuesday through Friday, Oct. 22-25, 7-11 pm. There will be a tech rehearsal on Saturday, October 26, 12-6 pm. Sunday, October 27 will be a day off.
Technical/dress rehearsals will be held Monday through Wednesday, Oct. 28-30. Call times for actors during technical and dress rehearsals may be as early as 6:15 pm in order to get into costume, etc. Rehearsals will end no later than 11 pm.
Generally the only conflicts that will be approved will be classes or required activities connected to coursework. Other rehearsals, club meetings, etc. will likely not be approved. You may be excused for religious observances; please be sure to include any anticipated absences in your conflict list.
If you have questions about any of this, you can reach out to Jess Bien, or just respond to this email.
