OPEN AUDITIONS – The Fantasticks

THE FANTASTICKS
Audition Information

Audition Dates:
Tuesday, 1/21 @ 7pm
Thursday, 1/23 @ 7pm
Saturday, 1/25 @ 11am
CALLBACKS by invitation

DOWNLOAD PDF OF AUDITION INFO

This production will be based on the 2006 REVIVAL production of THE FANTASTICKS in which the lyrics of the song, “It Depends on What You Pay”, were changed to show a timely sensitivity to the word “rape”. If you are interested, information – including the transcript of an NPR interview with the lyricist, Tom Jones, explaining the original use of the word and the eventual rework of the song – can be found online.

1. Singing auditions:
   • For El Gallo, Hucklebee, Bellomy, Luisa, and Matt – Come prepared to sing 16 bars of a song from a musical. Please bring sheet music for the accompanist. You may refer to your sheet music or a lyric sheet, if necessary. Ideally, you will choose music that is in keeping with the character and vocal range of your preferred role.
   • Henry and Mortimer will be cast on their acting ability and fit to the characters. Singing, per se, is not as important as their ability to speak in the rhythm of the music. To that end, a simple song for audition will be useful.
   • The Mute does not need to sing. The audition process for The Mute will be fun, nonverbal exercises revealing the actor’s ability to move and interact with others without speaking.
2. A simple dance audition will be included, please wear shoes that will enable you to move. Bare feet will not be permitted.
3. Script sides will be provided for scene work. If you are unfamiliar with this show, the internet will provide abundant resources – including scripts found via Google and full/partial production videos on YouTube.
4. Auditions will be held on the dates provided. If other arrangements are necessary, please email the director (Jennifer Kafka Smith at kafkasmith@gmail.com  ) prior to 1/15. Such arrangements are only offered in advance of the scheduled audition dates, are not guaranteed, and are based on the availability of the theatre, the director, and others pertinent to the audition process.
5. Callbacks are possible and will be arranged by personal invitation. You will be asked to sing a selection from THE FANTASTICKS score based on the audition character (El Gallo: “Try To Remember”; Hucklebee/Bellamy: “Just Say No”, Luisa & Matt: “Soon It’s Gonna Rain”). Samples of these songs are readily available with a simple search in YouTube; lyrics via Google.

THE FANTASTICKS Character Descriptions

*Age, and in many cases, gender, are not necessarily pre-determined.

The casting information provided below is consistent with the original casting of this musical in 1960. These details may be altered, based on the actors who audition, at the discretion of the director. Your task in the audition is to show us that you could portray one of these characters, regardless of their age or gender, as written.

El Gallo (Male, High Baritone, 30-45*). As the narrator of the piece, he is the liaison between the audience and the action onstage. He is warm, cordial, and inviting to the audience, yet with darker moments. His attitude toward the rest of the cast reveals a decidedly mysterious side. Above all he is grand and must command attention.

Matt (Male, Baritone, 16-26*). As a young lover, he is deeply in love, particularly with the idea of being in love. He lacks experience in the world so, while not stupid, he is naive and perhaps even foolish at times. His image of a young man in love is one of a gallant protector, meaning that he approaches some decisions with a falsified bravery that is little more than bravado.

Luisa (Female, Legit Soprano, 16-26*). As a young lover, she is in love. She is in love with love, the idea of love, the idea of being in love and indeed everything remotely romantic. Her dreams are more fanciful than those of Matt. Because of her particular vision of romance, she deals with the world on a particularly naive level.

Hucklebee and Bellomy (Males, Baritone, 45-60*). Blustery and Boisterous. Duo and team. Strong comedic timing a must. Fathers of Matt and Luisa. Always arguing and bickering, but secretly plotting together for the marriage of their children.

Henry and Mortimer (Males, 30-60*). Foolish comic actors who move the action while not seeming to contribute anything of substance. As performers their day has long past. Henry can play grand characters and recite Shakespeare, but with very little success these days. May be asked to speak in an English accent. Mortimer’s specialty is dying on stage in the manner of great adventures and melodramas. May be asked to speak in a cockney accent. Henry and Mortimer function as a unit and rarely appear apart from each other. They are entirely theatrical and theirs is the world of the stage.

The Mute (Male or Female, age open). The Mute serves many functions—setting props as characters need them, assisting El Gallo, and becoming the wall separating the families. While omnipresent the character must also have the ability to fade into the background. This is a functional character that sometimes interacts with the others.