Legally Blonde

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Audition Information

Open to students entering grades 9-college in Fall 2012

Singing & Dance Auditions at TRYPS from 6-8:30PM:  Wednesday, March 14

Singing & Acting Auditions at TRYPS from 12-3PM:  Sunday, March 18 

Callbacks at TRYPS from 6-8:30PM:  Monday March 19

 

THE CREATIVE TEAM:

Jill Womack, TRYPS Executive Artistic Director 

Nollie Moore, Director -or- Bob Bohon, Director (depending upon availability)

Hallie Rieves, Choreographer

Jazz Rucker, Vocal Coach 

Audra Sergel, Production Music Director 

Pamela Hulen, Production Costume Designer

 

LEGALLY BLONDE will have one ensemble:

MAINSTAGE CAST will perform at Rock Bridge High School on June 28-July 1.

Actors MUST audition for a role.

 

Help the cast and the company by:

  • Reviewing the audition schedule completely prior to the audition workshop.
  • Making a commitment to attend all of the rehearsals and performances.
  • Getting to rehearsal on time.
  • DO NOT AUDITION if you will miss any technical or performance dates.

 

AUDITION INFORMATION:

Actors wishing to be cast in the must attend auditions.

Singing & Dancing - Wednesday, March 14 from 6-8:30PM

Singing & Acting - Sunday, March 18 from 12-3PM

Callbacks - Monday, March 19 from 6-8:30PM

 

ROCK BRIDGE PRODUCTION TUITION:

MAINSTAGE CAST – $275 tuition + $25 “Opt Out”

• Tuition is due at the Parent/Cast meeting at the first rehearsal.

  • Tuition payments may be arranged with the TRYPS staff:  (573) 449-4536
  • Scholarship applications are on the web site. PLEASE apply for assistance at the workshop, as we must make a scholarship determination before casting.

• Tuition must be paid in full by the first performance.

 

Tuition includes:

  1. A production t-shirt for the cast member
  2. Comp tickets:  Mainstage: two complimentary tickets to one public performance
  3. Costume except for shoes

 

MAINSTAGE REHEARSAL & PERFORMANCE DATES - LINK to calendar

- Parent/cast meeting on Saturday, June 9

- Rehearsals on Mon-Fri from 5:30-9:30P on June 4-22

- Tech rehearsals on Mon-Wed from 5:30-10P on June 25-27

- Performances on Thurs-Sun, June 28-July 1

- Four performances at Rock Bridge High School

             

Auditions require the following:

  1. Attending the scheduled audition workshop
  2. Providing all of the required paperwork at the audition workshop
  3. Attending the auditions
  4. Attending the callbacks if your name is listed
  5. Willingness to accept any role in the play in which you are cast

 

Actors must turn in their paperwork at auditions:

  • Resume form with a current photograph stapled to it – LINK

                         The photograph WILL NOT be returned to you.

  • The production permission slip – filled out and signed – LINK
  • The conflict calendar – dates reviewed and form signed – LINK

                          Review and disclose all pre-existing conflicts.

                          DO NOT audition if you have more than two conflicts.

                          DO NOT audition if you would miss a technical rehearsal or anyperformance.

  • Scholarship application (if needed) – LINK

TRYPS will award a partial scholarship of $50, $75, or $100 toward tuition based on need (Free/Reduced Lunch Program, WIC, FoodStamps). We cannot award a scholarship without this paperwork.

 

CASTING INFORMATION & EXPECTATIONS:

We will strive to cast every actor who auditions in the cast and role best suited to challenge the actor and strengthen the production. 

  • Casting is a responsibility that TRYPS takes very seriously; we labor to cast each actor in a role that will help him/her grow and make the play as strong as possible.
  • TRYPS does not pre-cast roles without disclosing this information. For example, the title role of “Scrooge” was closed to auditions as it was performed by a professional actor. Unless there is a disclaimer for a specific role and play, it is safe to assume that no role is pre-cast.
  • Our policy to cast the best actor for each role based on the work seen at auditions! 
  • The exceptions are AGE and HEIGHT. “Juliet” can’t be a 10th grader and “Romeo” a 3rd grader.” “Tiny Tim” can’t be 6’ tall.

Roles are cast based on:

  • Strength of the audition – acting, singing, & dance
  • Character choices – dialect, attitude, commitment to the character
  • Ability to take direction, to listen and to remain focused
  • Best potential for each role
  • Chemistry between actors
  • Height
  • Age
  • Best challenge for each actor
  • Number of rehearsal conflicts

 

AUDITION PREPARATION:  Link to character descriptions

HOW DO I GET A FEATURED ROLE?

  1. Listen to the Broadway cast recording the play is based upon.
  2. Watch YouTube clips of the play. It will help with dialect, attitude, character choices.
  3. Watch the film the play is based upon.
  4. Practice what you learn at the audition workshop – choreography, music, and practice all the scenes out loud.
  5. Practice different character choices: bully, shy, mean, sweet. Rehearse while looking in a mirror; it helps you see what the directors will see. Good stuff!

 

PRODUCTION AUDITIONS:

  1. Actors stay the entire time. Parents “kiss and fly.”
  2. Actors will read for many roles during the evening.
  3. Scenes are not required to be memorized at auditions.
  4. Actors will be asked to sing solo in front of a group of actors and directors.
  5. Actors should be prepared to read for any role in any scene. This material will be provided in the workshop packet.
  6. Be brave! Read with confidence, a bold voice, and do your very best! We are 100% behind all of you doing a great job!!!
  7. If you cannot attend auditions on the night requested, you may attend the alternate evening. 

 

PRODUCTION CALLBACKS:

The callback list is posted on the web site: www.trypskids.com

Actors are called from both evenings of auditions.

This is a final opportunity for the creative team:

• To pair actors, 

• To change combinations of actors, 

• To assemble the strongest casts possible.

  1. Actors stay the entire time. Parents “kiss and fly.”
  2. Actors will read for many roles during the evening.
  3. Scenes are not required to be memorized at auditions.
  4. Actors will be asked to sing solo in front of a group of actors and directors.
  5. Actors should be prepared to read for any role in any scene. This material will be provided in the workshop packet.
  6. Not all actors who are cast will be asked to return for callbacks! Only actors who are candidates for several roles or when there are several outstanding candidates for a role will be asked to return.
  7. If you will not consider being cast in any role, please notify Jill Womack prior to callbacks – trypskids@gmail.com
  8. We will not share any casting information with actors before the cast list is posted.

 

THE CAST LIST: 

The final cast list is posted on the web site: www.trypskids.com

  • The cast list is the culmination of a minimum of 20 hours of auditions and deliberation.
  • We will not change casts, performances, or rehearsals after the cast list is posted to accommodate an individual’s calendar.

              •   If your child will not accept any role offered – mark that on the rehearsal calendar due at auditions or reconsider auditioning.

  • If a student drops out of a show after the cast list is posted FOR ANY REASON, he or she will be precluded from auditioning for the following TRYPS production. 

 

REACTION TO THE CAST LIST:

  • TRYPS does offer positive, constructive feedback for the actors. We encourage students to email a request for feedback – trypskids@gmail.com 
  • Please do not call the office within 24 hours of the cast list being posted. We will offer feedback. This is not a means to air grievances. 

• Parents and actors should NOT call the office when they are angry to vent grievances and disappointment or to criticize casting decisions.

• We support all of the students who audition for the productions.

• We believe that auditions are a learning process and want students to learn to improve their skills and their confidence.

 

REHEARSAL EXPECTATIONS:

Joining the cast of a production is a huge commitment: time, effort, and responsibility.

  • All rehearsals are mandatory – We plan over 60 hours to rehearse and prepare for this production. When an actor misses rehearsal, it is impossible to keep the entire production on schedule.
  • A cast member is expected to have his/her script, a pencil, a bottle of water, and wear appropriate shoes (no crocs, sandals, clogs, high heels, flip flops) to every rehearsal.
  • Actors are required to write down character information, blocking notes, choreography, at each rehearsal. It is the only way a cast member can review work outside of rehearsal.
  • It is a hardship on the entire CAST if a student arrives without his/her script. A director or stage manager must stop and find a spare script for that actor to use during rehearsal.
  • It is a hardship on the entire CAST if a student has not written down blocking. It requires the entire cast to stop and recreate work that has already been done.
  • Cast members MAY NOT cut or change their hairstyle without consent from the creative team.
  • Cast members MAY NOT take any part of their costume out of the performance space.
  • Cast members MUST conduct themselves with safety and manners at all times.
  • Lines and/or songs will be reassigned to other actors if a student is not able to memorize lines, cues, choreography, blocking or shows a lack of commitment, energy and focus. This is always a last resort, but necessary to help the entire team.

REMEMBER:  Leading role equals LEADERSHIP. 

It is exciting to have a lead in a production; it is also a tremendous responsibility. 

Actors cast in leading roles will attend a special parent/cast meeting.

LEADERSHIP – You must be the person who:

  1. Gets the job done happily, responsibly, and quickly. 
  2. Has their lines memorized first.
  3. Doesn’t talk during rehearsal and distract other cast members.
  4. Comes to rehearsal full of energy and focus. 
  5. Leads by example.
  6. Is thoughtful – not boastful.
  7. Encourages others to stay on the ball.

A production’s success depends on the example actors in leading roles set for the rest of the cast.

A production’s success depends on every actor to be prepared – memorized, script in hand, pencil in hand, energy, positive attitude.

A production’s success depends on every actor to have lines, choreography, and lyrics memorized from week to week.

ADDITIONAL REHEARSAL TIME MAY BE REQUIRED IF:

TRYPS makes every effort to maintain rehearsals on our original calendar.

This occurs when:

  • Cast members do not review their lines, blocking, and choreography during the week. 
  • If cast members do not remember their lines, lyrics, choreography, and blocking from one week to the next.
  • If cast members do not rehearse with full emotion and commitment.
  • If cast members are not prepared for tech week and performance.

 

For the best interest of the production and cast:

  • We reserve the right to include or exclude an actor from work rehearsed during any absence. Each absence requires three rehearsals to get that actor back up to speed. Exclusion from a scene or song isn’t meant as a punishment; it helps the show stay on track.
  • We reserve the right to re-assign lines or singing solos to cast members who do not know their lines as the memorization dates are due, miss rehearsals, or who show a lack of energy/commitment as a role demands.
  • We reserve the right to re-cast a role if an actor has more than three absences, does not learn his/her lines, or exhibits a lack of respect to the creative team.

 

OPT OUT FOR MAINSTAGE CAST:

“Opt Out” is a mandatory $25 fee collected with tuition.

“Opt Out” helps TRYPS keep your tuition low because we do not have to hire extra painters, carpenters, seamstresses, PR managers, etc. 

Your “Opt Out” fee is refunded after ten volunteer hours have been completed.

Volunteers are asked to help with costumes, set build and painting, prop building or shopping, flier distribution, marketing, coordinating Stars & Roses, coordinating Raffle Baskets, running crew, and special events.

  • We ask every family to volunteer 10 hours
  • We ask that adults supervise children and work with them to fulfill hours
  • If you cannot volunteer, “Opt Out” is a tax-deductible donation.

• “Opt Out” hours DO NOT include ushering or Stars & Roses volunteers. Ushers and Stars & Roses volunteers receive a free ticket for that evening’s performance.

 

ADDITIONAL EXPENSES & PURCHASES

TRYPS endeavors to keep all tuition costs inclusive with tuition.

Cast members will need to provide:

  • Shoes for their character; information will be provided by the costume designer.
  • An item for the raffle basket (raises money for the scholarship fund)
  • Make-up (items that may be found at Wal-Green’s or Target)
  • Tights or socks
  • A laundry basket with the actor’s name, role, and cell number on the rim
  • Items for the cast party (sandwiches, brownies, etc.)
  • POSTER – We will take production photographs and design a production poster.
  • DVD – We will video a performance when the rights are available for purchase. These are for private home viewing – not church, scouts, school or other public viewings.
  • T-SHIRT – Additional show t-shirts may be purchased for parents or siblings.

                   Mainstage: Poster – $20, DVD – $15, Extra T-shirt – $15

 

LOAD IN / LOAD OUT

The amount of time required for installing (“load in”) and removing (“load out” or “strike”) a production into a performance space depends upon the venue.

TRYPS rents and produces plays in three different theaters each year:

  • TRYPS Little Theatre at Columbia Mall in the fall and summer
  • Columbia College’s Launer Auditorium in the spring
  • Rock Bridge High School’s Performing Arts Center in the summer.

• ROCK BRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL’S PERFORMING ARTS CENTER:

Scenery, props and costumes are moved from TRYPS to the theater prior to the shows.

Everything must be moved, restocked, and the space cleaned at the end of the run.

Families are asked to move build, assemble, and repair scenery.

Families are asked to assemble the stage extension.

Families are asked to organize properties and costumes -or- restock them at TRYPS.

Families are asked to use both the rented U-Haul truck and personal vehicles to move equipment, costumes, props, and tools to and from the theater.

The manpower involved is extreme. 

Different levels of strength and ability are involved.

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