Auditions will be held at the theater on Sunday, 2/7/2010 at 2:00 p.m. and on Tuesday, 2/9/2010 at 7:00 p.m.  The theater is located at the corners of Grove Street and Maple Avenue in Chester, New Jersey.

Performances of the show are scheduled for 4/30, 5/1, 5/7, 5/8, 5/14, 5/15, 5/16 (matinee), 5/21, 5/22 and close with a matinee on Sunday, 5/23.

Needed are 4 male and 3 female musical comedy performers. Please come with a resume and a musical theatre song (with sheet music in correct key). An accompanist will be provided.

About the Show:

Love can make a woman do strange things.  Like lie about her past.  Or give up her career for the man she loves.  Or throw off her princessly raiment and disguise herself as a young man in order to infiltrate the guarded “men-only” palace compound of an exiled prince she’s admired from afar, who is secretly plotting to murder her and usurp her throne.  Such is the state of things in this hilarious, tongue-in-cheek, anachronistic adaptation of the classic Marivaux comedy, “Triumph of Love.” 

Cast Breakdown:

• Agis – (age range 20 – 35) a student of reason, a young innocent who has been raised to reclaim his rightful throne, but discovers that his true desire is to find love.  Tenor (ability to sing and sustain a High A).
• Hesione – (age range 40 – 60) Agis’ Aunt. A stern philosopher who wants her nephew to take down the current ruler of Sparta to reclaim the throne that is rightfully his.  A Betty Buckley type.  Mezzo / Strong Belt (up to a high D).
• Harlequin – (age range 25 – 40) the Valet.  Servant to Hesione.  Tenor with strong comedic abilities.
• Dimas – (age range 25 – 45) the Gardner.  Servant to Hesione.  Baritone with strong comedic abilities.
• Hermocrates – (age range 40 – 60) Agis’s Uncle.  A philosopher.  The brother to Hesione, a powerful, forbidding intellectual tyrant.  Feared by those around him.  Baritone.
• Princess Leonide – (age range 20 – 35).  A beautiful young woman, and ruler of Sparta.  A driven woman who will do almost anything to find true love, and hopes to find that in Agis.  Disguises herself as a man for part of the musical.  A strong comedic actress, with the ability to portray the many different characters that Leonide uses to deceive those around her.  High Mezzo – Belt (up to a high D).
• Corrine – (age range 25 – 40).  Princess Leonide’s maid servant.  A little rough around the edges, but would do anything to help Princess Leonide reach her goal.  Strong comedic actress.  Mezzo with a VERY high Belt (up to an E) and the ability to sing the D above high C.

If you have any further questions about the play please contact the director via email at fiorelloje@yahoo.com

Auditions will be held on Sunday, 10/25/09 at 6:00 PM and Tuesday, 10/27/09 at 7:00 PM. Auditions will be held at the theatre which is located at the corner of Maple and Grove Streets in Chester, NJ. 

UPDATE: Auditioners are asked to familiarize themselves with these two excerpts: “Shirley Valentine – Side One“ and “Shirley Valentine – Side Two.”

Audition Requirements

One Actress to play 40-50 year-old working-class English mother of two grown children.

Actresses auditioning for the role must be adept at comedy, working class English accent (preferably Liverpudlian) and memorization. Readings will be from the script. 

About the Piece

Inside Mrs. Joe Bradshaw is the former Shirley Valentine longing to get out. Her self- confidence badly shattered by school, marriage and life, she is reduced to talking to the kitchen wall whilst preparing her husband’s evening meal – to be on the table as he opens the front door every night.  As she sips a glass of wine, she dreams of drinking in a country where the grape is grown.  Her feminist friend offers her a holiday in Greece and, with great trepidation and a lot of forward planning; Shirley seizes the opportunity.  In Greece she encounters a totally different lifestyle, breaking out of the mold cast for her by society. 

For more information, contact Cindy Alexander (908) 713-6207

Save the date!

Auditions for Adam Bock’s play “The Receptionist”, directed by Jeff Knapp, will be held on Sunday, October 11 and Tuesday, October 13 and 7:30 PM at the Black River Playhouse.

The Receptionist is a dark comedy about office life… and it might be about torture.  Or not…

To let Samuel French summarize:  “At the start of a typical day in the Northeast Office, Beverly deals effortlessly with ringing phones and her colleague’s romantic troubles. But the appearance of a charming rep from the Central Office disrupts the friendly routine. And as the true nature of the company’s business becomes apparent, The Receptionist raises disquieting, provocative questions about the consequences of complicity with evil.”

Character Breakdown:

Beverly Wilkins (late 40s-50s), the receptionist:

Lorraine Taylor (late 20s, mid-40s), A co-worker. Single.

Edward Raymond. (Early 50s) Their boss. A young grandfather.

Martin Dart (Mid-30s), Married, with a child

The audition will consist mostly of script readings.

Actresses auditioning for the role of the receptionist, should have a one-sided telephone call prepared.  Portray the OTHER person’s story using only your side of the conversation.  There’s a lot of that sort of thing in the play that may be difficult to convey in a cold reading, so being able to sell your ability to listen and react will be key.  You’ll also be asked to read from the script.

Due to popular demand, here are pages from the script that show Beverly’s one-sided conversation.  Feel free to familiarlize yourself with this instead of preparing your own: The Receptionist – Beverly Side

The show opens November 21 2009 and runs into December.

“A deceptively complex work that intends to reinvent the concept of the office comedy, The Receptionist plays with the idea of who knows how much and how good a thing that ultimately is.” – Tom Avila, Metro Weekly

“The genially mundane goings-on in this blandly average workplace are throw into macabre relief when … a single, jarring line of dialogue sets the calm surface of the play rippling with creepy currents.” – Charles Isherwood, New York Times

Details here: http://www.chestertheatregroup.org/2009/06/auditions-the-hound-of-the-baskervilles/

This is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s most spine-tingling mystery, featuring his most famous detective, adapted for the stage with plenty of suspense, humor, and ultimate terror. Sir Henry has become heir to the vast Baskerville fortune, a legacy that comes complete with a family curse – death at the fangs of a living horror prowling the English moor. Not knowing who to trust, a family confidant enlists the assistance of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. As suspicions grow and long lost family secrets are reveled, the true source of this age old curse only becomes more disturbing. From nosy neighbors to shifty house servants, Holmes and Watson are put to their ultimate test in trying to save the young Barron’s life.

The production is directed by Chris Mortensen, and readings will be from the script.  The rehearsal schedule will be determined by the cast’s availability.

Characters

Sherlock Holmes (30s-40s) The Famed private investigator interested in bizarre cases. A master at detection. a genius among geniuses.

Dr. Watson (30s-40s) Mr. Holmes’ colleague. A man fascinated by mysteries and his friend’s ability to solve them. Loyal to the end, and cleaver enough in his own right.

Sir Henry (20s-30s) A young man who’s just inherited the entire Baskerville fortune, and the curse which goes along with it. A fully capable gentleman, even he finds himself struggling to keep his head above water in his new situation.

Lady Agatha Mortimer (40s-50s) A medical doctor and old friend to Dr. Watson. A forceful woman who has an invested interest in the outcome of the case, yet does not escape suspicion herself.

Perkins (20s) A young simple girl from the village who has been employed as a maid at Baskerville Hall. Her innocence and ignorance would seem to save her from suspicion.

Barrymore (60s) The Butler. An older gentleman who has been in service at Baskerville Hall for many years, ranging back to his own childhood. A sinister old coot who is not always forthright with his information. But a capable servant non-the-less and devoted to his wife.

Mrs. Barrymore (60s) The housekeeper. A quirky old woman who, like her husband, has spent most of her days at Baskerville Hall. Her loyalty to the family of Baskervilles is unmistakable, yet she does hold close to her own secrets.

Kathy Stapleton (20s-30s) A vivacious young woman who attracts every man she comes in contact with. Always smiling and full of energy…not that she doesn’t have her own demons to deal with as well.

Jack Stapleton (30s) Kathy’s brother. A somewhat simpleminded fellow, very into his butterfly collection. Country life suits him well, although he is prone to emotional outbursts.

Laura Lyons (30s) A fully capable young woman who was forced to make her own way in life. Self sufficient and focused, she holds tight to a dangerous secret.

No performance on July 4.

The production is being Clifford Parrish is directing as well as providing musical direction; Jeffrey Fiorello is assistant directing and Mark Happell is serving as producer and designer.

Auditions: Sunday, March 8, 3 pm till 5:30 pm.

Tuesday, March 10, 7:30 pm until 9:30 pm

For information, please call: Clifford Parrish, (908) 696 – 0411

Cast Requirements:

Guido Contini (tenor): a director/movie star who is turning 40. 

Young Guido and 3 School Mates: 4 young boys, unchanged voices. 

20 women who play age 20 and up. All vocal ranges, with choral experience preferred.

Louisa Contini, his wife (mezzo/belt)

Carla, his sexy mistress (extreme range: belt to legit soprano)

Claudia, his movie star muse  (soprano, with low extension)

Guido’s mother, older (soprano)

Liliane LaFleur, his French producer (mezzo/belt)

Stephanie Necrophorus, critic (belt)

Our Lady of the Spa (mezzo)

Mama Maddelena (mezzo, comic)

Sarraghina, a local whore (mezzo/belt)

Lina Darling, Liliane’s assistant

Up to 11 female ensemble members, sopranos and altos, are featured in various numbers.

NO roles are precast!  All are welcome.

The cast consists of three men and four women ages 18 to 65.

Arnold (Male, 35-50) – a genial everyman who hosts the group; writes instruction booklets

Ilsa (Female, 18-25) – attractive young woman; tends to Arnold’s mother during the meetings

Brevis (Male, 60’s) – irascible former school teacher; writes musical comedy

Grace (Female, 40’s) – pale and fraught housewife and mother; writes and illustrates children’s stories

Vivvi (Female, 30’s) – effusive and attractive; writes 1930’s detective fiction

Clem (Male, 30’s) – awkward nerd; writes science fiction

Jess (Female, 40’s) - outdoorsy farmer; writes Victorian melodrama

All roles are available.  Performers should have proficiency with English dialect.  Audition will consist of script recitations.  Michael T. Mooney of Budd Lake directs the play.

Performances are in May 2009. The Black River Playhouse is located on the corner of Grove and Maple Streets in Chester, NJ.   For further information call 908.879.7304.

The plot of this 2007 Pulitizer Prize winning play centers on the impact the accidental killing of a small child has on family dynamics and on the road toward domestic redemption.

The production is to be directed by Jay Mills.  Mr. Mills is a veteran director who has helmed several other productions at CTG including; Three Tall Women, Proof and I Hate Hamlet.  Prepared monologues are unnecessary as readings will be from the script.  Character breakdowns are as follows:

Becca. (Mid-30s to Early-40s) – A one-time Sotheby’s employee turned self-contained, order-obsessed, stay-at-home mom

Izzy (Early to Mid-30s) – Becca’s all-too-lively sister

Howie (Mid-30s to Early-40s) – Becca’s caring husband

Nat (Late-50s to Early-60s) – Becca and Izzy’s overbearing but compassionate mother

Jason (must play late teens) – Guilt-ridden High School student

If callbacks are necessary a date will be determined.  Rehearsals will be weeknights and weekend afternoons based on availability.  Production dates are Fridays and Saturdays March 6^th, 7^th, 13^th, 14^th, 20^th and 21^st at 8:00 p.m. with a scheduled matinee on Sunday, March 15^th at 2:00 p.m.

If you have any questions, please leave a message at the theater box office at 908-879-7304.< -->

Performance dates for the show are Friday and Saturday evenings 12/5 and 12/6 at 8:00 p.m. with a Sunday matinee on 12/7 at 2:00 p.m.

Ms. Saarmann and Mr. Horan are looking for a minimum of 8 adult singers of all voice ranges who will be singing both solo and group numbers with arrangements by Mr. Horan.

Auditions will be held on Sunday 10/5 at 2:00 pm and Tuesday 10/7 at 7:30 p.m. at the Black River Playhouse on the corner of Grove and Maple Streets in Chester, NJ.

Those auditioning are asked to bring music for either a standard holiday song or Broadway show tune in their key. An accompanist will be provided. Performers should also come prepared for a movement audition.

If you have any questions or require further information, please contact leave a message at the theater box office at 908-879-7304.