Golden Garter Theater Auditions Great Gorge Variety Arts Players

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Announcing open auditions for our 2009 cast of…

Quite possibly the most fun you’ll have performing in your life! Announcing our 2009 Cast of “The Magical Melodrama!” Come see these talented thespians in downtown Vancouver on April 16, 17, 18 or 19^th, 2009. We guarantee you’ll “laugh ‘til your cheeks hurt!”

Armitage Shanks (Villain)………..

David Roberts

Ernest T. Beek (Hero)……….……Zack Persson

Diamond Lil………………………………Darlene Taylor

Sheriff Lawson Forcer …………..Matthew Legare

Penelope Pureheart (Heroine)…Cheyene Combs

Understudies……………………..Shelby Nelson (Penelope) & Evan Adent (Earnest T. Beek)

(If you’re interested in our future productions, we are always casting for understudies and upcoming productions!)

CAST DETAILS

At auditions, we’ll ask you to do a cold reading from our script (supplied the day of the audition) and sing a short song acappella (that means “without music,” just like “American Idol,” but without Simon, Randy, Paula and the million dollar prize!).

All cast members must be at least 16 years old, have their own transportation and in good health. You will need your own car or transportation as rehearsals will be in the Vancouver/Battle Ground area and April performances will be in downtown Vancouver. All cast members will not be paid, but a small stipend for expenses will be paid. All actors will be asked to sign a Performance Contract. Most of our rehearsals and performances will be on evenings and weekends, therefore most actors in the past have been able to keep their “day” job while also performing as part of our GGVAP. The April cast will be announced by the end of February. In March, you will receive your script to memorize your role. In late March rehearsals will begin on a lite schedule (mostly some evenings and some weekends).

All rehearsals will be in the Vancouver-Portland-SW Washington area, so you must be able to provide your own transportation. Performances in April will take place in downtown Vancouver, WA, USA.

Cast members must commit to attending all of the required rehearsals and all of the performances they are responsible for. Each actor may also be asked to help out with tech, ushering, greeting, box office sales, snack bar and clean up on performance nights. A full script and DVD of the show will be given each actor to study on their own. Any unexcused absences from either rehearsals or performances will be grounds for immediate dismissal. Since we are a professional theater company with tickets sold usually months in advance, reliability is of the utmost importance.

A Great Gorge Variety Arts Player must be a team player with good people and improvisational skills. Much of our show is interactive with our audiences, so good ad-libbing skills are a plus! In addition to the show performance, all cast members will also be required to set-up and take-down theatrical sets and equipment before and after each run of the show. Therefore, you should be in good health and be able to do some light (and sometimes heavy) lifting. No divas or prima donnas allowed! Cast members will also be required to appear in character before and after the show to meet and greet our audience guests, plus help with marketing, selling tickets, answering correspondence and at the snack bar at intermission.

Also, any additional talents you have (juggling, mime, singing, dancing, acrobats, etc.) that we can utilize in the “Olio” are welcome! We like to consider all of our cast members as part of a bigger family called The Great Gorge Variety Arts Players.

If you are not familiar with the age old “melodrama form,” please read the description on our “home” page before your audition.

Who are we looking for? Please email us your headshot and single sheet of theatrical experience! Here are the parts currently in our show:

The Hero! Late teens, early twenties male. Physically fit with the ability to act. We will teach you the magic. Any other talents for use in the “Olio” a bonus! If you are stout-hearted, love puppies and like to right wrongs, you may be perfect for this role!

The Heroine! Late teens, early twenties female. Physically fit with the ability to act. Comedy experience a plus. Any other talents for use in the “Olio” a bonus! If you feel you are “pure as the driven snow,” then our heroine could be you.

The Villain! Any age male. Definitely the most enjoyable part in the cast. Someone who loves to be hated! A twirl of the moustache mixed with evil motives a plus! We will teach you the magic. Physically fit with the ability to “ham it up” will also help. Any other talents for use in the “Olio” a bonus! If you have a heart that is “two sizes too small,” this role is for you.

The Theatre Owner! Any age female (Understudy only right now). Think Mae West crossed with Miss Kitty from Gunsmoke! Curvaceous, yet wholesome, “Diamond Lil” is a woman who can “sell a song” and act as our theatre “hostess.” She’ll be a big part of the melodrama and the Olio, so a woman of talent and “appeal” is definitely needed. Good singing voice a plus.

The Master of Ceremonies/Dim-Witted Sheriff! Yes, a male of any age who will get to play two, two, two parts in one! This jovial fellow will get to kick off our show by leading the sing-along with the audience, (so, good musical skills a plus) then he’ll get to introduce our cast and begin the play. Later, during the melodrama, he will return playing our dim-witted Sheriff. During the “Olio,” this handsome and debonair fellow will M.C. our variety show, plus perform a single spot himself if he has a special talent to exhibit. Definitely, a gregarious, warm-hearted soul is best for this role.

Techies, Tickets & Treats, Oh My! Additionally, we will also be casting two able-bodied souls who will help run our ticket table, snack bar and sound/lights. These two teammates will also work every night and be paid a small stipend for expenses along with the above performers.

Don’t delay, write today! Head shots & resume’s may always be mailed to: The Golden Garter Auditions, PO Box 822002, Vancouver, WA 98682 or email us both head shot and resume to info@GoldenGarter.com.