Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre Announces New Season, Audition Dates
The Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre Festival, now entering its 26th award-winning season, has announced its mainstage productions for the 2006 season, and has also set the dates for its preliminary auditions.Wednesday, February 15, 2006 01:59 PM
Applications are now available for set, costume, lighting, box office and administrative positions for the summer. High school students over the age of 16 are also encouraged to apply for high school internships. Please visit www.summerbroadway.org for more information.
THE SEASON
The Festival will produce three mainstage musicals in 2006. The opening musical will be The Taffetas created by Rick Lewis . The second musical will be Carousel, with a book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and music by Richard Rodgers. The final musical will be I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, with a book and lyrics by Joe Dipietro and music by Jimmy Roberts.
THE SHOWS
The Taffetas will be directed by David Caldwell, with musical direction by Ken Butler. The production begins rehearsals on May 23, 2006, and opens for preview on June 14. The production will run through July 2, with performances Tuesday through Saturday at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 and 8:00 p.m., except for July 2, when there will be a 2:00 p.m. performance only.
The Taffetas celebrates the music of all girl groups in the fifties, by following the career of The Taffetas a group of four sisters. The group performs classics of the era such as “Mr. Sandman,” “Where the Boys Are” and “Doggie in the Window.”
The Taffetas requires four strong female singers needed, ages 18-30, with fine solo voices, as well as the ability to sing close, 50's-style girl-group harmonies.
Carousel will be directed by MSMT General Director Charles Richter, with musical direction by MSMT Musical Artistic Director Jeremy Slavin and choreography by Director of Dance, Karen Dearborn. The production begins rehearsals on June 20, 2006, and opens for preview on July 12. The production will run through July 30, with performances Tuesday through Saturday at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 and 8:00 p.m., except for July 30, when there will be a 2:00 p.m. performance only.
Carousel opened in 1945 under the direction of Robert Mamoulian with the choreography of Agnes de Mille, winning 8 Donaldson Awards. The 1994 revival won 5 Tony Awards including “Best Musical Revival.” Karen Dearborn will be recreating de Mille’s original choreography, so dancers must be strong in ballet.
Carousel has a large cast with roles for singers and actors between the ages of 5 – 60. There are also non-singing roles and separate singing and dancing choruses. Everyone MUST sing at the preliminary auditions and all ages are encouraged to audition. Those interested in principal or featured dance roles or the dance chorus must attend a group dance audition in the afternoon on Sunday, February 26.
I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change will be directed by Andy Gale with musical direction by Vince di Mura. The production begins rehearsals on July 5, 2006, and opens for preview on July 26. The production will run through August 13, with performances Tuesday through Saturday at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 and 8:00 p.m., except for August 13, when there will be a 2:00 p.m. performance only.
I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, Off-Broadway's phenomenal longest-running musical celebrates the modern-day suburban mating game. Audiences fill the theatre with laughter as the cast explores the joys of dating, romance, marriage, lovers, husbands, wives, and in-laws.
I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change requires two men and two women between the ages of 20 – 35 who are strong singers and actors with good movement skills.
THE AUDITIONS
Preliminary ADULT auditions for all three musicals will be held Sunday, February 26, in the Empie Theatre, Baker Center for the Arts, from 2:00 – 11:00 p.m. and on Monday, February 27 from 8:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. in the Baker Theatre, Trexler Pavilion for Theatre and Dance, on the Muhlenberg College campus. Everyone must prepare a solo vocal audition and anyone interested in featured dance roles, and the dance chorus in Carousel, must attend a group dance audition.
Preliminary Dance Auditions for Carousel ONLY will be held on Sunday, February 26, starting at 2 pm. Vocal auditions will be held on Sunday from 7 pm – 11 pm and Monday from 8 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Carousel has several roles for children between the ages of 5 – 13. Appointments will be scheduled for these roles at a later date. Children interested in these roles should send a resume and photo to SMT, Theatre & Dance Dept., Muhlenberg College, 2400 Chew Street, Allentown, PA 18104.
For the vocal audition, please prepare no more than 32 bars of one memorized song from a Broadway musical written before 1980. Operetta selections are appropriate for this audition. You must bring sheet music in the key in which you would like to sing; please, no accompaniment tapes. An accompanist will be provided for the vocal audition; please CLEARLY mark any cuts in your music.
Those wishing to audition must secure an audition time in advance by calling the Muhlenberg Theatre & Dance Office at 484-664-3335 before February 25, 2006. When you call, you will be told when to report for your vocal audition and, if applicable, when to report for your dance audition. If you leave a message, be sure to state if you would like a dance audition time and leave a phone number where we can reach you during the day, or where we can leave a message for you with your audition time. You may also secure an audition time by sending an e-mail to [email protected] before February 24, 2006.
If you live too far away from the Allentown area, or if you are unable to attend the auditions, you may submit a preliminary videotape audition. The tape should consist of a comic monologue not more than two minutes in length, one song (see above), and a 90-second dance solo. Tapes must arrive before the audition date listed above to be eligible for consideration.
If you receive a callback, you MUST attend the callback audition to be considered for the role. Callback auditions will be held in March.
All performers are paid an honorarium for their participation in Muhlenberg Summer Theatre productions. Salaries typically range from $350-$400 for a first-year participant in a chorus role in a show, with higher salaries available for principal roles. Please note that figure is a total stipend for the entire season, not a weekly figure!
Free dormitory housing is also provided for anyone who does not live in the Allentown area.
Non-Performing Opportunities
Each year, the Summer Theatre employs up to 50 technicians, costumers, and administrative personnel. Carpenters, electricians and properties people are needed for the productions, as well as running crews – light board operators, sound board operators and backstage crews. Costumers, first hand, stitchers, and wardrobe running crew members are needed in the Costume Shop. Box Office associates, house managers, and publicity/PR people are needed in the Administrative Offices.
High school internships are available for those who are at least 16 years of age by the time they begin working for the Summer Theatre. Interns work along side college students and professionals from the College and guest artists from New York, learning valuable skills that they can take back to their high school programs.
Technicians and administrative salaries vary depending upon the position, though first-year carpenter/electricians and costume shop personnel start at $2,000 for the summer. First-year high school interns are paid $400.
Free dormitory housing is also provided for anyone who does not live in the Allentown area.
The application deadline for technicians, costumers and administrative personnel is March 1, 2006.
Technical or administrative internship applications can be found online at www.summerbroadway.org, or call the Muhlenberg College Theatre & Dance Offices at 484-664-3335. Technical/administrative applications can be sent via e-mail to [email protected].
