AUDITIONS
"RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN'S OKLAHOMA!"
Performance Dates March 15 - April 7, 2024
Rehearsal Dates: January 24th - March 14th, 2024
AUDITION DATES:
Sunday, January 21st at 6:30 PM
Monday, January 22nd at 6:30 PM
*Auditioners only need to come to one audition day.
CALLBACKS, by invitation only - Tuesday, January 23rd at 6:30 PM
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PRODUCTION TEAM:
Director: Alexandra Shawa
Stage Manager: Johnna Binsted
Music Director: Alex Mason
Choreographer: Jessica Hill
Synopsis:
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Oklahoma!, was the first collaborative effort by famed partnership, Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein II, wherein they created the standard of America’s greatest contribution to theatre…the musical! Set in an Indian Territory not long after the turn of the 20th century, the plot involves love, attraction, jealousy, manipulation, and everything in-between. The story follows a farmgirl, Laurey, and her courtship with two men. One is a handsome well-meaning cowboy named Curley. The other is a frightening farmhand named Jud. Other characters include the flirtatious and flighty Ado Annie who boasters her own two suitors: Will, who can’t seem to hold onto enough money to win Annie’s father’s approval, and a peddler named Ali, who has the money, but no desire to be married! Aunt Eller (Laurey’s aunt) and Andrew Carnes (Annie’s father) round out the lead characters in this delightful song and dance about love and life in the wild frontier!
AUDITION INFO
• Auditions are open to 16 years old and older. You must turn 16 years old before the show opens on 3/15.
• All rehearsal conflicts must be communicated on the audition form. Rehearsals will dominantly be held Monday- Thursday 6:30-9:30, but you could be called for any day, so ALL conflicts must be listed from January 24th - April 7th . NO SHOWS or Tech Week rehearsals can be missed. Multiple conflicts brought up after casting can result in dismissal from the cast or recasting. This is at the discretion of the production team.
• Please bring a printed version of your resume and the audition form completed OR arrive early to fill out the audition form provided at the registration desk.
• All auditioners will be asked to sing one of the four provided music selections and to participate in a dance audition
• Please BRING: resume, audition form, comfortable shoes (dance shoes, if possible), comfortable and presentable clothing, list of conflicts, and a fun attitude!
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DANCE AUDITION:
Auditioners will be taught a basic dance combination, a short tap routine and a brief ballet routine. These will be learned as a large group and performed in small groups. Time permitting, there will be some across-the-floor combinations. If you can do pointe, please be prepared to demonstrate a 1 min routine or combination. Dance shoes are not required, but highly encouraged.
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MUSIC AUDITION:
Prepare one of the following cuts…
"Out of My Dreams"
Great Choice For: • Female-Identifying Auditions
• Sopranos
• Mezzos
• Comedic Parts
"I Cain't Say No"
Great Choice For: • Female-Identifying Auditions
• Altos • Belters
• Character Parts
• Comedic Parts
"People Will Say We're In Love"
Great Choice For: • Male-Identifying Auditions
• Tenors
• Mid and High Baritones
• Character Parts
• Comedic Parts
"Lonely Room"
Great Choice For: • Male-Identifying Auditions
• Low Baritones
• Basses
• Musical Contrast
• Comedic Parts
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• You’ll sing with piano. Introductions are indicated on each cut. A cappella auditions are not acceptable. Material must be sung in the key provided.
• Oscar Hammerstein III wrote exactly what he wanted actors to say. If you see the word “cain’t”, for example, then make sure that’s what you sing!
• Links to reference recordings of each of the above cuts are provided above, BUT...we want to hear your take on this material. Sing the tune the speed you want it to go. Be flexible with the tempo if that helps you. Introduce some back beating or even a new pitch here and there if it helps you make your dramatic point. Interpret the material, don’t just replicate what you hear on a recording.
• Please use this material to audition for a character and voice type, not a specific part. Singing “I Cain’t Say No” doesn’t mean we’ll only consider you for Ado Annie, for example – it just means that you feel like that song best showcases your musical and acting abilities. There are lots of parts besides Laurey, Annie, Jud, and Curly in this show!
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CALLBACKS:
You will be contacted via phone if you are needed for callbacks. Please do not plan to attend if you are not requested. Those that are requested to attend callbacks will be informed if there is anything they need to prepare.
CASTING INFORMATION:
Laurey, Female, Soprano, She has an innocence and yet an air of knowledge about her. She lives with her Aunt Eller on a ranch and is in love with Curly, though she may not admit it.
Curly, Male, Baritone, Has a confident swagger and deserves it, he is the most handsome man in the whole county. He is in love with Laurey, but refuses to admit it. He’s a cowboy and the romantic lead. He is called Curly for his curly hair.
Aunt Eller, Female, mezzo, She acts as the town’s aunt, a fun-loving caretaker. She watches over the town and a ranch with her niece, Laurey and a hired hand, Jud. She sees the good in everyone.
Will Parker, Male, Tenor, Will is a cowboy who is skilled enough to compete in rodeos. Being able to do rope tricks is a plus. Will is a dance role, tap dancer preferred. He is interested in Ado Annie, but isn’t the brightest bulb.
Jud Fry, Male, Baritone,Described as dark and growly by others, Jud takes care of the ranch Laurey and Aunt Eller live on. Jud does not fit in with the society he lives with, he is seen by most as an outsider and misunderstood. He has feelings for Laurey. He works hard to take care of Laurey and Aunt Eller on the ranch.
Ado Annie Carnes, Female, Soprano, Andrew Carnes’ daughter, she “Can’t Say No” to anyone. She wants everyone to be happy. Her heart is always in the right place, but she isn’t always the best judge of character. A comic, romantic lead, she is wooed by Ali Hakim, but deep down she feels a connection to Will parker.
Ali Hakim, Male, Traveling peddler who says he’s from Persia (present day Iran). Though we aren’t sure how much of what he says we can believe. He, like Jud, is an outsider to this community but not feared by most. He likes pretty things and women. He pursues Ado Annie and Gertie Cummings.
Gertie Cummings, Female, Alto or Soprano, From the next town over, she has eyes on Curly and isn’t waiting around for Laurey to say no to him. She has a unique laugh.
Andrew Carnes, Male, Tenor, He is very protective of his daughter, Ado Annie. He doesn’t want Will Parker to marry her because he believes the cowboy’s life to be risky and unreliable. To prove this isn’t true he asks for Will to maintain $50 in order to have his daughter’s hand in marriage. He is a rancher, and doesn’t feel very kind to cowboys in general.
Dance Curly, Male, Dancer, He must be able to dance a ballet and should resemble Curly in Laurey’s dream ballet. May be doubled as another character or in the ensemble.
Dance Laurey, Female, Dancer, She must be able to dance a ballet and should resemble the actress playing Laurey. May be doubled as another character or in the ensemble.
Ike Skidmore, M, Baritone, Farmer, Owns the ranch where the Box Social takes place.
Other Characters: ELLEN, KATE, VIRGINIA, VIVIAN, AND JUNE These girls are Laurey’s friends and have some featured spoken lines and solos in songs throughout the show. They should be good singers and dancers and able to fill out the ensemble when not featured in a song or scene.
CORD ELAM, SLIM, MIKE, FRED, AND JOE These gentlemen are a rancher/ marshal, a farmer, another farmer, Curly’s friend in town, and a cowboy, respectively. They come out to the box social to support the new schoolhouse and to have some fun. They should be good singers and movers and actors who are comfortable with saying lines onstage.
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