Audition Notice for The Drowsy Chaperone
West Hartford Community Theater is excited to announce auditions for The Drowsy Chaperone on Sunday, June 4 from 4-7 pm and Monday June 5th from 6:30-8:30 pm at St. Gianna's Church Parish Hall, 465 South Quaker Lane, West Hartford, CT.
Prepare to sing 16 bars of a song in the style of the show, but not from the show. Memorization not necessary. Please bring your own music. Accompanist will be provided. Please also be prepared to do a cold reading from the script Sides will be available at the audition. Please wear comfortable clothing, as you will be doing a brief movement/dance combination with our choreographer.
If you have questions about the music, please contact Ben Mabrey at benmabrey@gmail.com. If you tap, bring your tap shoes. Bring your resumé, with your list of past shows. Applications will be provided if you do not have a resumé. Persons auditioning will be seen in order of arrival.
Call backs will be on June 14th, St. Gianna's Church Parish Hall, 465 South Quaker Lane, West Hartford, CT. Time TBD. Songs from the show will be assigned for callbacks.
The Drowsy Chaperone by Bob Martin and Don McKeller with music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison, will be performed at Duffy School, 95 Westminster Drive, West Hartford, CT on November 4, 5, 10, 11 and 12, 2023.
With the houselights down, a man in a chair appears on stage and puts on his favorite record: the cast recording of a fictitious 1928 musical. The recording comes to life in his apartment and The Drowsy Chaperone begins as the man in the chair looks on. Mix in two lovers on the eve of their wedding, a bumbling best man, a desperate theater producer, a not-so-bright hostess, two gangsters posing as pastry chefs, a misguided Don Juan and an intoxicated chaperone, and you have the ingredients for an evening of madcap delight.
Hailed by New York Magazine as "The Perfect Broadway Musical," The Drowsy Chaperone is a masterful meta-musical, poking fun at all the tropes that characterize the musical theater genre. Leave your subtlety at home folks!
Production Team:
Director: Jane Cerosky
Music Director: Ben Mabrey
Choreographer: Jen Bunger
THE DROWSY CHAPERONE Character List
All of the cast except for Man in Chair, Janet, Robert and the Chaperone will help to make up the ensemble at various points in the show. All age ranges are flexible.
Man in Chair: Lead
Vocal range: Baritone
Age range: 30-60
The Man In Chair is the narrator and host for the show. He is essentially a neurotic shut-in but he is truly happy listening to his collection of soundtracks from classic Broadway shows. This is the only principal character that is not a stock character from 1920's musicals, and his mannerisms should be funny and charming but also realistic.
Janet Van de Graaff: Lead
Vocal range: Alto with big belt (G3-E5)
Age range: 30s
The star of Feldzieg’s Follies is conflicted about giving up her life on the stage to marry Robert Martin. An attractive, vivacious, outgoing personality, she loves being the center of attention and is the consummate 1920s starlet. Strong movement required and some "special skills" (acrobatics, juggling, playing an instrument, etc.) are a real plus.
Robert Martin: Lead
Vocal range: Tenor (C3-Ab4)
Age range: 30s-40s
Robert is the groom-to-be who is deeply in love with Janet. He is the token 1920s leading man – debonair, dashing, and a matinee idol. He is cheesy, cheerful, and optimistic. He must be able to tap dance and roller skate.
The Drowsy Chaperone: Lead
Vocal range: Alto with strong belt (F3-D5)
Age range: 40s-50s
The Chaperone is Janet’s alcoholic confidante. She is care-free, often because she is drunk. An experienced “woman of the world” who couldn’t care less what the world think, she is also a melodramatic diva to be reckoned with who gleefully chews the scenery and steals just about every scene she is in. Think Liza Minnelli meets Tallulah Bankhead.
Aldolpho: Featured
Vocal range: Bass/baritone and strong falsetto (A#2-G4)
Age range: 40s-50s
Adolpho believes he is the quintessential Latin lothario. He is a womanizing cad who is very impressed with himself. He is confident and vigorous, but also a complete buffoon. Vaudeville-style acting and highly exaggerated fake Spanish/Italian accent are required. He should have great comic timing.
Mrs. Tottendale: Featured
Vocal range: Alto character voice (G3-Db5)
Age range: 40s-60s
A wealthy widow and host of the wedding, Mrs. Tottendale is flighty, eccentric, often forgetful, and very funny. She is absolutely charming and bubbly and completely oblivious to the confusion her behavior generates in other people.
Underling: Featured
Vocal range: Tenor character voice (Ab2-G4)
Age range: 50s-60s
Mrs. Tottendale’s unflappable butler and manservant, Underling is stoic, dry-humored and very sarcastic. A cross between Arthur Treacher and Niles the butler from The Nanny.
Mr. Feldzieg: Featured
Vocal range: Tenor character voice (Ab2-G4)
Age range: 50s-60s
Feldzieg is the harried producer who will do anything to stop the wedding in order to keep Janet in the Follies. He is nervous, sarcastic, impatient, overbearing, and insensitive.
Kitty: Featured
Vocal range: Soprano comedic belt (Bb3-F5)
Age range: 20s-30s
Kitty is the epitome of the 1920s "dumb blonde" chorus girl. She is Mr. Feldzieg’s companion and will do anything to be a leading lady. She's a cross between Norma Cassady from Victor Victoria and Lena Lamont from Singin’ in the Rain.
George: Featured
Vocal range: Tenor (F3-Bb4)
Age range: 30s-40s
George is Robert’s incredibly anxious best man. He is loyal, sincere, and very nervous. He makes looking out for Robert’s interests his top priority so that the wedding will come off without a hitch. Tap skills preferred.
Gangsters: Featured
Vocal range: Tenor (Db3-Gb4)
Age range: 30s-60s
The two jovial gangsters who pose as pastry chefs are typical 1920s Broadway gangsters full of word play and stylized movements. Good comic timing and dancing skills are definitely required.
Trix the Aviatrix: Featured
Vocal range: Alto (Ab3-Eb5)
Age range: 30s-50s
Trix is a brave and intrepid female aviator. She is sassy, sleek and a take charge kind of gal.
Ensemble
Vocal range: any
Age range: 18+
Additional men and women to play butlers, maids and wedding guests.