Auditions Dec 4 & 5
7:00 pm at the Tyler Civic Theatre.
WHAT'S THE PLAY ABOUT?
Winner of five Tony Awards, including Best Book and Best Original Score, The Drowsy Chaperone is a loving send-up of the Golden Age musical, featuring one show-stopping song and dance number after another.
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 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 theatre 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.
WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
TCTC seeks male and female actors, singers, and dancers of all ethnicities, ages 18 to 60+ for this production.
WHAT ROLES ARE AVAILABLE?
(Please note: age ranges are approximate)
THE MAN IN THE CHAIR (Male; Age 30-50) - Musical theatre aficionado who mourns the end of the Golden Era. He narrates the show as he listens to the record on vinyl.
MRS. TOTTENDALE (Female; Age 30-60) The air-headed, proper, and bossy host of the wedding. Vocal range: G3 - Db5
UNDERLING (Male; Age 30-50) - Mrs. Tottendale's savvy butler who is thrifty and stiff yet has an understated sense of humor. Vocal range top: Ab2 - G4
ROBERT MARTIN (Male; Age 25-40) - The dashing, ever-cheerful groom; played by matinee-idol Percy Hyman. Vocal range: C3 - Ab4
GEORGE (Male; Age 35-50) - Robert's anxious, dim-witted best man who has Robert's best-interest always at heart. Vocal range: F3 - Bb4
FELZIEG (Male; Age 30-60) - Broadway producer who is desperate for his star to return to his show; played by Jack Adler. Vocal range: Db3 - Db4
KITTY (Female; Age 25-30) - Feldzieg's dim-witted companion who has hopes of being a star; played by Sadie Adler. Vocal range: Bb3 - F5
2 GANGSTERS (Male; Age 25-45) - Posing as pastry chefs, this duo is intending to collect from Feldzieg; played by the vaudeville duo Tall Brothers. Vocal range: Db3 - Gb4
ALDOLPHO (Male; Age 25-45) - European self-proclaimed "ladies man"; played by former silent movie star Roman Bartelli. Vocal range: A#2 - G4
JANET VAN DE GRAAF (Female 25-40) - The famous bride. Glamorous and talented star of Feldzieg's Follies; played by rising star Jane Roberts. Vocal range: G3 – E5
THE DROWSY CHAPERONE (Female; Age 36-60) - Janet's alcoholic confidante and friend; played by well-established stage actress Beatrice Stockwell. Vocal range: F3 - D5
TRIX (Female; Age 30-40) - The brave and brash female aviator who, by chance, is recruited to perform the wedding. Vocal range: Ab3 - Eb5
ENSEMBLE (Staff, Reporters, etc.) – Age 18-60+
WHERE WILL AUDITIONS BE HELD?
All auditions and rehearsals will be in person at the Tyler Civic Theatre.
WHAT SHOULD I PREPARE FOR THE AUDITION?
Those auditioning are asked to prepare 16 measures of a Broadway/Jazz style song to be sung with recorded accompaniment. A sound system will be available for the playing of background tracks, but there will not be an accompanist available. A Capella Auditions will not be allowed.
Please be prepared for “cold-readings” from the script and dress for movement (no jeans, sandals, flip flops, etc.) as there will be a short dance combination taught as part of the audition.
WHEN WILL REHEARSALS BE HELD?
Rehearsals will begin Monday, December 11th and will generally run Monday-Friday 6:30-9 PM. Adjustments may be made according to the needs of the cast.
WHAT DATES WILL THE SHOW RUN?
Production dates are February 9-11, February 15-18, and February 22-25, 2024.
**Please bring any known scheduling conflicts to your audition. **
If you have any questions, please contact the theatre at 903-592-0561 or via email at info@tylercivictheatre.com.
Preparing for the Audition
- The days activities should be appropriately scheduled on the day of your audition. Be well rested and fed.
- Pre-read the play or songs for which the audition is being held if possible. Some publishers allow you to order a script. Find the publishers name listed with the play name above.
- Rehearse your song or monologue for the audition.
- Be aware of your needs for script, music and musical accompaniment in singing auditions.
- Dress appropriately for dance auditions: comfortable clothing and proper dance shoes.
- Call backs are sometimes held after auditions for the director to check voice, look, interaction or other factors that will help in casting. Callbacks do not mean that you are going to get a part and not getting called back does not mean you are not going to get the part. It is just an opportunity for the director to check something that might not have been apparent the first time around or to check dynamics of a group or pairing.
Two forms are required before you can audition, the Audition Information Sheet and the Media Release Form. Blank forms will be available at the Theatre, or, if you click HERE, you can print out blank forms, fill them in and bring them with you to the audition. NOTE: This is a 'fill-in' PDF form. Some browsers let you fill in the form fields on the form from the browser. Or, you can download the PDF and use a PDF reader (like Adobe Reader DC) to fill out the form on your computer and print out a nice, legible form to bring with you.
If you are cast, please fill out a medical release FORM CLICK HERE
(please print and Bring with you. it is mandatory)
Social Distancing and auditioning
The Tyler Civic Theatre Center is dedicated to the health and safety of all employees, volunteers, actors, auditioners, cast, crew, patrons and visitors.
We are practicing social distancing and the instructions from experts and our state government.
This makes auditioning complicated. Each production has its own challenges.
Some auditions might be in social-distanced in-person. Others might use streaming technologies like Zoom. In other cases, the director may only want audition tapes (or other media).
There will be more specific information appended to this page for each specific audition as it becomes available.
Theater Terms
Audition. A formally arranged session for an actor to display his or her talents when seeking a role in an upcoming production of a play, film or television project, usually to a casting director, director or producers.
Blocking. In rehearsals, actors practice the required movements, in a pattern or along a path, for a given scene that allows them to avoid any awkward positions, such as one actor walking in front of another actor or standing with his or her back to the audience.
Callback. A second audition where an actor is either presented to the producer and director or, in the case of commercials, is filmed on tape again for final consideration.
Call Time. The time you are supposed to report to the set.
Cold Reading. Delivering a speech or acting a scene at an audition without having read it beforehand.
Diaphragm. The lower part of the lungs, filling the abdominal space, that supports the voice when actors and singers breathe correctly on stage.
Downstage. The area of the stage closest to the audience.
Greenroom. Where actors wait to go onstage. Not necessarily green.
Hot Sheet. A notice that comes out once a week with up to date information for actors.
Monologue. A speech used by an actor to demonstrate his or her ability at an audition.
Notes. Instructions, usually regarding changes in an actor’s blocking or performance, given after a rehearsal by the director, musical director, choreographer or stage manager.
Off-book. When an actor knows his or her lines and no longer needs to carry the script.
Props. Any moveable object, from a letter to a sword, used by an actor during a performance.
Read-through. When the director and the actors sit around a table and read through the entire script to get familiar with the story, their roles, and their fellow actors.
Stage Left. The side of the stage that is to the actor’s left as he or she faces the audience.
Stage Right. The side of the stage that is to the actor’s right as he or she faces the audience.
Strike. To remove something from a set, or tear it down.
Understudy. An actor, often playing a small role, who learns another role, so as to be able to perform it if the regular actor is ill.
Upstage. The rear area of the stage farthest from the audience; also used to describe an actor’s attempt to distract audience attention from what another actor is doing.
Tyler Civic Theatre is a community theatre, which means that the actors who perform on our stage are everyday people who have a talent and interest in the theatre. Everyone from the novice to the most seasoned actor is welcome to audition for our productions. From musicals to comedies, dramas, and children's productions, there is something for everyone. We look forward to seeing you at an upcoming audition!
