Auditions

Auditions for The Producers

May 12 & 14, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
May 12th - 14th, 2013

Auditions for The Producers, with music and lyrics by Mel Brooks, and the book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan, will be held on Sunday and Tuesday, May 12 and 14, from 6 to 9 p.m., with callbacks on Thursday, May 16, from 6 to 10 p.m.

College students who will be home for the summer, but are unable to attend auditions, may send a video of themselves singing and showing some form of movement to rebeccarizzio@gmail.com.

The Producers is an outrageous musical comedy about a scheming producer and his mousy accountant who discover that under the right circumstances they could make more money by producing a Broadway flop than they can with a hit. But what will they do when their sure-to-offend musical becomes a surprise sensation?

Director Rebecca Rizzio seeks a large cast of all ages.  She offers the following character descriptions: “Max Bialystock: 40s - 50s, a Broadway producer who is determined to make money but can never produce a hit,  sarcastic and comedic, must be to sing and dance. Leo Bloom: 30s, a nerdy accountant who longs to be a famous Broadway producer, suffers from panic attacks, must be able to sing and dance. Ulla Inga Hansen Benson Yonsen Tallen-Hallen Swaden-Svanson: 20s - 30s, beautiful Swedish actress, hired to be Max and Leo’s secretary, must be able to sing and dance. Franz Liebkind: 30s - 40s, a wild-eyed German immigrant. He likes writing plays and spending time with his pigeons, must be able to sing and dance. Roger DeBris: 40s - 50s, a flamboyant Broadway director. Max selects him to direct his musical so he can be certain it will flop. Must be able to sing. Carmen Ghia: 30s - 40s, Roger’s flamboyantly gay common law assistant, must be able to sing. Large ensemble: 20s - 50s, little old ladies, usherettes, storm troopers, chorus girls, accountants, Winston Churchill, and others.”

Actors should prepare a one-minute monologue demonstrating their comedic talent as well as 32 bars of a song that best showcases their voice. A monologue will be provided if actors don’t have one prepared. An accompanist will be provided. Those auditioning may also be asked to learn a short dance combination. All should bring a resume and headshot, if they have one, as well as a list of rehearsal conflicts.

Rehearsals will begin the week of May 19.  Twelve performances will be given July 12 through August 4 on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. as well as Sundays at 2:30 p.m.

Rizzio previously directed Annie and White Christmas for Lyric Arts, The Miracle Worker for The Phipps, Nest for Table Salt Productions, as well as Girl Group, The Anastasia Trials in the Court of Women, and Expecting Isabel for Theatre Unbound, where she is a core company member.

Music director Alicia Naughton was the composer and music director for Alice in Wonderland, produced by The Phipps Children’s Theater. She holds a bachelor’s degree in choral music education as well as a minor in musical theater from the University of Wisconsin – River Falls.

Choreographer Christina Leines performs and choreographs at various venues in the Twin Cities area, including the Bloomington Theatre and Art Center and The Phipps. For the past six years, she has been a dance instructor at The Phipps, teaching musical theater, tap, and jazz classes. She received her dance education from Broadway veterans Eddie and Kathy Gasper.

Auditions for Summer Dance Production

Saturday, June 1st, 2013

Auditions for dancers age 16 and older for This is Cabaret, the ninth annual summer dance production at The Phipps Center for the Arts will be held on Saturday, June 1 from 9 a.m. to approximately 4 p.m. in the dance studio of the center.

This is Cabaret will be performed Friday and Saturday, August 16 and 17, at 7:30 p.m. as well as Sunday, August 18, at 2 p.m. on the main stage. It will feature selections from “Moulin Rouge” “Chicago,” “Victor/Victoria,” and “Cabaret,” as well as original work that features classic jazz dance styles. The show will incorporate styles of musical theater, jazz, and blues.  Mackenzie Lewis, director of The Phipps Dance Theater, will direct this production featuring the work of choreographers from the Twin Cities area for the third consecutive year.

Dancers are asked to bring jazz and character shoes, a current head shot, and a list of rehearsal conflicts from June through August15.