AUDITION NOTICE
CABARET
Book by Joe Masteroff with
Music/lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb,
Based on the Play by John Van Druten and Stories by Christopher Isherwood
Directed by Jeffrey Fiorello
Musical Director Jill Finnerty
Choreographed by Megan Ferentinos
WHEN: Thursday, February 16, and Thursday, February 23, at 7 PM
WHERE: The Chatham Playhouse, 23 North Passaic Ave., Chatham.
The production runs May 4 – 19, 2012 at the Chatham Playhouse. Rehearsal to begin during the last week of February.
Please prepare a song (in the style of the show), and bring sheet music in the appropriate key. An Accompanist will be provided. Come prepared to dance. Headshots and resumes are not required but gladly received.
The Chatham Players have an open call casting policy. ALL roles are open, none are precast, and everyone is encouraged to audition. Any questions please call Leslie Reagoso at 973.769.3886 or e-mail her at lesliereagoso@yahoo.com. For directions or additional information, please visit www.chathamplayers.org
Synopsis:
Cabaret is a musical based on book by Joe Masteroff, with music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. The 1996 Broadway production became a hit and spawned a 1972 film, as well as numerous subsequent productions. Cabaret is based on John Van Druten’s 1951 play I Am a Camera, which in turn was adapted from a novel Goodbye to Berlin by Christopher Isherwood.
Set in 1931 Berlin as the Nazis are rising to power, it focuses on nightlife at the seedy Kit Kat Klub and revolves around the 19-year-old English cabaret performer Sally Bowles and her relationship with young American writer Cliff Bradshaw. A subplot involves the doomed romance between German boarding house owner Fraulein Schneider and her elderly suitor Herr Shultz, a Jewish fruit vendor. Overseeing the action is the Master of Ceremonies at the Kit Kat Klub which serves as a constant metaphor for the tenuous and threatening state of late Weimar Germany throughout the show.
Character Breakdown (9 Women, 10 Men):
- The Emcee: Tenor (25-35). German Accent. Sexually ambiguous, charismatic entertainer who breaks the fourth wall and engages the audience. He is the bridge between the “real” world of the storyline and the Cabaret.
- Sally Bowles: Mezzo / Belt (18-30).British Accent. Sexy, charismatic and lonely cabaret performer with big dreams. Has trouble with holding on to relationships.
- Clifford Bradshaw: Tenor (22-35). American. Romantic Lead. A writer and the basic protagonist from whose eyes we see the story unfold. Becomes involved in a relationship with Sally.
- Fraulein Schneider: Alto (50+). German Accent. A world-wearing owner of an apartment block where much of the action (outside of the Kit Kat Klub) takes place. Falls for Herr Schultz and her relationship with him is tested to the extreme.
- Herr Schultz: Baritone (50+). German Accent. German Jew who is sweet, loving and honest. Runs a fruit stand near Fraulein Schneider’s apartment building. Falls in love with Fraulein Schneider. Charming and likeable.
- Ernst Ludwig: Bari/Tenor (25-40). German Accent. An amiable Nazi sympathizer, a street wise smuggler who seems to know everyone and everything. Befriends Cliff, when he arrives in Berlin. However, he has somewhat sinister depths to his character. When his true beliefs become apparent, he is revealed as a Nazi.
- Fraulein Kost: Mezzo (25-45). German Accent. Sexually dubious and selfish. Not afraid to speak her mind and admit her indiscretions. A prostitute who lives in Fraulein Schneider’s rooming house. Initially her character is played for laughs, however, later a more sinister and unpleasant side of her character is revealed (she is a Nazi sympathizer).
- Kit Kat Girls: (18-30) Girls who perform alongside Sally and the MC at the Kit Kat Klub. All sexually very free. All must be able to sing dance and act. All double into other scenes.
Rosie: So named because of the color of her “cheeks”
Lulu: Sings “Two Ladies.”
Frenchie: Featured dance - “If You Could See Her.”
Texas: From America.
Fritzie: The oldest of the girls.
Helga: The youngest. - Kit Kat Boys: (18-30) Cabaret Boys at the Kit Kat Klub. Also very sexually free. All must sing dance and act. All double into other scenes.
Bobby: Sexually very open. Sings “Two Ladies.”
Victor: Also, sexually very open.
Hans: Doubles as Rudy (Fraulein Kost’s guest at the engagement party).
Herman: The toughest. Doubles as the Customs Official.
Max: (30-45) German Accent. The owner of the Kit Kat Klub. Controlling and dishonest. - Nazi Guard: Ernst’s bodyguard at the Kit Kat Klub.
