AUDITION NOTICE:
HAIRSPRAY – THE MUSICAL
Hairspray—directed by Rob Pape—is a great musical filled with song and dance that shows the world how an eager and talented teen can change the world. A lot of the characters are “young,” but there are parts for all people and, not to forget, a sensible man in drag (think 1950’s comedy).
WHEN: January 26th and 27th at 7:30 PM; CALL BACKS: January 28th at 7:30 PM
WHERE: The Burgdorff Center of the Performing Arts, 10 Durand Rd, Maplewood, NJ
Singing: All must be able to sing. Song ranges shown with characters. Be prepared to sing 16 bars (from the show recommended but not necessary).
Sides are provided on www.thestrollers.org
Characters descriptions follow, that have the following abbreviations.
Dancing: when you see Dance, Rhythm, Non-dance it means
- Dance: Must have some jazz, modern, and/or other dance training (girls have a tap number, but non-tappers with good training will be considered).
- Rhythm: Can move to music (early 60’s beat). Have an ability to learn new dance steps.
- Non-dance: Will be able to move in-character if needed.
Age: when you see Teen or Adult it means:
- Teen (16 – 25) will take older than that, but must look and act like a high school senior.
- Adults (Looks mid-30s to early 50’s)
Ethnicity: when you see A or W it means:
- A: Must be African-American
- W: Must be white
Cast Descriptions:
- Tracy Turnblad: A high-spirited, irrepressible, chubby teen girl; she loves to dance and is eager for her life to kick in (Teen with Very good Rhythm, W). Vocal Range: Belter G below middle C to E above middle C
- Edna Turnblad: Tracy’s hefty, loving, somewhat repressed mother, a laundress with deferred dreams. THIS ROLL WILL BE PLAYED BY A MALE IN DRAG AS SCRIPTED. (Adult with Rhythm or Non-Dance, W). Vocal Range: Base to Baritone
- Wilbur Turnblad: Tracy’s loving father and devoted husband. Wilbur is willing to do anything for his family and friends - including bailing all of the women out of jail! Wilbur may be on the lighter side, but he has a huge heart. (Adult with Rhythm or Non-Dance, W). Vocal Range: Baritone with high end.
- Penny Pingleton: Tracy’s ditzy but devoted best friend (Teen with Dance, W). Vocal Range: Belter, D+ above Middle C.
- Corny Collins: The smooth and smart adult host of Baltimore’s local TV teen dance show (Adult, think Dick Clark. Rhythm, W) Vocal Range: Tenor
- Link Larkin: The show’s teen male dreamboat, ambitious but essentially good-hearted (Teen with Dance, W). Vocal Range: Baritone into Tenor
- Amber Von Tussle: The show’s resident princess, conniving and selfish, but superficially perky (Teen, Dance, W). Vocal Range: Soprano (Middle C to F above C)
- Velma Von Tussle: The TV station manager, a rich bigoted, bossy widow who’s pushing daughter Amber to the stardom she herself never had (Adult with Rhythm, lifts possible, W). Vocal Range: Alto: G below middle C to E above C
- Motormouth Maybelle: The big brassy all-embracing black radio DJ and once-a-month guest host on Corny’s show; she wears blonde wigs as her trademark (Adult, Rhythm to Non-dance, A). Vocal Range: Belter Alto to E above middle C.
- Seaweed J. Stubbs: Her sexy teen son, street smart but easygoing; his unique dance lessons give Tracy the edge she needs to catch Corny’s attention (Teen, Dance, A). Vocal Range: High Tenor G below middle C to B above middle
- Little Inez: Seaweed’s little sister. She’s cute but angry, impatient for the promised land of actual civil rights (Teen, Rhythm, A) Age: Mature 10 to 14 yo. Vocal Range: Belter C to E above middle C.
- Spritzer, Principal, Mr. Pinky, Police Officer: One man plays an assorted set of middle aged rolls: a nervous businessman, a condescending high school principal, a flamboyant fashion boutique owner, a cop, and a corrupt jail guard (Adult, Non-dance, W) Vocal Range: Non-specific, as cast in ensemble
- Penny’s Mom, Gym Teacher, Police Woman: One woman plays assorted middle-aged women: Penny’s incredibly uptight and small-minded mother, a sadistic gym teacher, a cop, an a sardonic prison matron (Adult – Good Rhythm, Tap required, W). Vocal Range: Non-specific, as cast in ensemble
- The Dynamites: A trio of ultra-glamorous divas who emerge from a poster to be the magical hostesses of Tracy and Edna’s whirlwind visit to the emerging Swinging Sixties (Teen/Adult, Rhythm, A – song and dance audition) Vocal Range: Various, G below middle C to A above C
- Corny Collins Show Kids (8 persons): As the song says, they are the ‘greatest kids in town.’ May have lines. (Teen, Dance, W, song and dance audition) Vocal Range: Various
- Seaweed’s Friends (6 persons): Great, kids with purpose that works! Some parts have lines. (Teen, Dance to Rhythm – part depending, A, song and dance audition). Vocal Range: Various
Please note that this is a membership based theater and you will be required to become a member upon accepting a role in Hairspray.
