Announces Auditions for
Dames at Sea
book and lyrics by George Haimsohn and Robin Miller
music by Jim Wise.
Directed by Joshua Finkel
Music directed by Sean Paxton
Choreographed by Jeffrey Scott Parsons
Produced by Christian Lebano and C. Julian White
The Sierra Madre Playhouse (SMP), located in Sierra Madre, California 91024 will produce Dames at Sea using the AEA 99 Seat Agreement and will cast a mix of AEA and non-AEA actors. SMP strives to make the experience of performing at our theater one which is fulfilling, satisfying, and pleasurable.
This sweet and funny show is based on the Hollywood musicals of the '30s: think 42nd street meets Busby Berkeley, but a Busby Berkeley production done on a postage stamp.
Actors should be able to play that 30's musical style with truth and sincerity
The music is a mixture of parody, the torch song "That Mister Man"; pastiche "Raining in My Heart"; and the real thing. The pastiche songs, built around phrases borrowed from or close to actual songs of the genre, usually project an appealing period flavor.
DATES
PREVIEWS: Friday, June 14 @ 8pm
OPENS: Saturday, June 15 @ 8pm.
CLOSES: Sunday, July 22 @ 2:30 (there is a possibility of a two-week extension)
22 Performance dates:
June 14E, 15E, 16M, 21E, 22E, 23M, 28E, 29M & E, 30M
July 5E, 6M & E, 7M, 12E, 13M & E, 14M, 19E, 20M & E, 21M
First Auditions are Monday, April 15 and Wednesday April 17 from 6-10pm with possible additional auditions by arrangement.
Callbacks,Wednesday April 24 from 1-5pm. All auditions will take place in Sierra Madre.
Rehearsals will begin on Monday, May 13, 2019, and will be Monday through Thursday Evenings, Saturday & Sunday days, at our rehearsal space or in the theater in Sierra Madre.
Rehearsal times are flexible. Final rehearsal schedule will be arranged after the show is cast. No reasonable conflicts should keep actors from submitting.
Tech week and dress rehearsals will begin on Friday, June 7 and continue through Thursday, June 16. Actors must be completely available during that period.
SUBMISSIONS
Email your headshot and resume to DamesAtSeaSMP@gmail.com or through Actors Access or Backstage. AEA and non-AEA actors will be considered.
Actors of all ethnicities encouraged to audition.
PLOT SUMMARY
It’s the early 1930s, a Broadway musical is in final rehearsals with the opening night just hours away and Mona Kent its temperamental diva star, Joan the wise-cracking chorus girl, and Hennesey the producer/manager/director are finishing up last-minute details. Naive Ruby arrives just off the bus from Centerville, Utah, with "nothing but tap shoes in her suitcase and a prayer in her heart", determined to be a star. From lack of eating and travel exhaustion, she promptly faints into the arms of Dick, a sailor and aspiring songwriter (also coincidentally from Centerville Utah) who followed her from the bus to return her left-behind suitcase. Because another chorine was lured away from the show by one of the Astors, Ruby gets a spot in the chorus. Hennesey informs the cast that the theater must be torn down, and they must find another place for the show. Lucky, another sailor who arrives looking for his pal Dick, finds his former girlfriend, Joan, at the theater and together they renew their romance while Ruby falls for Dick. Dick and Lucky persuade their Captain to volunteer the use of their ship for the show. Mona recognizes the Captain as a former boyfriend which seals the deal. While rehearsing on the actual ship, Mona becomes sea sick and Ruby steps in and becomes a star, the show is saved, and the three couples decide to marry that very evening. Selected as "Best Musical of the Year" by Time, Newsweek, and the Outer Critics Circle.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
Mona Kent: (Late 30's-late 40's) Bombastic and insecure Leading Lady
Mezzo Belter: Low G#3-Belt or Mix to D#5 (High note: Soprano Ab5)
Good dancer, tap experience a plus, physical comedy a bigger plus.
Ruby: (early to mid 20's) Innocent and sweet but catches on quickly.
From Centerville Utah, just off the bus to be a Broadway star
Mezzo or Sop: Low Ab3-to High Bb5
Fantastic triple threat: skilled tapper with ballet/partnering a plus- as graceful and delicate as she is a true "hoofer."
Dick: (Mid to late 20's) Happy-go-lucky Sailor originally from Utah who wants to be a Broadway Songwriter. In love with Ruby
Tenor: Low A to High A4
Sensational triple threat: skilled tapper with ballet/partnering a plus.
Joan: (late 20's-early 30's) Sassy chorine with a heart of gold. In love with Lucky. Helps Ruby become a star.
Alto / Hi Mix Belter with a nice Mezzo Low A3- High G5 (Needs to belt the high D5) Triple threat, skilled tapper with a sexy, Anytime Annie spark
Lucky: (late 20's-early 30's) Happy go lucky sailor in love with Joan
Tenor or Baritone: Low A to F#4
Sensational song and dance man, skilled tapper with a zany athleticism.
Hennesey/Captain (Late 40’s – early 60’s) doubles as both the Producer of the show / Captain of the Ship
Tenor or Baritone: Low A to Ab4. Strong legit voice.
Good dancer and physical comedian, tap experience preferred.
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
Please bring a picture and resume to your audition; bring tap and character dance shoes and wear appropriate dance attire.
First audition will begin with a dance/tap call and then some actors will be asked to sing 32 bars of a Broadway song in the style of the show.
Callbacks will be sides and a song selection from Dames at Sea.
THE DIRECTOR
JOSHUA FINKEL, MFA, is a Director, Acting Coach and Actor. Selected Director/Choreographer Credits: VIOLET (El Portal Theater, Scenie Award);
LOVE'S FAIRE GAME (Feature Film upcoming in 2020); TOGETHER AT LAST (54 Below, NYC); THE WEDDING NIGHT (Lillian Theater, Pick of the Fringe 2017);
A RING IN BROOKLYN (Noho Arts Center, Scenie Award); THE SPITFIRE GRILL (Actors Co-op, Ovation Nomination); SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD (San Francisco Premiere); HOLLYWOOD REVISITED (Ongoing Internationally);
FALSETTOLAND (Phoenix Theatre, SF); INTO THE WOODS (Civic Arts Plaza, Thousand Oaks); TSARINA (The Grove Theater, Upland). Selected Actor Credits:
KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN "Molina" Broadway/London/Toronto/India/ MTG opposite Chita Rivera and Vanessa Williams; Regional and Tour: LES MISERABLES (Thenardier, Shubert Theater and National Tour); BARK! (Ben, Original Cast/Recording); LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (Orin the Dentist);
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (Lumiere at Cabrillo Music Theatre, Scenie Award)
PARADE (Leo Frank, Hillcrest Center for the Arts, VC Award) For more info: joshuafinkel.com
THE MUSIC DIRECTOR
Sean Paxton is a composer, pianist, and musical director. Sean is an Associated Artist at SMP where he has composed music for STUART LITTLE, DEATHTRAP, and A Wrinkle in Time, and music directed ALWAYS…PATSY CLINE, PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES, and THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES. He started his career in
Los Angeles at USC and has since scored films, composed for theater, and orchestrated or arranged for everything from orchestral to pop to jazz ensembles. He is a recipient of ASCAP's Harold Arlen award, and former participant in the ASCAP Film Scoring Workshop.
THE CHOREOGRAPHER
JEFFREY SCOTT PARSONS One of Southern California's favorite song and dance men, Jeffrey has starred in tap dancing musicals like WHITE CHRISTMAS, CRAZY FOR YOU, 42ND STREET, and DAMES AT SEA. He recently directed THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE at Studio C Performing Arts, and his one man show COMFY has played to glowing reviews in LA, San Diego, and Salt Lake City. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @ jeffreysparsons