AUDITION INFORMATION - Tauranga Musical Theatre
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AUDITION INFORMATION
1
AUDITION INFORMATION
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to The Blues Brothers: First Contact audition pack! Thank you for taking the time to read this
information and considering being a part of this world premiere. Please read all information carefully,
particularly regarding rehearsals, show dates, and character descriptions.
PRODUCTION TEAM
The production team are as follows:
Director: Liam Hagan
Musical Director: Jonty Climo
Choreographer: Elly-Ann Pritchard
Production Manager: Jeremy Sparrow
PERFORMANCE DATES
17 April 2020 to 2 May 2020
SYNOPSIS
Five years ago, SETI Project Scientists detected a faint signal from the outer reaches of space. Now, in a highly
classified CIA operation, First Contact with extra-terrestrial life is scheduled for 7:23pm, August 24th in the Dark
Mountains of Global Region Echo. The President has intelligence that suggests the morale of American forces
at the alien landing site is at an all-time low. POTUS believes that following five years of arduous preparation
far from home, the appalling quality of entertainment at the region's main base to be the core of the issue. His
solution? He instructs the Joint Chiefs to find the only musical act that has a hope of raising moral, so saving the
world and developing intergalactic relations.
Enter the Blues Brothers.
INFORMATION EVENING
We will be holding an information evening in Westside Theatre (141 Seventeenth Avenue, Tauranga) at 6:00pm
on Sunday 15 December 2019.
AUDITION DATES
Audition bookings will be online through https://go.oncehub.com/bluesbrothersauditions and will be opened
on the information evening. You must be at least 14 years old to audition.
Auditions will be held as follows:
• Dance call: Saturday 25 January 2020 between 9:00am to 11:00am. All auditionees must attend. This
will take place at KJ Studios, 8/47 Waihi Road, Judea, Tauranga.
• Dance call backs (if needed): Sunday 26 January 2020 between 3:00pm to 5:00pm.
• Individual vocal auditions: Sunday 26 January 2020 (6:00pm to 9:00pm) and all day Monday 27 January
2020 (note this is a public holiday (Auckland Anniversary Day)).
• Call backs (if needed): Monday 27 January 2020: evening.
Vocal auditions will take place at Westside Theatre. Please enter through the green room door.
2You will be auditioning before a panel consisting of the director, musical director, choreographer, and a
committee representative from Tauranga Musical Theatre.
Please be prepared for the possibility of a call back (on the evening of Monday 27 January 2020). Timing will be
dictated by the total number of those auditioning. Getting a call back does not guarantee a role. Likewise you
may be cast even if you are not called back. Please ensure that you have entered a contact telephone number
on your audition application form where we can easily reach you during the audition dates.
PREPARATION FOR AUDITION
Audition songs (approximately two minutes or less) can be anything that shows off your vocal range, unless
otherwise stated in the character description below. Please come prepared with a backing track on a USB or on
your phone. On the day, please arrive at least 10 minutes prior to your audition time, already warmed up.
Ability to play an instrument is advantageous but not necessary. There will be a guitar, bass guitar, keyboard
and drum kit at the auditions if you wish to showcase your musical ability on any of those instruments. The band
also requires a trumpet, trombone and saxophone; if you wish to show your aptitude with any of those
instruments please bring one to your audition.
If you are auditioning for a principal character, you may be asked to do a reading for your character.
DANCERS
We are looking for between 6-8 strong female dancers, and 2-8 strong male dancers, with the rest of the cast
being “movers”.
There are three main dance numbers. Two dance numbers are for men and women, one is all women. Dancers
should be able to perform in both a troupe, and with a partner.
Dancers should be prepared to give partnered lifts and tricks a go (no prior experience is needed).
Please note that all dancers will also need to book a vocal audition.
DANCE CALL
For the dance call, please wear appropriate fitted clothes and shoes to be able to dance in. Women should wear
heeled dancing shoes.
REHEARSAL DATES
Rehearsals begin on Sunday 2 February 2020. Rehearsals will take place on Tuesday and Thursday nights and
Sundays (mornings and afternoons).
The show runs from 17 April 2020 to 2 May 2020. You must be available for all evenings and weekends during
this time, including pack out on 3 May 2020.
HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS
Calls for expressions of interest for Heads of Departments (and their teams) will take place in late December
2020. Heads of Departments will be appointed in January/February 2020.
PRODUCTION EXPECTATIONS
Your participation in this production requires your undivided commitment in order to ensure a production of
the highest possible quality. If cast, you cannot commit to any other production during the rehearsal period and
production season. You should not audition if you are unable to commit to the rehearsal and production
schedule. If you have any other commitments (personal or work) that may impact on your ability to attend
3rehearsals, you must provide full relevant details in your audition application. Not all performers will be required
at all rehearsals, and rehearsals will be scheduled as carefully as possible to make the best use of your time.
CASTING ANNOUNCEMENT
Performers will be notified by email or phone of the outcome of their audition as soon as possible following
casting. Feedback will not be given. A full cast announcement will be subsequently made on the Tauranga
Musical Theatre media channels.
All cast and crew are considered to be goodwill ambassadors for Tauranga Musical Theatre and for the show
and we expect all cast and crew to meet that responsibility both in person and online. There will be a closed
group Facebook page which cast and crew are encouraged to join and actively participate in.
OTHER INFORMATION
All involved in this production will need to become a financial member of Tauranga Musical Theatre, and are
required to agree and adhere to a code of conduct that covers health and safety, personal wellbeing, and
responsibilities to fellow cast and crew members.
Please direct any queries that you may have to Jeremy Sparrow (jsparrow@tmt.org.nz).
Tauranga Musical Theatre
December 2019
4CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS
Jake Blues
Male, 30s
Audition song: anything bluesy
Ostensibly the leader of the band; smooth and fast-talking. Never phased by much.
Elwood Blues
Male, 30s
Audition song: anything bluesy
In contrast to Jake, doesn’t talk much, but when he does it’s important.
Colonel Catherine Cropper
Female, 30s
Audition song: a jazzy torch song with a strong belt
Colonel in the United States Marine Corps. Uptight and straight-laced, though secretly wants something more
from life. Is quite taken with the Blues Brothers’ way of life but is torn between her desire for something
different and her duty to her country.
Jimmy LeFeure
Male, 50s+
Catherine’s uncle. Owns a wine bar and also leads the bar’s house band on guitar. Looks like he smells like
leather and cigarettes, but he’s been around and knows his stuff.
Zach Jones
Male, late teens - early 20s
Audition song: 70s disco diva song
Trumpet player. His schtick is dressing in drag and playing trumpet under the name Louise Armstrong, but he is
not camp or fey.
Janie "Hot Lips" Cezanne
Female, 20s
Trombone player. Free-spirited, loves to party, has a thing for Elwood.
Eddie "Napalm" Tremayne
Male, 50s
Lead guitar. Vietnam veteran, has seen some shit so he’s a little crazy.
SUPPORTING CHARACTERS
Carol
Female, 30s to 40s
Canadian; leader of the Toronto chapter of the Women’s Institute; has the attitude of a 1950s housewife and
dresses accordingly
Agent Williams
Male or female, 40s
Lead FBI agent; thinks they know what’s going on but they really don’t
Mystery Man
Male, 30s+
A mysterious assassin trying to kill the Blues Brothers; not saying he’s Russian, but he’s probably Russian
5Larry
Male, 20s - 30s
Manager of the supermarket; has a thing for Janie; speaks in a dreary monotone, but doesn’t sing in one
Sidney
Male, 80s
Old Jewish concert promoter; definitely came up in the Catskills
Activist George
Male, 30s - 50s
Canadian; leader of the activist group for Alien Rights
Activist Sheila
Female, 30s - 50s
Canadian; activist for Alien Rights
President Miller
Male, 40s - 50s
The charming politician; always on the campaign trail; asks the Blues Brothers to go on this mission
General Franklin
Male, 50s - 60s
Stoic, no-nonsense
ENSEMBLE CHARACTERS
Sammy Schifrin
Male or female, any age
Drummer in the Blues Brothers Band
Paddy O'Shaughnessy
Male or female, any age
Bass player in the Blues Brothers Band
Charlie Monaco
Male or female, any age
Keyboard player in the Blues Brothers Band
Leo Maranelli
Male or female, any age
Sax player in the Blues Brothers Band
Agent Sevenson
Male or female, 20s
FBI agent; disciplined and good at their job
Agent Fetress
Male, 20s
FBI agent; dumb as a sack of rocks
Activist Paul
Male, 30s - 40s
Canadian; activist for Alien Rights; a bit dim
Activist Karen
Female, 20s - 40s
Canadian; activist for Alien Rights
6Sheryl
Female, 30s to 40s
Canadian; member of the Toronto chapter of the Women’s Institute; has the attitude of a 1950s housewife and
dresses accordingly
Pam
Female, 40s - 60s
Co-owner of the tea house the Blues Brothers initially think is a biker bar; chipper Canadian lady
Jerry
Male, 40s - 60s
Co-owner of the tea house the Blues Brothers initially think is a biker bar; Canadian; equally as chipper as Pam
Chaplain
Male or female, 40s
Warm, friendly, but doesn’t suffer fools
ADDITIONAL ENSEMBLE ROLES
Prison guard, congregation of Marines, two secret service agents, a few bar patrons, checkout operators,
supermarket customers, three thugs, Marine 1, Zach’s backup dancers, old folks, nurses, orderlies, marines,
guard outside the base, activists, WI members, FBI Agents, Don the bartender, tea house patrons, tea house
band, Area 56 guard, Marine 2, prisoners, prison guards
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