Biography for William Martin (Director) ON THE TOWN:
William Martin (Director) is an award-winning free-lance director, playwright, and acting coach. After receiving his Ph.D. in theatre history from the University of Wisconsin, he began his directing career staging Shakespeare and opera productions. His first Broadway venture was the Tony-nominated “Best Musical” The Lieutenant for which he received a Drama Desk Award nomination for “Best Director ’74-75.” With more than 300 productions “under his belt,” he has established himself as a director of both musical and non-musical theatre with productions On- and Off-Broadway, and in the regional and university theatre arenas with many recognizable stars. Currently, he is a manager for The Drama Book Shop in Manhattan and the creator of “The Character Kinespheric Technique.” He has earned the critical praise as being “an actor’s director.”
Dr. Martin is also co-founder and vice president of Lyric Theatre International – a research and publishing organization restoring the entire canon of John Philip Sousa’s comic operas, including the notable concert and recording of El Capitan with Sinfonia da Camera at the Krannert Center as well as a successful production of The Glass Blowers at New York City Opera, Lincoln Center.
He was the past-president of The Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation; and he is an active member of National Theatre Conference, ASCAP, The Dramatists Guild, and The Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers.
Audition information ON THE TOWN – Please bring a copy of you resume and headshot – Prepare a 16 bar musical selection that demonstrates the technical and musical range of your voice and is appropriate to On The Town. Please bring your audition book with alternate selections.
Audition information THREE PENNY OPERA - I’ve loved The Threepenny Opera for many years. We’re going to set this production at Wagner in the present and throw a lot of sex and violence at it. Very much like the Soprano’s, although this is set in England. Don’t be afraid when you read the script though – it reads like a very slow train to the land of Boredom. There are miles and miles of books and articles written about what the show ‘means’ and what Brecht’s intentions were and yada yada yada. All I’m interested in doing is scandalizing and entertaining the audience just like they did in Berlin in the late 1920’s.
For me the theme of this production is: Everyone’s a greedy, damned, vicious pig – so watch your back, sucker! Or perhaps: Humanity’s doing its best in a world damned by viciously erroneous political/religious/cultural assumptions.
The production will be sexual and violent and funny and nasty and beautiful. So, if you have any problems with any of those things – best to stay away! Shows with a higher sugar content will be coming. The score is wild and weird and wonderful and will be with you for the rest of your life.
Cast Breakdown:
Mack – baritone; F#high Big Crime Boss, totally amoral. Likes to deflower very young girls as well as have sex with older whores. Liar, cheat, thief, murderer, but just like Tony Soprano, there’s something about him that’s likable. Sings a lot.
Peachum –baritone Crime Boss – works with beggars. Obsessed with his young daughter. Hasn’t had sex with his wife for a very long time. It’s that King Herod triangle. He’s obsessed that his daughter is having sex with Mack. Creepy. Sings and talks a lot.
Mrs. Peachum –mezzosoprano; Eflat high Hasn’t had sex with her husband for way too long. Now she’s obsessed with sex and a raging alcoholic. Crazed that her daughter is getting more sex than she is. Sings a lot.
Jenny –alto low G# Old whore. Used to be an item with Mack. Now she’s too old for him, she gets to watch him crawl into bed with much younger, prettier whores, so she turns into a Judas. Sings a lot.
Tiger Brown – Police Chief who can be bought by anyone with some money.
Spineless and immoral. Looks good in a uniform though.
Polly Peachum –soprano A natural high the daughter. At the start of the play she’s an idiotic virgin. By the end she is wiser. Minnie Mouse turns into a CEO. Sings a lot.
Lucy – mezzo-ish; F# high Tiger Brown’s daughter. Tall girl. Was seduced by Mack at an early age and has no problem with that whatsoever. Has a great song.
Filch – Idiotic young man who is just getting started in the crime business.
Mack’s gang: a host of male trash – all shapes, all sizes.
The Whores: a host of female trash – all shapes, all sizes.
And others Street Singer baritone Ensemble no unusual vocal demands
None of the vocal parts in 3 Penny are unusually demanding. The show is often called "a play with music for actors who sing". Many of you are quite capable of singing any of these roles. In this particular set of auditions, the acting values will take precedence over musical demands. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me.
It’s a rough play. If you have trouble with violence, strong emotion, cursing or possibly being seen in your underwear – best sit this one out.
Best,
Drew Harris
Audition information ARMS AND THE MAN - Directed by John Jamiel
Audition Dates: Wednesday, January 21 from 6:30-10:30pm
Thursday, January 22 6:30-10:30pm Callbacks
Friday, January 23 Callbacks TBA
READ THE PLAY. Prepare (memorize & make specific acting choices) a speech from ARMS & THE MAN no longer than a minute to a minute and a half. Or any speech by one of GB Shaw's contemporaries. All monologues must be comedic in nature. Also be prepared to tell 2 jokes at the audition. The director is looking for actors with a good sense of comedy and can handle heightened language.
NO ENGLISH ACCENTS STANDARD AMERICAN SPEECH.
Callbacks: Sides will be provided.
CAST OF CHARACTERS: 3 Female 5 Male
RAINA PETKOFF--23 but appears younger. A true romantic with an edge.
CATHERINE PETKOFF--a young, lively, lusty 40. Earthy, patriotic, survivor.
LOUKA--20s. Proud peasant girl, very sexy and she knows it. Hates her position.
BLUNTSCHILI--34, professional soldier. The Chocolate Cream Soldier.
RUSSIAN SOLDIER--20s, Russian accent.
NICOLA--40s, Perfect servant, loves what he does.
MAJOR PETKOFF--50s, Perfect foil to Catherine, big, bold, lusty man rather incompetent.
MAJOR SERGIUS SARANOFF--20s, alpha male, loves women, cocky, very incompetent.
CALLBACKS FOR MASTER CLASS For First Soprano: Please prepare all or part of the aria, Ah, non credea mirarti from La Sonnambula by Bellini. For Tenor: Please prepare all or part of the aria, Recondita armonia from Tosca by Puccini. For Second Soprano: Please prepare all or part of the aria, Vieni! taffretta from Macbeth by Verdi. For Stagehand: A short contemporary comic monologue. In addition, those auditioning may be asked to read from the script. Please be familiar with the appropriate scene. All singing roles are indeterminate as to age and type. It is important that the performer be credible as an accomplished opera singer. The Stagehand is a small comic role, also can be a man or woman any age or type. Amy Williams will play Maria Callas. Fred Tessler will Direct and play the role of Manny, the accompanist.
