AUDITIONS
Music and Lyrics by William Finn; Book by Rachel Sheinkin
Conceived by Rebecca Feldman; Additional material by Jay Reiss
Directed by Mark Cole
Music Director: Clay Price
Choreographer: Cheryl Wilkins-Mitchell
Stage Manager: Cecilia Widomski
AND
As Bees in Honey Drown
Written by Douglas Carter Beane
Directed by Jacob Luria
Stage Manager: Rebeca Schretzlmeir
WHEN: August 31 • 6:30 – 9:30pm and September 1 • 7:10 – 9:30pm
Dance/Movement audition Sept. 1• 6-7pm Required for all auditioning
WHERE: Lab Theatre, Tyler Hall
WHAT TO PREPARE: Please prepare a one minute monologue (serious or comic or a little of both) that shows your delight in language and your ability to play a strong intention. You will also be asked to read from the scripts & sing at the audition. Sign up for an audition time in the Theatre Office, 105 Tyler Hall. Scripts & audition sides are available in the Theatre Office.
Questions call or email Mark Cole (315-312-4883 • mark.cole@oswego.edu) or Jacob Luria (518-859-7945, luria@oswego.edu) Persons with disabilities seeking accommodations for the audition please call x4883.
DETAILS
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Show dates: October 13, 14, 15 (8 pm curtain each evening)
Oct. 20 (brush-up rehearsal); Oct 21, 22 (8 pm each evening) & Oct. 23 (2:30 matinee).
Rehearsals begin on Sat. Sept. 3. Since it is an ensemble show, each cast member could expect to be called for 5 - 6 rehearsals each week. Rehearsals will be weekday evenings from 6:30 - 10:00 or 10:30; and Saturdays from 1:00 - 5:00. Sundays will be off except for the Sunday before opening. That weekend there will also be a rehearsal Sat. evening. The show will rehearse on Sept. 29 & 30 and Oct. 1.
This ensemble (4 women, 5 men) musical centers on the final rounds of a spelling bee with six competitors - plus four audience volunteers. It is about the transformation that is possible when with nowhere to hide, the pressure of competition forces a person to survive. It is about language, growing up, losing your hair and how to survive childhood. The show mixes parody and satire with poignant and comic observations about the pangs of the pre-teenage years. It’s the essential quest tale: the pursuit of the treasure against the odds. Every role is substantial and the show welcomes a diverse cast.
In addition to the one-minute monologue, those auditioning for Spelling Bee should prepare the following as applicable:
Chip: 32 bars of My Unfortunate Erection
Leaf Coneybear: I’m Not That Smart, beginning with “I might be smart, my siblings…” to end of song: “I like – I love – to spell. I like it a lot.”
Logainne & Olive: 32 bars of My Friend the Dictionary
Marcy: 32 bars of Six Languages
Rona: 32 bars of I Love You
William: 32 bars of Magic Foot
Mitch: 32 bars of Comfort Prayer
Character Breakdown
Rona Lisa Peretti (Soprano): long time local hostess of the bee, a winner herself years before. She has achieved a local “personality” status and has a certain sex appeal, which is clearly attractive to Mr. Panch. She is relentlessly upbeat, and sings that her favorite moment - before the catastrophe of losing - is watching the kids acting innocently. This character also introduces and interacts with the audience volunteer spellers.
Chip Tolentino (Tenor): last year’s winner, age 13, a little league pitcher with a wicked 22-mile an hour screwball. Puberty is setting in – and Marigold Coneybear, Leaf’s sister, who is in the audience, obsesses him.
Logainne SchwarzandGrubeniere (Soprano): is the youngest competitor. She has a lisp (“th” for “s”); and is head of the Gay-Straight Alliance at her elementary school. Spells out words on her forearm. We are told that she has proposed a constitutional amendment lowering the voting age to ten. Her two dads (Dan and Carl) train her relentlessly – especially “Carl Dad.” Her “birth mother” lives in a trailer park.
Leaf Coneybear (Baritone or Tenor): was the second runner up in the Putnam Basin District – promoted to competitor when the top two competitors dropped out. He’s been told all his life that he’s not smart. He goes into a trance when he is under pressure to spell. He makes his own clothes.
William Barfee (Barfé) (Tenor): missed placing the year before. He has a rare mucous membrane disorder. Also suffers from numerous allergies, including peanuts. He is one half of the “love story” that every musical needs to have. William and Olive begin the show a bit like pubescent versions of Beatrice and Benedict. By the end, we know that there will be at least a hug. William of course has the “magic foot” that he relies on to spell.
Marcy Park (Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano): is new to the county, having placed ninth in nationals the year before, as a representative of Virginia. Attends parochial school. Marcy skipped fourth and fifth grades. She’s on track to become the youngest high school freshman in parochial school history. She only sleeps three hours a night, hides in the bathroom cabinet, and is not allowed to cry. She speaks six languages (and if the actress has other skills - like doing cartwheels, baton twirling, gymnastics, martial arts, playing an instrument – these can be incorporated into one of the numbers). Everyone thinks she’s all business.
Olive Ostrovsky (Soprano): is the type of girl who went to her school’s Halloween contest dressed as road kill. Her father is delayed at work and her mother is in India (a nine month spiritual quest). Her spelling technique is talking into her hands. She’s studied the dictionary, her friend, for years. Has some posture problems, as Rona sees it. She is about to meet another friend, William and that is going to transform her life.
Doug Panch (non-singing): the “word pronouncer” – a last minute substitute, because the superintendent is ill. Panch is a Vice Principal at Lake Hemingway-Dos Passos Junior High. He’s returning after a five-year hiatus. Doug is a man who has been passed over (he’s still a vice-principal) and is in recovery after a breakdown. He’s keeping the lid on, but the tensions of this event will cause him to crack-up, just like the kids when they lose. He’s often the adversary – particularly to William, but transforms by the end into a kind-hearted man who surprises Rona by his compassion. Doug and Rona exude the “adult” sexual tension in the show. Doug also interacts with the audience volunteers so quick thinking and an ability to play to the moment through improvisation are essential.
Mitch Mahoney, the comfort counselor (Tenor): is doing this as community service. He’d like to smack the kids around to show them that pain has degrees, but can’t as it might violate his parole, so he just gives them a hug and a juice box.
The Doubling
Carl Grubenierre: (Carl Dad) can be played by the actor playing Leaf. He’s Logainne’s principle trainer, much more driven than Dan Schwarz (Dan Dad) who can be played by the actor playing Mitch, the dad who is the more laid back of the two.
Leaf’s mom, dad and siblings: played by the spellers and audience members – are all considered more academically accomplished than Leaf. They are clearly surprised at his success.
Olive’s mother (played by the actor playing Rona)
Olive’s dad (played by the actor playing Mitch)
Jesus Christ (played by the actor-playing Chip)
AS BEES IN HONEY DROWN
By Douglas Carter Beane
As Bees in Honey Drown is like a fun house of mirrors. Each mirror distorts your image differently and although they are fun, exciting and interesting, there is only one that shows your true image. The play is about the clash between the glamour and harshness of reality and about self-conscious transformation.
Show dates: Tuesday, November 15 - Saturday, November 19 at 8 pm each evening and Sunday, November 20 at 2 pm.
Rehearsals will begin October 3rd. They will be held two to three times a week until October 24th when we will move into the lab and begin full night rehearsals.
Character Breakdown
Actor 1(male)-Evan Wyler
Actor 2(woman)-Alexa Vere de Vere
Actors 3(male)-Photographer, Swen, Royalton Clerk and Kaden
Actor 4(male)-Ronald, Skunk and Mike
Actor 5(woman)-Amber, Backup Singer, Secretary, Bethany, Ginny, A Second Muse
Actor 6(woman)-Waiter, Backup Singer, Carla, Newsstand Woman, Denise, Illya, A Muse
Evan - After working on it for nine years, has finished his debut novel. His expectation is now that he is semi-famous; he will make a bunch of money and live a life of luxury. He is young, eager and willing. He is the perfect kind of victim for Alexa, because Evan is ready to walk into the spotlight. He thinks Alexa will lead him into a world of happiness and sophistication.
Alexa Vere de Vere - is the woman who cons Evan out of $15,000. She wanted him to write the screenplay of her life. She presents herself with glamour and sophistication. Through her actions Alexa constantly stays in the spotlight jumping from person to person, never being challenged.
The photographer - takes Evan’s picture for a magazine in order to promote him. He knows who he has to be to make it through life.
Ronald - Saks Fifth Avenue worker. He still has that youthful ignorant energy.
Swen - is a Norwegian model.
Skunk - is the lead in a British rock and roll band.
Kaden - owner of Delta Records. He is one of Alexa’s victims. He is very forward and honest with people.
Ginny - is an innocent young girl who does things to please others. She is convinced to have topless pictures taken which thrusts her into semi-famous status making her the proper target for Alexa.
Bethany, Carla, Denise and Illya are all victims of Alexa.
