Open Audition: Something Rotten!

What: Open auditions for Something Rotten!

When: 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec 13

Where: Howard Street Charter School, 625 Marion St NE

Unable to attend in-person? A video audition is acceptable. It must be submitted to the director by NOON on Saturday, December 13th to be considered. Videos should be sent via email to the director.

Things to know:

1. Prepare a song from a Broadway musical (not from Something Rotten!) that best fits and showcases your vocal range. Limit your selection to 1 minute (about 32 bars). It’s best to find a song that matches the character(s) you are most interested in auditioning/being considered for.
2. Bring a Bluetooth speaker and device to play your song. There will also be a Bluetooth device available to use if you don’t have one. Please note that there will NOT be an accompanist or piano at this audition.
3. Absolutely no a capella singing will be allowed.
4. Please bring a list of your conflicts and your calendar for Dec 13 – Feb 28.

Callbacks & Rehearsal Schedule:

• Callbacks – to be determined after Dec 13. Please make sure you clearly communicate all schedule conflicts Dec 13-Feb 28.
• Read through will be scheduled to take place before Jan 1, based on actor conflicts.
• Rehearsals will start Jan 5 and will generally be scheduled Mon-Thursday evenings 7-9:30pm.
• The rehearsal schedule will be created based on actor conflicts. It’s imperative that actors bring a complete and thorough list of conflicts for Dec 13-Feb 28. Those cast in the show will only be expected to attend rehearsal their character is needed for.
• All actors will be expected to be at all rehearsals March 1-the run of the show.

The story:

• Welcome to the Renaissance! Desperate to outshine Shakespeare, playwright brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom consult a soothsayer, who predicts the next big thing in theater: musicals. The result? A hilariously misguided production called Omelette: The Musical. Packed with show-stopping numbers, mistaken identities, and a dash of Elizabethan absurdity, Something Rotten! is a side-splitting love letter to musical theatre. Book by Karey Kirkpatrick & John O’Farrell, Music & Lyrics by Wayne & Karey Kirkpatrick

Intimacy: There will be some kissing, hugging and hand holding for some of the lead characters. Please be forthcoming if you find these to be problematic.

The characters:

• Nick Bottom – Gender: Male-presenting | Age: Able to play 30-40 | Vocal Range: Top G4 – Bottom A2 An aspiring playwright who is frustrated with his lack of success. He is desperate to outdo Shakespeare and create the next big thing in theatre. Nick is driven by his desire to succeed, even if it means resorting to extreme measures. Ambitious, jealous, determined, but also somewhat clueless. He loves his family, but often gets carried away in his pursuit of fame. Tap skills are helpful.
• Nigel Bottom – Gender: Male-presenting | Age: Able to play 20-30 | Vocal Range: Top A4 – Bottom Eb3 Nick’s younger brother, Nigel is a talented but more idealistic playwright who is far less concerned with fame and more interested in writing meaningful theatre. He is far more innocent than Nick and has a deep love for poetry. Sweet, sincere and naive. Nigel represents the artistic side of theatre, contrasting with Nick’s more mercenary approach.
• Shakespeare – Gender: Male-presenting | Age: Able to play 30-40 | Vocal Range: Top Ab4 – Bottom Ab2 The famous playwright and rival to the Bottom brothers. Shakespeare is depicted as an egotistical rock star of the Elizabethan theatre scene, boasting of his talent and allure. While he’s undeniably talented, he is also self-centered and somewhat pretentious . Arrogant, charming, flashy, and full of himself with a modern, rock-star swagger. Tap skills are helpful.
• Bea – Gender: Female-presenting | Age: Able to play 20-40 | Vocal Range: Top D5 – Bottom D3 Nick’s wife and “Right Hand Man”. She loves and supports him despite his questionable decision making and lack of success. Bea resorts to dressing up like a man to make ends meet for her growing family. She is a strong leader and a powerful woman who is quite persuasive when she wants to be. She ultimately saves the day. Comedic acting a plus.
• Portia – Gender: Female-presenting | Age: Able to play 20’s | Vocal Range: Top F#5 – Bottom G3 A quirky Puritan girl whom Nigel meets on the street. Portia is the only daughter of Brother Jeremiah and the love interest to Nigel. They fall madly in love with each other over the mutual love for Shakespeare and poetry. Portia and Nigel set out to convince Jeremiah and the other puritans that they should be together rather than following the “star crossed lovers” idea. Comedic actress who sings well.
• Nostradamus – Gender: Male-presenting | Age: Able to play 50-70 | Vocal Range: Tenor A mysterious character who provides Nick with a vision of the future. In this vision, Nick sees Shakespeare’s eventual decline and is given the idea to create the first-ever musical (which he believes will be the next big trend). Mysterious, all knowing, and slightly eccentric.
• Brother Jeremiah – Gender: Male-presenting | Age: Able to play 30-50 | Vocal Range: Top G4 – Bottom G3 The Puritan father of Portia. He is very strict and refuses to let his daughter engage in “fulfilling her lustful desires.” He shows nothing but disrespect toward everyone, but especially playwrights like Nick and Nigel. A deeply repressed Puritan. He despises playwrights, poets and all things ungodly. Comedic actor who sings.
• Shylock – Gender: Male-presenting | Age: Able to play 50-70 | Vocal Range: Baritone Money lender who is a character in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. He is also part of the show’s comedic subplot, making witty and sarcastic comments throughout the show. Witty, sharp-tongued, and involved in the financial dealings of the characters.
• Minstrel – Gender: Male or female-presenting | Age: Able to play 20+ | Vocal Range: Top A4 – Bottom C#3 Narrates some parts of the story and serves as the “guide” to the audience. The minstrel is an important comedic character who also has a knack for breaking the fourth wall.
• Lord Clapham/Master of Justice – Gender: Male-presenting | Age: Able to play 20s-30s Lord Clapham is a flamboyant producer. Comedic speaking role. This character may also play the Master of Justice as well as other ensemble roles throughout the show.
• Robin – Gender: Male-presenting | Age: 16+ | Vocal Range: Tenor-Baritone Member of Bottom’s theatrical troupe who always plays the female characters.
• Tom Snout, Peter Quince, Snug, Francis Flute – Any gender | Age: 16+ | Vocal Range: All voice types These characters are individual members and characters within Nick Bottom’s theatrical troupe. Although these particular characters must present as male, they can be played by either male or female performers.

Featured Ensemble Roles:

• The Bard Backup Singers/Dancers – Shakespeare entourage. Strong dance ability preferred.
• Tap dancing ensemble – performers with tap dance training are ideal.
• Puritans/Renaissance writers/Gallery & people in court/New World Troupe/London Townspeople – Singing & dancing ensemble

Questions?

Contact Robert Salberg (director) at: salberg.robert@gmail.com or 971-208-2799

Author: The Instigator