What: Open auditions for The Fantasticks, a timeless fable of love that manages to be nostalgic and universal at the same time. It is the world’s longest running musical, with book and lyrics by Tom Jones and music by Harvey Schmidt. Directed at Pentacle Theatre by Cherie Ulmer.
When: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 17.
Where: Pentacle Theatre, 324 52nd Ave. NW — off Highway 22, about 6 miles west of downtown Salem, Oregon.
Casting call: Casting eight actors of all abilities, genders and ethnicities for roles in this small-ensemble musical classic.
- For a full list of roles, genders, ages and vocal ranges, please scroll down this post.
- Pentacle Theatre affirms, promotes and celebrates the participation of all, without regard to race, color, sex, disability, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion or socioeconomic status.
Things to know: Lobby doors open at 12:30 p.m. and open auditions for all roles begin promptly at 1 p.m. Please be on time and plan to stay through 5 p.m.
- Please arrive early to fill out an audition form. We encourage you to download the form at pentacletheatre.org/auditions and complete it in advance. Please write clearly, especially your contact information. Headshots and resumes are not required, but always appreciated.
- Bring your calendar and provide a complete list of your conflicts through Nov. 17. If you have a conflict on the audition date, please contact the director, Cherie Ulmer.
- Please prepare a song from a Broadway musical other than The Fantasticks. Limit your selection to 32 bars — about 1 minute.
- An accompanist will be available, or you may provide your own. Please bring sheet music for the accompanist.
- Using a CD or smartphone recording of your accompaniment is OK. A CD player and Bluetooth speaker will be provided.
- Absolutely no A Cappella singing or duet/ensemble singing will be allowed.
- Please dress comfortably and be ready to learn and perform a basic dance movement combination.
COVID-19 protocols:
During auditions and rehearsals —
- For your health and safety, everyone attending auditions and rehearsals must provide proof of vaccination, including a booster if you are eligible, OR a negative COVID test result from a pharmacy or clinic taken no more than 48 hours before the audition or rehearsal time.
- Everyone must also wear masks at all times at Pentacle Theatre to protect others. Masks must cover your nose and mouth and may only be lowered to take a drink of water. We will provide masks for those who need one.
During performances —
- All volunteers and staff must provide proof of vaccination, including a booster if you are eligible, OR a negative COVID test result from a pharmacy or clinic taken no more than 48 hours before the performance time.
- While at Pentacle Theatre, everyone must wear masks to protect others. Masks must cover your nose and mouth and may only be lowered to take a drink of water or enjoy concessions pre-show and during intermission. We will provide masks for those who need one.
- Cast members appear without masks when performing onstage and are tested weekly for COVID-19.
Callbacks: Sept. 18, if needed.
Rehearsals: Generally, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays, beginning Sept. 19 at the Pentacle Theatre rehearsal studio, 197 Liberty St. S. in downtown Salem. Free parking is available on the first two floors of the Liberty Square Parkade, above the rehearsal studio.
The director will set weekend rehearsals and work sessions as needed. Please keep this in mind when providing your list of conflicts.
Rehearsals will be scheduled to make the best use of everyone’s time. Cast members are required to attend every rehearsal once The Fantasticks moves into the theatre on or around Oct. 17. If you have questions about rehearsals, please contact the director.
The story: The Fantasticks is a small-ensemble musical borrowing theatrical devices from many cultures and times, notably Commedia dell’arte, early Greek drama and American musical comedy. The story is simple: A boy, a girl, two fathers and a wall. Love is discovered, love is lost and then regained enriched by the wisdom that comes from painful, inevitable life experience. Everything needed for the story comes from a prop box onstage, including a cardboard moon, rapiers and even some of the actors!
The characters: Casting actors able to play the following roles:
- The Narrator (El Gallo) — male, age 30-50. Vocal range: top G4 / bottom Ab2. Rakish, handsome, sophisticated and gallant. He is warm, cordial and inviting to the audience, but has his own darker moments. He aids the performers in orchestrating the story.
- The Girl (Luisa) — female, age 18-25. Vocal range top B5 / bottom B3. A button-maker’s young and pretty daughter, she is a romantic idealist who falls in love with Matt. She is naive, yet honest and tender.
- The Boy (Matt) — male, age 18-25. Vocal range: top G4 / bottom A2. An innocent, young man searching for love and adventure. A bright guy but naive and even foolish at times, approaching situations with a false bravado.
- The Boy’s Father (Hucklebee) — male, age 40-60. Vocal range: top F#4 / bottom A2. A former boisterous Navy man and meticulous gardener who fakes a fight with Bellomy in hopes of getting their children to fall in love.
- The Girl’s Father (Bellomy) — male, age 40-60. Vocal range: top F#4 / bottom A2. A fastidious button-maker and also a picky gardener who fakes a fight with Hucklebee in hopes of getting their children together.
- The Actor (Henry) — male, age 50. An aging, over-the-top thespian who specializes in reciting Shakespeare, he is a commedia clown; his world is the stage and he knows no other reality.
- The Man Who Dies (Mortimer) — male, age 30-40. Henry’s goofy sidekick and another former actor who specializes in stage deaths. A commedia clown, his world is the stage and he does not live in reality.
- The Mute, any gender, age 20-50. — A silent presence who watches, acts as the wall and deals with props. An “invisible” stage assistant who comments on the action using visual communication. Easily assists in the story or fades into the background unnoticed. Deaf and hard of hearing actors are encouraged to audition.
Pentacle Theatre affirms, promotes and celebrates the participation of all, without regard to race, color, sex, disability, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion or socioeconomic status.
Show dates: Friday, Nov. 25 – Saturday, Dec. 17.
Cast members may be required to make special appearances for marketing purposes in the weeks before the show opens.
Suitability: The Fantasticks, is suitable for all ages.
Information: If you have questions or a conflict on the audition date, please contact director Cherie Ulmer at 503-949-4203.
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