AUDITION INFO
SIGN-UPS, ROLES,
& WHAT TO PREPARE.
Auditions to be in the cast in our upcoming musical, The Music Man, Jr. are on
Saturday, May 14th at TBA from 10am-2pm.
Students who want to audition must sign-up for a slot here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c4aaba82ca2facf8-themusic
Students MUST come to their audition with the lines and lyrics memorized from the links below. Facial expression, voice inflection, and gestures will enhance their audition and are highly recommended. Our panel of judges will be looking for and rating (1-5) each student on the following: Singing, Spoken Diction, Stage Presence, Concentration, and Dance/Movement.
Any student who registers will be given a role in the show. For this reason, we encourage all students to tell us what other roles they might be interested in should they not be chosen for the role they auditioned for. The final casting will be announced on Saturday, May 28th.
All the casting roles are divided up into 3 categories:
-
Principle Roles – main characters that have anywhere from 20-200 speaking lines. Participants must audition to be considered for these roles.
-
Supporting Roles – Characters that have anywhere from 3-20 speaking lines. Auditioning is not required, but if a specific role is desired, an audition is highly recommended. Those who audition will be considered for these roles FIRST, before assigning any students who register without auditioning.
-
Ensemble Roles - general characters that sing and dance in the 5 full cast songs of the show.
Principle Roles: Participants MUST Audition to be considered for the following roles:
-
Harold Hill - A conman in a traveling salesman disguise. We’re looking for boy with charisma and charm, who is comfortable on stage. He should be a great actor, singer, and mover. We need someone who memorizes lines easily and has a good sense of musical rhythm. Harold needs to have good chemistry with Marian and must be comfortable staging a “kiss” with her, which requires a certain amount of emotional maturity.
Gender: Male Vocal range: B3-G5 Total Lines: 167 Solos: 3
Audition Song: 76 Trombones (p.43-48)
Pages: 15-17 (w/ Marcellus); 49-51 (w/ Tommy, Zaneeta, Constable, Mayor Shinn)
55 (w/ Marian); 98-100 (w/ Marian)108-111 (w/ Winthrop, Marian)
CLICK HERE FOR SCRIPT / SHEET MUSIC EXCERPTS TO PRACTICE.
CLICK HERE FOR AUDIO EXCERPT TO PRACTICE.
-
Marian Paroo - The role of Marian is a different twist on the traditional leading lady. The character progresses greatly during the show, starting as an uptight librarian and transforming into a beautiful and trusting young woman. Marian must have an amazing voice, be an excellent actor, and be able to move well. She must also have an air of confidence that draws Harold and the audience to her. She will also need to be comfortable staging “kisses” between two boys - Harold and Charlie Cowell, which requires a certain amount of emotional maturity.
Gender: Female Vocal range: G3-G5 Total Lines: 142 Solos: 4
Audition Songs: Till There Was You 104-105;
Piano Lesson/If You Don’t Mind My Saying So 28-32 (w/ Mrs. Paroo)
Pages: 33-35 (w/ Amaryllis, Mrs. Paroo & Winthrop); 55 (w/ Harold); 98-100 (w/ Harold); 108-111 (w/ Winthrop, Harold); 95-97 (w/ Charlie)
CLICK HERE FOR SCRIPT / SHEET MUSIC EXCERPTS TO PRACTICE.
CLICK HERE FOR AUDIO EXCERPT 1 TO PRACTICE.
CLICK HERE FOR AUDIO EXCERPT 2 TO PRACTICE.
-
Charlie Cowell - Charlie Cowell is a traveling salesman who exposes Harold as a con. This actor will be the understudy to Harold. When not playing Charlie, he will perform in the ensemble or as a teen dancer or townsperson. We’re looking for a strong actor with a good loud voice who is a bit of a ham and likes being on the stage. He must be comfortable staging a “kiss” with Marian and should have a good sense of comic timing.
Gender: Male Total Lines: 49 Solos: 0
Pages: 95-97 (w/ Marian)
CLICK HERE FOR SCRIPT EXCERPT TO PRACTICE.
-
Mayor Shinn - The actor playing Mayor Shinn certainly needs a good sense of comic timing, but should be able to perform the role very seriously. This is elemental in creating the humor of The Music Man JR., which is based in reality. Mayor Shinn does not have to sing or dance, but he is responsible for a great deal of the pacing and line pick up in the show. We’re looking for an actor that can memorize long monologues.
Gender: Male Total Lines: 63 Solos: 0
Pages: 38-39 (monologue); 49-51 (w/ Tommy, Zaneeta, Constable, Harold)
CLICK HERE FOR SCRIPT EXCERPT TO PRACTICE.
-
Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn - Everybody wants to play Eulalie. It is a great role for a great comic actress. Again, this is another character who takes herself very seriously, which is what will make the audience find her hysterical. Eulalie does have some singing and some dancing, or at least posing. Eulalie should have good chemistry with Mayor Shinn.
Gender: Female Vocal Range: D4-D5 Total Lines: 24 Solos: 3
Audition Songs: Pick-a-Little (Part 1) 57-60
Pages: 56-61 (w/ Pick-a-Little Ladies)
CLICK HERE FOR SCRIPT / SHEET MUSIC EXCERPTS TO PRACTICE.
CLICK HERE FOR AUDIO EXCERPT TO PRACTICE.
-
Marcellus Washburn - Sidekick to Harold. Marcellus' big number is "Shipoopi" so the character must act well, sing reasonably well (although a character voice is best) and be able to dance. We’re looking to cast a kid who is just funny all the time.
Gender: Male Vocal range E4-D#5 Total Lines: 29 Solos: 1
Audition Song: Shipoopi (80-82)
Pages: 15-17 (w/ Harold)
CLICK HERE FOR SCRIPT / SHEET MUSIC EXCERPTS TO PRACTICE.
CLICK HERE FOR AUDIO EXCERPT TO PRACTICE.
-
Mrs. Paroo - She is mother of Marian and Winthrop and the conscience of River City. She is a great mother, stands up for what she believes in, and gently pushes Marian to think of her future. The role requires an actress who can do a good Irish accent, and who can sing and act.
Gender: Female Vocal range -Eb5 Total Lines: 46 Solos: 2
Audition Song: Piano Lesson/If You Don’t Mind My Saying So 28-32 (w/ Marian)
Pages: 33-35 (w/ Amaryllis, Marian & Winthrop)
CLICK HERE FOR SCRIPT / SHEET MUSIC EXCERPTS TO PRACTICE.
CLICK HERE FOR AUDIO EXCERPT TO PRACTICE.
-
Winthrop Paroo - Marian’s little brother. Winthrop needs to be able to affect a believable lisp. He has to transform from a shy child to an outspoken child who not only sings but dances!
Gender: Male Vocal range: C4-Eb5 Total Lines: 37 Solos: 2
Audition Song: Wells Fargo Wagon (75-78)
Pages: 78-79 (w/ Harold); 33-35 (w/ Amaryllis, Marian & Winthrop)
CLICK HERE FOR SCRIPT / SHEET MUSIC EXCERPTS TO PRACTICE.
CLICK HERE FOR AUDIO EXCERPT TO PRACTICE.
-
Amaryllis - The slightly bratty girl who studies piano with Marian. Amaryllis should be a good actor, and roughly the same size as Winthrop and Gracie. Just who are Amaryllis' parents is one of the great mysteries of The Music Man JR.
Gender: Female Vocal range: C4-Eb5 Total Lines: 37 Solos: 2
Audition Song: Wells Fargo Wagon (75-78)
Pages: 33-35 (w/ Marian, Mrs. Paroo & Winthrop)
CLICK HERE FOR SCRIPT / SHEET MUSIC EXCERPTS TO PRACTICE.
CLICK HERE FOR AUDIO EXCERPT TO PRACTICE.
Supporting Roles: Audition Optional – All of these roles will be cast from those who audition as well as those who choose not to. Anyone looking to sign up for a specific role, an audition is highly recommended.
-
The Four Quartet Members – We’re looking for boys who can hold their singing part strongly 3 with 3 others.
-
Ewart Dunlop - The second highest voice or tenor. He is married to Maud. Total Lines: 5 Songs: 3
-
Oliver Hix - The second lowest voice or baritone. He is married to Alma.
Total Lines: 2 Songs: 3
3. Jacey Squires - The highest voice or tenor. He is married to Mrs. Squires.
Total Lines: 5 Songs: 3
4. Olin Britt - The lowest voice or bass. His wife will be assigned from the ensemble.
Total Lines: 3 Songs: 3
(Audition Optional) Audition Song: Ice Cream (52-53) Pages: 51-53 (w/ Harold)
CLICK HERE FOR SCRIPT / SHEET MUSIC EXCERPTS TO PRACTICE.
CLICK HERE FOR AUDIO EXCERPT TO PRACTICE.
-
Tommy Djilas - The best male dancer, Tommy is the teen heartthrob in the show. Tommy's love interest is Zaneeta so the two characters should have chemistry between them.
Gender: Male Total Lines: 14 Dance Breaks: 2
(Audition Optional) Pages: 73 (w/ Zaneeta)
49-51 (w/ Mayor Shinn, Zaneeta, Constable, Harold)
CLICK HERE FOR SCRIPT EXCERPT TO PRACTICE.
-
Zaneeta Shinn- The best female dancer. The role is often given dance features in both "76 trombones" and "Shipoopi".
Gender: Female Total Lines: 12 Dance Breaks: 2
(Audition Optional) Pages: 73 (w/ Tommy) 49-51 (w/ Tommy, Mayor Shinn, Constable, Harold)
CLICK HERE FOR SCRIPT EXCERPT TO PRACTICE.
-
Gracie Shinn - Zaneeta's little sister. This role has one or two lines of dialogue and traditionally is the first soloist in "Wells Fargo Wagon." Gracie will also understudy Amaryllis in case of an emergency.
(Audition Optional) Page: 74 (w/ Mayor Shinn) Song: The Wells Fargo Wagon
CLICK HERE FOR SCRIPT / SHEET MUSIC EXCERPTS TO PRACTICE.
CLICK HERE FOR AUDIO EXCERPT TO PRACTICE.
-
Constable Locke - The Constable is a quietly wise man who sees through Harold, but doesn't seem to mind. It is a nice feature for any young character actor.
Gender: Any Total Lines: 10
(Audition Optional) Page: 49-51 (w/ Mayor Shinn, Tommy, Harold)
CLICK HERE FOR SCRIPT EXCERPT TO PRACTICE.
-
The Pick-a-Little Ladies: We’re looking for girls with strong voices and a good sense of comedy.
(Audition Optional) Song: Pick-a-Little (Part 1) 57-60 Pages: 56-61
-
Ethel Toffelmier - Marcellus's girlfriend. She is described by Marcellus as "a nice comfortable girl and the boss's niece." Ethel has some acting, some singing, and some dancing. Ethel is also one of the solo Pick-a-Little ladies. This actor will be the understudy to Marian.
Gender: Female Vocal range D4-D5 Total Lines: 7 Solos: 3
2. Alma Hix – Alma is married to Oliver. Total Lines: 6 Songs: 3
3. Maud Dunlop - Maud is married to Ewart. Total Lines: 8 Songs: 3
4. Mrs. Squires - Mrs. Squires is married to Jacey. Total Lines: 1 Songs: 3
CLICK HERE FOR SCRIPT / SHEET MUSIC EXCERPTS TO PRACTICE.
CLICK HERE FOR AUDIO EXCERPT TO PRACTICE.
Ensemble Roles: Those who register, but do not audition will be assigned to these roles.
-
Conductor - The conductor has the first line in the show. We need an actor that is loud and energetic! Gender: Any Total Lines: 3
-
Townspeople – Play the adults in town. Will be grouped in families.
-
Traveling Salesmen – Perform opening song: Rock Island Line. Can later play townspeople.
-
Teen Dancers – Perform dance breaks in 76 Trombones & Shipoopi
-
Wa Tan Ye girls – Solo performance in Scene 5. Also perform dance breaks in 76 Trombones & Shipoopi
-
Boys' Band – Young boys who perform finale on prop instruments. Also perform dance breaks in 76 Trombones & Shipoopi
Students who want to audition must sign-up for a slot here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c4aaba82ca2facf8-themusic