Colouring Competition

The Sound Of Music

A true and moving story, The Sound Of Music recalls the dramatic memories of Maria and the Von Trapp family considered by many to be the best-loved and most successful musical in history, includes some of the most beloved songs including “My Favourite Things”, “Edelweiss”, “Climb Ev’ry Mountain”, "Do-Re-Mi"and the wonderful title song ‘The Sound of Music’.

AUDITIONS

SUNDAY DEC 2^ND 1PM – 6PM     MONDAY DEC 3^RD 6PM – 9PM    

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

Please come prepared to sing a song from The Sound of Music and to read a short extract from the script.

REHEARSALS

Rehearsals will be on Monday Wednesday evenings to include Sundays nearer the performance date. Rehearsals will commence in February, the exact date will be confirmed once the show is cast.

PRODUCTION DATES

There will be ten performances. The opening performance will be on 12^th June, following with the 13^th, 14th, 15th, 19th, 20th, 21st and 22^nd June, 2013.

If cast you will need to be a member of the theatre or complete an application form and pay the necessary fee at the time of the first rehearsal. All members cast are required to pay the £15 show levy. This levy will be collected during the first ‘get together’/rehearsal.

For further information please contact Director Maggie Bishton:

Phone: 07919505764          Email: drama50@hotmail.co.uk



This Amateur production is presented

By arrangement with Josef Weinberger Ltd on behalf of

R&H Theatricals of New York

Music by Richard Rodgers
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse
Suggested by The Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta Trapp

Are You Being Served

AUDITION NOTICE

Are You Being Served?

Following on from the success of ‘Allo ‘Allo and Hi De Hi we are staging Are You Being Served?  in April 2013.

Production dates:      Thursday 18^th – Saturday 20^th April and

                                    Thursday 25^th – Saturday 27^th April 2013.

This BBC sitcom was broadcast from 1972 to 1985. Set in the ladies' and gentlemen's clothing departments of Grace Brothers, a large, fictional London store.  The series ran for 13 years with a total of 69 episodes.  A total of five actors appeared in all 69 episodes namely Frank Thornton (Captain Peacock), Mollie Sugden (Mrs Slocombe), John Inman (Mr Humphries), Wendy Richards (Miss Brahams) and Nicolas Smith (Mr Rumbold).

The play which is based on a film version of the sitcom is full of double entendres as the staff of Grace Brothers prepare for a sale of German goods and then depart en masse for a staff holiday at a one star hotel in Spain.

Although not wanting to copy the television series the audience do (I believe) want to be able to associate with the original. 

The cast

Mr Grainger – senior sales assistant in menswear. Older than the other members of the sales team.

Mr Mash – act one only. Can also double as either Don Bernardo or Cesar. Maintenance operative on the shop floor at Grace Brothers. Playing age 50 plus.

Mr Rumbold – manager on the department. Famous for having large ears – the script makes reference to these throughout. Playing age 50’s

Mr Lucas – junior assistant on menswear. Playing age 30’s

Miss Brahms – junior assistant on women’s wear. Playing age 30 -40’s

Captain Peacock – floor worker – supervisor of both departments.  Ex-am official. Playing age 50

Mrs Slocombe – famous for her lines about her cat. Senior on women’s wear. Playing age late 50’s onwards.

Mr Humphries – famous for line “I’m free”. Camp and flamboyant character. Play age mid 30’s onwards.

Mr Grace – owner of the store. Only appears at the end of act one. Famous line of “you’re all doing very well”.  Playing age 70 plus.

Lady Customer – act one only. Can double up as Taeresa

Male Customer – act one only. Can also double as either Don Bernardo or Cesar

Nurse – end of act one only. Can double up as Conchita. Needs to be young and attractive.

Don Bernardo – see above re possible doubling, act two only. Owner of hotel in Spain

Cesar – Revolutionary leader act two only. Playing age 45 onwards

Conchita – Act two only – see above re double up. Dark pretty young Spanish girl wearing shorts skirt.

Taeresa – see above re double up. Small part in act two, on stage for one page. Revolutionary, wears army uniform.

Scripts from Matt Jeffrey or Andy Brown (scripts will be available from 1^st September onwards)

Auditions to take place on:

Monday 5th and Wednesday 7th November 2012

from 7.30pm onwards in the Skylight room.

Once cast we will have a read through before Christmas. Rehearsals will most likely take place on Monday and Wednesday commencing in January 2013 (this will include during the panto run). Some Sundays may be required.

If cast you will need to be a member of the theatre or complete an application form and pay the necessary fee at the time of the first rehearsal. All members of the cast are required to pay the £15.00 show levy. This levy will be collected during the first read through.

For further information please contact either Matt Jeffrey on 07541156972 or Andy Brown on 07854644857.

   

Calendar Girls

    Audition Notice for Calendar Girls

Performance dates:-

6^th 7^th 8^th 9^th. / 13^th 14^th 15^th 16^th March 2013 at The Norbury Theatre Droitwich.

20^th 21^st 22^nd 23^rd March at The Conquest Theatre Bromyard.

Audition dates  Tuesday 9^th and Thursday 11^th October 2012 at 7.30pm

Written by Tim Firth the play is based on the true story of eleven WI members who posed nude for a calendear to raise money for the Lukaemia Research fund. The play has beome the fastest selling play in British theatre history and is being released to amateurs for one year only.

For this play more than any it is essential that the “girls” bond well together. The audtions are taking place early to ensure we get the right mix. We may not for a week or two.

The Characters:-

Chris 50 ish. You want Chris at your party. She will talk to people she doesn’t know, find things to say to fill silences and generate laughter. She is at home in crowds loves being the centre of attention. Without Chris in her life Annie would be better behaved. The two of them are like naughty school girls. Ideal car?... who cares as long as it’s a cabriolet.

Ideal holiday- Algarve

Annie 50ish. Annie will join in mischief but is at heart more conformist and less confrontational than Chris. The mischeivousness Chris elicits saves Annie from being a saint. She has enough edge to be interesting and enough salt not to be too sweet. Ideal car? Who cares as long as it’s reliable. Ideal holiday- walking in the English countryside.

Cora 40ish. Cora’s past is the most eclectic, having been to college!. This caused a tectonic shift with her more parochial parents. She came back to them pregnant; she is resilient and not at all downtrodden.She is the joker in the pack but never the fool. Her wit is deadpan. Her relationship with her daughter is more akin to that between Annie and Chris. She needs to sing well enough to start the show singing Jerusalem, a piano player would be an advantage but not necessary. Ideal car? who cares as long as the sound system is loud. Ideal holiday- New York

                                                                                                                                                    

Jessie 60s/70s. Get on the right side of Jessie as a teacher and she’ll be the teacher you’ll remember for life. Get on the wrong side and you will regret every waking hour! Her elixir of life is bravery, she goes on rollercoasters. Her husband is rarely surprised by her actions, she cares about grammar and the use of the apostrophe. Ideal car? Strange looking European thing long since manufactured. Holidays- Walking in Switzerland or Angkor Wat.

Celia age 35-50ish. The fact that Celia is in the WI is the greatest justification to its existence. More at home in the best department store than a church hall she always feels as if she has drifted in from a different world. She has a rebelliousness about her which endears her to Jessie. Ideal car? A Porche, which she has. Ideal Holiday- Maldives, where she often goes.

Ruth 40ish Ruth’s journey is from the false self-confidence of the emotionally abused to the genuine self-confidence of the woman happy in her own skin. Eager to please but not a rag doll she wants to keep everyone happy, she is protected by the group, they sense there is something better in Ruth than she is letting out. Ideal car? At the start anything that Eddie wants at the end whatever she wants. Ideal holiday-at the start wherever Eddie is, at the end wherever he isn’t.

Marie 50ish.Marie has gradually built the current “Marie” around her as a defence mechanism. She went to Cheshire and found Cheshire didn’t want her! She came back scorched. The WI is a trophy which justifies her entire existence. There is a lingering part of Marie that would love to be on that calendar (she never is). Ideal car? Something German and well-valeted. Ideal holiday-a quasi-academic tour of Persia advertised in the Sunday Supplement.

John Annie’s Husband 50ish. John is a human sunflower. Not a saint. Not a hero. When he dies it feels like someone has turned off a light.

Rod Chris’s husband 50ish. He gives as good as he gets from Chris, he has a deadpan sense of humour. Likes a drink, works hard.

Lawrence, late 20ish. Shy, hesitant but not nerdy! Had the courage to turn up in the first place. The photographer.

Lady Cavendish, 60ish.The president of the WI She doesn’t mean to be patronizing…but she is. Not a tweed wearer she dresses elegantly and glides like a galleon.

Elaine, 20ish. The beautician. Another patronizing woman who thinks beauty just for the young.

Liam, Late 20’s ish!! Would rather be directing other things than photoshoots for washing powder! There is a resigned patience to his actions.

You notice the ages are all “ish” these are real people and the age is almost immaterial.

The team:

Director                       Anne Lane      01905 775083 07885626958

Stage Manager            Kathryn Hooper.

Prompt                                    Jen Cox

The set build will be in the capable hands of Brian Hooper.

There will another chance to read through the play on Friday 14^th September 7.30 in the Green Room. Although this will not be an audition, please let Anne know if there is a part you would particularly like to read.

Just a reminder that all cast must pay their subs on or before the first rehearsal and a show levy of £15.00 will be charged.

A Murder is Announced

The play will now be directed by Matt Jeffery and Andy Brown. Details below.
Audition Dates – Sunday 27 May 2012 at 10.30 am and Tuesday 29 May 2012 at 7.30pm

“A Murder is Announced”

By

Agatha Christie

Adapted for the Stage by Leslie Darbon

The “announcement” is in the local paper, stating time and place of a murder to occur in Miss Blackstock’s early Victorian house. However, the victim is not one of the several occupants, temporary and permanent, but an unexpected and unknown visitor. What follows is a classic Christie puzzle of missed motives, concealed identities, a second death, a determined Inspector grimly following the twists and turns, with Miss Marple on hand to provide the final solution – at some risk to herself – in a dramatic confrontation scene just before the final curtain.

Details and Information

Director – The play will now be directed by Matt Jeffrey and Andy Brown – Matt mobile – 07971220671 – email – matthew-jeffrey@hotmail.co.uk
Andy mobile – 07854644857 – email – andrewbrown133@yahoo.co.uk

Show Dates – 5-8 September 2012

Rehearsals – Tuesday and Thursday

.Audition Dates – Sunday 27 May 2012 at 10.30 am and Tuesday 29 May 2012 at 7.30pm
– Sunday 20 May 2012 at 11.00am and Tuesday 22 May 2012 at 7.30pm

If cast you will need to be a member of the theatre or complete an application form and pay the necessary fee at the time of the first rehearsal. All members of the cast are required to pay the £15.00 show levy. This levy will be collected during the first 'get together'/rehearsal.

This show will start the Norbury’s 50^th year and I’m really looking forward to putting it on. I’m not that worried about the character descriptions and ages because, as long as it looks right to me, I’m happy to cast according to our strengths and availability.

Obviously, rehearsals will take place over the summer months and people will have holiday commitments but as long as I have details of these at the start, I’ll make every effort to work around them. Also, there will be some Sunday rehearsals towards the end of the rehearsal process but I’ll try to let you know about these with as much notice as possible. Please come along and audition – I know how nervous auditions make people so will try to keep them as relaxed as possible!

Cast of Characters

Julia Simmons – Niece to Letitia Blacklock aged 25/26

Letitia Blacklock – A woman beyond middle age but still very attractive and has looked after figure and features

Dora Bunner – A mature lady of a similar age to Letitia or could be slightly older

Patrick Simmons – Julia’s brother, a very handsome young man aged approximately 30

Mitzi – A small woman in her mid 20s from mid-Europe with an explosive temperament

Miss Marple – An elderly lady with an over inquisitive mind that gets her into a lot of trouble

Phillipa Haymes – A tall, elegant blonde aged 26 with a touch of real class about her and a serious turn of mind

Mrs Sweetenham – A woman in her late 50s and Mother to Edmund

Edmund Sweetenham – A very serious young man in his mid to late 20s who has pretentions of being a writer. Although English, looks foreign

Rudi Scherz – A young Swiss national – a very small part

Inspector Craddock – A man of authority aged about 50

Sergeant Mellors – Craddock’s subordinated, aged about 40 and a very good foil to Craddock

Norbury Theatre Pantomime 2013 - Jack and the Beanstalk

Audition Notice

Dear all,

            We are going to stage a pantomime, “Jack and the Beanstalk”, to run over 3 weeks in January 2013. The run will comprise of 14 performances including Saturday and Sunday matinees. The show dates are:

Thursday 10^th – Sunday 13^th January inclusive

Thursday 17^th – Sunday 20^th January inclusive

Thursday 24^th – Saturday 26^th January inclusive

The Cast

Dame Hilda Trot	Downtrodden Dame who keeps getting up
Jack Trot	Handsome son and heir of Hilda (Principal Boy)
Timmy Trot	Not quite so handsome & very simple brother of Jack
Squire Knackweasel	Mean and Ruthless squire of Piddlington
Jill	Beautiful niece of the squire (Principal Girl)
Daisy	Hilda’s faithful old cow
Sergeant Spit	Bumbling head of Piddlington Army
Corporal Polish	His dim but loyal assistant
Ferdinand Fleshcreep	The Giants very naughty and disliked sidekick
Fairy Meer	“Simples”
Beryl Blackheart	The Giants most unfriendly wife
Giant Blackheart	Has a penchant for making baps out of “Englishmen”
Booming Beatrice	Town crier who is never without a bell in her hand
Chorus	Villagers of Piddlington, servants, guards, etc

Auditions will take place on Sunday 29^th July from 11:00am.

Rehearsals will take place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Dates to be confirmed once the show is cast. Please check your commitments, especially if you are in other productions, before you audition.

Whichever part you are auditioning for you will be required to perform a song of your own choice. You will not be required to learn something from the production. It does not matter whether the song is accompanied or not. If you have accompaniment please bring it along on a CD, if not, don’t worry.

We will be having a read-thru/sing/chat on Friday 29^th June at 7:30pm. This is open to all and will provide an opportunity to have any questions answered. There will be no obligation to audition. Just turn up and have some fun!

The Team

Director – Mike Matthews

Assistant Director – Mel Jeffrey

Musical Director – Ben Thompson

Choreographer – Kirsty Purvis, in association with the Kirsty Purvis School of Dance

Stage Manager – Brian Hooper

Moira Hilton – Continuity

Please note – if cast you will need to become a member of the theatre (if not already) by completing an application form and paying the necessary fee at the time of first rehearsal. All members of the cast are required to pay a £15.00 show levy, which will be collected during the first rehearsal.

Many thanks,

Mike Matthews – 07919 576321

Guys and Dolls

*AUDITION NOTICE*    Guys and Dolls

This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Josef Weinberger Ltd. on behalf of Music Theatre International of New York.

A musical fable of Broadway based on the story and characters of Damon Runyon.

Music and lyrics by Frank Loesser     Book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows

All the hot gamblers are in town, and they're all depending on Nathan Detroit to set up the week's incarnation of "The Oldest Established Permanent Floating Crap Game in New York"; the only problem is, he needs $1000 to get the place. Throw in Sarah Brown, who's short on sinners at the mission she runs; Sky Masterson, who accepts Nathan's $1000 bet that he can't get Sarah Brown to go with him to Havana; Miss Adelaide, who wants Nathan to marry her; Police Lieutenant Brannigan, who always seems to appear at the wrong time; and the music/lyrics of Frank Loesser, and you've got quite a musical.

Includes the songs: "Luck Be a Lady", "Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat”, “Guy & Dolls”.

PRODUCTION DATES

October 2012, 18^th, 19^th, 20^th, 23^rd, 24^th, 25^th, 26^th, 27^th (9 performances)

AUDITIONS FOR ALL PERFORMERS (actors/singers/dancers)

Saturday, May 12th ~ 2:00PM - 5:00PM

Thursday, May 17th ~ 7.00PM - 10:00PM

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

Please come prepared to sing a song from Guys and Dolls, a song of your choice and come prepared to do a short dance sequence.  

REHEARSALS

Rehearsals will be on a Monday and Wednesday evenings commencing on Monday 6th July 2012.

Please note you must be 16 years or older to take part in this production.

If cast you will need to be a member of the theatre or complete an application form and pay the necessary fee at the time of the first rehearsal. All members cast are required to pay the £15 show levy. This levy will be collected during the first ‘get together’/rehearsal.

For further information please contact Director Maggie Bishton:

Phone: 07919505764          Email: drama50@hotmail.co.uk

Character Descriptions

Sarah Brown — Prim Salvation Army officer. Vocal: Soprano

Sky Masterson — A handsome, wealthy gambler who will bet on anything. Vocal: Baritone

Miss Adelaide — A dancer at the ‘Hot Box’ club with a perpetual psychosomatic cold. She’s been engaged to Nathan Detroit for 14 years and desperately wants to get married. Vocal: Mezzo

Nathan Detroit — Reckless and adorable gambler; Adelaide’s would-be better half. Vocal:  Baritone

Arvide Abernathy — Sarah’s grandfather, a gentle soul. Vocal: Baritone

Nicely-Nicely Johnson — A never-give-up gambler. Vocal: Tenor

Angie the Ox - A gambler and thug. Vocal: Choral

Big Jule - A big tough gangster from Chicago. Vocal: Choral

General Matilda B. Cartwright — The salvation Army matron. Vocal: Mezzo

Harry the Horse - A hoodlum out of Brooklyn. Tough guy. Vocal: Choral

Lt. Branigan - New York policeman taking charge on his beat. Vocal: Choral

Benny Southstreet — Small-time gambler with big ideas. Vocal: Baritone

Rusty Charley — Hangs out with Nicely and Benny, another small-time gambler. Vocal: Baritone

LOTS for both singing and dancing chorus in this show!

-          Gamblers and gangsters

-          Hot Box Girls - Adelaide’s dance troop.

-          City Folk - Adding colour to New York City.

-          Mission Band members

When Damon Runyon wrote his “Broadway Stories” that would later become Guys and Dolls he was able to capture perfectly the variety of characters that inhabited a fast paced, hand to mouth, rough and tumble New York City. The characters in this play are hip, wise, funny and above all individuals. These people have been there and done that. Looking for actors who really light up the stage, have great articulation and projection. We want a variety of ages. Comic timing is everything. Be bold! Stage-Age is how old you can look not how old you actually are.