ProductionHandbook2017

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2017PRODUCTIONHANDBOOK

2017PRODUCTIONCALENDAR TERM1

WednesdayFebruary15 CastAuditions–Session1(bysignuponly) 3.30pm–7pm

ThursdayFebruary16 CastAuditions–Session2(bysignuponly) 3.30pm–7pm

FridayFebruary17

MondayFeb20

DanceCall

AdvanceDance-byrequest

3.30pm–5.30pm

Lunch

ThursdayFebruary23 CallbackAuditions–byrequest 7pm–9pm

FridayFebruary24 Casting–DirectionTeam TBC

WednesdayMarch1 Castpublished–www.rscproduction.com.au

Applicationsfornon-castpositionsopen

5pm

5pm

**Thefollowingrehearsalsarescheduledtogetaheadstartonsomeofthemoretime-consuming

aspectsoftheproduction.Pleasenote:NotallcastwillberequiredfortheTerm1rehearsals**

MondayMarch6 SpecialistDanceRehearsal1 Lunch

TuesdayMarch7

MondayMarch13

EnsembleSingingSession1

LABOURDAY

3.30pm–5.30pm

TuesdayMarch14

MondayMarch20

EnsembleSingingSession2

SpecialistDanceRehearsal2

3.30pm–5.30pm

Lunch

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TERM2

TuesdayApril18 Rehearsal1–FullCast

FullCastMeetingandParentInfoNight

3.30pm–6.30pm

7pm–7.45pm

TuesdayApril25

MondayMay1

ANZACDAY-NOREHEARSAL

SpecialistDanceRehearsal

Lunch

TuesdayMay2 Rehearsal3 3.30pm–6.30pm

MondayMay8 SpecialistDanceRehearsal Lunch

TuesdayMay9 Rehearsal4 3.30pm–6.30pm

MondayMay15 SpecialistDanceRehearsal Lunch

TuesdayMay16 Rehearsal5 3.30pm–6.30pm

MondayMay22 SpecialistDanceRehearsal Lunch

TuesdayMay23 Rehearsal6 3.30pm–6.30pm

MondayMay29 SpecialistDanceRehearsal Lunch

TuesdayMay30 Rehearsal7 3.30pm–6.30pm

MondayJune7 SpecialistDanceRehearsal Lunch

TuesdayJune6 Rehearsal8 3.30pm–6.30pm

MondayJune12 QUEENSBIRTHDAYHOLIDAY

TuesdayJune13 Rehearsal9 3.30pm–6.30pm

MondayJune19 SpecialistDanceRehearsal Lunch

TuesdayJune20 Rehearsal10 3.30pm–6.30pm

MondayJune26 SpecialistDanceRehearsal Lunch

TuesdayJune27 Rehearsal11andSitzprobe 3.30pm–9pm

TERM3

WednesdayJuly19–

FridayJuly21

ProductionCamp

MtEvelynRecreationCamp

12pm–

1.30pm

TuesdayJuly25 StageRehearsal 3.30pm–6.30pm

FridayJuly28 StageRehearsal 8.50am–3.15pm

TuesdayAugust1 StageRehearsal 3.30pm–9.00pm

Allcastwillberequiredforanagreed20minutecostumingcallatsomestageoverthisweekend.

SaturdayAugust5 TechnicalBump-in

CostumeWorkingBeeandChecking

Asrequired

SundayAugust6 TechBump-inandLightPlotting(nocast) Asrequired

TuesdayMarch21

MondayMarch27

EnsembleSingingSession3

SpecialistDanceRehearsal

3.30pm–5.30pm

Lunch

TuesdayMarch28 EnsembleSingingSession4 3.30pm–5.30pm

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CostumeWorkingBeeandChecking

MondayAugust7 TechandStageCrewRehearsal(nocast) 3.30pm–9pm

TuesdayAugust8 FullDressRehearsal1(5pm) 3.30pm–9pm

WednesdayAugust9 FullDressRehearsal2(7pm) 6pm–10pm

ThursdayAugust10 Performance1–PreviewPerformance(12pm) 8.50am–3.15pm

FridayAugust11 Performance2–OpeningNight(7.30pm) 5.30pm–10.30pm

SaturdayAugust12 Performance3–Matinee(4.30pm) 2.30pm–7.30pm

SundayAugust13 Performance4–Matinee(2.30pm) 12.30pm–5.30pm

WednesdayAugust16 Performance5(7.30pm) 5.30pm–10.30pm

ThursdayAugust17 Performance6(7.30pm) 5.30pm–10.30pm

FridayAugust18 Performance7(7.30pm) 5.30pm–10.30pm

SaturdayAugust19 Performance8(7.30pm)–ClosingNight 5.30pm–11pm

MondayAugust21 Bumpout(Years7-10only) 9am–11.30am

AfterthesailingsuccessofAnythingGoesin2016,RingwoodSecondaryCollegeisdelightedtolaunchthelongawaitedandtheatricallyelectrifying–CHICAGO.ThisshowhasneverbeenstagedatRingwoodSecondaryCollegeandwearebeyondexitedtointroducestudentsandtheentireschoolcommunitytothisclassicBroadwaymusical.

ABOUTTHESHOWCHICAGOisaniconicBobFosseAmericanmusicalwithmusicandlyricsbyclassicwritingpartnersJohnKanderandFredEbbwhoalsowrote(SweetCharity,Cabaret,Curtains,KissoftheSpiderWoman)SetinProhibition-eraChicago,themusicalisbasedona1926playofthesamenamebyreporterMaurineDallasWatkinsaboutactualcriminalsandcrimesshereportedon.Thestoryisasatireoncorruptionintheadministrationofcriminaljusticeandtheconceptofthe"celebritycriminal."TheoriginalBroadwayproductionopenedinandranfor936performancesuntil1977.BobFossechoreographedtheoriginalproduction,andhisstyleisstronglyidentifiedwiththeshow.FollowingaWestEnddebutin1979ChicagowasrevivedonBroadwayin1996,andayearlaterintheWestEnd.TheBroadwayrevivalholdstherecordasthelongest-runningmusicalrevivalandthelongest-runningAmericanmusicalinBroadwayhistory.The2002filmversionofthemusicalwontheAcademyAwardforBestPictureandrevampedtheMovie-Musicalgenre. SHORTSYNOPSISIn themid-1920s in Chicago,Velma Kellyis avaudeville performerwhomurdered both her husband and hersisterwhenshefoundtheminbedtogether.Velmaeventuallyisarrestedforhercrime.Meanwhile,wehearofchorusgirlRoxieHart'smurderofherlover,nightclubregularFredCasely.

Roxie convinces her husband Amos that the victim was a burglar, and Amos cheerfully takes the blame.However,whenthepolicementionthedeceased'sname,Amosbelatedlyputstwoandtwotogether.Thetruthcomesout,andRoxieisarrested.Sheissenttothewomen'sblockinCookCountyJail,inhabitedbyVelmaandothermurderesses.TheblockispresidedoverbythecorruptMatron"Mama"Morton,whosesystemofmutualaidperfectlysuitsherclientele.ShehashelpedVelmabecomethemedia'stopmurder-of-the-weekandisactingasabookingagentforVelma'sbigreturntovaudeville.

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VelmaisnothappytoseeRoxie,whoisstealingnotonlyherlimelightbutalsoherlawyer,BillyFlynn.RoxietriestoconvinceAmostopayforBillyFlynntobeher lawyer.BillytakesRoxie'scaseandre-arrangesherstoryforconsumption by sympathetic tabloid columnist Mary Sunshine. Roxie's press conference turns into aventriloquistactwithBillydictatinganewversionofthetruthtothepresswhileRoxiemouthsthewords.

RoxiebecomesthenewtoastofChicagoassheproclaimsquiteboastfullywhileplanningforherfuturecareerinvaudeville.AsRoxie'sfamegrows,Velma'snotorietyisleftinthedustandinan"actofpuredesperation",shetries to talk Roxie into recreating the sister act but Roxie turns her down, only to find her own headlinesreplaced by the latest sordid crime of passion. Separately, Roxie and Velma realize there is no one they cancountonbutthemselvesandtheever-resourcefulRoxiedecidesthatfakingapregnancyinprisonwouldputherbackonthefrontpage.

Alittleshyonthearithmetic,Amosproudlyclaimspaternity,butstillnobodynoticeshim.VelmatriestoshowBillyall the tricks shehasplanned forher trialbuthe ispreoccupiedwithhismore recent cases.Roxiehasaheated argumentwith Billy and fires him. She is brought back down to earthwhen she learns that a fellowinmatehasbeenexecuted.

Roxie’strialdatearrives,andBillycalmsher,tellingherifshemakesashowofit,shewillbefinebutwhenhepassesallVelma'sideasontoRoxie,sheuseseachone,downtotherhinestoneshoebuckles,tothedismayofMamaandVelma.Aspromised,BillygetsRoxieacquitted,butjustastheverdictisannounced,someevenmoresensational crime pulls the pack of press bloodhounds away, and Roxie's fleeting celebrity life is over. Billyleaves,donewiththecase.Amosstayswithher,gladforhiswife,butshethenconfessesthattherereallyisnobaby,makingAmosfinallyleaveher.Leftinthedust,Roxiepullsherselfupandextolsthejoysoflife.SheteamsupwithVelmainanewactinwhichtheydanceandperform"HotHoneyRag"untiltheyarejoinedbytheentirecompany.

THEAUDITIONPROCESSGeneralAuditionandDanceCallAuditionsforcastareopentoanystudentofRingwoodSecondaryCollegein2017.Thecastsizeiscappedaccordingtothedimensionsofthestage,costumingandadministrationrequirements.Therefore,theauditionprocessiscompetitive.Auditionsareconductedindividuallyandinfrontofapanelofproductionteammembersasappointedbythedirector.Castingdecisionsareentirelyatthediscretionoftheproductionteamandaremadeinaccordancewiththespecificrequirementsoftheshow.Studentsmustselectandprepareonesongfromthelistbelow.Foreachsong,thesheetmusicandbackingtrackexcerpttobeusedintheauditioncanbefoundontheAUDITIONSpageoftheproductionwebsitesometimeafterTuesdayFebruary7,2016.(Keepcheckingback–itmighttakeawhiletocompile.AFacebooknotificationwillgooutwhenitisready.)Studentswillalsobeaskedtocompletea‘coldread’ofsomedialoguefromtheshow.YouwillbeaskedtoreadthedialogueinanAmericanaccent.Studentsmustsignupforageneralauditionslotononeofthefollowingafternoons:

• WednesdayFebruary15between3.30pmand7pm• ThursdayFebruary16between3.30pmand7pm

Signingupisanonlineprocessandmustbecompletedthroughthewebsite: www.rscproduction.com.au/auditions.htmlThislinkwillbeavailableforusefromTuesdayFebruary7,2017.

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****Inadditiontothegeneralaudition,therewillbeadancecallonFridayFebruary17from3.30pmuntil5.30pm.CHICAGOisaheavydanceshowandallprospectiveleads,principaldancersandensemblemembersMUSTattend.Pleasenotethatanyonewhoattendsthedancecallonly,withoutsigningupforamainaudition,cannotbeconsideredforapositioninthecast.YouMUSTattendageneralauditiononeithertheWednesdayortheThursday. Songsforfemales Songsformales

AllThatJazz–VelmaKelly AllICareAboutIsLove–BillyFlynn

Roxie–RoxieHeart MrCellophane–AmosHeart

WhenYou’reGoodToMamma–Mamma

Morton

ALittleBitOfGood–MarySunshine

Allcandidateswillbeconsideredforallroles,irrespectiveoftheirsongchoicesatauditions.However,itwouldmakesensetochooseasongthatgivesanindicationofyourdesiredrole.CallbackAuditionsFollowingthegeneralauditions,somestudentswillbeinvitedtoasubsequentcallbackauditiononThursdayFebruary23.Thissessionwillrunfrom7pmuntil9pm.Asalways,noinferenceaboutcastingdecisionsshouldbedrawnfromwhetherornotstudentsareinvitedtothisaudition.Additionallytherewillbean‘AdvanceDanceCallback’onMondayFebruary20atLunchtime.Thiswillbeorganizedbyrequestonly.CastAnnouncementThecastfor2017’sproductionofCHICAGOwillbepublishedonthewebsiteat5pmonWednesdayMarch1st.Thosewhoauditionedunsuccessfullywillbeaffordedpriorityinjoiningotherareasoftheshow.Wemaychoosetodoublecastsomeprincipalroles,butthisshouldnotbetakenasagiven.

CASTINGREQUIREMENTS–CHICAGOCHICAGOisashowwithastunningarrayofleadroles,cameos,actingroles,dancepartsandterrificensembleparticipation.Prospectiveauditioneesareexpectedtodosomeresearchintotheshow,itscharactersandpotentialinterpretations.TheProductionTeamencourageseveryonetorelaxanddotheirabsolutebestintheaudition.However,theyarealsoonthelookoutforcandidateswhocandemonstratethattheyhaveconsideredpossibleinterpretationsofcharacterandsong. PrincipalCharacterBreakdownLadies…·VelmaKelly:Sarcastic,sexy,tough,funny.Velmaisaformervaudevilleperfor.5merwhoalsoservesasthehostess.Sheoftentalksdirectlytotheaudience.Shekilledherhusbandandhersisterafterfindingthemtogether.Usedtobeingthe"headliner"shelearnstoholdhertongueandmakenicetosavehervaudevillecareer.Needstobeastrongactress,singeranddancer.VocalRange:Alto-MezzoDance:Strong

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·RoxieHart:Innocent,sexy,desperate,selfish.Roxieisnotverybrightandneverthinksabouttheconsequencesofheractionsbeforeshesaysordoesthings.Everymoveisselfish,everyideafoolishandill-considered,andyetsheremainsstrangelysympatheticbecauseweknowherselfishnessisnotmalicious;butchildish.AllRoxiecaresaboutisgettingintoVaudeville.Needstobeastrongactress,singeranddancer.VocalRange:Mezzo-SopranoDance:Strong·Matron"Mama"Morton:Strong,funny,powerfulandtough.ThematronoftheCookCountyJailwhobelievesthatallfavorsshegivesshouldbereciprocatedorpaidfor.IfBillyistheAgent,MamawouldbeconsideredtheManager.Needstobestrongcharacteractorwhocansingwell.VocalRange:AltoDance:Limited…andGentlemen·BillyFlynn:Persuasive,manipulative,masculine.Billyisasuave,educatedlawyerwhocanpersuadeanyonetodoanything.Billywilltakeanycaseaslongasitissuretoputmoneyinhispocket.BillyisalotlikeaHollywoodAgent.Needstobeastrongcharacteractorwhocansinganddancewell.VocalRange:BaritoneDance:Limited(potentialtoaddmore)·AmosHart:Charming,funny,vulnerable,timidman.Amosisanaverageguy,notverygoodlooking,notverysmart.Manipulatedeasily,AmosistheonlycharacterinChicagowhosemotivesareentirelypure,neverselfishandhe'stheonlycharacterwhoreallylosesultimately.Strongcharacteractorwhocansingwell.VocalRange:BaritoneDance:None·MarySunshine:SobsisterreporterfromtheEveningStar.Believesthereisalittlebitofgoodineveryoneandwillbelieveanythingsheisfedthatmatchesherbeliefs.WearelookingforamalesopranoorcountertenorwhocansinglegitimatelyuptoahighBflatwhomustplayawomanwiththeimageofagoodnaturedtalkshowhostessbutisactuallyahighpoweredgossipcolumnist.Mustbeagoodcomedian.VocalRange:CountertenorDance:MinimalOtherCharactersMURDERESSES:·Liz:PrisoneratCookCountyJail.Sheisimprisonedaftershootingtwowarningshotsintoherhusband’shead.·Annie:PrisonerattheCookCountyJail.Murder’sherloverafterfindingouthealreadyhassixwives.“OneofthoseMormons,ya’know.”

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·June:PrisoneratCookCountyJail.Afterherhusbandaccusesherofscrewingthemilkman,hemysteriouslyrunsintoherknifetentimes.·Hunyak:HungarianPrisoneratCookCountyJail.TheonlyEnglishshespeaksisthephase,“NotGuilty.”Whichfollowshertohergrave.·Mona:PrisoneratCookCountyJail.Murdersherloverafterhehasaroundofaffairswithotherwoman,andanoccasionalman.Iguessyoucouldsayitwas“artisticdifferences.”ENSEMBLE:AssortedOthers:·FredCasely:SleepingwithRoxieHartandisshotandkilled.Mustplaya“regularguy”inthefirstscenebutplayanoverlydramaticversionofhimselfinthecourtroomscene.Thispersonmaydoubleasamale/femaledancerormaybecastasacameorolewithlittlerehearsaltime.·SergeantFogarty:AssignedtoRoxie’scase.Afteraskingtherightquestions,hemanagestogetRoxietoconfess.·MartinHarrison:DistrictAttorneywhoisprosecutingRoxie.Thisactorcoulddoubleasanensemblemember·Go-To-Hell-Kitty:StealsthespotlightwhensheMurdersherhusbandalongwiththreeotherwomen,sheiswealthyandgoescrazytellingeveryoneto"go-to-hell".Hercrimesarelabeled“LakeShoreDriveMassacre.”·Harry:MurderedbyGo-To-HellKittyforsleepingaroundwiththreewomenbehindherback.·Aaron:CourtappointedlawyerforHunyak.Hetriestogethertoconfesstospeedalongthetrial.·Judge:JudgeoverseeingRoxie’sTrial.·CourtClerk:Swearspeopleinwiththeirhandonthebible.“Blah,Blah,Truth,Truth.Selp-youGod.”·MasterofCeremonies:Thisspeakingrolewillbedividedupamongstthemostoutgoinganddynamicensemblemembers.Thinktheringleaderofacircuswhoannounceseachact.

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RECOMMENDEDRECORDINGSThereareanumberofcastrecordingsofCHICAGOfloatingroundinseverallanguages.Pleasebecarefulaboutwhichoneyouchoosetolistento,asmanyhavesubstantialdifferencestothescorethatwewillbeusing.Bothofthebelowrecordings(availableoniTunes)aregoodtolistento,astheyarebothprettyfaithfultothescorethatwearepresenting.Bothrecordingsareoutstanding.However,rememberthattheywon’tnecessarilymatchupexactlywithwhatwearegoingtoaskyoutoperform.Nonetheless,theyareessentiallisteningforanyoneintendingtojoinourcast.

ChicagoTheMusical[NewLondonCast

Recording(1997)]Chicago[1996BroadwayRevivalCast]

TheLondonCastismorecompleterecordingwithlesscutsandmoredialogueincluded.Trytoavoidwatchingthe2002filmversion.It’sverydifferentfromthestagemusical.Asalways,therearealsoanumberofinterpretations,bothamateurandprofessional,thathaveillegallyfoundtheirwayontoYouTube–alwaysworthabitofalookaswell.

NATUREOFTHECOMMITMENTBeforechoosingtoaudition,itisimportanttounderstandthenatureofthecommitmentrequired.Acceptingapositioninthecastimpliesacommitmenttothetimeandcostinvolved.TIMEReviewthe2017ProductionCalendaratthebeginningofthisdocument.Thereisanexpectationthateveryoneisavailableforthecalltimesaspublishedonthisschedule.Wearealwaysflexible

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whenappropriatenotificationofabsenceiscommunicatedwellinadvance.Anypotentialconflictsmustbeaddressedandresolvedimmediately.Itisastudent’sresponsibilitytoorganizework,sport,danceandothercommitmentsaroundourschedule,particularlyinTerm3.Failuretohonourthesecommitmentsornotifyofabsenceinadvanceisdisrespectfultothecompanyasawhole.Thereisafurtherexpectationthatallcastmemberswillpreparefullyforeachrehearsalandpracticetheirsongs,linesandroutinesonaregularbasis.RegularrehearsalswillalwayshappenonTuesdayafternoonsfrom3.30pmuntil6.30pm.Pleasenotethatleadsmayberequiredtoremainbehindforsomeadditionalrehearsalafterthis.DecisionsaboutthiswillbefinalisedearlyinTerm2.Weeklyscheduleswillbepublishedinadvance,anditmaybepossiblethatsomecastwillfinishslightlyearlieronsomeweeks.However,weneedeveryonetobeavailableupuntil6.30pm.Additionally,therewillbeseverallunchtimerehearsalsforleadrolesandspecialistdancers(onMondays).Thesewillberuntogivetheattentionandfocusthataleadrolerequires. COSTCastmembersareresponsibleforthefollowingcosts:

• ProductionLevy(Cast)–thisraisesmoneytooffsetcostsassociatedwithcostuming,theProductionHoodieorT-Shirt,onecopyofthesouvenirDVD(eitherFridayorSaturdaynight),copyingofrehearsalmaterialandafternoonteaatregularrehearsals.

o $80percastmembero $65percastmemberifmorethanonefromthesamefamily

• ProductionCamp–compulsoryforallcastandorchestra(July15-17)o $240-$265perstudent–costtobeconfirmedinTerm1.

• Otherexpensesmayincludesomebasiccastsupplycostumerequirements.

FULLCASTMEETINGANDPARENTINFORMATIONEVENINGOnTuesdayApril18,wewillbeholdingourfirstcastmeetingfortheseason,inconjunctionwithaParentInformationEvening.ThiswillbetheofficiallaunchofthecompanyforCHICAGOandisdesignedtokickstarttheproductioninadvanceoftherehearsalperiod.Inadditiontodealingwiththebasicinformationandquestions,thiswillalsobewhenscriptsandotherrehearsalmaterialwillbedistributed,aswellasensuringthatalladministrativemattersarecompleted.Opportunitiesforparentinvolvementwillalsobeoutlined.

EXTRApARTSExtrap.ArtsaimstosupportthePerformingArtsprogramofRingwoodSecondaryCollegebyprovidingpracticalassistancewherepossible.ItencouragesparentswithaninterestinthePerformingArtsandtheRSCprogramtocontributetheirtimeandskillsinaninformal,supportiveandsocialenvironment.

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Themajoroperationforthisgroupisinthecostumeroomandthereisalwaysdemandforanyonewhohassometimetovolunteer.Sewersareparticularlyencouragedtolendahand,butallhelpisvaluableandanyskillsarewelcome.ParentrepresentativeswillspeakattheInformationEveningabouthowmuchfunitistobeinvolved.Certainly,wecannotsucceedaswedowithoutthisvaluablesupport.

MARKETINGANDTICKETSALESTicketsforCHICAGOwillgoonsaletomembersofthecompanyandtheirfamiliesonTuesdayMay16.GeneralsaleswillcommenceonTuesdayMay23.Allsaleswillonceagainbefunneledthroughtheproductionwebsite,withopportunitiestoattributesalestomembersofthecast.Therewillbeasignificantprizedrawonclosingnightforthetopticketsellers.PricesforticketswillbedeterminedduringFebruary/MarchandcommunicatedattheInformationEvening.Marketingtheshowistheresponsibilityofeverysinglecastmember.Tothisend,eachstudentincasttakesontheresponsibilitytogenerateatleast20ticketsales.Ifthisoccurs,wecanenjoyanothersuccessfulseasoninsalesandplaytofullhouseseveryshow.Promotionalmaterialisprovidedtosupportticketsalesandofcoursesocialmediawillhelpgeneratebuzzaroundtheshow.

Thankyouforyourinterest.Weknowit’sgoingtobeanotherterrificyearandthiswillbeagreatproduction.Seeyouallsoon.KarlMcNamara GaynorBorlase MichaelKent MichaelPhillipsProducerDirector

Choreographer AssistantDirector ProducerChiefPatron

AnnmarieStelfoxProductionManager

KateTannerChoreographer

JessikahJemmesonAssistantChoreographer/Director

KevinBonnettMusicalDirector

February2017