Suessical the Musical Information PackSummary of Seussical the Musical

Seussical the Musical brings to life all of our favourite Dr Seuss characters, including Horton the Elephant, The Cat in the Hat, Gertrude McFuzz, Mayzie La Bird, and a little boy with a big imagination - Jojo. The colourful characters transport us from the Jungle of Nool, to the Circus McGurkus, to the invisible world of the Whos. The Cat in the Hat tells the story of Horton, an elephant who discovers a speck of dust containing Whos, including Jojo, who is sent off to military school for thinking too many "thinks." Horton faces a double challenge - not only must he protect the Whos from a world of naysayers and dangers, but he must guard an abandoned egg, left to his care by the irresponsible Mayzie La Bird. Although Horton faces ridicule, danger, kidnapping, and a trial, the very shy Gertrude McFuzz never loses faith in him. Ultimately, the powers of friendship, loyalty, family, and community are challenged and emerge triumphant.

Production Team

• Co-Directors : Rebecca Brown, Emily Carroll

• Musical Director: Jacqueline Shields

• Choreographer: Jamie Kaye

• Costume Manager: Angela Mason

• Stage Manager: Alison King

• Production Manager: Alex Halls

• Set Design: Mark Bell and Trevor Carroll

• Repetiteur: Lauren Aldrick

Purpose of the Show

• The number of children that have turned up to audition for the past few shows that have included children has shown the need to do something for our youth.

• Youth are the future of our theatre company.

• There is a need to train up-and-coming Production Team members.

• Some youth are unaware of how to audition properly.

• They are also unaware sometimes of the commitment needed both at rehearsals and at home.

• The majority of our Production Team are teachers.

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Assistant Roles

• The theatre company only continues if people are willing to take on roles.

• These assistants will have the opportunity to learn the roles with an experienced person guiding them.

• At times, these assistants will be running rehearsals and will require the same attention and respect as any other Production Team member.

Assistants

• Assistant Director: Nick Schmich

• Assistant Musical Director: Sophie Matthews

• Assistant Choreographer: Ashleigh Ryan

• Assistant Stage Manager: McKenzie Battye-Smith

We still have places open if people would like to apply for the role of assistant under the guidance of the Costume Manager and Set Designers. You will require some experience in the chosen field.

Audition Expectations

• Auditions will be held on the next two Sundays (8th and 15th June) from 10am – 4pm. A possible back up audition may be held on Wednesday 11th June from 5pm – 8pm.

• You will also be required to return to the band hall on your audition day for a dance audition.

• *Primary school 4.15pm - 5.30pm• *High/Out of school 5.45pm - 7.00pm

Please view the dance audition video on the Orange Theatre Company website.

• ALL AUDITIONS WILL BE VIDEOED

• If you are going for a lead you must sing the allocated song for that character.

• If you are auditioning for a chorus role you can sing any song from musical theatre or Disney.

• We will consider you for minor roles if you miss out on a lead.

• You will be given a 5 minute allocation for your audition which means you don’t have very long to impress us. Come prepared.

• Be on time. If you are late you will not audition. Please call if some disaster happens - at least half hour before your allotted time.

• Please arrive 15 mins before your allotted time but there is no need to be earlier than this.

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• Primarily, we are looking for faces.

• You still need to sing well.

• There will be roles that may require people to have more refined movement skills.

• We may cut people off before they have finished their piece – not a reflection of your talent.

• We do understand people get nervous, however, you are competing against a lot of people so you need to give it 100% and come away knowing you have done your best.

• We will notify people about call backs on Sunday night after the last auditions have finished (15th June) via a phone call.

• All other people auditioning will receive an email indicating whether you have made it into our chorus or whether you have missed out this time.

• If you get a call back and miss out on a lead role you will automatically be part of the chorus unless you let us know otherwise.

To sign up for auditions go to the AUDITIONS tab on the Orange Theatre Company website and follow the links to the Seussical Website.

Characters

Boys

• Cat in the Hat*

• Jojo

• Horton

• General Schmitz

• Mayor

• Wikersham Brothers

• Yertle the Turtle

• Grinch

Girls

• Gerturde McFuzz

• Mayzie La Bird

• Sour Kangaroo

• Mrs Mayor

• Bird Girls

* May be played by a girl or young woman

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Commitment

• As we are sure you appreciate, being in a production like this requires a high level of commitment.

• Cast members will be expected to turn up to all rehearsals on time. We will be rehearsing Monday and Wednesday nights starting at 7:30pm. This means that you should arrive at 7:20 ready to start right on 7:30. We will finish at 9:30pm and would appreciate your assistance in turning up on time to collect your child. There will also be rehearsals on Sundays 1pm - 4pm and the same punctuality requirement applies.

• During rehearsals we will expect that everyone is attentive and giving 100%. This is not a school production and we do not expect to be asking people to be quiet or telling them where they should be.

• We will also expect everyone to practise their part at home between rehearsals – lines, singing and dancing.

• With all that in mind, parents will need to have a good discussion with their child before they sign up for auditions, to discuss all the other things they are involved in and to make sure that they are capable of taking on another commitment, particularly one that requires late nights.

• Note: The dates for the performances are 17 - 25 October which falls right in the middle of the HSC Examinations. This should be a serious consideration for Year 12 students. We will not be making any allowances nor accepting excuses in relation to exams, etc. if you still choose to audition.

Over 18?

• Those who are auditioning and are over 18 must be very aware of your responsibilities when working with children under 18.

• You must complete a working with children check – to be completed at the first rehearsal

• Children under 18 will not be allowed to leave the building without an adult. This includes trips to the service station next to the Band Hall

Respect

• For the sake of everyone’s enjoyment during this production, respect is paramount both toward the Production Team and all others involved in the show. This includes volunteers backstage during performances.

• We, as a team, will try our best to foster an environment of collegiality, valuing every member of the production and encouraging and fostering each person’s development throughout the experience. We ask that you all do the same.

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• We ask that you all approach this production with a positive attitude. There is no room for anyone who wishes to bring anyone else down or tar their experience through negative comments or esteem damaging behaviour.

Signing up for Extra Jobs

• Another aspect of being in a production which we are trying to encourage in our youth is the necessity for everyone to help out with all aspects of the preparation.

• Each member (or a family representative) will need to sign up to one extra aspect of the production. For those who are under 16 we are asking one parent to sign up for a job. Those over 16 may represent themselves in this process.

• These areas include: set painting bees, sewing bees, bump in/ bump out and parent helpers backstage during performances.

Seussical Band

• Drum Kit

• Percussion

• Guitar 1 – acoustic and electric guitar

• Guitar 2 – acoustic, electric guitar and banjo

• Electric bass

• Trumpet 1

• Trumpet 2

• Trombone

• Violin 1

• Violin 2

• Viola

• ‘Cello

• Reed 1 – soprano sax, alto sax, clarinet, flute, piccolo

• Reed 2 – bass clarinet, clarinet, oboe, tenor sax

• Reed 3 – baritone sax, bassoon, clarinet, flute

Band Audition Requirements

Minimum approximate AMEB Grade 5

In the audition you will be required to:

• Perform an excerpt of a work that reflects both your technical ability and your musicality

• Perform one scale and one arpeggio

• Sight read a short excerpt of music

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Backstage

• People interested in helping backstage will need to write an ‘Expression of Interest’ – maximum of one page.

• This should be directed to The Production Team: Seussical the Musical.

• It should include why you would like to be part of this production, any particular part of backstage you have an interest in and any experience you have had backstage as well as in theatre generally.

• Please email to info@seussicalthem usical.com.au

Membership and Show Fee

• All members of the Production will be required to be fully paid up members of the Orange Theatre Company. This ensures you are covered by insurance, both in the Band Hall during rehearsals, and in the theatre during rehearsals and performances.

• The membership fees are as follows:

Student/Child $25

Adult $35

Family $55

• Those in the cast will also need to pay a show fee of $20. This is used to cover costume, face-paint etc. The Band and Backstage Crew will not be required to pay this.

For those who were unable to attend the information session, you must print this page off, sign it and bring it to your audition together with your completed Registration for Audition form.

I have read and understood all 8 pages of the Orange Theatre Company’sSeussical the Musical Information Pack

Name of person auditioning:______________________________________

Signature: _____________________________________________________

Signature of parent if under 18:____________________________________

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