UPCOMING AUDITIONS: Cactus Flower & Something Rotten

Auditions Tentatively: November 4 & 5, approximately 7pm to 9pm

Performances: January 9 – 26, 2020
(Plus one week hold for potential extension through February 2.)

Classic 1965 Broadway comedy ran for three years and subsequently became a successful film. Story of Julian Winston, a handsome, middle-aged Park Avenue dentist and bachelor, who has told his much younger girlfriend Toni that he is married, in order to not make a commitment to her. Convinced that Julian won’t leave his wife and kids for her, Toni attempts a lame suicide,only to be saved by her younger neighbor Igor when he smells gas and breaks into her apartment. When Julian discovers that Toni tried to kill herself over him, he suddenly decides to marry Toni and tells her that his fictional wife also wants a divorce.Toni demands to meet her in order to make sure that she agrees to the divorce.Julian then gets his “old maid”nurse Stephanie, who is secretly in love with him, to pose as his wife, and the comedy ensues.What follows is a farcical collection of misunderstandings, lies and unexpected romance as Stephanie … the Cactus Flower … begins to bloom.

CHARACTERS:
TONI SIMMONS – young, beautiful, impressionable. Aged early to mid 20’s (Lead)
IGOR SULLIVAN – young, good looking, toned body an advantage as he must appear clad only in a towel in some scenes). Aged early to mid 20’s (Lead)
STEPHANIE DICKINSON – middle-aged spinster, staid yet attractive with a sense of fun, dental nurse/receptionist. Aged 40-50 (Lead)
DR JULIAN WINSTON – serious, good comic acting abilities a must. Aged 40-50 (Lead)
MRS DIXON DURANT – Elderly society matron. Snobbish. Aged 60-70
HARVEY GREENFIELD – middle aged New Yorker. Aged 50-60
SENOR ARTURO SANCHEZ – middle aged of South American appearance and accent. Dapper gentleman. Aged 50-60
BOTICELLI’S SPRINGTIME – a sexy blonde female. Aged 30-40

There are three roles: WAITER, A CUSTOMER and A MUSIC LOVER which could be played by the same actor – male or female

Welcome to the Renaissance and the outrageous, crowd-pleasing musical farce, Something Rotten.  Created by Grammy Award-winning songwriter Wayne Kirkpatrick, and successful screenwriters Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell, Something Rotten was lauded by audience members and critics alike, receiving several Best Musical nominations and hailed by Time Out New York as “the funniest musical comedy in at least 400 years”.

Set in the 1590s, brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom are desperate to write a hit play but are stuck in the shadow of that Renaissance rock star known as “The Bard.” When a local soothsayer foretells that the future of theatre involves singing, dancing and acting at the same time, Nick and Nigel set out to write the world’s very first musical. But amidst the scandalous excitement of opening night, the Bottom Brothers realize that reaching the top means being true to thine own self, and all that jazz.

CASTING:

Minstrel
Male, mid 20s to 40s. Seeking a charismatic actor with a thousand faces. The Minstrel will not only sing the opening number, but also play many of the side characters throughout the show.  (Baritone)

Nick Bottom
Male, mid 20s to late 30s. A struggling renaissance writer at the end of his rope. Nigel’s older brother. Incredibly jealous of the success of William Shakespeare and will do anything to beat him. Seeking a great comedic actor who sings, tap dance skills a plus. (Baritone)

Nigel Bottom
Male, mid 20s to 30s. Nick’s younger brother. A sweetly naive young writer and poet, perhaps a little awkward. He falls in love with Portia and ultimately finds confidence in himself through art and love. Seeking a great comedic actor who sings very well. (High baritone/tenor)

William Shakespeare
Male, mid 20s to 30s. A renaissance rock star. Think Mick Jagger or James Brown. Seeking a comedic actor with a killer pop/rock voice, tap dance skills a plus. (Rock tenor)

Thomas Nostradamus
Male, 40s to 60s. A soothsayer who almost sees the future correctly. A bit loony. He predicts that Nick and Nigel will write a musical. Seeking a comedic actor who sings and moves very well. (Baritone)

Bea
Female, mid 20s to 30’s. Nick’s wife and “Right Hand Man”. She loves and supports him despite his questionable decision making and lack of success. Bea resorts to dressing up like a man to make ends meet and to prove to Nick she can be an actor. Seeking a comedic actress who sings very well. (Belter)

Portia
20’s to 30’s Female. An adorably quirky Puritan girl whom Nigel meets on the street. They fall madly in love with each other over their mutual love for Shakespeare and poetry. Seeking a great comedic actress who sings very well. (Youthful soprano with a strong mix)

Brother Jeremiah
Male, 40s to 50s. Portia’s father. A Puritan with deeply repressed homoerotic tendencies. He despises playwrights, poets and all things ungodly. Seeking a great comedic actor who sings.

SHYLOCK
(Male, 40s to 60s)An older Jewish man. Nick and Nigel are in debt to him. He becomes an investor in their musical – great comedic actor.

Ensemble
Various ages / ethnicities. Seeking traditional dancers and quirky character types who are strong singers and dancers (tap experience helpful). Will portray various character parts throughout the show.