Auditionees who are interested in being considered for Memphis should prepare 16-32 bars from a song appropriate to the style of show.
Legible sheet music must be provided for the audition pianist. No a cappella or prerecorded accompaniment will be permitted.
Additionally, auditionees who are called back will participate in a movement audition and read/sing (if applicable) from the show.
GUIDELINES
Memphis Character Descriptions:
Characters Needed: (note ages are approximate)
HUEY – Caucasian male identifying, 25-35, vocal range Bb2-B4 Tenor, excellent singer in the style of Pop / Rock / R & B, strong mover Frenzied, bombastic, charismatic, motor-mouthed hero, who talks his way into becoming a DJ at a local white Radio station. Ignores race barriers and eventually falls in love with Felicia, a talented black singer, which causes a whole new set of problems for Huey in a segregated 1950s Memphis.
FELICIA FARRELL – African American female identifying, 20-30, vocal range G3-A5 Soprano/Belter/Strong Improviser, excellent dancer Beautiful, wide-eyed. Fiercely gifted singer. Follows her heart and falls in love with Huey, despite knowing deep down that a relationship between a white man and a black woman in prejudiced Memphis is doomed.
DELRAY – African American male identifying, 30-40, vocal range Bb2-Bb4 Tenor, excellent singer / strong mover Felicia’s older brother. Owns the club on Beale Street where she sings. Realistic, cautious, protective, and aware of the realities of the segregation that exists in Memphis and the world beyond.
GLADYS – Caucasian female identifying 40-60, vocal range B3-E5 Mezzo/Belter, non dancing role Huey’s stern, traditional blue-collar, Southern mother. Has worked her entire life to be able to support herself and her son, whom she loves, but about whom she constantly worries. Strong singer with alto-belt mix; excellent actor with comic skills.
GATOR – African American male identifying, 20-40, vocal range G3-B4 Tenor, excellent singer / strong mover Bartender at Delray’s – hasn’t spoken since age five, when he saw his father killed. As the story progresses, Gator finds his voice again.
BOBBY – African American male identifying, 20-40, vocal range G3-C5 Tenor, excellent singer / strong mover Janitor at Mr. Simmons’ WHDZ radio station. Full of personality and heart. Great gospel voice, comic skills and comfort with physicality a plus.
MR. SIMMONS – Caucasian male identifying, 35-50, vocal range F3-C4 Baritone, non dancing role. Conservative owner of the radio station where Huey gets his start. The strong, Southern, commanding businessman becomes willing to take a chance on Huey when he realizes the audience Huey reaches and the money he can command.
Featured Ensemble Roles: MR. COLLINS / WHITE DJ / WHITE FATHER / GORDON GRANT / ENSEMBLE, Caucasian male identifying, 35-50, light singing / non dancing role Mr. Collins is Huey's boss at store who strongly opposes him playing “black music” in the record store, despite its popularity with customers. The White DJ appears in the opening sequence. The White Father provides a dramatic moment when he slaps his teenage daughter for listening to so called race music. Gordon Grant is an executive from RCA records that tries to persuade Felicia to sign with his label.
CLARA / WHITE MOTHER / ENSEMBLE, Caucasian female identifying 35-45, vocal range alto or mezzo soprano / non dancing role Clara is a co-worker of Huey's at the record store who is nervous about crossing the line into selling “race records,” but who ultimately gets caught up in the emotional nature of the music. The White Mother appears in the scene where the parents discover their young daughter listening to “race music”.
BUCK WILEY / MARTIN HOLTON / PHOTOGRAPHER / ENSEMBLE, Caucasian male identifying 35-45, vocal range Eb3-F4 Baritone, non dancing role Buck Wiley is the DJ and host of “Boppin’ with the Blues” on WHDZ before Huey takes his place. Martin Holton is a TV network executive from New York.
TEENAGER / ENSEMBLE, Caucasian female identifying 18-25, excellent singer / dancer We follow her track throughout the story, as she finds herself intrigued by “race music”, and ends up singing a solo in a gospel church choir sequence.
DOUBLE DUTCH GIRL / ENSEMBLE, Caucasian female identifying 18-25, excellent singer / dancer Caucasian teenage girl, who jumps into double dutch jump rope with ease.
PERRY COMO / ENSEMBLE, Caucasian male identifying 20-30, vocal range G3-Eb4 Baritone, dancer An American singer whose popularity in the 1940's-1960's focused largely on his appeal to the family values of post war middle America.
FRANK DRYER / ENSEMBLE, Caucasian male identifying 20-30, excellent singer / dancer Owner of Dryer's Grocery store, who calls in to the radio station in support of Huey's radio ads, which are making him huge profits.
WAILIN JOE / REVEREND HOBSON / BLACK DJ / ENSEMBLE African American male identifying, 30's-40's, vocal range C3-Gb5 Rock/Blues Tenor, excellent dancer A stand in for figures in the 1950's, such as Little Richard, and Screaming Jay Hawkins. Sings “Scratch My Itch” in Act 1.
BE BLACK TRIO / ENSEMBLE, African American identifying 20-30, excellent singer / dancer Member of the group that sings the hit song “Everybody Wants to be Black on a Saturday Night”.
BE BLACK TRIO / ENSEMBLE, African American identifying 20-30, excellent singer / dancer Member of the group that sings the hit song “Everybody Wants to be Black on a Saturday Night”
BE BLACK TRIO / ENSEMBLE, African American identifying 20-30, excellent singer / dancer Member of the group that sings the hit song “Everybody Wants to be Black on a Saturday Night”
SELMA / ENSEMBLE African American female identifying. 20-30, excellent singer / dancer One of Felicia's backup singers from the club
BESSIE / ENSEMBLE African American female identifying. 20-30, excellent singer / dancer One of Felicia's backup singers from the club
LAVERNE / ENSEMBLE African American female identifying. 20-30, excellent singer / dancer One of Felicia's backup singers from the club
ETHEL / DOUBLE DUTCH GIRL / ENSEMBLE. African American female identifying 18-25, vocal range G4-C5 Mezzo/Belter, dancer Ethel is a frequent customer at Del Ray's Club. The Double Dutch girl appears in the jump rope sequence
As an incentive to sign up for the audition with Auditions Manager, the first hour of each open call will be given over exclusively to those who pre-register through this service.
Pre-registration is recommended, but not required.
Once pre-registration through this website is closed, auditionees may show up at either open call and complete their registration in person.
LOCATION
Chain O' Lakes Civic Center, 210 Cypress Gardens Blvd. Winter Haven, FL 33880 Click HERE for Directions