Auditions

Audition Information

**Auditions will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 3rd and 4th, both at 3:30 pm in the auditorium. Plan to attend only one audition day, not both.

**Callbacks will be held on Thursday, February 5th.

**Check your calendar for potential conflicts ahead of time, as you will need to write down any conflicts you have once you arrive at the audition. This includes any rehearsal days that you need to leave early/arrive late. Talk to the adult(s) in your house to ensure you have ALL of your conflicts written down. Missing required rehearsals for conflicts that are not listed on the audition form may result in less stage time and/or removal from the show.

**Auditions are held in three rotations- singing, dancing, and acting. After you fill out your audition forms, you will go with a group to one of the three stations. After a designated amount of time, you will rotate to the next station, then repeat the process one more time.

           *Singing auditions consist of learning a piece of music from the show, then rehearsing it and singing it for Mr. Chase. If you are interested in a role that has solos, you must perform this solo. If you are interested in non-solo roles only, you may perform this in small groups.

           *Dance auditions consist of learning a piece of choreography from the show, then rehearsing it and performing it for our choreographer. This will be performed in small groups.

           *Acting auditions consist of doing cold readings from the script. You will read several scenes with several different people and get the opportunity to read as multiple characters. 

Tips for Auditions

**Dress for movement, have a snack beforehand, and bring water.

**It is highly recommended to familiarize yourself with the show ahead of time. If you are in one of my theatre classes, you will read the script in class. If you are not, you can read it on your own time via the Drama Club Google classroom. At the very least, read some very thorough summaries. If you show up and are unfamiliar with the script, your acting audition will not go as well as you want it to.

Schedule Information

**Rehearsals will begin in early February, the week after auditions. We generally rehearse Monday-Thursday, 3:30-6:30 PM. There may be some Friday and/or Saturday rehearsals added if needed, but these are generally rare.

** The show will run two weekends, all shows starting at 7 pm. Our preview night (invite-only) is Thursday April 16th, and public performance dates are Friday-Saturday, April 17th-18th and Thursday-Saturday, April 23rd-25th. There will also be a student matinee scheduled in this time frame, likely during the second week. Cast and crew are required to be at all previews and public performances- people who have a conflict with any performance will not be cast.

What Can I Do To Prepare?

**Attend the audition workshops! These are held in the 3 weeks before auditions- see the flyer in and outside the Black Box for details.

**Read all of the show info in the glass case outside the Black Box- the more familiar you are with the show and out specific requirements, the better your audition will be!

**Read the script and listen to the soundtrack- you can generally find musical soundtracks on Youtube and Spotify.

**Check out the ‘Tips for Auditions’ board outside the Black Box for more advice!

Participation Requirements 

•All onstage participants need to pay an activity fee. Standard fee is $65, or you can fill out a scholarship form and get the fee reduced to $15. I will have scholarship forms available at our first week of rehearsal.

Attendance/Grades expectations are the same as athletics and other activities:

•Students must pass a minimum of 5 classes the semester prior to the play/musical and be on track to graduate. (If student does not meet this requirement, they can fill out a hardship form and set up a meeting with their counselor and activities director. This does not guarantee participation, but may allow it.)

•Students must attend school the day of a rehearsal or performance to be eligible to participate.  If they have an appointment or reason they have to miss, it must be pre-arranged with Activities Office prior to the date.

*If student falls below passing during the time of the play, they will still be able to participate, but will not be able to participate in the next show if they do not meet eligibility requirements listed above the following semester. 

*If a student fails to pay their fee/make arrangements with the bookkeeper regarding their fee, in a timely manner, this can prevent participation in the next show.

*Behavior expectations are also the same as athletics and other activities. In short, your conduct matters, on stage and off. If you are kind, friendly to others, and a team player, that goes a long way- it’s what makes directors want to work with you. Directors don’t want to work with people who cause drama and create problems. If you talk trash about people, start rumors, or otherwise create a difficult or toxic environment, you will likely find yourself not getting cast (here or anywhere else). Decide what sort of person you want to be and act accordingly. Remember, “you’re always auditioning.”

Questions? See Christina Moroney in the Black Box.

Once Upon a Mattress Show Information

Plot

Act One

A fictional medieval kingdom in 15th-century Europe is ruled by the devious Queen Aggravain and the mute King Sextimus the Silent. King Sextimus suffers from a curse cast by a witch that can only be reversed "when the mouse devours the hawk." The Minstrel sings of the Princess and the Pea ("Many Moons Ago"), but reveals the story to be fake, though he knows the true tale because he was there when it happened. The princess in the story is not the first princess tested to see if she is worthy of marrying Prince Dauntless the Drab—she is the thirteenth princess.

The day the Minstrel arrives at court, the Queen, alongside her confidant, the Wizard, is testing Princess #12 with an unfair quiz. To the Queen's delight, the princess misses the last question: "What was the middle name of the daughter-in-law of the best friend of the blacksmith who forged the sword that killed the Beast?" and is given a rubber chicken by Sir Studley.

The populace of the castle complains about an unjust law levied by Queen Aggravain: "Throughout the land no one may wed, 'till Dauntless shares his wedding bed." However, every petitioning princess is sent away after failing unfair tests devised by the Queen. It seems that no one is good enough to marry Prince Dauntless ("An Opening for a Princess").

The crisis escalates when knight of the realm Sir Harry discovers that his girlfriend Lady Larken is pregnant. Though Lady Larken says that she will leave the kingdom so he will not have to face the loss of his station, Sir Harry decides that he will set out to find a princess himself ("In a Little While"). He petitions the Queen who immediately says no, but when Dauntless manages to speak up and beg, she gives in.

The Minstrel says that in the original story, the princess arrived at the castle on a stormy night ("Many Moons Ago - Reprise"), but in the true story, it was not night at all—and the princess only looked as though she went through a storm. Princess Winnifred the Woebegone, a brash and unrefined princess from the Marshlands, was so eager to arrive that she swam the castle moat. She immediately charms Dauntless along with most of the kingdom ("Shy"). However, she earns the utter loathing of the Queen, who vows to stop her.

The King discovers Larken's pregnancy and pantomimes this to his confidants, the Minstrel and the Jester. He tells them not to say a word, but they both are more worried about the King letting it slip- even though he is mute, he can still communicate ("The Minstrel, the Jester, and I"). Later, the Queen, assisted by the Wizard, designs a test for Winnifred based on something they are sure she doesn’t have at all—sensitivity. They will place a tiny pea beneath twenty thick downy mattresses. If Winnifred is unable to sleep due to the pea, then she will be sensitive enough to marry Dauntless ("Sensitivity").

Meanwhile, Winnifred tells Dauntless and the ladies in waiting about her home in the swamp ("The Swamps of Home") and meets the King, and they immediately like each other. After knocking over a vase, Winnifred is caught cleaning the mess by Lady Larken, who mistakes her for a chambermaid. Harry gets mad at Larken for her mistake and they get in a fight. Larken vows that she will run far away where she will never see him again.

The King, the Minstrel, and the Jester catch Larken trying to run away. They initially try to stop her, but decide to help her escape to Normandy instead ("Normandy"). Later that night, the Queen throws a ball so Winnifred can dance the most exhausting dance in the world: "The Spanish Panic." The Queen hopes that Winnifred will tire herself, but the plan fails.

Winnifred is the last one standing as everyone collapses from exhaustion at the end of the dance. She asks Dauntless to try to give her a clue as to what the test might be, but he's not sure. He brings out a huge barbell that one of the princesses was asked to lift, but even he cannot lift it. Winnifred does so easily and Dauntless admits that he loves her. Winnifred mentions that her nickname is Fred and Dauntless sings of his love for her as she practices numerous tasks she might have to do for the test, including singing, dancing, wrestling, acting, playing the lute, and pantomiming ("Song of Love").

Act Two

Later that night, the Queen leads the knights and ladies as they carry the twenty mattresses to Fred's room ("Quiet"). While doing so, she catches the Minstrel, the Jester, the King, and Larken (disguised in Dauntless' clothes) running away. The Minstrel tries to protect Larken by saying he was escaping with Larken against her will. The Queen declares that the Minstrel will be banished by daybreak.

Fred and Dauntless study for the test, and Fred convinces Larken to fix things with Harry. Larken leaves to find Harry, Dauntless bids Fred goodnight, and now she is left alone. While studying a fairy tale, she complains about how other fairy tale princesses had it easy and how she wants to live happily ever after ("Happily Ever After"). King Sextimus has a talk with Dauntless about the birds and the bees, completely in pantomime ("Man to Man Talk"). The Jester and Minstrel trick the Wizard into telling them of the test and the Jester reminisces about his father's dancing days ("Very Soft Shoes").

Sir Harry and Lady Larken run into each other and they confess that their love is stronger than ever ("Yesterday I Loved You"). When Fred is finally ready for bed, the Queen tries to make her even more sleepy by attempting to hypnotize her with a hypnotic mirror, burning incense, forcing her to drink a sleeping draught, and finally bringing in the Nightingale of Samarkand to sing her to sleep ("Nightingale Lullaby"). Through all this, Winnifred remains wide awake. It seems that there is some "lump" under the mattresses that is keeping her from relaxing. She starts counting sheep.

The next morning, Dauntless dresses in his finest to see Winnifred pass the test. The Queen tells him, to his great disappointment, that the test has already happened, and goes on to explain what it was. She says that since Winnifred has not yet emerged from her room, she must still be sleeping and therefore has failed. Dauntless is heartbroken until Winnifred drowsily stumbles into the throne room while still counting sheep; she hasn't slept a wink.

Everyone is ecstatic that Winnifred has passed but the Queen insists that Dauntless should not throw himself away on Winnifred. Dauntless has had enough of his mother's attempts to control his life and finally yells, "I told you to shut up!" The curse on King Sextimus is lifted (the "mouse", Dauntless, has metaphorically devoured the "hawk", Queen Aggravain). Aggravain discovers that she cannot talk and the King can, so Dauntless and Winnifred are free to be married. The King forces the Queen to hop, skip, and jump around the room to everyone's amusement, and with this, she is forced to step down.

The reason why Winnifred was so uncomfortable in her bed is revealed: after learning about the test, the King, Minstrel, and Jester stuffed the mattresses full of weapons, jousting equipment, and other sharp items. All the items are removed by the Jester in the finale ("Finale"). After the items are removed, Winnifred still has trouble sleeping until Dauntless takes the pea out from under the mattresses; she then falls asleep almost immediately, proving that she was indeed a true princess. In classic fairy-tale tradition, everyone except the Bad Guys live happily ever after.

Characters

*All characters must be played the gender as written, however they can be played by actors of any gender. Also, characters listed below all have solos- vocal ranges are listed after their description.

The Lovers

-Prince Dauntless the Drab- A nice young Prince who’s next in line for the throne and desperately wants to get married, but is prevented by his mother's strict tests that she gives to all potential candidates. He is childlike and is babied by his mother, until he finally learns to stand up for himself. (A3 to E4)

-Princess Winnifred the Woebegone- A feisty, outspoken, and optimistic princess from the swamp lands. She isn’t too good with manners. She wants to get married, but must go through the queen's unfair test as well. Naturally, the Prince absolutely falls for her. (A3 to D♭ 5)

-Lady Larken- A lady-in-waiting put in charge of Princess Winnifred. She wants to marry Sir Harry, more urgently now that she is pregnant with his baby. She tries to flee the Kingdom after having an argument with Sir Harry, but is convinced by Winnifred to make up with him. (D♭ 4 to A♭ 5)

-Sir Harry- The Queen’s Champion, he is the macho, slightly egotistical, romantic knight who leaves the kingdom to search for a princess, and finds Princess Winnifred in the swamp. Easily jealous, but loves Lady Larken with all his heart. Harry cannot marry Larken until Prince Dauntless has found a suitable bride. (C3 to G4)

Royal Court- Queen’s Side

-Queen Aggravain- The loud, overbearing woman who really rules the country. She has an unhealthy obsession with her son, Prince Dauntless, and is trying to keep him from getting married. She delivers the famous “Mamalogue.” (A3 to B4)

-Wizard- The egotistical ex-performer who directly serves the Queen. He is the Queen’s Henchman and helps her think of all the Princess Tests. He prides himself on his position and obeys all of the Queen’s orders. (low: A2, but with very small solo that could be spoken)

-Nightingale of Samarkand- A royal pet bird that sings a lullaby to put Winnifred to sleep. Singing-only role, wonderful featured moment for a strong vocal performer. (B3 to G5)

Royal Court- King’s Side

-King Sextimus the Silent- A kind, expressive, and playful man who is silent due to a curse placed upon him by a witch before the birth of Dauntless. He likes to chase girls through the corridors of the castle, but whether that started before or after he and the Queen stopped getting along is hard to say. He is in a duet and a trio song, all in pantomime.

-Jester- An energetic and peppy entertainer. The King’s trusted confidante, the Jester assists him with every endeavor, and also plots with the Minstrel to spoil the Queen's plans. This character has a dance-heavy solo song. (D♭ 3 to A♭ 4)

-Minstrel- The charming narrator of the story. The minstrel offers to help Lady Larken escape by fleeing to Normandy with her. The Minstrel and the Jester also join forces to stop the Queen's plans. (D3 to A♭ 4)

Others (non-solo roles)

•   Lady Lucille

•   Lady Mabelle

•   Lady Merril

•   Lady Rowena

•   Sir Studley

•   Sir Luce

•   Kitchen Wench

•   Princess #12

•   Emily (chambermaid)

•   Ensemble of Knights, Ladies-in-Waiting, Soldiers, Servants, Musicians

Songs

                     Act 1

·       "Many Moons Ago" - Minstrel

·       "An Opening for a Princess" – Dauntless, Larken, Ladies, Knights

·       "In a Little While" - Harry, Larken

·       "In a Little While (reprise)" - Harry, Larken

·       "On a Stormy Night" - Minstrel

·       "Shy" - Winnifred, Knights and Ladies

·       "The Minstrel, the Jester, and I" - Minstrel, Jester, King

·       "Sensitivity" - Queen Aggravain, Wizard

·       "The Swamps of Home" - Winnifred, Dauntless, Ladies-in-Waiting

·       "Normandy" - Minstrel, Jester, Larken

·       "Song of Love" - Dauntless, Winnifred, Ensemble

                 Act 2

·       "Quiet" - Queen Aggravain, Ensemble

·       "Happily Ever After" - Winnifred

·       "Man to Man Talk" - Dauntless and King

·       "Very Soft Shoes" - Jester

·       "Yesterday I Loved You" - Harry, Larken

·       "Nightingale Lullaby" - Nightingale of Samarkand

·       "Finale" - Company