AUDITION INFORMATION
The Dio - Dining & Entertainment, Livingston County's award winning professional theatre company, is excited to announce auditions for their upcoming production of DESPERATE MEASURES, book and lyrics by Peter Kellogg, music by David Friedman, directed by Steve DeBruyne, music direction by Daniel Bachelis. Video submissions only, through June 18. In-person callbacks will take place by invitation only at 6pm on Sunday, June 25 at The Dio, 177 E. Main Street, Pinckney MI, 48169.
All roles available. Seeking a diverse cast of strong, non-Equity actors, strong singers with great comedic timing.
CASTING THE FOLLOWING ROLES:
JOHNNY BLOOD – a handsome and hot-headed young cowboy, 21-25, tenor with a solid G, optional B. Speaks with a Southern accent.
FATHER MORSE – Franciscan priest whose faith is shaken, 40s or 50s, baritone; also plays Big Swede in opening number and Bartender in saloon. Speaks with an Irish accent.
SHERIFF MARTIN GREEN – full of honest charm with an easy swagger, mid-to-late 30s, baritone up to an F. Speaks with a Southern accent.
SUSANNA, AKA SISTER MARY JO – sweet and naïve, a novice nun and Johnny’s sister; 23-28, legit soprano. Slight Southern accent.
GOVERNOR VON RICHTERHENKENPFLICHTGETRUBER – the corrupt Governor who holds Johnny's fate in his hands, 40s or 50s, baritone with low A. Speaks with a German accent.
BELLA ROSE – a saloon girl in love with Johnny, oozing with sex appeal, she knows the ways of men but not the world, 19-22, high belter. Speaks with a Southern accent and character voice.
VIDEO SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:
Prepare two contrasting musical theatre pieces, no more than 2 minutes each. Please film one from shoulders up, and one full body. Use an accompanist or karaoke track - no a cappella singing please. Email video link to steve@diotheatre.com. Private YouTube links are preferred. Please include the following in your submission email: your headshot and resume, photo proof of full Covid-19 vaccination including booster(s) if eligible, as well as a list of all conflicts from July 15 through October 1. Video submissions due no later than Sunday, June 18.
In-person callbacks will be held by invitation only at 6pm on Sunday, June 25 at The Dio. All actors must wear a mask while inside the building during callbacks, however you may remove your mask during your audition if you choose. All Dio employees are fully vaccinated and will remain masked throughout the evening.
PAY:
Actors over the age of 18 receive a one-time stipend of $780*, plus a meal following each performance and two complimentary tickets. Actors with previous serving experience may choose to serve tables on select nights for additional tip money. Servers are scheduled on an alphabetic rotation.
*If any of the performances are cancelled for any reason, stipend will be reduced by $30 per cancelled show.
REHEARSAL INFO:
Rehearsals will begin July 15, 2023 and take place at The Dio, 177 E. Main, Pinckney MI, 48169, Mondays through Fridays from 6pm to 10pm and Saturdays from noon to 6pm. Tech Saturday will take place from noon to midnight on August 12. Please be aware that rehearsal may run later than 10pm during tech week, August 14 through August 17. Can work with rehearsal conflicts if necessary, however, conflicts are a deciding factor in casting. All conflicts must be supplied at the time of auditions. Out of an abundance of caution, masks will be worn during all rehearsals until tech week when we begin working with microphones.
PERFORMANCE DATES AND TIMES:
*Call for evening performances is 7pm.
*Call for matinee performances is 1pm.
Friday, August 18 - evening
Saturday, August 19 - evening
Sunday, August 20 - matinee
Friday, August 25 - evening
Saturday, August 26 - evening
Sunday, August 27 - matinee
Friday, June 23 - evening
Saturday, June 24 - evening
Sunday, June 25 - matinee
Friday, September 1 - evening
Saturday, September 2 - evening
Sunday, September 3 - matinee
Friday, September 8 - evening
Saturday, September 9 - evening
Sunday, September 10 - matinee
Friday, September 15 - evening
Saturday, September 16 - evening
Sunday, September 17 - matinee
Thursday, September 21 - evening
Friday, September 22 - evening
Saturday, September 23 - evening
Sunday, September 24 - matinee
*Thursday, September 28 - evening
*Friday, September 29 - evening
*Saturday, September 30 - evening
*Sunday, October 1 - matinee
*indicates potential added performances/buffer weekend in case any performances are cancelled due to Covid infection within the cast and crew.
SHOW SYNOPSIS:
When the dangerously handsome Johnny Blood’s life is on the line, he must put his fate into the hands of a colorful cast of characters including a mysterious sheriff, an eccentric priest, a narcissistic governor, a saloon girl gone good, and a nun out of the habit. Together, they face uncharted territory as laws are broken and hearts are won. Before the sun sets, will they be able to rise up and pull off the greatest act yet, or will Johnny be left hanging?
This witty and wild new musical comedy takes the Bard’s Measure for Measure and shakes things up with a toe tappin’ score by award-winning composer David Friedman. Featuring fresh and feisty book and lyrics by two-time Tony nominee Peter Kellogg, DESPERATE MEASURES is fully loaded with laughs.
IN THE SPIRIT OF SHARED HUMANITY AND A CONCERN FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND THE WORLD AT LARGE, WE AT The Dio CELEBRATE DIVERSITY AND AFFIRM OUR SOLIDARITY WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS MOST AT RISK. WE DISAVOW ALL RACISM AND HATE SPEECH OR ACTIONS THAT ATTEMPT TO SILENCE, THREATEN AND DEGRADE OTHERS. WE ENCOURAGE AND WELCOME BIPOC, AAPI, Latinx AND LGBTQ+ PERFORMERS TO ATTEND OUR AUDITIONS, AND TO JOIN OUR DIO FAMILY.
