AUDITION INFORMATION
AUDITION and PERFORMANCE INFO:
The Dio - Dining & Entertainment, Livingston County's award winning professional theatre company, is excited to announce auditions for their upcoming production of Something Rotten, music and lyrics by Karen & Wayne Kirkpatrick, book by John O'Farrell and Karen Kirkpatrick, directed by Steve DeBruyne, music direction by Lisa Merte, choreography by Michelle Marzejon-Green. Video submissions only, through April 28. In-person callbacks will take place Sunday, May 5 from 5pm to 11pm by invitation only, at The Dio, 177 E. Main Street, Pinckney MI, 48169.
Seeking a diverse, non-Equity cast of strong comedic-actor/singer/mover/dancers over the age of 18 - tap dancing skills a huge plus for any role, especially Shakespeare, Nostradamus, The Troupe and Ensemble. NOTE: The role of Nick Bottom has been cast.
CASTING THE FOLLOWING ROLES:
Nigel Bottom - Nick's sweet younger brother, a struggling writer and poet, a romantic who falls in love with Portia - a Puritan. Age 25 to 35. Vocal range top: A4. Vocal range bottom: Bb3. All ethnicities.
Shakespeare - The Bard, over the top with a huge ego and massive sex appeal, speaks with an English accent, actor must be comfortable appearing shirtless, tap dancing skills a plus, strong pop/rock tenor, age 25 to 40. Vocal range top: Ab4. Vocal range bottom: Ab2. All ethnicities
Bea - Nick's wife, she loves Nick despite his past lack of success. She disguises herself as a man to prove to Nick that she can act. This role may double as ensemble for some group numbers and scenes. Age 35 to 45 Vocal range top: D5. Vocal range bottom: D3. All ethnicities.
Portia - A Puritan woman who loves poetry, theatre and ultimately, Nigel. This role may double in the ensemble for some group numbers and scenes. Age 20 to 35. Vocal range top: F#5. Vocal range bottom: G3. All ethnicities.
Nostradamus - A looney soothsayer who almost sees the future correctly, basic tap dancing skills a plus, age 35 to 50. This role may be played by a man or a woman (sung an octave up). This role may double into the ensemble for some group numbers and scenes. Vocal range top: A4 . Vocal range bottom: C3 . All ethnicities.
Brother Jeremiah - Portia's father. A Puritan who thinks Nick and Nigel's plays are sinful. Has some homoerotic tendencies that suggest he may be hiding his own secrets. Comedic actor. This role may double in the ensemble for some group numbers and scenes. Age 50 to 60. Vocal range top: G4. Vocal range bottom: G3. All ethnicities.
Lord Clapham - A posh patron of the theater, and sponsor of Nick and Nigel's theatrical endeavors. This role may be played by a man or woman (Lady Clapham). This role will double in the ensemble for some group numbers and scenes. Age 40 to 60. Any voice type, ensemble singing. All ethnicities.
Shylock - A Jewish investor to whom Nick and Nigel are in debt, at a time when doing business with Jews was illegal. This role may double in the ensemble for some group numbers and scenes. Age 40 to 60. Any voice type, ensemble singing. All ethnicities.
Minstrel - A kind of narrator who occasionally comments on the action of the play through song. This role will double in the ensemble and the troupe. Any age. Vocal range top: A4. Vocal range bottom: C#3. All ethnicities.
The Troupe - A group of 4 to 5 who make up Nick and Nigel's troupe of actors. Historically, the troupe would have been all men during this time period. Characters include Tom Snout, Peter Quince, Francis Flute, Snug and Robin (the role of Robin is a man who plays the female roles in Nick and Nigel's plays, and always appears in a dress with the troupe). Strong singer/movers, comedic actors, all ages and ethnicities, tap dancing skills a plus but not a requirement. These roles will double in the ensemble throughout the show.
Female Ensemble- A group of 4 to 5 women, strong singer/dancers, tap skills a big plus. Will play multiple roles in the show. All ages. All ethnicities.
VIDEO SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:
Prepare two contrasting musical theatre songs, no more than 1 minute each, one up tempo, one ballad. Please film one from shoulders up, and one full body. Use an accompanist or karaoke track - no a cappella singing please. If you have tap experience, a demonstration of your tap skills and/or video link to previous dance experience is also welcome but not a requirement. Email video link to steve@diotheatre.com. Private YouTube links are preferred (make sure video is set to be viewed by anyone with the link).
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 27 to October 13, 2024. Video submissions due no later than Sunday, April 28. In-person callbacks will be held Sunday, May 5 from 5pm to 11pm by invitation only at The Dio, 177 E. Main St. Pinckney MI, 48169.
PAY:
All actors receive a one-time stipend of $690*, 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 27, 2024 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 24. Please be aware that rehearsal may run later than 10pm during tech week, August 26 through August 29. 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. The Dio reserves the right to require masking during the rehearsal process depending on the health of the cast, and the state of spread of Covid-19 in the community.
PERFORMANCE DATES AND TIMES:
*Call for evening performances is 7pm.
*Call for matinee performances is 1pm.
Friday, August 30 - evening
Saturday, August 31 - evening
Sunday, September 1 - matinee
Friday, September 6 - evening
Saturday, September 7 - evening
Sunday, September 8 - matinee
Friday, September 13 - evening
Saturday, September 14 - evening
Sunday, September 15 - matinee
Friday, September 20 - evening
Saturday, September 21 - evening
Sunday, September 22 - matinee
Friday, September 27 - evening
Saturday, September 28 - evening
Sunday, September 29 - matinee
Thursday, October 3 - evening
Friday, October 4 - evening
Saturday, October 5 - evening
Sunday, October 6 - matinee
*Thursday, October 10 - evening
*Friday, October 11 - evening
*Saturday, October 12 - evening
*Sunday, October 13 - matinee
*indicates potential added performances/buffer weekend in case any performances are cancelled due to Covid infection within the cast and crew, or by popular demand.
SHOW SYNOPSIS:
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.
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.
