Prospect Theater Company announces auditions for both AEA and non-AEA performers, for the company’s upcoming production of Cole Porter’s NYMPH ERRANT.  Equity Principal Auditions will be held on Monday, March 12 at the Equity building, other auditions will be held by appointment March 15 – 25.

CONTRACT:  AEA  Transition, $109/week minimum (based on 15-hour rehearsal week; additional rehearsals are $7.25/hour)

Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter
Adaptation/New Libretto by Rob Urbinati
(Based on the novel by James Laver and the original libretto by Romney Brent)

Director and Choreographer:  Will Pomerantz

Prospect’s Casting Director: Jason Najjoum

1st reh: 6/12/12. Runs 7/7-29 at The Clurman Theatre, Theater Row.

Prospect is committed to casting this production with an ethnically diverse ensemble; performers of all ethnicities are encouraged to submit for all roles.

To be considered for an appoint, submit headshot/resume to casting@prospecttheater.org.

Please prepare two contrasting selections from the traditional musical theater repertory (e.g. Cole Porter, Gershwin, Rodgers & Hart). Note that there may be time for one song only. Bring sheet music in the correct key; an accompanist will be provided, but may not transpose.  Please bring a photo and resume, stapled back-to-back.

Originally produced in 1933, Prospect’s production of NYMPH ERRANT is an updated version of a classic but largely unknown Porter score, with a new libretto by Rob Urbinati.  Story explores the conflict between romantic and sexual ideas of love, and follows the unlikely adventures of Evangeline Edwards and her boarding school girlfriends – from a Swiss boarding school to an Austrian nudist colony, Turkish harem, and more – as Eve enters the world and seeks her true passion.

Seeking actors with a stellar traditional musical theater sound and a 1930s period/cabaret/vaudeville sensibility.  Impeccable comedic timing is a must, as well as fluency with dialects and the ability to move.  Must be able to hold tight harmonies (especially [Eve, Joyce, Henrietta, Bertha and Madeline]) … While the show includes a scene at a “nudist colony” no actually nudity will be required, but the actors portraying [Eve, Joyce, Henrietta, Bertha and Madeline] will perform much of the show in a state of relative undress (1930s period underwear).

Eve:

18-29, British. Upper class. Intelligent and adventurous, naïve and hopeful, but resilient. Attractive, with a good figure, but doesn’t communicate sexuality well – and when she tries to, it’s awkward and funny. She’s had only one boyfriend, and she is still a virgin. Knock-out comedienne and strong singer required. British accent. Soprano with strong mix and lower range.

Joyce:

18-29, British. Upper class. Loves to ride horses and fox-hunt. Free spirit; doesn’t care what anyone thinks; loves experimentation, artistic and otherwise. One day, she hooks up with a nudist, and becomes an eccentric bohemian who runs a Parisian jazz club. Makes no attempt to be sexual, but men find her attractive. British accent. Mezzo belter.

Henrietta:

18-29, American. From Yonkers. Nouveau-riche. While Henrietta has tons of money, she has little class or sophistication, nor does she aspire to have any. Sassy, brash and fun-loving, she is a good friend to the other girls. Broad American accent. Soprano belter.

Bertha:

18-29, German. Athletic build. Lesbian. Loved boarding school, as it provided the opportunity to be around girls. Loves organization and uniformity, and finds her home in a nudist colony. She’s not overtly sexual, but rather is more of a romantic. Broad German accent and great comedic timing required. Alto.

Madeline:

18-29, French. Overtly sexy. Has a great figure, which she enjoys showing off. Obsessed with men and clothes. Needs a man to provide financial support, and has no problem using her body and charm to get it. Stellar comedienne required. Thick French accent. Mezzo with strong belt.

Haidee / Aunt Ermyntrude:

Two-character track (females, 30s-50s) for one performer. Haidee: African American. Torch singer.  Sexy, lively and brash; gets along with everyone. Aunt Ermyntrude: British, middle-aged. Eve’s aunt. Less prim than her niece, and a bit of a flirt. Jazz belter.

Miss Pratt / Clarissa / Mrs. Bamberg:

Three-character track (females, 30s-50s) for one performer. Miss Pratt: Swiss, middle-aged. A professor. Asexual. Caring, but stiff and reserved. Loves her students. Clarissa: French. World-weary cocotte. Very sensual, but over the hill and a little tired. Tender, and still looking for love. Mrs. Bamberg: American. Brassy. Loud, vulgar and funny; couldn’t care less what anyone thinks of her. Mezzo soprano legit/belt with strong lower register.

Oliver / Ben:

Two-character track (masculine and earthy males, 20s) for one performer. Oliver: British. Working class. Gardener for Eve’s aunt. Sincere and intelligent. Eve’s love interest back home. Ben: American. Plumber. Not as bright, but full of life. Baritenor.

Andre / Heinz / Constantine / Ali:

Multi-character track (males with a “Mediterranean vibe”, 20s-40s) for one performer. Andre de Croissant: French. Handsome entrepreneur. Dapper showman. Lover of women. Heinz: German. Intellectual. Devoted to nature. Enraged with decadence. A nudist who professes to abhor sexual desire, but later we find out otherwise. Constantine: Very Greek. Lover and businessman. Confident in his sexual prowess. Uses this confidence and his extreme wealth to attract and capture women, but ultimately is more interested in his carpet business. Ali: Persian. Eunuch in an authority position in the harem. Sweet and adorable; young and clever. Baritone.

Alexei / Ferdinand / Vassim / Pither:

Multi-character track (males, 20s-40s) for one performer. Alexei: Russian. Musician. Often depressed about something in the stereotypical Russian way. Falls in and out of love constantly, inviting joy and despair. Count Ferdinand: Italian aristocrat. Lives life in heroic dimensions, e.g. he rescues Eve on a horse. Vassim: Turkish. Warrior. Masculine, yet flamboyant, as he adores women’s fabrics — seeing them, touching them and wearing them. Reverend Pither: British, middle-aged. Churchman. Crusty. Tenor.

This is Rory’s first season with Prospect Theater Company and thus far he has served as assistant director on Iron Curtain. At Barrington Stage Company he was the assistant director on Guys & Dolls, The Best of Enemies, and The Game. A graduate from Wheaton College with a degree in Economics he pursued further study in theater at The National Theater Institute. While there, he discovered his passion for directing and studied all disciplines of theater, including classical and contemporary acting, directing, movement, playwriting, and design.

Nicki is thrilled to be working with Prospect Theater Company. When not working with the fabulous Prospect team, she is working at Manhattan Theatre Club where she is the Assistant to the Artistic Director. While at MTC she has helped with numerous on and Off-Broadway productions including, Good People, Time Stands Still, The Whipping Man, Ruined, and Venus in Fur. She also produced Tempest Toss’d this year at NYMF and has worked at the Summer Play Festival on Tio Pepe, and The Black Suits. She holds a BA in Theater with a minor in business, from Lehigh University.

A recent graduate of Princeton University (B.A. English, Dramatic Literature, minors in Theater, Modern Dance, and Vocal Performance) and Harvard Graduate School of Education (Ed.M, Arts in Education), Simone is a professional singer, dancer, and actor; she has trained, both recreationally and competitively, in jazz, tap, ballet, modern, lyrical, musical theater, contemporary, and hip hop. An Equity performer, she has been featured as a Principal Dancer in Sophisticated Ladies (Inside Broadway), numerous regional tours and Off-Broadway performances, and performed with Prospect for over 10 years including The Taxi Cabaret, The Flood, DIDO (& Aeneas), Evergreen, and The Rockae. Simone is thrilled to be able to bring Prospect to children throughout the Tri-state area.

Jason is originally from northern Virginia. A proud graduate of Emory University, Jason now makes New York City his home. Recent casting credits include Myths & Hymns (Prospect), Dancing at Lunacy, Blood, and Bad Evidence (the cell), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (The Hive), and numerous readings for Prospect Theater Company, New York Theatre Barn, The Hive, and The Pack. Commercially, Jason has worked at Donna DeSeta Casting, Godlove + Company, Background Inc, Foreground Inc, Strickman-Ripps Casting, and Broadcasters on numerous on-camera commercials, webseries, print campaigns, and other on-camera projects, from Kiefer Sutherland’s webseries The Confession to a commercial for Ford Explorer and a promo for the Oprah Winfrey Network. When not casting, Jason is the Creative Development Associate and an Executive Producer of NYTB in the D-Lounge for New York Theatre Barn, and is a new member of the New York Musical Theater Festival’s Reading Committee and Packawallop Productions’ artists collective, The Pack, and is a proud member of The Hive Theater Company. Recent producing credits include I Married Wyatt Earp (Prospect Theater Co./NY Theatre Barn), Dancing at Lunacy, Blood (the cell), Bandage: A Fight Play (The Brick), Male Matriarch (FringeNYC), Another Place (The Anthropologists at HERE), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (The Hive), and Bad Evidence (the cell). Jason was an assistant to lead producer Ken Davenport on the Broadway revival of Godspell.

In order to control Prospect’s printing and mailing expenses as well as “go green,” we’ve created this private web page — which contains all the information we would normally provide in a company press kit or funder information packet.  Please feel free to click the links below to view documents online, or to download the required information.  Please contact Cara@ProspectTheater.org if any further information is required, or with questions.

ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND:

Mission Statement – Company Bio – Board List
Production History:  Past 3 Years (2008 – 2011) / Full Company History (1999-2011)
Staff Bios (Current Season) – Artist Bios (Current Season)

FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS:

FY10 Audit – FY10 990
FY11 Financials (UnAudited)
FY12 Budget (As of Aug 2011)
History of Major Funders
Financial Overview: 1998-2012
IRS 501c3 letter

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS:

Press Clips Packets:  2008-2011 or 2003-2007
Prospect Artists Speak Out
June 2011 Program – I MARRIED WYATT EARP
Numerous Prospect Postcards / Brochures may be viewed on our graphic designer’s website.

EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION:

Sample Curriculum Packet, I MARRIED WYATT EARP (2011)
Letters from Student Matinee Attendees
2011 Summer Intensive Documentary Video

Since its incorporation in June of 1998, Prospect Theater Company has supported an outstanding and diverse group of emerging artists in NYC’s off-off-Broadway scene. Originally founded by five graduates of Princeton University, Prospect has grown to include a loose network of almost 700 artists.  To date, we have mounted over 30 full-scale productions, as well as numerous “dark nights” events (which have included many readings and workshop stagings of new plays and musicals).  Over the past decade, we have presented the New York and/or world premieres of more than 20 new musicals and 3 new plays.

Prospect actively cultivates and support a community of musical theatre writers, particularly through our annual music theatre laboratory program, commissioning new 10-minute musicals.  In 2010, we also launched a summer residency program in partnership with the Goodwill Theatre in Johnson City, New York to provide a summer workshop opportunity outside of Manhattan for new works in process.

Prospect performs in rental theater venues of 99 seats or less located in diverse neighborhoods in Manhattan. Some selected recent company productions include:

• The Blue Flower,  presented Feb. 2 – Mar. 2, 2008 at the West End Theatre.  Audiences entered the restless memories of artist Max Baumann on this Dada-inspired romp through pre-WWI Paris, the Great War, and Weimar Germany.  Striking video projections and inventive music were from the Jonathan Larson Award-winning team of Jim & Ruth Bauer.
• By founding company members Peter Mills and Cara Reichel, Golden Boy of the Blue Ridge (presented in April 2009 at 59E59 Theaters) was a new bluegrass musical that moved J. M. Synge’s classic Irish comedy The Playboy of the Western World to a setting in 1930’s Depression-era Appalachia and featured an onstage band / acting ensemble.
• I Married Wyatt Earp, a new all-female musical by composer Michele Brourman, co-bookwriter / lyricist Sheilah Rae, and co-bookwriter Thomas Edward West, re-interprets the events surrounding the infamous “Shootout at the O.K. Corral” in 1880s Tombstone, Arizona.  This production ran at 59E59 Theaters from May 20 – June 12, 2011.

Click here to view a full archive of company productions since 1999.

Prospect Theater Company 10th Anniversary from Cara Reichel on Vimeo.

SCRIPT DRAFT: IRON CURTAIN – April 27, 2011

Click here for demo recordings.

Nagelberg Theater – End Stage Drawing

Nagelberg Lighting Inventory

Audition sides (pdf scenes & songs) are posted by character below.  You can click the link to the demo CD and listen to mp3s of the songs.  If we are seeing you for a particular role, please familiarize yourself with the appropriate material prior to the audition.

Also, please come prepared with your own 32 bar selection from the “legit musical theatre canon”.  Comedic material is preferred.

Thank you!

CLICK HERE FOR LINKS TO DEMO RECORDINGS
(Please note:  Some sheet music may be updated from demo recordings.)

ENSEMBLE CALLBACK MUSIC “LAPOV LUXURY”: MEN & WOMEN

WOMEN:

MASHA
That’s Capital
Masha / Murray / Howard Scene

HILDRET
A Frau Divided
Howard / Hildret Scene

SHIRLEY
Missing
Travel Agent / Shirley Scene

ENSEMBLE WOMEN
Harvest Moon
Travel Agent / Shirley Scene

MEN:

MURRAY
Five Year Plan
Murray / Howard / Masha Scene

HOWARD
Half A World Away
Howard / Hildret Scene

SCHMEARNOV
The Party Line
Schmearnov / Onanov Scene

ENSEMBLE MEN
Ministry of Musical Persuasion
Border Guard Scene
Khrushchev Scene