“Johnny Guitar” - Audition Notice
“Johnny Guitar: The Musical” - Aduditions
DATE: Wednesday, March 11, 7:00 PM
LOCATION: Fells Point Corner Theatre, 251 S. Ann St., Fells Point, MD 21321
PERSONNEL:
Director: John Hurley
Book by Nicholas van Hoogstraten.
Music by Martin Silvestri
Lyrics by Joel Higgins.
Non-Equity, No Pay
**PREPARATION: Prepare a contemporary musical theatre song. Please bring sheet music in appropriate key. An accompanist will be provided. No taped music. Bring picture and resume, if available. Prepare to read from the script.
BREAKDOWN:
Note: Based on the classic Joan Crawford western film, the musical *Johnny Guitar* is an arch tale of crazy love that embraces – while simultaneously sending up – the conventions of the 50’s western. It combines a surprisingly modern sense of gender, with a winking sense of humor and a rousing melodic score. Part cult parody of the genre, part modern spin on the myth of the Old West. Seeking a cast of strong actors/musicians with a terrific sense of humor to bring this new Old West to life.
VIENNA/TITLE SINGER mid 30s-40s A western saloon owner. She is charming, sexy and tough. A woman who has had to make her way in the world using her brains and her beauty. She has a past that she’s not ashamed of, but must constantly defend against people who don’t want to let her run her respectable business in peace. She has big dreams, a sometime lover, and a small community of friends, but her heart still belongs to Johnny Guitar… (soprano/mezzo soprano with high belt and contemporary sound)
JOHNNY GUITAR mid 30s – early 40s A drifter with a past. A big, masculine charmer with an easy manner and smooth smile. He prefers to keep the peace, but isn’t above fighting if fighting is the best solution. And watch out if he decides it is, because he used to be known as Johnny Logan, notorious gunslinger. But it’s been five long years since he used that name, and five long years since he last saw Vienna, the only woman who’s ever been a match for him…(powerful high baritone; rudimentary guitar helpful, not essential)
EMMA 30s-40s An angry pit bull of a woman. Owns the bank and half the town. Territorial, petty and resentful of Vienna’s beauty and success. A sexually repressed woman herself, she is scandalized by Vienna’s “loose morals.” She would never admit that some of her rage is fueled by the fact that the Dancin’ Kid seems to prefer Vienna’s company to her own. Actress should have a strong comedic sense…(high mezzo with belt)
DANCIN’ KID 30s The leader of the local wild bunch. Manly and attractive. Stuck on himself. Quick-tempered and stubborn. Casually involved with Vienna. She won’t have him more seriously no matter how ardently he asks – and ask he does. Her constant coolness makes him a little bitter, a little frustrated, and little stupid. Nonetheless, the coolest guy in a rough town…that is, until Johnny Guitar shows up… (high baritone/tenor with contemporary sound, also comfortable with 50s rock sound, *dancing skills NOT necessary)
MCIVERS 50s-60s A rancher who owns all the cattle and the other half of the town. Emma’s somewhat reluctant ally in her campaign against Vienna. The kind of gruff, no-nonsense businessman who built the west. Should be a terrific character actor. (bass/baritone)
TURKEY/WESTERN SINGER should look early 20s Young, fast with a gun. Part of the Dancin’ Kid’s bunch. The product of a slip-shod upbringing in a saloon in a western town, but essentially good. On the brink of manhood. A good comic actor. (strong tenor) ;
One actor to play: BART/TOM/CARL 35-50
Bart: Big and belligerent. A quintessential bad guy.
Tom: The cook in Vienna’s saloon.
Carl: A rabble-rouser in Emma’s posse as she hunts down Vienna. (bass/baritone)
One actor to play: EDDIE/HANK/JENKS 30s-40s
Eddie: Roulette spinner in Vienna’s saloon.
Hank: A rabble-rouser in Emma’s posse as she hunts down Vienna.
Jenks: Stagecoach driver who gets hassled by Emma’s posse.
Sings, ideally: plays rhythm guitar, and has a significant amount of dialogue (high baritone/low tenor; prefer rhythm guitarist, but not essential)
One actor to play: SAM/NED 20s-40s
Sam: Bartender a bit crusty. A skeptic
Ned: Bank Teller.. a regular good guy (high baritone/low tenor)
DATES:1st Rehearsal for *Johnny Guitar* will be March 16th
Runs 5/8/09-6/7/09, Fri/Sat at 8 PM, Sun at 2 PM, Thurs June 4th at 8 PM
Categories: Announcements, Auditions