BEAT-BY-BEAT
CASTING CALL
TAKE PART IN NEW MUSICALS!
Can you sing and act? If so, you may be the one we're looking
for.
You are invited to audition for 3 exciting original musicals to
be
staged on 24-26 March 2006. A small honorarium will be given.
Interested parties may walk in for an audition. If you would like
to
confirm your schedule, please contact Tamara at 81134292 or
email
[email protected]
DATE : Saturday 21 Jan 2006
Sunday 22 Jan 2006
TIME : 3:00 to 6:00 pm
PLACE : The Next Stage Academy, 420 Clemenceau Avenue
North, adjacent to the carpark at Newton Food Centre. It's
opposite
Cairnhill CC , 5 mins walk from Newton MRT.
Please prepare TWO SONGS (One slow/ One Fast) to be sung acapella
or
accompanied by your own minus one. Bring along a photograph (any
photo
will do) and your bio-data/resume if possible.
1. THE SWAMI, THE COW, AND THE SPACEMAN
A psychedelic comedy about an American astronaut from the 60s
who
crashes on a mountain in a failed attempt to reach the moon, and
meets
an Indian swami and his talking cow. Cultures collide, and the
world
turns upside down.
Characters :
(i) Swami (m) 40+
A hermit and religious ascetic who lives on the mountain and
enjoys
milk and chapattis; Actor should either be Indian, or can do an
Indian
accent.
(ii) Cow (f) -
A sassy, young talking cow, dressed in the bright flower power
dresses
from the 60s, and Swami's companion. (Role taken)
(iii) Spaceman (m) 20-30
An American astronaut (born and raised in Texas) on his way to
the
moon; Actor should either be American, or can do an American
(Southern/Texan) accent.
2. TEN DAYS OF MOURNING
A coming-of-age story about a Singapore Indian girl who faces
issues
of cultural and personal identity during a visit to India. 10 Days
of
Mourning features modern song structures and lyrical styles
using
Indian scales.
Character List
(i) Veena: 20
Veena is wilful. Her relationship with her mother is tense, as
Veena
tries constantly to assert her independence. In the early scenes,
she
practices disengagement from the family, in rebellion for having
to
leave the comforts of home and her life in Singapore, to visit
her
grandparents in India. She eventually comes around, due largely to
her
Grandfather's gentle persuasions and some eye-openers from a
young
musician (Raj). When the musical closes, she understands herself,
her
family and her culture better than when she reluctantly arrived
in
India.
(ii) Mother: 40
Veena's mother, having married and had Veena at an early age. She
is
the sort of person who accepts her fate calmly and makes the best
of
any situation, believing it better to live happily in the
moment.
Partly, she has learnt this the hard way, after the death of
her
husband, early in their marriage, and since she has had to raise
her
child alone. She is also a musician (she played the Veena) who gave
up
that passion when she took on the roles of wife and mother.
Veena's
mother, in her gentle way, teaches Veena about respect,
selflessness
and that regret is something we should avoid incurring at all
cost.
(iii) Grandfather 60s
Veena's grandfather is a dignified man with a gentle, wizened
air
about him. He is responsible for much of Veena's
transformation
because he is the only one who does it in a kind, loving way. He
often
communicates in metaphors, but always makes a strong point. He is
the
one to first break through Veena's icy exterior.
(iv) Grandmother 60s
Veena's grandmother is playful and humorous. She teases Veena
relentlessly and is not averse to colluding with Veena's mother
to
makes jokes at Veena's expense. She doesn't do this to be mean
but
rather to counteract Veena's iciness and sulkiness. Whereas
Veena's
Grandfather gently coaxes Veena out of her shell, Veena's
Grandmother
playfully heckles her out of it.
(v) Raj: Late 20s
A young, celebrated and widely-travelled musician whose father
(also a
musician) used to play with Veena's mother. Veena is instantly
drawn
to him (but not in an overtly romantic way), because of his youth
and
because of his exposure to other lands and cultures. Veena quizzes
him
about why he keeps returning to India when he could choose to
live
anywhere else, and in replying, Raj opens Veena's eyes to the
beauty
of her motherland.
Ensemble
Three or four people are required for the first scene, in which
a
beggar-woman and a drinks seller harass Veena and her mother.
3. ROSES AND HELLO
A spunky flower shop owner fights the acquisition of her property
by a
law tycoon, whose son falls in love with her.
Main Cast: All singing parts
(i). Chris Wee (Male lead) Mid/late 20s
An up-and-coming lawyer in the law firm Wee, Bill & Soo LLC.
Son of
the firm's senior partner, but also capable, competent, and
charming.
However, also youthfully naive and has yet to face real challenges
in
his life.
(ii). Penny Lee (Female lead) Mid/late 20s
Penny inherits a flower shop, "roses & hello", from her mother.
Spunky
and determined to succeed, she commits herself to keeping the
business
afloat, against the advice of those around her. One of Chris'
love
interests in the play.
(iii). Mr William Wee Late 50s
Senior partner in Wee, Bill & Soo LLC. Chris' father. Fights
to
maintain the firm's reputation. Wee finds himself slowing down
with
age, and hopes that Chris will take over the reins in the
firm.
(iv). Mr Richard Sooreej (tentatively a character of Indian
ethnicity, but may be flexible) Late 40s
Senior partner in Wee, Bill & Soo LLC. A driven, self-made man
who
will let nothing stand in the way of his success. Has a
dubious
relationship with Stella.
(v). Stella Mid/late 20s
Rising star in Wee, Bill & Soo, and also a bombshell of a
woman.
Intelligent and witty, but also as cold as ice. Chris is
shamelessly
infatuated with her.
(vi). Annie Ting 50s
Secretary to William Wee. They have a deep friendship that
has
spanned decades - a relationship that might or might not be amorous
in
nature.
Also casting for a chorus of 4-6 characters.
Chorus members must sing and dance (although dancing is optional
for
the upcoming "highlights" showcase)
Chorus will play different characters in the course of the play,
but
most of the time assume the character of a lawyer in the firm.
Parts
have been written for individual chorus members (tentatively 4
female
and 2 male)
Chorus will also be required to rehearse as intensively as the
leads.
Please contact Tamara at 81134292 or email
[email protected] should you have any questions. Seeya!
