Shire Music Theatre

Presents

AUDITION PACK

Audition dates: Tuesday April 7th & Wednesday April 8th from 7:30 pm

Where: Kirrawee High School

Venues:

Rehearsals will be held at the Shire Music

Theatre Rehearsal hall at Sylvania Scout Hall,

Box Rd Sylvania.

Tech week & performances are held at the

Sutherland Memorial School of Arts Theatre,

East Parade Sutherland.

Important Dates

Rehearsals: Monday and Wednesday nights from 7:30pm—10:30pm start-

ing Wednesday April 29th. Sunday rehearsals will be required closer to pro-

duction period.

Bump In: Saturday September 26th

Tech Week: Sunday September 27th—Wednesday September 30th

Show Weeks: Friday October 2nd—Sunday October 11th

Bump Out: Sunday October 11th (immediately after closing performance)

Show Dates:

Friday October 2nd 8pm

Saturday October 3rd 2pm & 8pm

Sunday October 4th 2pm

Thursday October 8th 8pm

Friday October 9th 8pm

Saturday October 10th 2pm & 8pm

Sunday October 11th 2pm

Production Team

Director: Michael Astill

Musical Director: Belinda Robinson

Choreographer: Natalie Hennessy

Management Committee

President: Kelly Watts

Vice-President: Jennifer Barker

Secretary: Sam Larielle

Treasurer: Donna Wainohu

Synopsis

Act I

Rose and her two daughters, Baby June and Louise, play the vaudeville circuit around the United States in the early 1920s. Rose, the archetype of astage mother, is aggressive and domineering, pushing her children to perform. While June is an extroverted, talented child star, the older girl, Louise, is shy. The kiddie act has one song, "Let Me Entertain You", that they sing over and over again, with June always as the center-piece and Louise often as one of the "boys" ("Baby June and Her Newsboys"). Rose has big dreams for the girls but encounters setbacks, as she tells her father ("Some People"). When Rose meets a former agent, Herbie, she persuades him to become their manager using her seductive and feminine wiles ("Small World"). The girls grow up, and June, now billed as Dainty June, and her act have a chance to perform for Mr. Goldstone ("Mr. Goldstone, I Love You"). Meanwhile, Louise celebrates her birthday alone and asks her birthday present, a lamb, just how old she is this year ("Little Lamb"). After Rose rejects Herbie's marriage proposal, he considers leaving, but she asserts that he could never get away from her ("You'll Never Get Away From Me"). Now billed as "Dainty June and Her Farmboys", the act finally performs on the Orpheum Circuit ("Dainty June and Her Farmboys"). June is soon offered a place at a Performing Arts school after an audition. However, Rose turns this down, refusing to break up the act. Louise and June fantasize what life would be like if Rose were married and finished with show business ("If Mama was Married"). A few months later, still on the road from show to show, Tulsa, one of the boys from the act, confides in Louise that he has been working on his own act ("All I Need Is The Girl"), and Louise fanta-sizes that she and he could do the act together. Shortly after, June is missing, and in a note she explains that she has grown sick of her mother and the endless tour and has eloped with Tulsa, and they will do a new act. Rose is hurt, but then optimistically vows that she will make Louise a star, proclaiming that "Everything's Coming up Roses".

Act II

Louise is now a young woman, and Rose has built a pale imitation of the Dainty June act for her. Using all girls, Rose and Herbie try valiantly to sell "Madame Rose's Toreadorables" to a fading vaudeville industry. However, they are still togeth-er ("Together, Wherever We Go"). With no vaudeville venues left, Louise and her second-rate act wind up accidentally booked at a burlesque house in Wichita, Kansas, as a means to deter police raids. Rose is anguished, as she sees what a booking in burlesque means to her dreams of success, but Louise persuades her that two weeks' pay for the new act is better than unemployment. As they are introduced to Louise, three of the strippers on the bill advise her on what it takes to be a successful stripper, a "gimmick," something that "makes your strip special" ("You Gotta Get a Gimmick"). Back-stage, Rose proposes marriage to Herbie. He asks her to break up the act and let Louise have a normal life, and she reluc-tantly accepts, agreeing to marry the day after their show closes. On the last day of the booking, the star stripper in the burlesque show is arrested for solicitation. Desperate, Rose cannot resist the urge to give Louise another nudge toward stardom, and she volunteers Louise to do the strip tease as a last-minute replacement. Disgusted at Rose's blind ambi-tion for her daughter, Herbie walks out on Rose forever ("Small World" Reprise). Although reluctant, Louise wants to please her mother and she goes on, assured by Rose that she needn't actually strip, but simply walk elegantly and tease by dropping a single shoulder strap. Shy and hesitant, she sings a titillating version of the old kiddie act song, "Let Me Entertain You". She removes only her glove, but she speaks directly to her 'audience', which becomes her "gimmick" ("Let Me Entertain You (Gypsy Strip Tease)").

In the months that follow Louise becomes secure, always following her mother's advice to "Make 'em beg for more, and then don't give it to them!" The song becomes brasher and brassier, and more and more articles of clothing come off. Ultimately, Louise becomes a major burlesque star and does not need her mother any longer. After a bitter argument between Rose and Louise, who has become the sophisticated "Gypsy Rose Lee," Rose realizes Herbie and June are both gone, and now Louise is lost to her as well. Rose, feeling sad, useless and bitter, asks "Why did I do it? What did it get me?" ("Rose's Turn"). All of Rose's unrequited dreams of her own stardom and her personal demons surface. She fantasizes about her own lit-up runway and cheering audience, but finally admits "I did it for me." After her admission to Louise, Mother and daughter tentatively step toward reconciliation in the end.

Character Breakdown

Casting and Audition Information

Reading Auditions: Those wishing to audition for a speaking role will need to prepare the allocated reading for

the role that they are auditioning for. This does not need to be learnt off by heart however it would be preferred

so that the production team can see you perform the piece. These readings are available on the SMT website

Singing Audition: All auditionees will be required to do a singing audition. Those auditioning for specific roles will

need to sing the allocated song/s. These are available on the SMT website. Those auditioning for the supporting

cast eg. Farm boys, News Boys, Hollywood blondes etc can choose any of the allocated songs to sing or a musical

theatre song of their own choosing in the same style as the show. If you are choose to sing a different song please

bring a clean, easy to read copy of your sheet music. Backing tracks will also be acceptable. Please note that the

panel may stop you if they have heard everything that they need to hear.

Dance Audition: The only roles that will NOT be required to do a dance audition are Mamma Rose, Herbie, Pop

and Uncle Jocko. All other auditionees will need to do the dance audition. There will be an allocated time during the

audition night where the choreographer will teach a small routine and you will need to perform it for the casting

panel.

Character Range Description Allocated Audition Song

Mama Rose Low F to C

The Mother. Rose is the ultimate "stage mother", ag-gressive and domineering, pushing her children to per-form. Music be a strong actress and portray numerous emotions. Experienced and controlled singer is a must due to the amount that Mama Rose sings. Must be able to move well. The role ages throughout the show so needs to age from late 30’s through to 50.

Everything’s Coming Up Roses

Baby June Eb - Eb

Rose's baby daughter. An extroverted, talented child star. Approx 9 to 10 years old. Strong singing and dancing role. Experience in some acrobatics would be beneficial.

May We Entertain You

Baby Louise Eb - Eb Rose's other baby daughter and June's introverted, shy older sister. Approx 10 to 12 years old. A strong acting and singing role.

May We Entertain You

June A flat to D

The older version of June. 18 - 20 years old. Pretty, talented and frustrated with Mom's domination. Strong singing and dancing role. Experience in some acrobatics would be beneficial.

Dainty June and her Farm Boys Broadway

Louise C sharp to E flat

The older version of Louise. Shy and loyal. At Mom's prodding, she becomes the famous stripper, Gypsy Rose Lee. Approx - 18 to 25 A very strong acting role. The growth of Louise throughout the show is one of the most important that needs to be portrayed. Must be able to sing and dance well.

Little Lamb Let Me Entertain You

Herbie Baritone

Candy salesman and Rose's manager. Reluctant manag-er of the act. Loves Rose and the girls, but his pa-tience has limits. 40 – 50 years old A lovable every day man. Strong acting and singing required

Any Broadway song of your choosing

Tulsa F to G

Singing and dancing member of the "Farm Boys". Dreams of having his own act with his special girl. Approx 17 years old. Strong male dancing and sing-ing role. Tapping is desirable

All I Need Is The Girl

Character Breakdown Continued

Character Range Description Allocated Audition Song

L.A. G to G Singing and dancing member of the "Farm Boys". 16 – 20. Strong singing and dancing

All I Need Is The Girl

Yonkers G to G Singing and dancing member of the "Farm Boys". 16 – 20. Strong singing and dancing

All I Need Is The Girl

Angie G to G Singing and dancing member of the "Farm Boys". 16 – 20. Strong singing and dancing

All I Need Is The Girl

Tessie Tura C# to D Flat An experienced and wisened Burlesque performer. Specialty - Ballet stripper. Ballet skills preferable. Strong character actress and strong singer

You Gotta Get A Gimmick

Mazeppa G (below middle C) to B Flat

An experienced and wisened Burlesque perform-er. Specialty - Trumpet stripper. Trumpet skills option-al. strong charater actress and strong belt

You Gotta Get A Gimmick

Electra B Flat to D

An experienced and wisened Burlesque perform-er. Specialty - Lightbulb stripper. Electri-cal experience not required J Strong comedy actress and singer

You Gotta Get A Gimmick

Uncle Jocko non-singing Vaudeville master of ceremonies at a weekly kiddee talent show. Hates stage mothers. Would rather be drinking.

Balloon Girl Auditioning child. 9 to 12 years old. Can become part of the “news boys”

Clarinet Boy non-singing Auditioning child. 9 to 12 years old. Also becomes part of the “news boys”

Pop non-singing Rose's father. He does not believe that she or the girls will ever amount to anything.

New Boys E to E Singing and dancing boys troupe

Hollywood Blondes x 5 each has a name

G to G Singing and dancing "Hollywood Blondes". Does not need to be blonde. 16 – 25 years

These roles will be filled by the Farm Boys

Georgie (Jocko’s assistant)Cigar (Burlesque Theatre manager) Pastey (Bujrlesque stage manager)Phil (Louises press agent), Bourgeron-Cochon (Famous French photographer) Backstage Figures, Stagehands at Grantziger's, Restaurant Wait Staff, Hotel Guests

These roles will be filled by the Hollywood Blondes and the Strippers

Miss Cratchit (theatre secretary), Renee (Louise’s Maid) Rear of Cow ,Hotel guests ,other strip-pers ,Backstage Figures, Showgirls, Mother of Audition-ing

These roles will also be played by Uncle Jacko

Mr Goldstone, Kringelein

These roles will also be played by Pop

Off stage announcer (Introduces Gypsy across the country) Weber

How do I book an Audition?

Auditions will be held at Kirrawee High School, 29 Hunter St, Kirrawee Tuesday April 7th & Wednesday April 8th, between 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm Audition bookings can be made online at www.shiremusictheatre.org.au If you have any questions please contact Michael at audition@shiremusictheatre.org.au Please ensure that you arrive a minimum of 15 minutes before your scheduled audition time… if you are late or running late please call 0432 016 195 Please print and fill in your Audition Form prior to arrival. The Audition Form is available on the last page of this Audition Pack. Copies will be available on the day. Please bring a (non-returnable) photo of yourself to be added to the Audition Form. Clear photocopies of photos are acceptable, as are printed copies of Facebook pictures.

Audition Format

All singing and reading auditions will be closed. The dancing audition will be a group audition. Each singing and reading time slots will be 5 minutes each. Time slots 7:30 - 8:15 - time slots are reserved for those auditioning for Mamma Rose, Herbie, Pop And Uncle Jocko. 8:15 - 8:45 - will be the group dance audition for all other roles. 8:45 - 10:30 - Singing and reading auditions for all other roles.

Call backs

Call backs, if needed, will be held at Shire Music Theatre’s rehearsal space Box Road Sylvania.

The panel will decide if these are needed after the auditions. Please note that all roles may not

be called back.

When will I find out about my audition outcome?

All successful cast: - will be contacted by phone directly after auditions, or call back date (if applicable) - will be posted on the SMT website http://shiremusictheatre@org.au and on our Facebook page. Unsuccessful applicants will be emailed as soon as cast has been confirmed. Do not worry if you have been unsuccessful. Please remember that we very much appreciate your efforts during the audition process and hope you treat this as a positive experience. There are plenty of ways that you can still be involved with Gypsy behind the scenes including backstage crew, set building, costuming, front of house etc. If you are interested in assisting in any of these departments please email the SMT secretary Sam at info@shiremusictheatre.org.au

Any personal information provided will be treated in the strictest confidence and for administrative purposes and show publicity/marketing only, and will not be released to any other organisation without your consent.

Membership & Show Fees

Membership Fees: $ 30.00 per financial year Show Fees: $ 70.00 per show TOTAL $100.00 - Membership applies to the financial year only - Show fees apply per show - Cast mailing list - Invitations to social events All those participating in the production must be financial members at a cost of $30 per financial year. In addition, there is a show fee and payment of both fees is due within 6 weeks following the

commencement of rehearsals – cash, cheque or internet banking payments are accepted.