Theatre Victoria’s production of
Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s
MARY POPPINS
AUDITIONS
When: Monday, May 9, 2016 @ 7:15pm
Where: Leo J. Welder Center for the Performing Arts
Direction: Scott Mohon
Choreography: Laura Klimist
Music direction: Patricia Balmer
Audition Registration begins at 6:30pm on May 9, 2016
Audition Requirements
This is a musical and everyone will be required to sing 32 bars from a song, participate in the dance/movement part of the audition and reading from the script. Please bring sheet music or CD for the singing part of the audition and comfortable clothing and shoes you can move in - wear Dance Shoes or Tennis Shoes. NO FLIP FLOPS or SANDALS. An accompanist and CD player will be provided. You must have sheet music or CD to audition. We encourage you to bring sheet music in your key (accompanist will not transpose) as we will be singing with a LIVE orchestra for the production.
Roles currently being cast – (all ages are suggested STAGE ages)
The roles of Mary Poppins and Bert were cast at the March 1, 2016 Auditions.
- GEORGE BANKS (early 40s), father to Jane and Michael Banks, is a banker to the very fiber of his being. Demanding “precision and order” in his household, he is a pipe-and slippers man who doesn’t have much to do with his children and believes that he had the perfect upbringing by his nanny, the cruel Miss Andrew. His emotional armor, however, conceals a sensitive soul. A baritone.
- WINIFRED BANKS (30s) is George’s wife and Jane and Michael’s mother. A former actress, she is a loving and distracted homemaker who is busy trying to live up to her husband’s desire to only associate with “the best people” as well as be a model wife and mother. She suffers from the conflicting feelings that she’s not up to the job of “being Mrs. Banks,” yet she is, and more. She has a great warmth and simplicity to her tone. Mezzo Soprano.
- JANE BANKS (11), the high-spirited daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Banks, is bright and precocious but can be willful and inclined to snobbishness. Child soprano.
- MICHAEL BANKS (9) is the cute and cheeky son of Mr. and Mrs. Banks. Excitable and naughty, he adores his father and tries to be like him. Both he and Jane misbehave in order to get the attention of their parents. Male child voice, unbroken.
- KATIE NANNA/ENSEMBLE (30s) is Jane and Michael’s nanny at the beginning of the show. Overwhelmed and upset, she has absolutely had her fill of the Banks children.
- POLICEMAN/ENSEMBLE (30s-40s) is a neighborhood fixture who is respected by and observant of the households on his beat.
- MISS LARK/ENSEMBLE (30s) is the haughty next-door neighbor of the Banks family who treats her dog, Willoughby, as if he were her child.\
- MISS SMYTHE (40s) is the Bank Chairman’s humorless secretary.
- QUEEN VICTORIA (40s-50s) is a statue in the park.
- MISS ANDREW (40s-50s) is George’s overbearing and scary nanny. With her bottle of nasty-tasting brimstone and treacle to keep naughty children in line, she is a bully who only knows one way of doing things – her way. Mezzo soprano, there can be some heaviness to her voice along with the range.
- ADMIRAL BOOM (50s) is a retired Royal Navy man and neighbor of the Banks family. A physically large man with a loud and booming voice, he speaks in Navy jargon and has a soft spot for his neighbor, Miss Lark.
- BANK CHAIRMAN (50s), the head of the bank where Mr. Banks is employed, is an Edwardian stuffed-shirt. Baritone.
- MRS. BRILL (50s) is the housekeeper and cook for the Banks family. Overworked and harassed, she’s always complaining that the house is understaffed. Her intimidating exterior is a cover for the warmth underneath. Mrs. Brill doesn’t have a high opinion of nannies in general and Mary Poppins in particular. She does not have to be a strong singer. Alto.
- ROBERTSON AY (20-30) is the houseboy to the Banks family. Lazy, sleepy, and grumbling, he never gets things right and believes himself to be useless. He doesn’t do a lot of singing, but his “Spoonful” solo can be a fun surprise. Tenor.
- PARK KEEPER/ENSEMBLE (40s-50s). Uniformed and officious, he makes sure no one breaks park regulations. His life is defined by rules, but he secretly hankers after his childhood. Tenor.
- NELEUS/ENSEMBLE (16-20) is the statue of a young boy posed with a dolphin in the park. Neleus was separated from his father, Poseidon, and misses him very much. A small and lonely being, he is very happy to befriend Jane and Michael.
- VON HUSSLER/ENSEMBLE (30s-40s) is a businessman seeking a loan from the bank for a shady business deal. He speaks with a German accent.
- JOHN NORTHBROOK/ENSEMBLE (30s-40s) is an honest businessman seeking a loan to build a factory for his community. He speaks with an accent from Northern England.
- BIRD WOMAN (50s) is covered in a patchwork of old shawls, and her pockets are stuffed with bags of crumbs for the birds. She tries to sell her crumbs to passersby, who ignore her as if she doesn’t exist. Sings “Feed the Birds.” There can be a gruff, folksy quality to her voice that reflects the hardness of her life. Alto.
- MRS. CORRY (40s) owns a magical gingerbread shop. She is a mysterious woman of great age who speaks with a Caribbean accent (or any accent that would make her seem exotic). Soprano.
- ANNIE and FANNIE/ENSEMBLE (20s) are Mrs. Corry’s daughters.
- VALENTINE/ENSEMBLE is a stuffed boy doll belonging to Jane.
- TEDDY BEAR/ENSEMBLE is a toy belonging to Jane and Michael.
- MR. PUNCH/ENSEMBLE is a toy belonging to Jane and Michael.
- DOLL/ENSEMBLE is a toy belonging to Jane and Michael.
- ENSEMBLE strong singing voices (all vocal ranges) that can dance/move well. The ensemble will double with some of the roles above and also play chimney sweeps, park goers, etc.
- CHILDREN’S ENSEMBLE - We are looking to cast up to 4 children, ages 9 to 14, who have strong singing voices (all vocal ranges) and can dance/move well.
Notification of Cast List: Roles will be offered by Monday, May 16, 2016
Rehearsals begin Sunday, June 5 and are typically scheduled Sunday through Thursday from 6:30pm to 10:00pm. Due to the size and complexity of this production, additional dates and times may be needed. Also, please be prepared to list all and any conflicts with the rehearsal days and weeks at the time of the audition. All potential conflicts should be cleared for rehearsal and performance days.
A detailed schedule, with dates and times and those REQUIRED to be at rehearsals, will be provided throughout the rehearsal process. However, please mark these dates on your schedule accordingly and make every arrangement necessary to attend all rehearsals and performances. Due to the requirements of this, and all productions, no one can be excused from any technical rehearsal or performance. If potential conflicts arise prior to rehearsals beginning – actors are asked to contact their stage manager immediately. If potential conflicts arise during the rehearsal process – you will notify your stage manager. The success of the production is impacted by the great attendance, discipline and accountability of all cast and crew at all scheduled rehearsals and performances
Technical Rehearsals (Production weeks) begin Sunday, July 17th
Performance Dates (Additional performances may be added)
Wednesday, July 27 – 7:30 pm
Thursday, July 28 – 7:30 pm
Friday, July 29 – 7:30 pm
Saturday, July 30 – 7:30 pm
Sunday, July 31 – 2:00 pm
Please keep the following week open should performances be necessary.
Technical Crew Call Dates
All Company Members are asked to participate in at least 2 crew calls other than strike.
Friday, July 1 – 10:00 am (LOAD IN)
Saturday, July 2 – 10:00 am (LOAD IN)
Sunday, July 31 – STRIKE following performance
Saturday, August 6 – STRIKE continues and loading of trucks
All Company Members are required to participate in the Sunday and following
Saturday’s STRIKE.
