Fiddler Audition Pack

Audition Form, MUST be handed in at the start of auditions please.

Name______

Address______

Email (ONLY if you check it regularly – and please write carefully with correct capitals and non capitals – email is my primary method of contacting people)

Mobile ______Landline ______

STOP!!!!!! Go no further until you have read and ABSORBED the commitment required hehe! (See following page)

Tick ALL roles you are interested in, time may not permit us to hear you read all of them, but it gives us an idea. PLEASE DON’T LEAVE ENSEMBLE BLANK OR PUT UNSURE, it’s either a yes or a no.

FINALLY – Only go for roles you have looked at it advance, please don’t keep adding stuff tonight that you have not looked at, reading is not really a proper audition. Carry scripts to refer to if you must, but make sure you have had a genuine shot at learning the stuff off by heart prior to auditioning tonight.

Tevye Fyedka Lazar Wolf The Fiddler – specific talents and/or look required Golde Constable Yente Fruma –Sarah Tzeitel Grandma Tzeital Hodel Rabbi Chava Avram Shprintze Mendel Bielke Mordcha the Innkeeper Motel Perchik

I AM HAPPY TO BE IN THE ENSEMBLE YES/NO I AM HAPPY TO BE PLACED IN OTHER ROLES YES/NO

PLEASE NOTE THE SPOKEN ROLE OF SHAINDEL (Motel’s mother) WILL BE FILLED FROM THE AUDITION POOL FOR GOLDE AND YENTE, WE ARE NOT AUDITIONING IT.

There are several other roles that we will fill from the pool of auditionees on the night, OR from the ensemble during rehearsals. We have tried to cover a comprehensive selection at auditions but just can’t fit everything in! Many of the roles are featured characters for the entire show, but just not with many actual designated lines or much to sing, but they are a constant presence throughout. These roles include: The singing woman in the Rumour song Yussel (spoken role only) Sasha (Russian lad – spoken role only) Nachum the beggar (spoken role only)

Looking forward to a fantastic four months bringing this wonderful musical to life with a bunch of dedicated thespians!!!!!! Carole 0401588962 AUDITION PACK. Auditions Wed Jan 29th, Pinjarra Civic Centre. 7pm!!!!! Please note that rehearsals start at 7-30pm but the audition night begins at 7pm. Accents: There were NO Australian’s living in Anatevka!!!!!!!! The movie is a little Americanised, but even that’s more believable than Ocker! Try a slight Russian if you like…..and definitely get that stereotypical Jewish style into your speech if you are going for a character role.

FIRST AND FOREMOST THIS IS A DRAMA – a drama with beautiful music certainly, but essentially it needs to be cast with ACTORS who can sing.

This is one of the world’s great classics, it is unique, moving, uplifting, tragic and joyous in turn, and won numerous awards for both the stage show and the movie versions. It knocked “Oklahoma!” off its perch as the longest ever running musical. It requires strong leads, and a significant chorus who are able to sing harmony and dance. It is a physical and energetic show.

MANY OF THE MALE CHARACTERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO GROW A BEARD!!!

Normally I would not say study the movie – but in this particular instance, there could be no better way to suss out the show and see how the characters need to be played, not to mention who is bearded and who isn’t etc!!!! The movie is EXCELLENT, and the stage show is very very very similar.

Read this before you decide to audition!

THE COMMITMENT REQUIRED

Rehearsals are on a Monday AND a Wednesday evening, we start 7-30 PROMPT.

The Sunday before we open (May 4th) is a big rehearsal day, 2pm until LATE. THIS IS A COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE, IF YOU WON’T BE HERE FOR THAT DATE PLEASE DO NOT AUDITION. THANK YOU.

There are TEN shows and OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN’T MISS ANY SHOWS, even if you are just in the ensemble scenes. Showdates : Note the Wednesday night shows!!!! Plus the two matinees!!!!! 8pm Friday May 9th 8pm Saturday May 10th 8pm Wednesday May 14th 8pm Friday May 16th 2pm Saturday May 17th 8pm Saturday May 17th 8pm Wednesday May 21st 8pm Friday May 23rd 2pm Saturday May 24th 8pm Saturday May 24th

Holidays – if you have one booked come and speak to me please, as a guide if its longer than a fortnight, or is booked for after the end of March then it probably won’t work out.

With the exception of the two younger sisters Bielke and Sphrintze and a handful of young boys and girls for chorus scenes I would prefer most of the cast to be over sixteen years of age. Any youngsters who end up in the show are part of the regular chorus, so there won’t be any special ‘early’ home time for them. Being part of the cast means staying until the end of each rehearsal. But I will always let people go if I am not using them, you won’t be kept sitting around doing nothing if I can help it. I will attempt to finish rehearsals at 10pm in the early days and 10-30pm in the latter days.

I have just put all this up front as an initial statement to prevent you wasting your time If you cannot give this unfettered commitment to the show.

Carole Dhu - 0401588962 95814583 (talk to the machine if you ring the home phone – I NEVER pick up my phone until I hear who it is – so please don’t just hang up – I am probably there!) [email protected]

We are looking to fill a spot in the music side of things – The Fiddler – who will also appear onstage. Contact me immediately if you are interested in this role, we will fill this as soon as we can, as it’s really a specific skill set for someone to fill in the music team, and we would like to have this cast prior to auditions. The Fiddler will need to attend at least one rehearsal a week.

The Fiddler on the Roof - ANY AGE OR GENDER, NEEDS TO BE AGILE AND LIGHT ON YOUR FEET AS WELL AS ABLE TO PLAY THE VIOLIN!!! Ideally this is a role that we will cast with a person who can play their violin onstage as the character, and also play with the pianist when required and when not on stage. The fiddler has no lines, but needs to be nimble, and do a very simple bit of movement whilst playing live, and isn’t scared to be up a ladder, or on a roof to play. Our second option is to get someone to be the fiddler but mime playing, and let someone play from down near the piano, but that is definitely my second preference. All you aspiring vionists, check the movie and see what is required. Male or female (but dressed to pass as a male). Merle Josh and I are all putting feelers out, please spread the word for us! Character descriptions, and audition requirements Ages are the stage ages, therefore it’s a guide…..it is possible to age people, and beards help with this!!!!Principal roles: Please know your audition songs well enough to perform them without holding the words, also dialogue if possible. This gives you the best chance to sell your performance.

Tevye – the village milkman - Male Baritone aged 45 – 65, father of five daughters, three of marriageable age. Audition songs: Do You Love Me? If I Were a Rich Man Readings: Page 27 Where Lazar says “Tevye- I suppose you know why I wanted to see you” down to Page 28 where Lazar says “I like her……What do you think?” Page 39 “Well Tzeitel, my child, why are you so silent?” down to the bottom of Page 41 Tevye may also feature in other characters audition/readings and songs. For these extra pieces it is quite acceptable to be ‘on book’, but please know your own pieces off by heart.

Golde – his wife – she is rather a scold - Female Mezzo aged 40 -55. Auditions song: Do You Love Me? Readings: Page 6 Where she says “A poor girl without a dowry can’t be so particular” all the way to half way down page 8 and finishes when she says “Finish washing the floor.” Page 51 The paragraph “It’s an evil spirit……….be any better. Amen”

Lazar Wolf - Male Baritone aged 40 – 60 Well off butcher, wants to marry Tzeitel Audition song: To Life! (Just sing the Lazar parts, I am happy to sing the Tevye bits at auditions– or I am sure there’ll be a bloke or two who will volunteer anyway!) Reading: Page 27 Where Lazar says “Tevye- I suppose you know why I wanted to see you” down to Page 28 where Lazar says “I like her……What do you think?”

Yente – female alto – 50 – 75 The matchmaker, a nosy gossip Audition song: Yente sings bits and pieces of songs, but doesn’t have a ‘song’ of her own as such. For audition purposes we will just listen to her sing Bars 12 to 20 of “The Rumour” – I have purchased a guide track from iTunes if you need to listen to it. Reading: Page 6 where Golde says “A poor girl without a dowry can’t be so particular” and it carries on to halfway down page 8 and finishes when Golde says “Finish washing the floor”

Tzeital – female mezzo 18-25 Eldest daughter, in love with Motel the poor village tailor. Audition song: (For her and Hoddel and Chava) is Matchmaker, divided up just as it is in the script – from the start up to Hodel’s “I could get stuck for good!” Readings: Page 22 where Tzeitel says “Motel, Yente was here.” and over to page 23 stopping when Motel says “All right, I’ll talk to him.” Page 39 “Well Tzeitel, my child, why are you so silent?” down to the bottom of Page 41

Hodel – female mezzo 17-24 Second oldest daughter – becomes involved with a young revolutionary Perchik and eventually follows him to Siberia. Audition songs: (For her and Tzeital and Chava) is Matchmaker, divided up just as it is in the script – from the start up to Hodel’s “I could get stuck for good!” Far From the Home I Love (very short song) Readings: Page 35 from “That was a very interesting lesson, Perchik” to the bottom of the page Page 68 (top) and over to page 69 stopping just before the song where Perchik says “I am very happy Hodel. Very happy.”

Chava – female mezzo – 16-23 Middle daughter. A bookworm. She falls in love with Fyedka who is a Russian and runs off with him, a man who is outside the family’s faith. Audition song: (For her and Hodel and Tzeital) is Matchmaker, divided up just as it is in the script – from the start up to Hodel’s “I could get stuck for good!” Reading: Page 55 From when Fyedka says “I’m sorry about that.” Carry on to bottom of Page 56 when Chava says “Good day.”

Motel – male tenor – 18-27 Mild mannered, earnest tailor, quite poor, in love with Tzeital since they were children. Audition song: Wonder of Wonders Readings: Page 22 where Tzeitel says “Motel, Yente was here.” and over to page 23 stopping when Motel says “All right, I’ll talk to him.” Page 39 “Well Tzeitel, my child, why are you so silent?” down to the bottom of Page 41

Perchik – male tenor – 21-30 Student who visits Anatevka, Jewish but constantly challenging the old traditions of the town. Becomes embroiled in the political upheavals taking part in the city, falls in love with Hodel. Audition song: Perchik sings a song, called Now I Have Everything, not in the movie. I have purchased a track from iTunes if you need to listen to it. We won’t listen to the whole thing, will stop just before Hodel joins in. Goes up to a D in the bit we are auditioning, the song finishes on an E so we may get our Perchik’s to sing us an E if Merle thinks its necessary. Readings: Page 35 from “That was a very interesting lesson, Perchik” to the bottom of the page Page 68 (top) and over to page 69 stopping just before the song where Perchik says “I am very happy Hodel. Very happy.”

Shprintze female 10-16 Tevye’s second youngest daughter. Audition song: Tradition – bars 118 to 131D – (the ‘daughters’ segment) Readings: A composite page of lines from throughout the script – available from Carole’s patio chair! Bielke female 8 – 14 Tevye’s youngest daughter. Audition song: Tradition – bars 118 to 131D – (the ‘daughters’ segment) Readings: A composite page of lines from throughout the script – available from Carole’s patio chair!

Fyedka male spoken role only - 21-32 Non Jewish Russian – runs off with and marries Chava. Reading: Page 55 From when Fyedka says “I’m sorry about that.” Carry on to bottom of Page 56 when Chava says “Good day.”

Constable male spoken role only – 32-48 Russian Military Official stationed near Anatevka. Has a relationship of sorts with Tevye, but foremost his loyalty is to the government and their Anti Semetic views. Decent sized role. Reading: Page 33 in its entirety

Fruma-Sarah female mezzo 32 – 50 Singing role only - Lazar Wolf’s first wife…….She appears in the fake dream that Tevye describes to Golde – and in this dream she is furious about Lazar’s impending marriage to Tzeital. Like the other dream character Grandma she is a strong personality. Even though her dialogue is sung it is really an acting role - this lady is wild. Singing audition: Tevye’s Dream Bars 115 - 129

Ensemble audition piece – all people wishing to be in the ensemble must do a solo singing audition please. The pieces are as follows:

Ensemble girls - (i.e. children and youth and young women who appear 25 or under ) Tradition – bars 118 to 131D – (the daughters’ segment)

Ensemble boys- (i.e. children and youth and young men who appear 25 or under ) Tradition – bars 100 to 116 (the sons’ segment)

ALL ENSEMBLE MEN PLEASE WEAR (OR BRING) LONG PANTS AND SOCKS TO AUDITIONS AS YOU WILL BE GIVEN A DANCE MOVE TO DO THAT REQUIRES KNEELING AND DRAGGING YOUR LEGS…….WITHOUT LONG PANTS AND SOCKS YOU WILL BURN YOUR LEGS ON THE FLOOR. SENIORS WILL NOT BE REQUIRED TO DO THIS MOVE, BUT TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, I CAN DO IT, SO IF YOU ARE ABLE BODIED EXPECT TO BE PUT THROUGH YOUR PACES !!!!!!! BEING OVER FORTY IS NOT AN EXCUSE HAHA! Ensemble women- (i.e. youth and women who appear 25 or over) Tradition – bars 82-98 (the Golde and mamas’ section)

Ensemble men - (i.e. youth and who appear 25 or over) Tradition – bars 64 - 79 (the Tevye & papas’ section) ALL ENSEMBLE MEN PLEASE WEAR (OR BRING) LONG PANTS AND SOCKS TO AUDITIONS AS YOU WILL BE GIVEN A DANCE MOVE TO DO THAT REQUIRES KNEELING AND DRAGGING YOUR LEGS…….WITHOUT LONG PANTS AND SOCKS YOU WILL BURN YOUR LEGS ON THE FLOOR. SENIORS WILL NOT BE REQUIRED TO DO THIS MOVE, BUT TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, I CAN DO IT, SO IF YOU ARE ABLE BODIED EXPECT TO BE PUT THROUGH YOUR PACES !!!!!!! BEING OVER FORTY IS NOT AN EXCUSE HAHA!

Grandma Tzeital female mezzo 65 upwards Singing role only. Golde’s long deceased Grandma. She appears in the fake dream that Tevye describes to Golde – and in this dream she endorses Tzeital and Motel getting married. Like the other dream character Fruma Sarah she is a strong character. Her sung dialogue needs to be clear and loud as she contributes heavily to the backstory of the family. Singing audition: Tevye’s Dream Bars 3 - 34

Rabbi – male baritone 45 – 80 the gentle religious leader of the Jewish community in Anatevka. Not a big role, but a ‘presence’ throughout Singing audition: Tevye’s Dream Bars 3 - 14 Reading: A composite page of lines from throughout the script – available from Carole’s patio chair!

Avram male 37-68 Runs the local bookshop and keeps the town advised of all the news in the area. Reading Page 15 Singing audition: If you are not singing for any other roles on the night then sing the men’s chorus audition please

Mendel 20-32 The Rabbi’s son Reading Page 15 Singing audition: If you are not singing for any other roles on the night then sing the men’s chorus audition please

Mordcha the innkeeper Reading Page 15 Singing audition: If you are not singing for any other roles on the night then sing the men’s chorus audition please