WEATHERVANE PLAYHOUSE 2015 WINTER PRODUCTION of CHESS Character Breakdown

FLORENCE - strong belt voice (to E). Mid-thirties. Born in Hungary (so shouldn’t look like the “All-American Girl”); has been brought up in America since 1956. She is clever, theatrical, touching, vivacious, volatile. Frederick’s chess “second.”

FREDDIE - Rock tenor (to C). Mid-thirties. An American chess champion. A cross between Bobby Fisher and John McEnroe. Arrogant and temperamental, but a genius; his chess playing revolutionary. We need to see his artistry along with his danger and his obsessiveness.

ANATOLY - Baritone (to G sharp). Early forties. A Russian chess champion. Unexpectedly charming. He doesn't seem a romantic hero at first, but becomes one through his personality. An intelligent, feeling, passionate man.

MOLOKOV - Bass (down to F sharp). Fifties. Not a fake, comic, stage Russian. Intellectually formidable. Seemingly a father figure to Florence. Anatoly’s chess “second.” An actor who sings well.

SVETLANA - strong belt voice. Late thirties. Anatoly’s wife. Domestic, wholesome, homey. A dramatic contrast to Florence - not a contemporary cosmopolitan woman.

WALTER - Bass-Baritone (down to G sharp). Fifties. A marketing agent. Seemingly respectable, substantial, trustworthy. An actor who sings well.

ARBITER - rock high baritone (up to A). Thirty to early forties. International businessman. Smooth, but with a quick temper.

YOUNG FLORENCE: Young version of Florence

MALE & FEMALE ENSEMBLE: Requires a large chorus of very strong singers and actors

CHESS Auditions: 10/10/15-10/11/15 CHESS Rehearsals & Performances: 12/2/15-12/27/15 For additional questions, please contact Kaitlin Brucker (Theatre Manager) or Adam Karsten (Managing Artistic Director) at [email protected], visit www.weathervaneplayhouse.org or call 740-366-4616.