‘’ School Production

Dear Parents/Carers,

We are writing to invite your son/daughter to audition for this year’s whole school musical ‘Sweeney Todd’. Considered as one of ’s most powerful scores, this black comedy concerns the infamous homicidal career of Sweeney, the unjustly exiled barber who returns to 19th century London seeking revenge against the lecherous judge who coveted his young wife and falsely imprisoned him. Cheated of his revenge against the Judge, Sweeney’s thirst for blood soon expands to include his unfortunate customers, and - with the aid of his razor - he exacts a far more terrible revenge, cheerfully helped by Mrs. Lovett, who is delighted to give new life to her flavourless meat pies! Sophisticated, macabre, visceral and uncompromising, Sweeney Todd mixes intense drama with dark humour: - audiences find themselves laughing one moment, and gasping in surprise at the next! See below for details on this year’s production and audition process for the cast, band and crew.

The performances will run from

Wednesday 12th – Saturday 15th July 2017

Audition Dates Wednesday 25th January 2017 3:30 - 5pm on the stage Thursday 26th January 2017 3:30 - 5pm on the stage Call Backs th Friday 27 January 2017 3:30 - 5pm on the stage

Audition Process – Cast

 Students to complete an audition application form prior to auditioning.  Auditions will include some acting and singing as well as a basic voice trial to ensure that the student is allocated an appropriate part.  As in previous years, we ask all students to audition whether they would like to have a chorus role or a principal role.  Students auditioning for a chorus role may audition in a small group if they

would like to.

Audition Process – Band  Students who are interested in taking part in the band should speak to Mr Wolstencroft.

 In the event that there are too many students for a particular part auditions

will be arranged for these students.

Interview Process – Crew

 Students who wish to interview for crew will be able to sign up on the Crew

Interview Sheet available in Drama Studio 1 after Half Term.

Financial support

Each year, the production is run by staff voluntarily and we are, of course, dependent upon the support of the whole school community to give our students the best possible experience. As you can imagine, the costs of putting on a production can be high. In order to fund aspects of the show such as the hire of the music, lighting and costume we ask that all students make a contribution of £15 at the start of the rehearsal process. If you are in a position where you are able to support the production more generously or you have a business that would like to sponsor the show, please contact us as detailed below.

Rehearsals

We very much appreciate the crucial role that parents play in the success of a large production, and we hope to maintain strong communication links between school and home. With this in mind we will upload the schedule to the school website for your information, and email you once it has been finalised. It may be subject to slight changes due to the busy nature of school life, but the students will be made aware in advance of any changes via the Performing Arts noticeboard and twitter @dramacrispins.

As a member of the company, each student is responsible for checking the timetable and preparing for the scenes in which they appear. Students will be briefed about how to approach rehearsals, and that teamwork, independence and maturity are key; as well as rehearsing their music they will need to revise their choreography.

In the event of a clash with the rehearsal schedule, for example if your son/daughter has an examination or another commitment, please can we request that they inform us, via email, at least one day in advance.

As in previous productions, we will encourage students to complete homework or revise during any brief moments when they may not be needed in a scheduled rehearsal. Space will be made available for them to do this.

Yours faithfully,

Mrs West – Director Mr Wolstencroft – Musical Director Head of Drama Head of Music [email protected] [email protected]

Sweeney Todd roles, character and vocal information and Audition requirements

All students are expected to complete an audition application form prior to the audition. It is attached to the end of this document and can also be collected from Studio 1.

Sweeney Todd

Morose and vengeful by nature, Sweeney (formerly known as Benjamin Barker) is a barber by profession. He has returned to London after fifteen years of unjust imprisonment in Australia. He wishes to seek revenge, first on the corrupt judge who sent him there, and then on all his clients.

Voice: Bass-Baritone

Audition song: No place like London (No.2 from bar 201-end), My friends (No.5,

Beginning-bar 70)

Audition scene: Opening scene with Mrs Lovett

All audition material and an audition form can be collected from Studio 1.

Mrs Lovett

A cheerful, talkative restaurateur. She is also Todd's landlady, and is quite infatuated with him.

Voice: Mezzo-soprano

Audition song: Worst pies in London (No.3 beginning-bar 37), My friends (No.beginning–bar 70)

Audition scene: Opening scene with Sweeney Todd

All audition material and an audition form can be collected from Studio 1.

Beggar woman

A mad crone whose warnings go unheeded. She is eventually identified as Benjamin Barker's former wife, Lucy, who was taken by .

Voice: Mezzo-soprano

Audition song: Searching (No.27A from bar 33-bar 39 of ‘short insert’ and bar

38W to bar 39W of ‘long insert’)

All audition material and an audition form can be collected from Studio 1.

Anthony Hope

A young, naïve sailor who has rescued Todd. Anthony falls in love with Barker and seeks to remove her from Judge Turpin’s clutches.

Voice: Tenor

Audition song: Johanna part II (No.28A complete)

Audition scene: Opening scene with Sweeney Todd, latter scene with Joanna

All audition material and an audition form can be collected from Studio 1.

Johanna

Todd's beautiful young daughter, claimed by Judge Turpin as his ward.

Voice: Soprano

Audition song: Green Finch and Linnet Bird (No.6 complete)

Audition scene: Latter scene with Anthony

All audition material and an audition form can be collected from Studio 1.

Judge Turpin

A corrupt judiciary official who becomes infatuated with Lucy Barker and, later, with her daughter Johanna.

Voice: Bass

Audition song: Pretty women part I (No.16 complete)

All audition material and an audition form can be collected from Studio 1.

The Beadle

Turpin's right-hand man and accomplice.

Voice: Tenor/countertenor

Audition song: Parlor songs part I (No.24 complete)

All audition material and an audition form can be collected from Studio 1.

Adolfo Pirelli

An Irish fraudster and former employee of Benjamin Barker's, who has since developed a public persona as a flashy Italian barber; he attempts to blackmail Todd, but becomes the first of many victims…

Voice: ‘Dramatic’ tenor

Audition song: The contest, part I (No.10 complete)

All audition material and an audition form can be collected from Studio 1.

Tobias Ragg

A simpleton boy who works first for conman Pirelli, and then for Mrs. Lovett, but does not trust Todd.

Voice: Treble/Male soprano

Audition song: Pirelli’s miracle elixir (No.9 from beginning-bar 37 & bar 56-bar 79)

All audition material and an audition form can be collected from Studio 1.

Jonas Fogg

The owner of Fogg's Asylum, Fogg sells the hair of madmen to wigmakers.

Audition Scene: At the Asylum

All audition material and an audition form can be collected from Studio 1.

Ensemble

The ensemble supports the principal cast; men, women, customers, lunatics, etc.

Audition song: The Ballard of Sweeney Todd (No.1 from beginning-bar 75).

(You will audition in small groups)

There are several opportunities for some members of the ensemble to have solo lines these lines and roles will be allocated after the audition process.

Audition Application Form – Sweeney Todd 2017

Student Name ______

Form ______

Please tick the date you will be auditioning:

Wednesday 25th January Thursday 26th January

Please tick the role(s) you would like to audition for:

Sweeney Todd

Mrs Lovett

Beggar Woman

Anthony Hope

Johanna

Judge Turpin

The Beadle

Pirelli

Tobias Ragg

Jonas Fogg

Ensemble

 I have paid the £15 donation online using the Tucasi system  I have enclosed £15 cash/cheque payable to St. Crispin’s School

I have read the information about the audition and rehearsal process.

Signed ______(student)

Signed ______(parent)

Payment Procedures - We ask you to use the on-line payment system to pay for this particular Trip/activity if possible. Payments can be made online by debit or credit however we would be very grateful if you could use a debit card as the school is charged a higher fee for payments by credit card.

If you have an online account, please proceed as normal.

If you have not previously created an online account please email [email protected] to request a Pupil Link Code and a list of instructions.

If you choose to pay by cheque please ensure that the student’s name, form and the name of the Trip/Activity are clearly written on the back of the cheque, which should be made payable to ‘St Crispin’s School’.

If paying by cash it must be in a sealed envelope with the students name, form, amount enclosed, Trip/Activity clearly written on the outside.

This trip is an optional visit and the school asks that the payment is made as a voluntary contribution to cover the cost. In the event that we are unable to cover the costs the trip may have to be cancelled. If you are experiencing difficulty in paying for this visit a written request for support should be submitted to the school office. In the event that the visit is oversubscribed names will be drawn from a hat from all those that have replied by the deadline. Parents are responsible for the prompt collection/return home of students after the visit.

Please be aware that your emergency contact details are uploaded to a password protected website so that a member of the Senior Leadership Team or Local Authority can access information in the event of an emergency. These details include only names and telephone numbers submitted on your Broadmoor form. If you do not want your details stored in this way please notify the school.