MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT FARMINGTON PLAYERS AUDITION NOTICE
Location: The BARN, 32332 West 12 Mile Road, Farmington Hills 48334 Director: Tony Targan Email: [email protected] Producer: Amy Lauter Assistant Director: Kandi Krumins Music Director: Steve Woznicki Choreographer: Mary Murphy Stage Manager: David Reinke
Show Dates: April 28, 29, 30, May 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, ending Sunday May 21, 2017 Mandatory Rehearsal Dates: Apr 16 Tech; Apr 23 Tech; April 24, 25, 26 Dress Rehearsals will begin 3X per week in late January but may be 4X by April. Mondays – Thursdays are likely days (with some dance rehearsals on weekends) but the schedule will be finalized after casting and conflicts are factored in. There will be a full cast read-through and a viewing of the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail shortly after casting.
SATURDAY JANUARY 21, 2017 Lady of the Lake vocals by appointment: 10:00AM – noon Send an email to [email protected] with your name, age, vocal range, and indicate your willingness to be considered for the ensemble if you are not cast as the Lady. Female ensemble vocal/dance auditions: Registration at 12:30; Auditions begin at 1:00
SUNDAY JANUARY 22, 2017 Male principal and ensemble roles: vocal, dance and acting auditions. Acting cuts are not provided ahead of time and will be cold readings from the script. (See casting notes at end.) Registration at 12:30; Auditions begin at 1:00 Lady of the Lake callbacks, if necessary: tentatively 3:00
NOTE: If you have questions about the musical cuts, feel free to contact music director Steve Woznicki at [email protected]. If you absolutely cannot attend auditions at the appointed times, email the director at [email protected]. We will try to fit you in, but let us know when you can attend rather than just showing up unannounced.
OPTIONAL DANCE WORKSHOP: SUNDAY January 8, 2017 2:00-4:00. Choreographer Mary Murphy will hold an optional Dance Workshop at the Barn for both men and women. Mary will teach you some of the dance steps you’ll need to get a leg up on the competition at auditions. Those auditioning for the ensemble are strongly encouraged to attend.
SYNOPSIS of PLAY: While the play is based on the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, it is really a parody of, and an homage to, musical theater. King Arthur recruits Knights of the Round Table to join him on a quest to find the holy grail. In the song “Find Your Grail,” the knights learn that the “grail” is really a metaphor for the pursuit of happiness, and the quest morphs into a mission to put on a Broadway musical, and ends with a wedding (of course). CAST of CHARACTERS
KING ARTHUR The King of England who sets out on a quest to form the Knights of the Round Table and find the Holy Grail. Great humor. Good singer. [177 Speeches] Age: Late 30s – 60s Vocal: Baritone (Low G2 – High F4) Dialect: English - royal Dance: Minimal but must be a good mover. Audition Singing: ʻIʼm All Aloneʼ; Callback: ʻKing Arthurʼs Songʼ
LADY OF THE LAKE A Diva. Strong, beautiful, possesses mystical powers. Powerful singing voice essential as she must be able to sing effortlessly in many style and vocal registers. Must have top-notch comic timing and vocal improvisational skills. [16 Speeches] Age: 20s – 30s Vocal: Alto with large range (Low E3 – High B6). Must be able to belt. Dialect: English / Diva Dance: Minimal – must be able to move well with diva movements Audition Singing: ‘Song That Goes Like This’ (sing Dennis' lines at beginning of cut; sing lower line in harmony); Callback: ‘Whatever Happened To My Part’
SIR ROBIN A Knight of the Round Table. Ironically called ʻSir Robin the Braveʼ, though he couldnʼt be more cowardly. Joins the Knights for the singing and dancing. [73 Speeches] Ideally, also plays: GUARD 1 [17 speeches] Age: 30s – 40s Vocal: Tenor/Baritone (Low D3 – High G4) Dialect: English - posh Dance: Strong Audition Singing: ʻYou Wonʼt Succeed on Broadwayʼ
SIR LANCELOT A Knight of the Round Table. He is fearless to a bloody fault but through a twist of fate, does discover his ʻsofter sideʼ. [50 Speeches]. This actor MUST be great with character voices and accents. Ideally, same actor also plays: FRENCH TAUNTER an arrogant, condescending, over-the-top Frenchman [20 speeches] KNIGHT OF NI an absurd, cartoonish leader of a peculiar group of Knights [21 speeches] TIM THE ENCHANTER a ghostly being with a Scottish accent [15 speeches] Age: 30s – 40s Vocal: Tenor/Baritone (Low C3 – High E4) Dialects: LANCE: English – slightly cockney / TAUNTER: outrageous French accent / KNIGHT OF NI: High pitched voice / TIM: heavy Scottish accent Dance: Some dance ability Audition Singing: ʻAlways Look on the Bright Side of Lifeʼ
PATSY King Arthurʼs horse and servant. Underappreciated but always longing for King Arthurʼs approval. Good, funny, physical mover, some tap dancing. [34 Speeches] Ideally, also plays: MAYOR, a jolly red-faced man who advertises the merits of his hometown in Finland Age: 30s – 40s Vocal: Tenor/Baritone (Low Bb3 – High G5) Dialect: English – slightly cockney Dance: Strong, including some tap Audition Singing: ʻAlways Look on the Bright Side of Lifeʼ
SIR GALAHAD A Knight of the Round Table. Begins as Dennis, a lower class ʻmud gathererʼ who becomes knighted and transforms into the dashing Sir Galahad. [34 Speeches] Ideally, also plays: PRINCE HERBERTʼS FATHER a wealthy, brutish Yorkshireman at odds with his sensitive son. [42 Speeches]; and THE BLACK KNIGHT who is always ready to duel despite multiple injuries. [15 Speeches] Age: 20s – 30s Vocal: Bari-Tenor (Low Bb3 – High Bb5). Very strong vocal. Dialect: English, becomes very posh once knighted / FATHER: Yorkshire accent. Dance: Minimal – must be able to move well Audition Singing: ʻSong that goes like thisʼ
SIR BEDEVERE A Knight of the Round Table. An inept scholar. No solo singing. [18 Speeches]. Ideally, also plays: DENNIS GALAHADʼS MOTHER, a shrill peasant woman [12 speeches]; and CONCORDE, Sir Lancelotʼs horse [9 speeches] Age: 30s – 50s Vocal: Baritone (Low D3 – High G4) Dialect: English / MOTHER: high-pitched voice, cockney Dance: Minimal – must be able to move well Audition Singing: ʻAlways Look on the Bright Side of Lifeʼ
PRINCE HERBERT The hopeful and frilly prince who loves to sing and pines for his love atop a tower [24 Speeches]. Ideally, also plays: NOT DEAD FRED, a sickly little fellow who, despite others beliefs, claims he is “not yet dead.” [9 Speeches], and MINSTREL, who serenades Sir Robin as he “bravely runs away.” Age: 20s – 30s Vocal: Tenor (Low A2 – High A5) Dialect: English Dance: Strong – must be able to move well as Fred Audition Singing: FRED: ʻNot Yet Dead’ and MINSTREL: ‘Brave Sir Robin’
HISTORIAN A tweedy academic (the Narrator) [5 speeches, 3 long] Might also pay BROTHER MAYNARD, a long-winded monk. [3 speeches, 2 long] Age: 40s – 60s Vocal: Any Dialect: English – refined, professorial Dance: None Audition Singing: ʻAlways Look on the Bright Side of Lifeʼ
FEMALE ENSEMBLE: THE LAKER GIRLS/CAMELOT SHOWGIRLS The Lady of the Lake’s posse. Featured throughout the show. Must be strong dancers and singers. 6 roles available. Many fun smaller character roles (see Ensemble Characters). Age: 16+ Vocal: Varied ranges, but strong vocal ability a must. Dance: Must be strong dancers; tap dancing a plus. Audition Singing: ʻFind your Grailʼ NOTE: One or more soloists may be added to ‘Find Your Grail’ by splitting up the verses.
MALE ENSEMBLE Additional Knights. 6 roles available. Many fun smaller character roles (see below). Age: 16+ Vocal: Varied ranges, but strong vocal ability a must. Dance: Need good dancers; tap dancing a plus. Audition Singing: ʻAlways Look on the Bright Side of Lifeʼ
ENSEMBLE CHARACTERS May be cast with male or female actors. Includes numerous characters with minor speaking parts. No specific audition for these roles, which will be assigned after casting: • KNIGHTS, lots of Knights: English Knights, French Knights, Knights Who Say “NI”, Sir Bors, Sir Not-Appearing-In-This-Show • FRENCH PEOPLE (guards, painter, mime, can-can dancers, Eponine from Les Mis) • Various MONKS, DEAD BODIES, and GUARDS.
IMPORTANT CASTING NOTES: • Traditionally, certain lead actors play multiple characters in the combinations listed above. Please note that the Casting Committee reserves the right to cast actors in multiple roles AND/OR to cast individual actors in separate roles OR in different combinations than are listed above. All age ranges are approximate. • While King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table are always played by men, certain other traditionally male roles may be played by women. • English accents/dialects will be required for performance and a diction coach will be provided. While accents are not required for auditions, it kahnt hurt to YouTube. • We do not have copies of the script for distribution, but if you Google “Spamalot script” you should be able to find it online. Also, some naughty people (not us) have posted YouTube videos of “Spamalot (FULL Broadway Show 2005).”