Comic Book Artist Audition Packet

Included with this packet, you will find:

 A Parent Permission Form which must be signed by a parent and turned in when you au- dition.  An Audition Form which must be completed and turned in when you audition.  A Rehearsal Calendar to confirm that you will be able to attend rehearsals and the perfor- mances.  A List of Characters, Setting and Costume page, and a Character/Scene breakdown to see which characters are in which scenes.  Audition scenes which will be used for auditions. (The scenes should not be memorized but it helps if you have looked them over and are familiar with them.)

Auditions will be held after school on August 24th, 25th, 26th, and 27th in room 140. Audi- tions will run in thirty minute blocks between 3:10—4:15 (3:10 — 3:40 and 3:45 — 4:15). Stu- dents must be dropped off and/or picked up promptly. You must sign up for an audition time be- fore you are allowed to audition. See Ms. Topping in room 140 to schedule your audition. Have the signed Parent Permission Form and the completed Audition Form ready to turn in at your scheduled audition. If you have any questions, see Ms. Topping in room 140. Thank you!

Comic Book Artist Parent Permission Form

My child, ______, has permission to audition for the PJHS fall play, “Comic Book Artist”. “Comic Book Artist” will be performed on Thursday, October 15th at 6:00 p.m. and on Friday, October 16th at 4:00 p.m. By signing this form, I am indicating that my child will be able to attend the rehearsals and the performances as stated on the re- hearsal calendar.

The cast list will be posted on the main office window before school on Friday, August 28th.

I have circled the areas at the bottom of this form where I can help with the show.

______Parent Signature E-mail address

Parent Volunteers Needed! Please circle any areas where you would be willing to help with our production. Ms. Topping will let you know where she needs assistance after getting all the forms back.

Supervising Ticket Sales (Oct. 15) Supervising Carnation Sales (Oct. 15)

Supervising Ticket Sales (Oct. 16) Supervising Carnation Sales (Oct. 16)

Make-up for the Oct. 15 Performance Running a video camera (Oct. 15)

Make-up for the Oct. 16 Performance Running a video camera (Oct. 16)

Audition Form

Name ______

Address ______Phone ______

Parents’ Names ______Team ______

E-mail address ______

Will you take any role offered to you? Y N If “No”, please specify:

In what part are you most interested: ______

Do you have any previous stage experience? Y N If “Yes”, please describe:

Are you involved in any fall sports or extra-curriculars? Y N If “Yes”, please list:

**************************************************************************** FOR DIRECTOR’S USE ONLY Reading Characterization Parent Permission Form

Y N

Comic Book Artist By Pat Lydersen

CAST OF CHARACTERS (in Order of Speaking) # of Lines NARRATOR . . . . . Comic-book type character with a dramatic flair 26

STANLEY LEONARDO SAPPOVITZ . . . . . Slightly nerdy young man 109

MR. WUNDERMAN . . . . . Typical Mel Brooks-type businessman 48

ARTISTS . . . . . Wunderman’s staff (at least three, up to six) 54

VIOLA . . . . . Wunderman’s competent but slightly air-headed young secretary; 40 Falls in love with Stanley

DOCTOR SHOCK CLOCK . . . . . Villain; can stop time with the snap of his fingers 31

MINUTOS . . . . . Dr. Shock Clock’s henchmen (at least three) 24

STAR GUY . . . . . Full-of-himself superhero; charisma ray is his main superpower 49

TRIPLE TIME . . . . . Super-fast superhero; has constant tension with Star Guy 26

BLOSSOM . . . . . Environmentalist superhero; magical flowers put enemies to sleep 17

WOMBAT WOMAN . . . . . Slightly grouchy but good-hearted superhero; 40 super-burrower

Chorus Parts (some may be doubled)

KIDS (up to 16) 2 GIRLS (at least 3) 14 BANK TELLER 2 BANK CUSTOMER 2 GOLD WAREHOUSE MANAGER 2 GOLD WAREHOUSE EMPLOYEES (at least 2) 6 SALESCLERK 2 JEWELRY CUSTOMER 1 GLADYS 1 WOMAN WITH PURSE 1 ROCK GROUP (at least 3) n/a EMCEE 3 ROTTEN PENNY 2 CROWD MEMBERS (at least 2) 9 POLICEMEN (at least 2) 10 NEWSBOY 2 EXTRAS (Dream Superheroes; Crowd Members) n/a Comic Book Artist Synopsis

Stanley Leonardo Sappovitz wants nothing more than to become a comic book art- ist. When he gets a job as a janitor at Wonder Comics, he anxiously awaits the day that his boss, D.C. Wunderman, will notice his drawings and discover his artistic genius. It seems like that day will never come until Wunderman invests in a shipment of magical pens, guaranteed to bring to life any character his artists create. When the staff artists unwittingly unleash the dreaded Doctor Shock Clock, it is up to Stanley to create his own team of superheroes. Will they have the superpowers to conquer this dastardly super-villain, who can stop time with the snap of his fingers? Only time will tell! Doctor Shock Clock is off to where else but Times Square to pull off the greatest heist of all time. Watch as the egotistical Star Guy and his “Charisma Ray,” Tri- ple Time with his super fast speed, environmentally correct Blossom with her magical sleeping potion flowers and the slightly grouchy but goodhearted Wombat Woman combine their special powers to try to stop the dastardly deed! Your audiences will cheer and laugh out loud when the superheroes battle Shock Clock and his henchmen, the Minutos, only to be saved in the end by the greatest superhero of them all — Eraser Man (a.k.a. Stanley Leonardo Sappovitz!)

Synopsis of Scenes

ACT 1

Scene 1: Present-day New York City

Scene 2: D.C. Wunderman’s executive office at Wonder Comics. A work day.

Scene 3: Same. The next day.

Scene 4: Same. A few minutes later.

Scene 5: A bank, the gold warehouse, a jewelry store, a street. A few days later.

ACT 2

Scene 1: Wunderman’s office. Same time as in Act 1, Scene 5.

Scene 2: Times Square. Later that night.

Scene 3: Wunderman’s office. The next day.

Scene 4: Roof of the Times Building. Midnight the next evening.

Scene 5: Wunderman’s office. The next day. Comic Book Artist Character/Scene Breakdown

ACT 1 ACT 2

Character 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5

Narrator X X X X X X X X X X

Stanley Sappovitz X X X X X X X X

Mr. Wunderman X X X X

Artists X X X X

Viola X X X X X X

Dr. Shock Clock X X X X

Minutos X X X X

Star Guy X X X X Triple Time X X X X

Blossom X X X X

Wombat Woman X X X X X

Kids X

Girls X X

Bank Teller X

Bank Customer X

Gold Warehouse X Manager Gold Warehouse X

Employees Salesclerk X

Jewelry Customer X

Gladys X

Woman with Purse X

Rock Group X

Emcee X

Rotten Penny X

Crowd Members X X

Policemen X X

Newsboy X Audition Scene 1 Characters: Narrator, Stanley, Star Guy, Wombat Woman, Blossom, Triple Time, Viola

Narrator: While Dr. Shock Clock was wreaking havoc on the people of the city, Stanley and his band of superheroes were hatching a plan to foil the schemes of the evil villain because, well, that’s what superheroes do, of course. It wasn’t an easy job coming up with an idea to conquer Shock Clock. They thought . . . and thought . . . and thought . Finally, they came up with a plan.

Stanley: I’ve got it! No one can fight against Shock Clock because he just stops time and every- one freezes in their tracks. What we have to do is get to him before he has a chance to stop time!

Star Guy: Easier said than done, my man. All he has to do is snap his fingers. (Snaps his fin- gers to emphasize his words, then continues snapping them and grooving to his beat.)

Wombat Woman: (Bops Star Guy on the head.) Stop that, you idiot!

Blossom: I hate to admit that Star Guy uttered any words of wisdom, but he’s right about how difficult it would be to get to Shock Clock before he snaps his fingers.

Triple Time: Yeah, I don’t think I’m even fast enough to do that.

Stanley: You would be if we create a diversion. You know, distract him. Have you read how those Minutos are always traveling around with him?

Blossom: They are the creepiest little things!

Stanley: What I was thinking was that maybe Star Guy could zap them with his charisma ray. They’ll go crazy screaming and wanting his autograph.

Star Guy: (Preening.) Of course.

Stanley: That should hopefully unsettle Shock Clock enough that Triple Time could grab him and hold him for Blossom to knock him out with her magic flowers.

Wombat Woman: (Annoyed at being left out.) And what am I doing during all this? Combing my fur?

Stanley: No. You’re . . . uh . . . you’re the key to the entire plan!

Wombat Woman: I am? (Pleased.) What do I do?

Stanley: I’m not sure yet, but it will be good. First we have to figure out how to find old Shock Clock. He can show up anywhere at anytime. Now if I could only remember how Batman knew that Mr. Freeze would be — Audition Scene 1

Viola: (Who has been leafing through a newspaper.) Listen, everyone, it says here that Rotten Penny is going to play at a big party in Times Square tonight, and that he is going to auction off his famous coin collection for charity. I’d love to go to that. Rotten Penny is my favorite singer! And he’s so handsome!

Star Guy: You’ve got to be kidding! He has a big nose, and his eyes are too close together. Now, if you look at my perfect features, you will see —

Stanley: That’s it! Viola, you are a genius!

Viola: I am? Gee, thanks. What did I say?

Stanley: The Rotten Penny show! If he’s auctioning off his valuable coin collection, Dr. Shock Clock is sure to be there. And the fact that it’s at Times Square makes it even more perfect. If I were writing the story, I definitely would have the big battle at Times Square!

Viola: So we get to go to the show? I’ve got to get a new outfit!

Stanley: We’ll go to Times Square early. Star Guy will zap the Minutos as soon as Shock Clock shows up, Triple Time grabs him, Blossom knocks him out and . . .

Wombat Woman: (Tapping her foot impatiently.) And?

Stanley: And Wombat Woman burrows a hole deep into the ground, and we put him in there and seal it up!

Wombat Woman: I could do that.

Stanley: It’ll be fantastic! It will be like a cross between the X-Men and the old “Tales from the Crypt!”

Star Guy: What’s “Tales from the Crypt”? Sounds kind of creepy . . .

Stanley: Fabulous Four, man your battle stations! (They ALL strike a pose appropriate to their characters.) On to Times Square to do battle with the evil Dr. Shock Clock!

Triple Time/Blossom: Ka-BOOM!

Star Guy/Wombat Woman: Ka-POW!

All: Ka-BAM!

Audition Scene 2 Characters: Minutos #1 and #2, Shock Clock, Wunderman

All Minutos: . . . Dr. Shock Clock! (Shock Clock jumps from behind a panel.)

Shock Clock: Thank you, thank you. Glad to be here. And so are my little helpers, the Minutos. Aren’t you, Minutos?

Minutos: (In clockwork unison.) Yes, Master of the Minute! We are glad to be here.

Wunderman: And we’re glad to have you, Dr. Shock Clock. You are going to make history as the first living, breathing superhero of all time.

Shock Clock: Superhero? What’s this superhero stuff? I’m no hero. I’m a villain. The grand- est villain around! (All are stunned.)

Wunderman: But you can’t be! We drew you to be a superhero. That’s our trademark. That’s —

Shock Clock: (Snaps his fingers and Wunderman freezes in mid-sentence. To Artists.) Notice how your boss has just been frozen in time? I did that. It is my power because I, Dr. Shock Clock, can stop time with a mere snap of my fingers! (Snaps his fingers again, and Wunderman unfreezes.)

Wunderman: What happened?

Shock Clock: I happened, little man. I stopped you in your tracks, froze you in the moment. I am the master of time. I can bend it — and all that depend on it — to my will. Not a second, not a minute, not an hour can pass without my consent.

Wunderman: No! It can’t be!

Shock Clock: Oh, yes it can! And you, your company, this city, the entire world, in fact, are mine for the taking. It’s only, you might say, a matter of time. (Lets out an extremely evil laugh.)

Wunderman: (To Artists.) Quick! Draw a hero to fight this villain! (As artists raise their pens, they are immediately frozen by Shock Clock.)

Shock Clock: Sorry, guys, but I can’t let you do that. I don’t like superheroes. They can be annoying little creatures. (To the Minutos.) Minutos! Take these people and their pens away!

Minutos: (Start pulling Wunderman and the Artists off stage.) Yes, oh Chronological One!

Shock Clock: Put them in my Time Freezer! They can enjoy a little stint in suspended anima- tion. Ah, yes, my time has finally come! I am about to become rich, famous, powerful! I’ll take what I want. No one will be able to stop me because I can stop them first! I can freeze them in the moment. I am, after all, Dr. Shock Clock!

Audition Scene 2

Minutos: (Machine-like.) Tick tock, tick tock, shock the clock, tick tock! Tick tock, tick tock, make time stop, tick tock!

Shock Clock: Very good, my little Minutos.

Minutos #1: You’re the supreme commander of time!

Minutos #2: The king of crime.

Shock Clock: (Preening.) How right you are!

Minutos #1: You’re the ticking Time Lord.

Minutos #2: You’re Dr. Shock Clock!

Shock Clock: Ticking Time Lord — I like that! Very appropriate, I must say. And now I think the moment has come for me to embark on my career in crime. (To the Minutos.) Take all the clocks and timepieces! We’re going to find a more appropriate place for my headquarters. Somewhere in Times Square, I think. (As he and the Minutos exit, he looks back at the panel.) Not bad, but I think I’m much better looking in real life. (Laughs evilly as he exits.) Audition Scene 3 Characters: Narrator, Kids #1 — #9

Narrator: Comic books — pitting the noble forces of good against the dastardly schemes of the wicked.

Kid #1: Venom is way stronger and more powerful than Spiderman, but he can’t take fire and loud noises. That will do him in every time!

Kid #2: Even a tiny little paperclip is a deadly weapon in the hands of Bullseye!

Kid #3: It says here that X-Statix 21 has the rumble of the century!

Narrator: Comic books. Every new issue is devoured by millions of adoring fans.

Kid #4: Have you got the latest Daredevil issue?

Kid #5: My dad has every one of the early Superman volumes in mint condition.

Kid #6: Fantastic Four! I need the new Fantastic Four!

Narrator: Comic books. They spawn world-wide conventions and blockbuster movies. Heroes and villains alike are made into toys and printed on t-shirts, lunch boxes, sheets and pillow cases.

Kid #7: Did you know that you can buy a copy of the ruby quartz visor that Cyclops wears?

Kid #8: There’s a comic book convention next week. You can get really rare collector’s editions there.

Kid #9: I heard there’s a new movie coming out with Dr. Octopus and Magneto — together!

Narrator: Comic books — a modern mythology.