Casting Brief Australia – Opening October 2016 Her Majesty’S Theatre, Melbourne
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CASTING BRIEF AUSTRALIA – OPENING OCTOBER 2016 HER MAJESTY’S THEATRE, MELBOURNE © Kinky Boots Australia Pty Limited 2015 • Casting Brief as at August 2015 KINKY BOOTS is Broadway’s huge-hearted, high-heeled hit and it’s coming to Melbourne! With songs by Grammy® and Tony® winning pop icon CYNDI LAUPER, this joyous musical celebration is about the friendships we discover, and the belief that you can change the world when you change your mind. Inspired by true events, KINKY BOOTS takes you from a gentlemen’s shoe factory in Northampton to the glamorous catwalks of Milan. Charlie Price is struggling to live up to his father’s expectations and continue the family business of Price & Son. With the factory’s future hanging in the balance, help arrives in the unlikely but spectacular form of Lola, a fabulous performer in need of some sturdy new stilettos. With direction and choreography by two-time Tony® Award-winner JERRY MITCHELL (Legally Blonde, Hairspray) and a book by Broadway legend and four-time Tony® Award-winner HARVEY FIERSTEIN (La Cage Aux Folles), KINKY BOOTS is the winner of 6 Broadway Tony® Awards including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Choreography. Take a step in the right direction and discover that sometimes the best way to fit in is to stand out. PRODUCTION TEAM HARVEY FIERSTEIN CYNDI LAUPER JERRY MITCHELL BOOK COMPOSER & LYRICIST DIRECTOR & CHOREOGRAPHER STEPHEN OREMUS DAVID ROCKWELL GREGG BARNES MUSICAL SUPERVISION, ARRANGEMENTS & ORCHESTRATION SCENIC DESIGNER COSTUME DESIGNER KENNETH POSNER JOHN SHIVERS JOSH MARQUETTE LIGHTING DESIGNER SOUND DESIGNER HAIR DESIGNER RANDY HOUSTON MERCER D.B. BONDS RUSTY MOWERY MAKE-UP DESIGNER ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ASSOCIATE CHOREOGRAPHER MICHAEL CASSEL GROUP FORESIGHT THEATRICAL GENERAL MANAGEMENT WORLDWIDE GENERAL MANAGEMENT DARYL ROTH HAL LUFTIG MICHAEL CASSEL PRODUCER PRODUCER PRODUCER KINKY BOOTS is produced by Daryl Roth, Hal Luftig and Michael Cassel, James L. Nederlander, Terry Allen Kramer, Independent Presenters Network, CJ E&M, Jayne Baron Sherman, Just for Laughs Theatricals/Judith Ann Abrams, Yasuhiro Kawana, Jane Bergere, Allan S. Gordon & Adam S. Gordon, Ken Davenport, Hunter Arnold, Lucy and Phil Suarez, Bryan Bantry, Ron Fierstein and Dorsey Regal, Jim Kierstead/Gregory Rae, BB Group/Christina Papagjika, Michael DeSantis/Patrick Baugh, Brian Smith/Tom and Connie Walsh, Warren Trepp, and Jujamcyn Theaters, in association with Cameron Mackintosh. THE AUSTRALIAN PRODUCTION KINKY BOOTS will be produced in Australia by Daryl Roth, Hal Luftig & Michael Cassel in association with Cameron Mackintosh. The Australian production team includes Lauren Wiley (Casting Director), Serena Hill (Casting Supervisor) and Luke Hunter (Music Director). Rehearsals commence in August 2016 and the production will open at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne in October 2016. Dates are subject to change in producer’s sole discretion. For further information, visit www.kinkybootsthemusical.com.au. AUDITIONS Preliminary auditions for principal roles will commence next month with the Australian production team. Further auditions and final callbacks will be held between 25 November to 14 December 2015 (subject to change) with the international creative team in Sydney and Melbourne. Please note auditions will be recorded and photographed. SUBMISSIONS All submissions must include a CV and current photograph and are to be sent via email to: [email protected] CV’s must include height (in cm), vocal range and city of residence. All auditions are by invitation only. Only those successful in gaining an invitation will be contacted further. Please note that we are not accepting any submissions for children until 2016. DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: FRIDAY, 28 AUGUST 2015. CHARACTER BREAKDOWN Please note that the entire cast should be comfortable with a pop/rock style of singing and British accent. CHARLIE PRICE (Male) Late 20’s – early 30’s. Sings C3–B4. A leading man, just out of university. He is privileged, but likeable — his father owns the shoe factory. He is handsome and loveable but there is a temper right under the skin. Must have a great rock voice, ability to move and be a strong actor. LOLA (Male) 30’s–40’s. Sings C3–B4 (with one top C). 5’8” and above is preferable. An emotionally and physically challenging role that requires the body of a boxer with the soul of a Diva, a la Whitney Houston. Must have star presence and feel comfortable wearing everything from full glamour as a scene-stealing drag performer to nothing but boxing trunks. Must have a killer voice with power blues and gospel chops. Strong comedic actor. This is the Tony Award®-winning role originated by Billy Porter on Broadway, written for a non-Caucasian (generally African heritage) male. LAUREN (Female) 20’s. Sings B♭3–F♯5. Beautiful, but quirky (not glamourous like Nicola) working class girl who works in the shoe factory. Funny and smart but has had bad luck with men. Terrific comedic actress. NICOLA (Female) 20’s. Sings B♭3–F♯5. Charlie’s girlfriend since school. Sophisticated looks. She is a social climber, driven and uncompromising. She knows what she wants and goes for it. Must have a great pop voice. DON (Male) 30’s–40’s. Sings C3–F4 (must have a strong falsetto to D5 for the Finale). Lola’s nemesis. Burly hyper-masculine bear of a factory worker. Has a menacing physicality. Least likely to be seen on a runway in kinky boots. Strong actor required. GEORGE (Male) 40’s–50’s. Sings C3–F4. Factory Manager, keeping up traditions. Reserved and tightly wound. THE ANGELS (Male) “This ain’t no job for wallflowers!” 20’s–30’s. These are the six drag performers from The Blue Angel Nightclub who perform with Lola. Actors with star quality and personality. Must be versatile and terrific singers (with a contemporary pop/rock/R & B belt) and dancers (required to dance in heels). Physical fitness is crucial. Tumbling and acro skills a plus (one angel will back handspring and another does a tour into splits). Any Angels required to cover Lola must be non-Caucasian due to the specific nature of the role. Three Angels sing to C♯5 and three sing to A4. TRISH (Female) 40’s–50’s. Sings B♭3–D5 and must have strong rock/pop belt. Factory worker who has been there longer than any of the other women. A lot of life experience and a lot of responsibility–this shows in her face. Comedy chops. PAT (Female) 30’s. Sings B♭3–F♯5 and must be strong pop/rock soprano. Officious office manager who will let loose her wild side when allowed. MR. PRICE / ENSEMBLE (Male) 40’s–50’s. Sings B♭2–G4 and must have a good voice. Charlie’s father and owner of the shoe factory. Appears in the opening and closing sequence as well as playing a pub patron, factory worker etc for the rest of the show. HARRY / ENSEMBLE (Male) 20’s–30’s. Sings E3–C4. A contemporary of Charlie’s, but his opposite. Harry is successful, self-aware, confident and carefree. Must have a great rock voice. Also plays a Factory Worker etc. ENSEMBLE and SWINGS (6 Males and 5 Females) 20’s–50’s. The men and women of the ensemble must be excellent pop/rock singers. They will cover Principal and Featured ensemble roles as well as play factory workers, pub patrons etc. Factory workers should look like real, everyday people and be able to move well. Females that cover the principal roles must be very strong singers — belters! Male swings must be terrific dancers, have great pop voices and be comfortable in drag in order to cover Angels. Lola covers are required to be non-Caucasian due to the specific nature of the role..