Production Handbook 2014 2014 PRODUCTION CALENDAR Wednesday January 1 Online launch – www.rscproduction.com.au 4pm Thursday January 2 Audition guidelines and production handbook 4pm released online – www.rscproduction.com.au TERM 1 Tuesday February 11 Cast Auditions – Session 1 (by signup only) 3.30pm – 7pm Wednesday February 12 Dance Call (optional but additional) 3.30pm – 5pm Thursday February 13 Cast Auditions – Session 2 (by signup only) 3.30pm – 7pm Tuesday February 18 Callback Auditions – by request 3.30pm – 6pm Tuesday February 25 Cast published – www.rscproduction.com.au 5pm Applications for non-cast positions open 5pm Tuesday March 4 Full cast meeting and Parent Info Night 7pm – 8pm Tuesday March 11 Principal Singers Rehearsal 1 3.30pm – 6pm Tuesday March 18 Principal Singers Rehearsal 2 3.30pm – 6pm Tuesday March 25 Principal Singers Rehearsal 3 3.30pm – 6pm Tuesday April 1 Principal Singers Rehearsal 4 3.30pm – 6pm 1. Production Handbook 2014 TERM 2 Tuesday April 22 Rehearsal 1 – Full Cast (NB: Pupil Free Day) 3.30pm – 6pm Tuesday April 29 Rehearsal 2 3.30pm – 6pm Tuesday May 6 Rehearsal 3 3.30pm – 6pm Saturday May 10 Performance – RSC Musicals Celebration TBC Tuesday May 13 Rehearsal 4 3.30pm – 6pm Saturday May 17 Performance – RSC 60th Gala Dinner 5.00pm – 10pm Tuesday May 20 Rehearsal 5 3.30pm – 6pm Tuesday May 27 Rehearsal 6 3.30pm – 6pm Tuesday June 3 Rehearsal 7 3.30pm – 6pm Tuesday June 10 Rehearsal 8 3.30pm – 6pm Saturday June 14 Performance – Life Ed Gala Dinner (TBC) 12pm – 9.30pm Tuesday June 17 Rehearsal 9 3.30pm – 6pm Tuesday June 24 Rehearsal 10 and Sitzprobe 3.30pm – 9pm TERM 3 Wednesday July 16 – Production Camp 12pm – Friday July 18 Mt Evelyn Recreation Camp 1.30pm Tuesday July 22 Stage Rehearsal 3.30pm – 6pm Friday July 25 Stage Rehearsal 9am – 3.15pm Sunday July 27 Stage & Technical Rehearsal 10am – 6pm Tuesday July 29 Rehearsal as required 3.30pm – 6pm Sunday August 3 Full Dress Rehearsal 10am – 6pm Tuesday August 5 Performance 1 – Preview Performance (12pm) 9am – 3.15pm Thursday August 7 Performance 2 – Opening Night (7.30pm) 6pm – 10.30pm Saturday August 9 Performance 3 – Gala Performance (4.30pm) 3pm – 7.30pm The Production Ball 7.30pm Sunday August 10 Performance 4 – Matinee (2.30pm) 1pm – 5.30pm Wednesday August 13 Performance 5 – Student Rush (6pm) 4.30pm – 9pm Thursday August 14 Performance 6 (7.30pm) 6pm – 10.30pm Friday August 15 Performance 7 (7.30pm) 6pm – 10.30pm Saturday August 16 Performance 8 (7.30pm) – Closing Night 5.30pm – 11pm Monday August 18 Bumpout 9am – 11.30am 2. Production Handbook 2014 ABOUT THE SHOW Bialystock and Bloom! Those names should strike terror and hysteria into anyone familiar with Mel Brooks' classic cult comedy film. Now as a big Broadway musical, THE PRODUCERS once again sets the standard for modern, outrageous, in-your-face humour. It is a truly "boffo" hit, winning a record twelve Tony Awards and wowing capacity crowds night after night. The plot is simple: a down-on-his-luck Broadway producer and his mild-mannered accountant come up with a scheme to produce the most notorious flop in history, thereby bilking their backers (all "little old ladies") out of millions of dollars. Only one thing goes awry: the show is a smash hit! The antics of Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom as they manoeuvre their way fecklessly through finding a show (the gloriously offensive "Springtime For Hitler"), hiring a director, raising the money and finally going to prison for their misdeeds is a lesson in broad comic construction. At the core of the insanely funny adventure is a poignant emotional journey of two very different men who become friends. With a truly hysterical book co-written by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan (Annie) and music and lyrics by Mr. Brooks, THE PRODUCERS skewers Broadway traditions and takes no prisoners as it proudly proclaims itself an "equal opportunity offender”! THE AUDITION PROCESS General Audition and Dance Call Auditions for cast are open to any student of Ringwood Secondary College in 2014. The cast size is capped according to the dimensions of the stage, costuming and administration requirements. Therefore, the audition process is competitive. Auditions are conducted individually and in front of a panel of production team members as appointed by the director. Casting decisions are entirely at the discretion of the director and are made in accordance with the specific requirements of the show. Students must select and prepare one song from the list below. For each song, the sheet music and backing track excerpt to be used in the audition will be posted on the RSC Intranet (B.Moody’s pickup folder) from Tuesday January 28, 2014. Students new to the College, including those in Year 7, may collect hard copies of the material from the PAC office at lunchtime on Friday January 31. Please bring a USB memory stick. Students must sign up for a general audition slot on one of the following afternoons: • Tuesday February 11 between 3.30pm and 7pm • Thursday February 13 between 3.30pm and 7pm Signing up is an online process and must be completed through the website: www.rscproduction.com.au/auditions.html (Copy exactly, there is no link from the homepage.) This link will be available for use from Friday January 31, 2014. 3. Production Handbook 2014 In addition to the general audition, there will be a dance call on Wednesday February 12 from 3.30pm until 5pm. This is not compulsory, but anyone who wishes to be considered for a principal dance role must attend. Students with commitments to Intermediate Stage Band should see Mrs Tanner to make alternative arrangements. Please note that anyone who attends the dance call only, without signing up for a main audition, cannot be considered for a position in the cast. You MUST attend a general audition on either the Tuesday or the Thursday. Songs for females Songs for males When You Got It, Flaunt It – Ulla That Face – Leo Along Came Bialy – Hold Me Touch Me Along Came Bialy – Max Opening Night – Chorus Haben Sie Gehort Das Deutcshe Band - Franz Springtime for Hitler – Solo Nazi or Chorus Springtime For Hitler (Heil Myself) – Roger Springtime For Hitler – Solo Nazi or Chorus All candidates will be considered for all roles, irrespective of their song choices at auditions. Callback Auditions Following the general audition week, some students will be invited to a subsequent callback audition on Tuesday February 18. This session will run from 3.30pm until 6pm. As always, no inference about casting decisions should be drawn from whether or not students are invited to this audition. Cast Announcement The cast for 2014’s production of THE PRODUCERS will be published on the website at 5pm on Tuesday February 25. Those who auditioned unsuccessfully will be afforded priority in joining other areas of the show. We may choose to double cast principal roles. CASTING REQUIREMENTS – THE PRODUCERS THE PRODUCERS is a big chorus show. As such, we are looking for cast members that are excellent singers and general performers. THE PRODUCERS requires a large specialist dance team. There is a particular emphasis on tap. There are a number of substantial lead roles for males. While there are less principal roles for females, there are a large number of second tier solo singing and acting roles. Some supporting roles are open to either male or female cast, depending on the outcome of auditions. The best advice is to prepare as fully as possible for the audition and give the team every reason to say yes. 4. Production Handbook 2014 Principal Cast Max Bialystock is described as selfish and greedy - a man who is only interested in making money. Though this is later proven untrue, Max's fiery and sarcastic nature can be very intimidating. He is willing to do anything to make money (including "shtupping every little old lady in New York") and is often angry, short-tempered and unwilling to cooperate nicely. Leopold "Leo" Bloom is a mousy, nervous and fearful accountant, prone to panic attacks and who keeps a security blanket to calm himself. Nevertheless it is Leo who has the idea of how to make money from a failed play. Ulla introduces herself as a Swedish actress looking for a part in Max and Leo’s production Springtime For Hitler. She is a stereotypical Swedish woman: tall and beautiful with lovely blonde hair. She performs a song she wrote called "When You Got It, Flaunt It". She decided to audition when a "crazy man" (Max) yelled at her the previous day. While the casting isn't to start for quite a while, Max and Leo hire her as their secretary/receptionist. Following the unwanted success of the musical Springtime For Hitler, she and Leo flee to Rio where they marry. Her maiden name is never mentioned, but by the end of the play she is Ulla Inga Hansen-Bensen-Yanson-Tallen-Hallen- Svaden-Swanson Bloom. Roger Elizabeth De Bris is a flamboyant theatre director, described by Max as the worst director to have ever lived, and was chosen by Bialystock in an attempt to ensure that Springtime For Hitler would flop. He lives with his equally flamboyant partner, Carmen Ghia, and his production crew in an Upper East Side townhouse in New York. Roger must step up and perform the lead role of Hitler when Franz breaks his leg on opening night. Carmen Ghia is Roger’s' "common-law assistant" who loves to flounce around their Upper East Side townhouse. More flaming than the sun, Carmen is fiercely protective of Roger and equally appalling as a director’s assistant.