The Peoples Bank Theatre in Marietta is planning a production of Cole Porter’s Kiss Me, Kate in June of this year. The rehearsals will start on May 30 and the performances would take place between June 24 and July 2. Until 2019, the Peoples Bank Theatre attended the Ohio Theatre Association’s January Audition Meeting to cast their summer productions but, again, this year it has been cancelled.
Although a concert version, the production will be fully staged, choreographed, and costumed. Auditions and callbacks will take place during the next two months, with a cast in place no later than April 1. The rehearsal period will be three weeks with two weekends of performances. There will be an expectation that all production personnel will be fully vaccinated by the beginning of the rehearsal. As the rehearsal period is short, there will be an anticipation that those cast as the four “lead” actors, eight dancers, and the three secondary actors will be available during the day and evening. For this, they will be compensated accordingly, plus accommodation if needed. The supporting cast members will receive gratuity commensurate with their time commitment.
Roles
Nearly every actor in the show plays two characters: a 1950s actor in a traveling theatre group and a Shakespearean character in a musical production of The Taming of the Shrew.
We are looking for actors, singers, dancers, singers who can dance, and dancers who can sing. This casting call is looking for the following four principal lead actors: Fred/Petruchio, Lilli/Kate, Lois Lane/Bianca, Bill Calhoun/Lucentio/lead dancer, eight dancers (four male and four female); the male dancers include the roles of Flynt/Gremio/lead dancer, Riley/Hortensio/lead dancer, Dance Captain/Gregory and Paul/lead (both primary dancers). The four secondary actors include 1st and 2nd Man (Gangsters who need to be character singers in one show-stopping song), Harry Trevor/Baptista, and Hatti (soloist for songs starting the first and second acts).
The following supporting actors/ensemble are required:
- Pops (stage doorkeeper)
- Ralph (stage manager)
- Harrison Howell
- FIVE Female ensemble actors/singers
- THREE male ensemble actors/singers
The style of this musical requires that Fred and Lilli have mature 1950s operatic/operetta singing voices and for the other roles to have strong musical theatre voices and a wide repertoire in dance. Bill Calhoun/Lucentio needs to be an exceptional dancer.
Auditions
If you are interested in auditioning for this production, the directorial team would like you to send an email to Geoffrey Coward (gcoward@nullpeoplesbanktheatre.com) with a YouTube, Google Drive, or other shareable online link to an audition video that features an accompanied song of your choosing demonstrating your ability in musical theatre and that identifies the role(s) for which you’d like to be considered. If you wish, you may also include a short monologue. Videos with reduced resolution are preferred. Initial audition videos can include any music, but period-appropriate songs would be appreciated. Music from Kiss Me, Kate is welcome.
If available, please attach your theatre resume and headshot to email; do not worry if you currently do not have these. Audition reviews open on February 18 and continue through March.
Callbacks
Callbacks will be remote, ongoing, and dealt with in the order in which are received. David Tadlock, the Musical Director, and Jill Ruff, the Choreographer, will send instructions, sheet music, and a recording that will likely be chosen from the show itself. Memorization is not necessary.
If you’d like to audition for a specific role, please feel free to express interest to the directors.
Ensemble rehearsals begin May 22. Lead and secondary actors will arrive, already knowing their parts, on May 30.
If you have further questions or concerns, please email gcoward@nullpeoplesbanktheatre.com or call 917-640-3825.
