Director's Notes Act 5: Auditions

by Michael Litchfield

The first thing you’re going to want to do is make sure that people know WHO is needed in this production, not to mention, how they can PREPARE and/or what they need to BRING to auditions. This falls under a facet of advertising. Make sure that once you’ve solidified your audition dates, that you then, at the same time, advertise these details about the auditions.

(It should be mentioned that my church group wanted to recruit from within, at least in regards to performing roles.)

Below is a blurb that I was able to make up to advertise in church bulletins. We ran it, and updated it when needed for about 3 weeks prior to auditions started.

Audition Bulletin Blurb

Millwoods Stake is looking for motivated individuals to be a part of the stake's up-coming musical stage production, Liken’s Nephi and Laban. All are welcome to try out. There are singing and non-singing parts, and casting will be of all ages, though there will be particular need for children (8-10) and youth/young adults. Auditions for performing roles are scheduled to begin Oct 26 and 27 (Wednesday and Thursday) at 6:00pm at the Whyte Avenue chapel (10761 - 82 ave), as well as Nov 2 and 3 (Wednesday and Thursday). There will also be a need for stage people, designers, and managers. Look for a detailed flyer on your bulletin boards outlining specific parts. Otherwise, feel free to contact Mike Litchfield @xxx-xxxx for details.

The ‘detailed flyer’ that we made up to be posted on our bulletin boards contained specific parts, and looked something like this:

LIKEN

For more details, call/contact Shana White @xxx-xxxx
Or contact Mike Litchfield by email at ___@______

SINGING ROLES
Lehi (Chorus and Solo/Duet) - Adult
Sariah (Chorus and Solo/Duet) - Adult
Nephi (Chorus and Solo/Duet) - 18-30 yrs old
Sam (Chorus and Solo/Quartet) - 18-30 yrs old
Laman (Chorus and Solo/Quartet) - 18-30 yrs old
Lemuel (Chorus and Solo/Quartet) - 18-30 yrs old
Nephi's Sisters (2-3) (Chorus) - 10-20 yrs old
Laban (Solo/Duet) - Adult
Zoram (Duet) - Adult
Guards (in Laban's palace) (2-4): Young Adult-Adult
Servants (in Laban's palace) (2): Young Adult-Adult

SPEAKING ROLES
Sister Larsen (Primary Teacher; lrg vocal part): Adult
Sister Hanson (Primary President; sml, but intro vocal part): Adult
Sister Lewis (Primary Chorister): Adult
Spencer (Lead Primary boy; lrg vocal part): 8-11 yrs old
Tanner Anderson (Primary Boy; sml. vocal part): 8-11 yrs old
CTR Girls 1 and 2 (Primary Girls; sml. vocal part): 8-11 yrs old

NON-SPEAKING ROLES
Sister Larsen's Class (Primary Boys: Lehi, Nephi, Sam, Lamen, Lemuel and "Tent";
Primary Girl: Sariah): 8-11 yrs old

STAGE/OTHER HELP NEEDED
For anyone who would be interested in helping out in terms of SET DESIGN, COSTUME DESIGN, STAGE MANAGING, PROPS MANAGING, or being involved as a LIGHT/SOUND TECHNICIAN, please contact Mike Litchfield @xxx-xxxx, or by email: ___@_______

You’ll notice that I tried to have someone else for people to call ask questions, as I had too many other things to do, and didn’t have the time to spend on the phone (delegation!!!!).

As it turned out, we needed to advertise for more than 3 weeks, as we had to add another week of auditions (as already mentioned).

This posted information allowed members of the church group to better understand what the Executive committee was looking for.

As for what the members needed to prepare for their auditions, they were not required to prepare anything specific. Depending on their age group and their singing ability, they would qualify for a various assortment of roles, as depicted above. It was our job to envision them in the role(s) they might fit, and then audition them accordingly. For example, for a child’s audition, I had each child describe to me one of their favorite, most fun experiences they have had. I wanted to be able to see how animated they could become, and thus, place them in their most fitting, and respective roles. I also tested their movement a bit.

Obviously, auditioning for the ‘Primary Cast’ (all those involved with Primary classes) was different than auditioning for the ‘Ancient Cast’ (those acting out Spencer’s dream sequence). If the person auditioning could be used in the Primary Cast, then it wouldn’t make sense for that person to be tested in their singing abilities (other than for Sister Larsen, who has a little blurb to sing in ‘I Love My Things’). However, if the person could fill several roles, in either of the casts (‘Ancient’ or ‘Primary’), then I tested them in both capacities, which would allow me to decide later. As for anyone who might qualify as a potential member of the Ancient Cast, I had them sing and tested their dance movement, and with the exception of the guards and the servants (which weren’t big singing roles), for the most part, I tried to seek out those that could sing fairly well, with little training (this would obviously decrease my rehearsal workload).

Those that I could envision as Sister Larsen or as Spencer, I had them read the dialogue in Scene 1 between Sister Larsen and Spencer (where Sister Larsen is explaining to Spencer to ‘Liken’ the scriptures). In Spencer’s case, I also had the auditioning boy recount a fun experience, so that I could see how animated he could become when he’s not reading from a script. I found that some kids had a tougher time reading than others, but didn’t want to disqualify them from a particular role solely because they weren’t skilled readers. So to be able to see what potential they might have, by having them re-count a story, seemed like a good way to allow them the opportunity. As it turned out, our ‘Tanner’ had a tough time reading, but when he was aided in his memorization of the part, he was magnificent! Had I simply heard him read, I might have discounted him as being able to fill that role. Basically, you have to find a way to bring out all the great stuff that’s within these great kids.

During auditions, I also had people fill out the information sheet on the following page:

Liken’s Nephi and Laban
Auditions

Name_________________________________________ Phone #____________________________

Auditioning for a specific part? NO / Yes → which one?__________________

Would you consider being a part of backstage? Stage Manager, Set/Design, Costumes, etc? Y / N
If asked, would you accept a silent stage role? Y / N

Vocal/Speech/Singing (S A T B?)
Please list your experience_________________________________________________

Acting/Movement
Please list your experience__________________________________________________

Theatre (general)
Please list your experience__________________________________________________

Rehearsals for this production are scheduled for:
Saturday @10am - 12pm (Up to Christmas);
and; Friday @5:30-7:30pm AND Saturday @10am – 12pm (After Christmas)

Available for Rehearsals? Y / N

Now, it may be important to know what the ranges will need to be for the various roles you are casting for. Below I have listed the ranges needed for the various roles – notes that your actors will have to hit with relative ease.

Ranges:
Nephi: C (below middle C) → A (above middle C) (…with ease)
Lehi: G (second G below middle C) → G (above middle C)
Sariah: G (below middle C) → D (second above middle C)
Sam: A (second below middle C) → G (above middle C)
Laman: A (second below middle C) → G (above middle C)
Lemuel: G (second below middle C) → G (above middle C)
Sisters: D# (above middle C) → G (second above middle C)
Laban: C (below middle C) → E (above middle C, poss. ext. to G, above mid. C)
Zoram: E (below middle C) → F# (above middle C)
Guards: E (below middle C) → E (above middle C)
Servants: E (above middle C) → E (second above middle C)
Sister Larsen: B (below middle C) → G (above middle C)

I should mention here that Nephi especially should be able to hit his high notes with relative ease, as he is often in the higher end of that particular range. Lehi and Sam should also be able to hit their higher notes at a medium volume, not just at a loud volume. Laban should be able to go to his E with a medium volume, and to a G with a loud volume. Laman will be chasing his high notes at a louder volume. (A quick note, Laman does a bit of scatting in “Here Waiting”, which, at least in the DVD, brings him up to the second D above middle C!...needless to say, that’s high! Our Laman couldn’t hit that, and so didn’t scat in the same way. The only suggestion I would give, is to have your Laman scat in his own falsetto (head-voice)…it just sounds better.) Most of the others, their higher notes will be sung in a group/chorus setting at a medium volume, so keep that in mind.

So, once everyone has come and tried out, and you feel you have ample people to fill all the roles necessary, then it becomes your job to put people where they need to go. There’s not much I can recommend here…just, do your best!...and make sure people know of the time commitment to this project.

Next: Act 6 - Exact Rehearsal Schedule