PMRP: 2009 Halloween Show @ Somerville Theatre: Call for Auditions

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THE POST-MERIDIAN RADIO PLAYERS

"That outstanding theater of old-time radio thrills..." — The Boston Phoenix

are pleased to announce AUDITIONS for:

 The Big Broadcast of October 30th, 1938

Live at the Somerville Theatre!
 Performances run October 29th-31st, 2009

The Frank Cyrano Byfar Hour

Sponsored by Byfar Coffee Syrup:
"You'll be a Star when you serve Byfar!"

A lost classic from Boston's radio history! Join Frank, Amelia, Charley, Lex Concord
and the Minutemen (aka Emperor Norton's Stationary Marching Band!), Jenny,
the Putnam Sisters and the Chowderhouse Gang for some Halloween fun!

&

The War of the Worlds

It's the Mob vs. the Martians and the Fall of Boston!

We all know what befell eastern New Jersey and New York during the Martian Invasion of 1938,
but what happened here, in Boston? Only now can the story be told!

Adapted by license from Howard Koch's original documentary, written for Orson Welles
and The Mercury Theatre on the Air, and based on the historical accounts of H.G. Wells.

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You can read more about auditions by following the cut below, or by visiting the
Auditions Page of the PMRP website, where you can also sign up for an audition slot.

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Auditions

This is a great opportunity to perform in an exciting new medium: radio! Well, okay, radio's not new, but it would be a new experience for many of you. The radio programs of the Golden Age are an historic part of our culture. They were an extension of stage and vaudeville that served as the stepping stone for many actors, singers and production people who went on to major TV and movie careers. This is a chance to experience what it was like...and do it in front of an audience at the Somerville Theatre!

There are many types of roles available in the show: from on-stage acting to in-house role-playing, solo singing to a vocal trio, or live sound effects to crucial behind-the-scenes positions. Read on to find out more and then sign up for an audition slot at PMRP's website.

Please Note: The Post-Meridian Radio Players is a community theater group, run by volunteers. Our performers are not paid.

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AUDITION DATES

Cast Auditions & Foley/FX Interviews: August 9th-11th, 2009 @ 7:00pm
Vocal Trio: August 13th, 2009 @ 7:00pm
Location: Unity Church of God, 6 William Street, Somerville, at the corner of College Avenue, near Davis Square
(map: http://tinyurl.com/unitychurchsomerville)

Please Note: Cast auditions and Foley/FX positions are by appointment, so please be sure to fill out the Appointment Form on our website.

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TYPES OF ROLES AVAILABLE

Roles and positions are available for:

• Actors
• Singers
• FoleyFX (live sound effects)
• Behind-the-Scenes staff and crew

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ACTORS

Audition Dates: Sunday - Tuesday, August 9th – 11th
Time: 7 pm – 10pm
Method: By appointment

Cast auditions will consist of readings from the scripts. No prepared monologues are necessary. Sides (selections) will be posted on our website no later than two weeks prior to auditions. House roles and War of the Worlds crowd roles will be cast from the overall audition pool.

To help auditioners prepare, a recording of the original War of the Worlds broadcast has been posted to our website, as have links to several examples of radio shows similar in style to The Frank Cyrano Byfar Hour, such as The Jack Benny Show and The Fred Allen Show.

What kind of acting roles are there?
There are a number of roles available for both plays, as well as for "house" atmosphere:

The Frank Cyrano Byfar Hour: There are 8-10 comedic roles in this show, including a female singing role* (see SINGING below) and the part of the show's Foley artist.

The War of the Worlds: There are 20-25 dramatic roles in this show. Acting styles and accents include:

• News anchor/field reporter
• Boston general accent
• Boston upper-class accent
• Southie accent
• Irish accent
• New England general accent
• Soldiers and military officers
• Evangelical

Please Note: Due to the small size of some roles, double-casting is possible for more versatile actors.

Actors wanting to audition for WOTW are strongly encouraged to listen to the recording of the original broadcast posted on our site, particularly Act I, in order to get a feel for the radio commentator style of delivery used in the Orson Welles production and that we wish to employ. A recording can be found on our Documents, Files and Links page.

House Roles: TBA, but probably 8-10.  These roles include ushers/usherettes, cigarette girls, and several audience "plants" who will participate in setting the period atmosphere for the show. These may be of special interest to people experience as Live Action Role Players.

Sign up for an audition slot!

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SINGERS

There are two opportunities for singing in The Big Broadcast:

JENNY BRENNAN

Audition Dates: Sunday - Tuesday, August 9th – 11th
Time: 7 pm – 10pm
Method: By appointment

Jenny is the feature singer on The Frank Cyrano Byfar Hour. This is an acting role with some singing, so it is being auditioned with the actors.

(Please Note: This role is for women with an alto singing range!)

Those interested in auditioning for this role should prepare a verse and chorus of a song suitable to the time period of the show (1938). You will be asked to sing the song for us at your acting audition. Songs will be cut off after 60 seconds due to time constraints, so be sure your selection fits the time limit!

Accompaniment: An amateur accompanist will be available during auditions. You may also provide your own accompanist or bring a CD. Of course, singing a capella is perfectly fine, too. Please do let us know ahead of time what kind of accompaniment—if any—you will need or be bringing.


WOMEN'S VOCAL TRIO

Audition Date: Thursday, August 13th
Time: 7 pm
Method: There are no actual appointment slots for this. Just be sure to select Vocal Trio in the Types of Roles section of the Appointment Form on the website so we know to expect you.)

This group will be appear throughout the show. The parts are being auditioned on a separate date from the cast.

In The Frank Cyrano Byfar Hour, the trio will be presented as an Andrews Sisters-style group and will:

• Sing the Station IDs
• Sing the show's sponsor jingles
• Provide backup for Jenny Brennan's vocal feature

In The War of the Worlds, the trio will perform specially-composed vocal effects for the Martian fighting-machines.

Sign up for an audition!

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FOLEY/FX

Interview Dates: Sunday - Tuesday, August 9th – 11th
Time: 7 pm – 10pm
Method: By appointment

Live sound effects are an important part of our shows. Interviews for Foley/FX positions will be conducted on the same nights as acting auditions. So be sure to sign up for an audition slot, even if you are just there for a Foley interview.

On the night of your slot, you will sit down with one of our regular Foley/FX artists and be interviewed. Things they will look for include:

• Previous experience as a Foley/FX artist, either with PMRP or another organization
• Previous experience with creating or designing live sound effects
• Experience with rhythm instruments (drums, percussion, etc.)
• Creativity (useful for developing ways to create sounds)
• Ability to work within a team
• Availability (Foley/FX artists have a more extensive schedule than the rest of the cast and crew)

PLEASE NOTE: The Foley performer for The Frank Cyrano Byfar Hour is an actual character within the show, so it is being auditioned with the actors. All Foley/FX interviews are for the team that will perform for The War of the Worlds.

Sign up for an interview!

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BEHIND-THE-SCENES

We are looking for a number of people to fill behind-the-scenes positions on the show. These include:

• Rehearsal assistants
• Assistant directors
• Stage crew
• Ad sales
• Publicity and promotion
• Sponsorship acquisition
• Live sound techs
• Digital sound design
• Graphic design
• Costuming
• Props
• et. al.

If any of these interest you, please indicate it in the Questions and Comments section of the Appointment Form or in the Audition Form when it's posted.

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Rehearsals

Cast rehearsals will occur approximately once a week until dress and technical rehearsals begin the weekend before the show opens. The exception to this are those actors who appear in both Acts I & II The War of the Worlds, who may be required to rehearse on two different nights during some weeks.

Vocal rehearsals will occur once a week until the vocalists are integrated into their respective plays, then two nights may be required. On some occasions, rehearsal nights may include rehearsing with Emperor Norton's Stationary Marching Band, who is providing the music for our show.

FoleyFX rehearsals and activities will occur at least twice a week.  One night per week will consist of FoleyFX Development, during which members of the Performance Team, members of PMRP's Foley Staff, and our builders will brainstorm ways to make the required sounds and assign the tasks of either building or acquiring the devices needed.  On other nights, very early on, the FoleyFX teams will start sitting in on the cast rehearsals of their plays so that both sides can get a feel for pacing and flow.

If you have any questions about auditions, please send e-mail to auditions@pmrp.org or use the "Comments" section of the Appointment Form.