SHOW SUMMARY

“Sly, sassy, inspired.” – Entertainment Weekly

“Terrific. A kick-ass time.” – New York Daily News

“Wise, warm, irresistable.” – NY Sun

“A genuine treat.” – Star Ledger

“A crowd-pleaser!” – Variety

“Infectious joy.” –WPKN

Jeff and Hunter, two struggling writers, hear about a new musical theatre festival. However, the deadline for submissions is a mere three weeks away. With nothing to lose, the pair decides to try to create something new with the help of their friends Susan, Heidi and Larry on the eighty-eights. With the cast in place, Jeff and Hunter begin a conversation about what to write about. Eventually, Jeff suggests they write about what to write about. They make a pact to write up until the festival's deadline and dream about the show changing their lives. [title of show] -- taken from the space on the festival's application form which asks for the "[title of show]" -- follows Hunter and Jeff and their friends on their journey through the gauntlet of creative self-expression. In the span of 90 minutes they write and perform their show at the festival and learn lessons about themselves as people, friends and artists.

[title of show] is, above all, a love letter to the musical theatre -- a uniquely American art form -- and to the joy of collaboration.

[title of show] is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC. www.concordtheatricals.com

AUDITION PROCESS

• You should expect to spend approximately 1 hour at the audition doing vocal, movement and cold readings.

• Be prepared to learn some choreography and dress to be able to move well, including shoes appropriate for a dance audition.

• Prepare 32 measures of a song that is from a Broadway show that highlights your voice. Music should be placed in a binder or book (not loose).

• Complete our audition application (PDF) in advance and bring it with you to the audition. Be sure to note all conflicts with rehearsals, tech week and performances.

Aurora Community Theatre strives to provide quality shows for our audiences and a rewarding experience for our performers through team spirit and mutual respect. We ask that you respect your fellow actors and the production team. Any age, race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, body type, abilities, or other identities are encouraged to audition and will be considered equally in character casting, unless directly specified by the playwright as integral to their story. Age/age ranges, genders, and descriptions, if listed, are recommendations by the script but are flexible to interpretation. No roles for this production have been precast unless otherwise stated in marketing announcements regarding the auditions.

All persons appearing onstage or working on ACT production, especially with children in the cast, may be subject to a background check.

Aurora Community Theatre is a 501c3 Non-Profit Organization. All actors are strictly volunteers. No AEA contract(s) currently.

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS

Hunter
Range: C3-B4 (Belt) with (D5 Falsetto*) *Interchangeable between Hunter and Jeff
​Hunter is arguably the central character of the show. Impulsive and intense, he is the author of the book. Hunter leads the show’s creation, bounces off the others, and fuels most of the tensions. Larger than life yet somewhat directionless, he often needs both prompting and reigning in. Although Susan rivals his wit and penchant for absurdity, the sheer stage time of Hunter’s character makes him the show’s driving force.​

Jeff
Range: B2-G4 (Belt) with (B4 Falsetto*)
Jeff is the foil to Hunter’s boundless enthusiasm. A talented, fastidious composer, Jeff is resistant to Hunter’s literal flights of wild abandon, more often than not offering sharp rebukes. Unbending, he ultimately serves as the defender of the musical’s integrity in the face of commercial pressures.​

Heidi
Range: F3-F5
​Heidi is the established performer of the group and a Broadway veteran, albeit in minor understudy roles. Newly inducted into the group by Jeff, her friendly awkwardness is endearing and she soon fits right in. While not as deliberately outrageous as Susan, her direct, innocuous comments are still hilarious. However as per her character, Heidi shines most in the singing, she is almost always the upper part (usually the melody), and is given the only two solos in the show; Way Back to Then and I Am Playing Me. Interestingly, while the others are hoping to ‘make it big’, Heidi has a unique choice to make, being torn between her moderately successful Broadway path and ‘downgrading’ to the group’s risky venture.

​Susan
Range: E3 – C5 (comically up to F/Gb5)
​Susan is the outlying member of the cast. Essentially the very opposite of Heidi and an office manager by day, Susan views the show as a creative outlet. She is plagued by self-doubt, particularly about her singing abilities, and she shields this with her loud, flamboyant attitude and madcap wit that meshes well with Hunter.

​Larry/Mary (Pianist) (THIS ROLE HAS BEEN CAST)
Range: Some basic singing ability.
As noted earlier, they will be onstage ‘acting’ as the Larry/Mary the pianist for the duration of the show. Apart from playing, singing the starting pitches in Filling Out the Form is required, as well as the occasional engagement in the dialogue