Playhouse Casts 100 "Nuns," Kids, Sound of Music

Cumberland County Playhouse auditions for up to 100 singing "nuns.", children for key roles and a "Salzburg Abbey Children's Choir," and adult volunteers, will be held on Saturday, Dec. 10 (children), and Dec. 13 (adults) for a 2012 production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music. Both individual and group auditions are planned, led by CCP Music Director Ron Murphy, project co-director Weslie Webster, and Producing Director Jim Crabtree. All interested are asked to e-mail Meka at mdoxtator@ccplayhouse.com, or call Meka at 931.484.4324.

"We're welcoming a very large choir of 'nuns." including Baptist nuns, Methodist nuns, Mormon and Church of Christ nuns, and Jewish nuns from our Fiddler cast and audience," says Ms. Webster with a smile. "The Playhouse is an 'ecumenical theater' serving many church groups, and we'll assemble a grand choir for Maria's wedding and other powerful musical sequences!" CCP will work with schedule conflicts, and alternate choir members, using 1/3 to half the full choir at some performances. Volunteer men who enjoy singing are welcome, as potential "priests, seminarians, and deacons" in the Salzburg Abbey Choir. No habits, rosaries, roman collars (or vows or celibacy) are required for this equal opportunity audition and choir.

On Dec. 10, private auditions for leading children's roles in the Von Trapp family and Rolf (boys/girls 8 to 19-ish) are by appointment from 1pm—4pm in the Main Rehearsal Hall (enter on the lower left side of the theater). Young actor/singers should prepare 16-24 bars of a song, and a one-minute monologue or reading from memory. Material from the show is fine, but other material is also encouraged. These roles may be double or triple-cast, to permit broad opportunity and participation.

Dec . 10 at 4:30, is a group audition for a special Abbey Children's Choir and supporting youth roles (age 8-18), with callbacks as needed for all young roles at 5:30pm. Professional actors and experienced adult volunteers may schedule private prepared auditions with Meka for the evening of the 10th or another time.

On Dec. 13 at 4:00pm, all aspiring "nuns" interested in singing in the Abbey Choir are asked to gather, along with volunteer men who enjoy singing. Especially welcome are singers from church choirs and community choruses across the Cumberlands. All interested are asked to call Meka to register, or to arrange another time to attend if the Dec. 13 gathering is conflicted.

 

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR AUDITIONS

The Playhouse casts regularly in Memphis at UPTA auditons, SETC auditions, some years in St. Louis at MWTA,and in New York as needed. CCP employs a year-round resident repertory company, supplemented by guest artists. Tennessee-based artists may be cast in one or more projects, and may either come into residence or commute. A single-show contract might entail a rehearsal period plus 2-4 performances per week after opening on a varying schedule, for 6 to 12 weeks. Housing as needed in Crossville (either full-time or to reduce commuting) is generally provided as part of any contract. A typical rehearsal period runs 3-4 weeks plus production week, and CCP is accustomed to working both with full-time resident artists, and with part-time artists who have other professional obligations. Compensation may range from $250 to $450 weekly for full-time residencies, and long-term resident company contracts, with assignments including major roles and multiple-year seniority, can command more. Part-time assignments and internships may include travel reimbursement, lodging, with expense stipends and fees-per-service ranging from $75-200 weekly.

All auditions are by appointment only. Call Meka (M-F 8am-5pm) at 931.484.4324, for appointments. Please prepare a one-minute monologue, and if you are interested in musicals, two contrasting songs (16-24bars). If you do not sing, you may wish to do a second contrasting one-minute monologue if requested. For songs, please bring sheet music, carefully marked, in the proper key. Accompanist Ben Van Diepen will play.

Some callbacks may be scheduled for 8-9:30pm the evening of Dec. 12 at Bellevue Dance Center, others may be held in Crossville at the Playhouse by appointment at a later date. A dance callback may be held that evening, or as part of later callbacks. Resume submissions are being accepted for Nashville area directors, choreographers and scenic, costume and lighting designers and stage managers, for a limited number of interview appointments on the 12th, and for future dates in Crossville or Nashville. Resumes go to mdoxtator@ccplayhouse.com