Let the Good times roll... Here we go.

This will be short and sweet...

We are pleased to introduce the acting company for TWELFTH NIGHT:

Feste Geoff Moss

Orsino Andy Briner

Sebastian Joel Bonsell

Viola Katie Blackburn

Olivia Jacinda Bridger

Malvolio Joseph Ahern

Sir Toby Ryan McCarty

Maria Chelsea Carey

Sir Andrew Adam Hardy

Fabian Katrina Pontius

Antonio Austin Smith

ENSEMBLE - Roles TBD  (To include Valentine, Curio, Priest, Officer Lines, Servant Lines)

Susan Fiegl

Juliet Howard-Welch

Lisa Bernheim

Will Hensley

Amy Berry

Director                   Lisa Howard-Welch

Asst. Director         Amy Berry

Music Director/ Coord  William Hensley

Fight Director         Austin Smith

Stage Manager      Sarah Michaelson

The read through will be held at the State Theatre on Tuesday, at 6:30.  If you were cast, make sure you review the notification e-mail carefully for important instructions on commitment acceptance, deadlines and costume information.  

Stay tuned in the coming weeks as the process begins and all the revelry of the show begins to unfold!

Here we go...

I love auditions.  

Always have.  

Perhaps its the excitement of the start of something new and creative on the horizon. Or, the idea that the blank canvas of the impending show will soon be filled with the color of new personalities and talent bringing the 400 year old characters to life.  Whatever it is, the 'unknowns' will soon become the 'familiars'...  the cast will laugh together (I hope), cry together (I hope this, as well), and work closely together for 70+ hours.  The end result will be our own tiny piece of heart-filled art.  

But, first we have to get through casting.  Did I say I love the audition process?  

In just a few short hours, we will begin the process of finding 14 actors and actresses to bring to the table... and then to the stage.   

It has been over 14 years since I have been a part of a production of Twelfth Night.  I have been in the production twice.  I have directed it four times... All period productions.  But, now, as I step out of my 'period era' comfort zone, I can assure you that this production will be very different.  

Want to audition?  Just visit the Audition event page on Facebook for more details.  Or, come on out to the State Theatre in Springfield, Ohio on Monday, January 20th or Tuesday, January 21.  Doors open and registration begins at 6:00pm.  

Stay tuned for weekly updates as the weeks progress.  So much more is to come.

It's About That Time...

Now is the time to start thinking about auditions for Springfield StageWorks upcoming production of Twelfth Night, or What You Will.  Dramaturgy is nearly complete, initial design meetings have been completed and Production Team meetings are about to begin.

  Auditions will be held on Monday and Tuesday, January 20th and 21st at the State Theatre, 19 S. Fountain Ave, Springfield, OHIO. Registration begins at 6:00pm, with monologue auditions commencing at 6:30.  Open Cold Reads will begin at approximately 7:15pm on Monday (till 9:30) and 7:00pm on Tuesday (till 7:45).  Call backs will run from 7:45 to 10pm on Tuesday.  If you cannot make the Open sessions on the 20th and 21st, you may arrange to audition for the directorial team prior to that. More specific details appear below!

I know I promised to begin regular posts sooner than this, but let me just say... It's been quite a 'year' for me. With the loss of my mom to cancer little more than a week after the initial opening of this blog, followed by a series of other challenges and assorted life events... Shall we just say, my world was full of experiences, both good and challenging, the last few months.  Such things that shall now be applied to this project in some way.  So, here we go...

Over the weeks following the auditions, I will be attempting to post at least once a week. I will be discussing concept, clues to the final plan for the production, audition tips, process information and so on.  Check back regularly for updates to the audition information.

This should be a fun process and we hope you will join us for all of it.  




'NUTSHELL' SPECIFICS

Production Dates:     April 3 through 12, 2014 (Thursday through Sunday)
Rehearsal Schedule:  February through April 1, 2014 (TBD, pending actor availability)   Likely Monday through Thursday.  Not all cast will be called to every rehearsal.
Audition Dates:         Monday and Tuesday, January 20th and 21st at the State Theatre, Springfield, OHIO 
Questions?:               If you have questions, please contact the director at         Lisalhw@att.net.  You may also request an Audition Information Packet (in PDF form) be sent to you via e-mail.  This will include an audition form and information sheet.  



AUDITION PROCESS INFORMATION

As we are just 5 short weeks away from the scheduled auditions, it is time to review the audition process. 

WHAT TO PREPARE
For those who have never auditioned for me before (Shakespeare show), you will need to prepare a one minute classic (comic) monologue.  All auditionees will need a resume, headshot (if available) and a list of conflicts covering the period of 3 February to 14 April.  If you would like be considered for a role which may sing, you should prepare one minute of an acappella version of your best vocal piece.  

We are setting the play in New Orleans, so a number of buskers and street singers will be needed to fill out the cast.  If you sing or play an instrument (we are looking for Guitar, Trombone, jazz violin or Saxaphone), please prepare a one minute piece showcasing your skills.  We are NOT looking for 'perfect' voices.  We are looking for 'real' voices and we are looking for a wide range of genres and styles, not just NOLA jazz.  


AUDITION SCHEDULE

MONDAY, 20 January, 2014 
- Registration Begins - 6pm
- Monologue and any Musical Auditions - 6:30pm ** New Auditionees ONLY
- Cold Readings Readings begin at 7:15pm

TUESDAY, 21 January, 2014
- Registration Begins - 6pm
- Monologue and any Musical Auditions - 6:15pm **New Auditionees ONLY
- Cold Readings Readings begin at 7pm
- Call Backs begin at 7:45pm

EARLY AUDITIONS
 - If you cannot attend auditions on the OPEN days, you may request an earlier time.  To do this, please contact the director at Lisalhw@att.net or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/lisalhw .  

Additional Callbacks will be held 27 January at 7pm, ONLY if required. 

Casting will likely be posted no later than Friday, January 24th.  More details will be available closer to the audition.  


AVAILABLE ROLES

Feste (M/F -- 21+) *
Olivia (F -- 35 to 50's)
Orsino (M -- 35 to 50's)
Viola (F -- 20's+ Sebastian's Twin)
Sebastian (M -- 20's + Viola's Twin)
Malvolio (M -- 35 to 70's)
Sir Toby (M -- 30 to 50) *
Maria (F -- 25+) *
Sir Andrew (M -- 20 to 30's)
Fabian (M/F -- any age) *
Curio (M/F -- Age 12 to 18)*
Valentine (M/F -- any age) *
Antonio (M/F --- Age 20+)
Ensemble Street -- One M and one F*

Will LIKELY need to sing*

Le voyage commence ici

And, so it is time to begin the journey that will become Springfield StageWorks production of  Twelfth Night, or What You Will.  

For me, many months of research and study always go into a the preliminary stages of show prep.  That is before I even begin to analyze the script and begin pre audition work.  And, yes... I am a little late in getting this process started. So the work for me is about to begin!  


I am extremely detail oriented and will be trying something a little more abstract on this next project, so before I get into the regular deluge of audition, textual, verse and hint posts, I will leave you all with a couple of little photographic clues about where our Twelfth Night path is going to take us...

Audition dates and production information will be announced at the end of the summer and I will be making occasional posts until the.  Now, as always, if you have any questions about auditions or production, then by all means, get in touch!