Beaumont Community Players

Is pleased to announce

Open auditions for Broadway’s Big Fat Musical Comedy Hit

January 8^th & 9^th

Betty Greenberg Center for Performing Arts

Performances:

March 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 30 & 31, 2012

HAIRSPRAY delighted audiences by sweeping them away to 1960's Baltimore, where the 50's are out -- and change is in the air.  Loveable plus-size heroine, Tracy Turnblad, has a passion for dancing, and wins a spot on the local TV dance program, "The Corny Collins Show." Overnight she finds herself transformed from outsider to teen celebrity. Can a larger-than-life adolescent manage to vanquish the program's reigning princess, integrate the television show, and find true love (singing and dancing all the while, of course!) without mussing her hair?

Download Audition Form (pdf)

Casting Note:

*Large multicultural cast needed!*

 - Optimal casting range for the show is mature high school through forty

   (most of the roles in the show are portrayed as high school students)

-  No previous stage experience necessary. We’ll train you.

-  Both chorus parts and leading roles are available.  Casting below

For Auditions:

*Auditions begin at 6pm – check-in 15 minutes prior to 6pm is recommended.

-          Sunday, January 8^th – Everyone auditioning will need to attend and will dance.  For those only wishing to be a member of the chorus after you dance in groups you will be taught a song from the show and will sing in groups as part of the audition.

-          Anyone wishing to just be a member of the chorus will sing in a small group a portion of a song from “Hairspray”..

-          Monday, January 9^th – Only those wishing to audition for a lead role will return and sing their prepared piece, the piece from the show and act out a scene from the show.

-          Anyone wishing to audition for a lead role will need to prepare 16-20 measures of a piece of music, not from “Hairspray” showcasing your talent and range.  Please bring a copy of the sheet music in the appropriate key.   A pianist will be provided for the audition.  No a capella singing or accompaniment track. You will also be asked to sing a portion of a song from “Hairspray”.   

-          All auditioners will be taught either stage movements or dance steps and will perform these as a small group or as a solo if the part calls for solo dancing.

-          In some instances a dancer may not be required to sing. However, we are looking for dancers that sing and singers that dance.

Everyone auditioning is encouraged to print the PDF of the audition form, fill it out and bring it to auditions already completed.  Pictures may also be taken at check-in. 

Call Backs:

If necessary call backs will take place Tuesday, January 10^th and Wednesday, January 11^th at 7pm. You will find out if you need to come to call backs after auditions take place Monday night.

Schedule:

There will be a TENTATIVE Rehearsal Calendar available at the auditions.  Please be prepared to list any conflicts at auditions.

-          Rehearsals will be Mondays thru Fridays from 7pm – 10pm. With the strong possibility of Saturday rehearsals or work days.

-          Rehearsals begin Monday, January 16^th.  We will follow the latest revised rehearsal schedule.  Not everyone will have to attend every rehearsal until closer to the show dates.

Character Breakdown:

Detailed Character Breakdown:

Tracey Turnblad
(Vocal Part: Mezzo, Vocal Range: G below middle C to E above C)
Tracy Turnblad, a large girl with big hair and a big heart, has only one passion – to dance! Against her mother’s will, Tracy skips school one day and wins a spot on the local TV dance program, The Corny Collins Show and is quickly transformed into a teen icon. She then sets out to vanquish the program's reigning princess (Amber Von Tussle), win the heart of the super-handsome Link Larkin, and racially integrate the television show.

Edna Turnblad
(Vocal Part: Tenor, Vocal Range: F below middle C to E above C)
Edna is Tracy’s mother who owns and operates her own laundry mat from home. She tends to be down on herself and life in general, so she eats to soothe her troubles. Edna is a loving mother and wife and only wants what’s best for her family. She won’t let anyone hurt her beloved daughter.

Wilbur Turnblad
(Vocal Part: Baritone, Vocal Range: G below C to E above middle C)
As Tracy’s supportive father, Wilbur wants nothing more than for his daughter to pursue her dreams. As proud owner and operator of the Har-De-Har Hut, he knows what it means to follow your dreams, and dream big. He tries to balance Edna’s discouragement with his good humor, but sometimes it can be difficult. Wilbur is willing to do anything for his family and friends - including bailing all of the women out of jail! Wilbur may be on the lighter side, but he has a huge heart.

Link Larkin
(Vocal Part: Baritone, Vocal Range: E below middle C to G above middle C)
Link is the teen idol. He stars on The Corny Collins Show, and attends high school with Tracy in Baltimore. Link is that special lady’s man who excels in athletics, is charismatic, and brightens the room with his smile. Amber is his girlfriend at the beginning of the show but as the show progresses Tracey wins his heart and teaches him to be more open to diversity.

Penny Pingleton
(Vocal Part: Belt, Vocal Range: middle C to G above C)
Penny is Tracy’s perky best friend and biggest supporter. She has a fondness for sweets and secretly desires to rebel against her overprotective mother. Penny encourages Tracy to fight for her dreams, even though she initially lacks the bravery to follow her own passions. Penny is all for integration – as long as her mother doesn’t find out. Penny falls for Seaweed and eventually throws her inhibitions aside and lets her love be known!

Corny Collins
(Vocal Part: Tenor, Vocal Range: D below middle C to A above middle C)
You wouldn’t have much of a Corny Collins Show without Corny himself! Corny is the host of his own hit show which is an upbeat TV series featuring the “nicest kids in town.” He and Velma (the show’s producer) don’t always see eye to eye on things, but he makes sure to remind her that he’s in charge. Corny is, well… corny about everything and he is able to sell just about anything to anyone - including hairspray!

Seaweed J. Stubbs
(Vocal Part: Tenor, Vocal Range: G below middle C to B above middle C)
Seaweed is the leading man for The Corny Collins Show on Negro Day. His stylish dance moves and attractive personality help to inspire Tracy’s desire for integration. Seaweed is the light-hearted guy that everyone likes and is never quick to judge anyone else. He’s smooth and very popular within his group. Seaweed attends high school with Link, Tracy, and Penny.

Velma Von Tussle
(Vocal Part: Belt, Vocal Range: G below middle C to E above C)
Velma produces The Corny Collins Show and is in charge of casting the show. She is a firm believer that thin is beautiful. Velma is the proud mother of Amber Von Tussle and she’ll do whatever it takes to make sure her daughter attains the stardom that Velma never had. Velma is a scheming career and fame-driven woman, and wants everyone to know that she’s the boss.

Amber Von Tussle
(Vocal Part: Belt, Vocal Range: middle C to F above C)
Amber is Velma’s daughter and in spite of her lack of talent has achieved success on The Corny Collins Show thanks to her mom being the producer. Amber and Link are “an item” and she wants to make sure that the other girls stay far away. Amber is the same age as Tracy and Link, but acts as if she is superior to all the rest of the “nicest kids in town,” because after all, her mother is the producer. Did we mention that her mother is the producer?

Motormouth Maybelle
(Vocal Part: Alto, Vocal Range: A below middle C to E above C)
Maybelle is all soul! She is the mother of Seaweed and Lil’ Inez and hosts Negro Day on The Corny Collins Show. She also owns a record shop downtown. As the ultimate party-throwing hostess for the black community, she wants to make everyone around her feel welcome and comfortable. You can be sure that wherever Motormouth is, there will be good food, too! Maybelle is also an advocate for integration and helps Tracy get things started in the right direction for change.

Lil’ Inez
(Vocal Part: Belt, Vocal Range: middle C to E above C)
Lil’ Inez is Seaweed’s sister and Motormouth Maybelle’s daughter. She is small in stature, but has big dreams to one day be a part of The Corny Collins Show and to someday win the Miss Teenage Hairspray Competition - if she could just get noticed! With Tracy’s help, this lil’ girl gets her turn in the big spotlight, helping to integrate TV forever!

The Dynamites
(Vocal Part: Various, Vocal Range: G below middle C to A above C)
The Dynamites are a talented and sassy group of women singers. Without them there wouldn’t be much of a Negro Day on The Corny Collins Show. They appear throughout the show at different times and slowly help to transform the world of closed-mindedness to a world of open-mindedness, and welcome us all to the 60’s!

Ensemble
(Vocal Part: Various, Vocal Range: G below middle C to A above C)
Several ensemble roles are available for this show.