Audition for ADULTS for THE SOUND OF MUSIC

 The Concord Players will hold open auditions for The Sound of Music - music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein, Book by Lindsay and Russell Crouse. Stage direction and choreography is by Kirsten Gould with music direction by Susan Minor.  T

he adult’s auditions will be held by appointment on the hour on Wednesday and Thursday, January 9th and 10th at 7:00pm, 8:00pm and 9:00pm at the Fenn School, 516 Monument Street, Concord, MA.  To schedule an appointment, email your name, telephone number, and preferred audition time to SOM-info@concordplayers.org.  You will receive an email confirmation with the exact time you should report. 

Audition details including character descriptions are available on the website: www.concordplayers.org. Questions about the auditions and production can be sent to SOM-info@concordplayers.org.

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Details:

Callbacks will be held from 1:00-5:00PM on Sunday, Jan 13, 1:00-5:00, 51 Walden Street, Concord, MA.  Rehearsals will begin on January 17, typically Wednesday and Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons.  The Sound of Music will run at 8PM on April 26, 27, 28 (Matinee); May 3, 4, 5 (Matinee); May 10, 11.

The Sound of Music takes place in Salzburg, Austria in 1938.  Maria Ranier, a postulant at the Nonnberg Abbey, is too free-spirited to accept the discipline of the order easily and frequently escapes to the mountains.  Thus the Mother Abbess arranges for her to work as a governess for the wealthy, aristocratic, Austrian naval officer, Captain Georg Von Trapp – a widower with seven children.  He has not yet fully recovered from the death of his wife, and manages his household in a military fashion.  Maria brings both music and adventure to the regimented lives of the children and wins their hearts.  Although Captain Von Trapp is engaged to the elegant socialite, Elsa Schraeder, he eventually falls in love with Maria and marries her.  But their married life is quickly disrupted by Nazi Germany’s annexation of Austria.  Upon receiving word that Captain Von Trapp must report for naval duty in Germany, the family manages to escape Austria following an amateur singing contest and crosses the mountains into Switzerland on foot.

Adult Character Descriptions:

Maria Rainer (20-30; soprano, moves well) - A postulant at Nonnberg Abbey; young, free-spirited, warm and kind with much determination; finds the process of becoming a nun to be challenging; experiences great personal conflict once she meets Captain Von Trapp.

Captain Georg von Trapp (35-45; baritone, guitar, moves well) - A retired Austrian naval captain; fiercely patriotic and completely devoted to his homeland; polished, yet very military in the way he runs his life in order to repress his sadness over the death of his wife.  His sternness dissipates when love re-enters his life. Guitar playing is not necessary but is a plus.  (Bring guitar if you can play “Edelweiss.”)

Liesl von Trapp (16; mezzo, dancer) -The oldest child, blossoming into a young lady with an interest in boys; has a maternal edge to her and cares very deeply for her younger siblings, but comes to realize that she, too, needs a mother; dancing experience a plus.

Max Detweiler (30+; tenor/baritone, moves well) - Charming and vital; a man of sophistication who enjoys the good life; possesses a comic flair; a true and loyal friend to the von Trapp family.

Elsa Schrader (25-40; mezzo soprano, moves well) - A baroness of taste and elegance, self-assured, sophisticated, dignified and mature.

Mother Abbess (40+; legit soprano, wide vocal range) - The Mother Superior of Nonnberg Abbey; motherly, strong, authoritative, but also kind and understanding.

Sister Berthe (30+; alto) - Mistress of Novices, prudish, straight laced with a quick tongue, she is less tolerant than other nuns; critical of Maria.

Sister Margaretta (30+; mezzo) - Mistress of Postulants, kind, understanding, concerned; is supportive of Maria.

Sister Sophia (25+; soprano) - Younger nun, neither demanding nor critical; sticks with the rules.

Rolf Gruber (17-20; low tenor, moves well) - Suitor to Liesl; at first he is a very pleasant young telegram delivery boy who later becomes a committed Nazi soldier; dancing experience a plus.

Franz (35+; non-singing) - The von Trapp butler, rather formal but not without spirit, he is very German and loyal to the Fascist cause; also an SS soldier.

Frau Schmidt (40+; non-singing) - The housekeeper, stoic, very little personality; she does her job efficiently but without affection; strong and somewhat dominating.

Herr Zeller (40+; non-singing, waltz) - Stern, unsmiling, aggressive; a typical Nazi official whose primary concern is to see that everyone toes the line; will do Viennese waltz.

Baron Elberfeld (40+; non-singing, waltz) - Older patriotic Austrian landowner fiercely devoted to his country who despises the advancing Nazis; will do Viennese waltz.

Admiral Von Schreiber (40+; non-singing, waltz) - Admiral and administrator in the German Navy; will do Viennese waltz.

Seven nuns/postulants/party guests (25+; singing, waltz) - Nuns must be top-notch singers to handle the challenging church music a cappella; some will also take on several other smaller female roles; should be able to do the Viennese waltz.

Four male party guests/SS soldiers (25+; non-singing; waltz) - Four capable male dancers to do the graceful Viennese waltz; some will also portray Nazi soldiers and contest winners.  Small amount of stage time, but critically important!!

For Auditions:

Please print the ADULT's AUDITION FORM and bring the completed form with you when you audition. Make sure to include all conflicts. Visit www.concordplayers.org  for FORMS and rehearsal schedule information.

Please prepare a one-minute monologue as any character from The Sound of Music, commenting on any observances or occurrences in The Sound of Music story. (Scripts will be available in both Concord libraries.) Your monologue should demonstrate your ability to capture the physicality and the emotional aspects of your chosen character. (Total factual accuracy is not critical.  Be creative!)  Those auditioning for any of the nuns should portray Mother Abbess, Sister Berthe, or Sister Margaretta.  All those auditioning for nuns and all men auditioning for characters designated as waltzers/Nazi soldiers will be asked to do a simple rotating box step.  (See character descriptions.)

You will also be asked to sing a song from The Sound of Music.  Please select a song appropriate for your preferred character and bring the music with you.   For reasons of time, we may ask you to stop prior to the end of your selection.  

For your convenience, notification of callbacks and casting will be posted at www.concordplayers.org  

Callbacks will be posted on January 11th.  Cast list will be posted on January 13.

In the event of inclement weather, any audition cancellations will be posted at www.concordplayers.org   along with information about rescheduling.

For more information about the Concord Players, visit our website – www.concordplayers.org