Musicals At Richter To Hold Additional Auditions For Male Performers

DANBURY — Musicals at Richter will hold an additional call for male performers ages 18 and up on Monday, April 17, at 7 pm, at the Richter Arts Center, 100 Aunt Hack Road.

The 2006 Richter Mainstage season features three Tony Award-winning musicals, including Damn Yankees (June 22-July 8), Jerry Ross and Richard Adler’s 1950s tribute to baseball-obsessed America; Titanic (July 13-29), Maury Yeston’s stirring and poignant retelling of the doomed ship’s voyage; and The King and I (August 3-19), Rodgers and Hammerstein’s sumptuous and exotic saga of East meets West.

In addition, the daytime children’s play series Fairy Tale Theater will offer four hour-long shows adapted and directed by Elyse Jasensky of Danbury, and performed by a youth ensemble.

For Damn Yankees, director Brad Blake is seeking performers for the lead role of Joe Boyd, a strong baritone character actor age 40-55. Also needed are four singer-dancers or singers who move well, ages 18-30, for the roles of ballplayers Vernon, Smokey, Mickey and Linville. Athleticism is a plus.

For Titanic, Mr Blake is seeking men for the following roles: J.J. Astor, American, age 47, baritone; Benjamin Guggenheim, American, 30s-40s, baritone; John Thayer, American, age 40-50, baritone; Charles Clarke, high British, 30s, lyric baritone/tenor who sings to F#; 1st Officer Murdoch, British, late 20s-30s, lyric baritone tenor who sings to F#; and 2nd Officer Lightoller, British, late 20s-30s, baritone.

For The King and I, director Kyle Minor is seeking tenor men, ages 18-25, for the role of Lun Tha, the Burmese emissary to Siam who has two featured duets. Mr Minor is also seeking singing and non-singing male performers, ages 18 and up, for ensemble roles.  Several members of the male ensemble will be featured in “The Small House of Uncle Thomas” ballet in the second act.

All those auditioning should bring a picture and resume if available, prepare two Broadway show tunes (uptempo and ballad), and be ready to sing only their best 16 measures if necessary. An accompanist will be provided.

Those auditioning should be prepared to read from the script if asked.

These positions are unpaid.  Show descriptions and cast breakdowns can be found on the theater’s website, MusicalsAtRichter.org.

In addition to performers, Musicals at Richter welcomes volunteers from the area for backstage duties such as set construction, properties, costume coordination, and running crew; and front-of-house operations such as house management, ushering, and concessions. Interested individuals are invited to call or email the theater, or indicate their interest at the auditions.

Now in its 22nd season, Musicals at Richter is Connecticut’s longest-running outdoor theater with over 50 productions to its credit. The arts center stage has served as a professional springboard for hundreds of up-and-coming performers. Musicals at Richter is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. For further information, visit MusicalsAtRichter.org or leave a message at 748-6873.