Fall and Winter Play Audition Packet

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT AUDITIONS:• The fall and winter play auditions are open to anyone in the school, grades 9-12. No experience is

necessary.

• Audition sign-up sheets for the general auditions will be available September 3rd at the first Drama Club meeting. After the meeting, it will be posted on the bulletin board next to D175 and on our website: www.dgsdrama.com

• Your audition will last approximately 3 minutes, during which you will perform a 1-2 minute monologue and answer a few questions from the directors.

• You are welcome to find a monologue of your own to perform, but some monologues will be provided for you in this packet if you should decide to use them. Memorization is encouraged, but not required.

• Those involved with the Freshman Play should sign up for later time slots, as you will have rehearsal on audition day.

• When you sign up to audition, it is assumed that you are willing to participate in either the fall or winter play. Any major conflicts should be listed on your application.

• You may be asked to try a British accent, so be prepared to try upon request.

Auditions will be held on Thursday, September 18 beginning at 3:30 in the Little Theater.

The day of the audition you should bring:• Your completed audition application, including with possible conflicts• Your monologue (if you choose to use it during the audition)• A smile. You’ll have your picture taken prior to auditioning.

Call backs will be posted shortly after auditions. You will be asked to audition in groups for this and will be reading from the scripts of the play. You may be called back for one play or both.

Callbacks will be held on Friday, September 19 beginning at 3:30 p.m.

***Being asked to participate at Callbacks does not ensure you a role in the play; it simply means that the directors want to see you do a second audition. Likewise, NOT being called back doesn’t mean that you are not cast. All students should check the callboard for casting regardless of being called back.***

WHAT TO WEAR

Wear clothes and shoes that you can move in easily. Your clothing should also make you look and feel good. Everyone should make sure their hair is out of their face. Also, no chewing gum!

REHEARSALSThis schedule is subject to change, however, advance notice will be provided. Any conflicts (retreats, family events, tournaments, dentist appointments that cannot be rescheduled, etc.) with the below schedule must be listed on the back of your audition form. Only those conflicts listed will be honored, as per the DGS Theater Handbook.

Excessive excused or unexcused absences from scheduled rehearsals or inappropriate behavior may result in dismissal from the cast at the discretion of the directors.

Students will receive a more specific rehearsal calendar after they have been cast; therefore, the dates listed below are ALL of the dates there will be rehearsal. However, a student cast may not have to be at every rehearsal depending on the scene breakdown and roles.

Date Activity/Time 9/18 TH General Auditions for both Fall and Winter plays, 3:30-6:30 (Freshman Play rehearsal)9/19 F Callbacks for both plays 3:30-6:30 (Freshman Play rehearsal)

Fall play rehearsalsWeek of 9/29-10/3 One day dialect and manners workshop with coach10/6 M Read through 3:30-6:3010/7-10 T-F Character work and rehearsal 3:30-6:3010/13 M Possible rehearsal. No school. 9-12 10/14-17T-F Rehearsal 3:30-6:30 10/27-31M-F Rehearsal 3:30-8 w/ dinner break 11/3-4 M,T Tech Rehearsal 3:30-10 w/dinner break11/5 W Dress Rehearsal 3:30-10 w/dinner break11/6 TH Dress Rehearsal 3:3011/7&8 F, S Show. 7 pm 11/11 M STRIKE. All required to attend.

Winter Play Rehearsals11/11 T No School. Rehearsal Noon – 4pm. Read-Thru and Character Work11/12-14 W-F Rehearsal 3:30-6:3011/17-21 M-F Rehearsal 3:30-6:3011/24-25 M, T Rehearsal 3:30-6:3011/26 W Possible rehearsal. No School.11/28-29 TH,FNO SCHOOL. THANKSGIVING. No rehearsal.12/1-5 M-F Rehearsal 3:30-8:00 w/ dinner break.12/8 M Tech 3:30-10 w/ dinner break12/9 T Tech 3:30-10 w/ dinner break12/10 W Dress 3:30-10 w/ dinner12/11 TH Dress clean-up… winter concert at 7:00. Rehearsal from 3:30-6:3012/12-13 F-S Show. Call: 5:00. Go: 7:0012/15 M STRIKE. All required to attend. 3:30

**Both productions will be coordinating with the Speech team. Depending on who is cast, some rehearsals may be moved to the evening

Fall Play: The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde. Synopsis: Gwendolyn loves Ernest, and he loves her. Cecily loves Ernest too, though he's only just finding that out, and he loves her back. But is it a lover's triangle, or is there room for two happy couples in Oscar Wilde's madcap romance—and just what will fearsome Aunt Augusta have to say about it? The quintessential comedy of proper manners, by the quintessential Bad Boy of his day—what Wilde teasingly called his "Trivial comedy for serious people." Mislaid babies, mistaken identities, secret engagements, baffled suitors, and some of the wittiest wordplay ever volleyed over cucumber sandwiches. Can they really untangle the plot twists and get it all sorted out before tea?

Available Roles:

MALES FEMALES

John (Jack) Worthing (pretending to be Ernest) Gwendolen Fairfax (Jack’s love interest)

Algernon Moncrieff (friend to Jack, who he thinks is Ernest… later HE is Ernest)

Cecily Cardew (Jack’s ward, Algernon’s Love interest)

Dr. Chasuble (Reverend- in love with Miss Prism) Lady Bracknell/Aunt Augusta * (Gwendolen’s mother, Algernon’s aunt)

Lane (servant to Algernon) Miss Prism (Cecily’s governess, in love with Dr. Chasuble)

Merriman (servant to Jack)

Notes: 1) The asterisk denotes that this role may be played by a woman OR a man.2) This play may be double cast.3) All roles MUST have a proper British accent.

QUESTIONS?If you have any questions, you may contact the director:

• Tiffany Rubin (Fall Play) trubin@csd99.org

Winter Play: Flowers for Algernon by David Rogers, based upon the novel by Daniel Keyes Synopsis: This drama is the compelling story of Charlie, a mentally retarded man, and the strange interweaving of his life with that of Algernon, a mouse. Experimental surgery has been performed on Algernon increasing his intelligence fourfold. The operation is tried on Charlie, who rapidly changes from a moron to a genius, far more intelligent than his teacher, Alice Kinnian, or the doctors who created the operating technique. As Charlie approaches the peak of his brilliance, Algernon shows frightening symptoms of regression. The play becomes a race against time in which Charlie tries to keep his new intelligence long enough to save himself and thus continue what he and Alice have found. This is a different kind of play: poignant, romantic, funny and tragic, but with hope of man's indomitable spirit.

Available Roles:

MALES (8 Roles) FEMALES (9 Roles)

Charlie Gordon Alice Kinnian

Dr. Strauss Mrs. Donner

Professor Nemur Doris/Norma*

Burt Seldon Mother

Father Child Norma

Little Charlie Ellen / Nurse / Mrs. Mooney*

Joe / Mr. Harvey* Bernice / Mrs. Nemur*

Frank / Teenage Charlie* Mrs. Feldman / Connie / Jackie Welberg*

Gina / Chairlady / Anne Welberg*

Notes: 1) Roles with an asterisk (*) are roles where an actor will play multiple characters2) Note that there may be rehearsal on Wednesday, November 26th (the day before Thanksgiving) if

necessary

QUESTIONS?If you have any questions, you may contact the director:

• Nathaniel Haywood (Winter Play) nhaywood@csd99.org

“I don’t know what’s worse: to not know what you are and be happy, or to become what you’ve always wanted to be, and feel alone.” ― Daniel Keyes, Flowers for Algernon

“Why am I always looking at life through a window?” ― Daniel Keyes, Flowers for Algernon

“Only a short time ago, I learned that people laughed at me. Now I can see that unknowingly I joined them in laughing at myself. That hurts the most.” ― Daniel Keyes, Flowers for Algernon

“But I've learned that intelligence alone doesn't mean a damned thing. Here in your university, intelligence, education, knowledge, have all become great idols. But I know now there's one thing you've all overlooked: intelligent and education that hasn't been tempered by human affection isn't worth a damn...” ― Daniel Keyes, Flowers for Algernon

Fall and Winter Play Audition Form: The Importance of Being Earnest and Flowers for Algernon

Name ____________________________________________ Year in school: ________

Phone ____________________________________________ ID # _______________________________

Email _________________________________________

Have you or are you currently taking an acting class? With whom?

Can you play an instrument? Which?

Can you speak with a proper British accent?

Have you participated in stage crew? If so, for which show(s)?

What former stage experience do you have? Please list below:

PLEASE LIST CONFLICTS ON THE BACK OF THIS FORM!Please list any conflicts (retreats, family events, tests, college visits, tournaments, dentist appointments that cannot be rescheduled, etc.) on the back of this audition form. Only those conflicts listed will be honored. DATES: October 6 – December 15

STUDENT/PARENT AGREEMENTI understand that my child is auditioning for the Fall and Winter Plays. If cast, I give my permission to have him/her participate in the production. I understand the rehearsal schedule and have listed all conflicts on the back of this form.

I have read the rehearsal schedule, listed all conflicts, and understand that additional conflicts, tardiness, absences, or misbehavior may cause the director/technical director to adapt performance/crew assignments or to remove a student from the ensemble. Furthermore, the Code of Conduct in the DGS Theater Handbook applies to all participants in theater productions. All policies are in the Handbook and on the DGS Theater web site.

Parent/Guardian signature______________________________________________________________

Student signature________________________________________________________________

CONFLICTS: OCTOBER 6 – DECEMBER 15

Male Monologues for Auditions: **Remember: you are welcome to select your own 1-2 minute monologue!

Arnold from The Boys Next Door

I’m basically a nervous person. People call me Arnold because I don’t have a nickname. So I

pretend that Arnold is my nickname so that when people call me Arnold, I pretend that they are

close personal friends who know me by my nickname: Arnold. I live here at the Stonehenge

Villa apartment complex in a group apartment with three other guys. Did I mention I’m a

nervous person? Well, frankly, I am. Today I went to the market at the end of the street to get

some Wheaties. But I couldn’t remember whether I wanted one box or more boxes, so I asked

the manager how many boxes I should get. “Seventeen,” he said. But, and this is what I want to

emphasize by nervous, I could only find nine boxes. So what could I do? I got nine boxes of

Wheaties. And seven heads of lettuce. That made sixteen. And one bag of charcoal briquettes.

That made seventeen. And a quart of milk. You know, for the Wheaties. Do you think I did the

right thing?

Charlie from You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown:

I think lunchtime is about the worst time of the day for me. Always having to sit here alone. Of

course, sometimes mornings aren’t so pleasing, either…waking up and wondering if anyone

would really miss me if I never got out of bed. Then, there’s the night, too – lying there and

thinking about all the stupid things I’ve done during the day. And all those hours in between –

when I do all those stupid things … Well, lunchtime is among the worst times for me. Well, I

guess I better see what I got. (He opens bag, unwraps a sandwich, and looks inside.) Peanut

Butter. (He bites and chews, then he looks off to one side.) There’s that cute little redheaded

girl eating her lunch over there. I wonder what she’d do if I went over and asked her if I could

sit and have lunch with her. She’d probably laugh right in my face. It’s hard on a face when it

gets laughed in. There’s an empty place next to her on the bench. There’s no reason why I

couldn’t just go over there and sit there. I could do that right now. All I have to do is stand up.

(He stands.) I’m standing up. (He sits.) I’m sitting down.

Son from Absently Present:

Nope. Picked up the blade when at 14 and never looked back. Ma never wanted

me to shave. I thought she didn’t want me to grow up, or something like that, but

now I understand. She would always say to me… every time, she would say, “It’s

gonna grow back thicker”. First couple times weren’t too bad. A little irritation, no

cuts, everything was fine. Next thing I know, I start getting all these bumps. I would

let it grow out, they would disappear, and I would shave again. I would get more,

every time I shaved, and I started to pick at them. I couldn’t pop’em fast enough.

Then it started feeling like I had steel pushing out of my pores. Sometimes it’s so bad

I can’t sleep at night. Ma tried to warn me and I didn’t listen. I would go to bed mad

at you. Thinkin’ you did this to me. Try and put you out of my head and there you are

just beneath the surface pushing up. Pushing pain.

Cory from Fences:

I live here too! I ain’t scared of you. I was walking by you to go into the house cause you

sitting on the steps drunk, singing to yourself. I ain’t got to say excuse me to you. You

don’t count around here anymore.

You talking about what you did for me… what’d you ever give me? You ain’t never gave

me nothing. You ain’t never done nothing but hold me back. Afraid I was gonna be better

than you. All you ever did was try and make me scared of you. I used to tremble every

time you called my name. Every time I heard your footsteps in the house. Wondering all

the time… what’s Papa gonna say if I do this?... What’s he gonna say if I do that?...

What’s he gonna say if I turn on the radio? And Mama, too… she tries… but she’s scared

of you. I don’t know how she stand you… after what you did to her.

What you gonna do… give me a whupping? You can’t whup me no more. You’re too

old. You’re just an old man.

You crazy. You know that? You just a crazy old man… talking about I got the devil in

me. Come on… put me out. I ain’t scare of you. Come on! Come on, put me out.

What’s the matter? You so bad… put me out! Come on! Come on!

Female Monologues for Auditions:**Remember: you are welcome to select your own 1-2 minute monologue!

Tillie from The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds:

He told me to look at my hand, for a part of it came from a star that exploded too long ago to imagine. This part of me was formed from a tongue of fire that screamed through the heavens until there was our sun. And this part of me–this tiny part of me — was on the Sun when it itself exploded and whirled in a great storm until the planets came to be. And this small part of me was then a whisper of the earth. When there was life, perhaps this part of me got lost in a fern that was crushed and covered until it was coal. And then it was a diamond millions of years later — it must have been a diamond as beautiful as the star from which it had first come. Or perhaps this part of me became lost in a terrible beast, or became part of a huge bird that flew above the primeval swamps. And he said this thing was so small — this part of me was so small it couldn’t be seen–but it was there from the beginning of the world. And he called this bit of me an atom. And when he wrote the word, I fell in love with it.

Atom.

Atom.

What a beautiful word.

Beatrix from Promedy:

That's not true. Young women need the Prom. It's a rite of passage as sacred as getting your driver's license or buying your first bra. There are only a few things in life that are guaranteed to be glorious and memorable and sparkling with gowns and cummerbunds. Prom is the quintessential teenage experience. Think of the unlucky grown-ups and the elderly who lament the day they decided not to go to the Prom. It is a key ingredient to a happy and meaningful life. Prom is short for Promenade, a slow, gentle walk through a shady glen, and this beloved ceremony symbolizes our journey from the shadows of adolescence to the bright sunshine of the adult world with all its freedoms. And it may be the only chance I'll ever have to dance with a boy. Maybe I'll never have someone get down on their knee and Offer me a diamond ring. Maybe I'll never walk down the aisle with a smug look of bridal triumph. But it is my right, and the right of every plain, frumpy, book-wormish, soon-to-be librarian to have one night of Cinderella magic. Even if we have to go with our cousin, or our gay best friend from tap class, we will have a Prom. And you will help me.

Mabel from An Ideal Husband:

Well, Tommy has proposed to me again. Tommy really does nothing but propose to me. He

proposed to me last night in the music-room, when I was quite unprotected, as there was an

elaborate trio going on. I didn't dare to make the smallest repartee, I need hardly tell you. If I

had, it would have stopped the music at once. Then he proposed to me in broad daylight this

morning, in front of that dreadful statue of Achilles. Really, the things that go on in front of that

work of art are quite appalling. The police should interfere. And then Tommy is so annoying in

the way he proposes. If he proposed at the top of his voice, I should not mind so much. That

might produce some effect on the public. But he does it in a horrid confidential way. When

Tommy wants to be romantic he talks to one just like a doctor. I am very fond of Tommy, but

his methods of proposing are quite out of date. Once a week is quite often enough to propose

to any one, and that it should always be done in a manner that attracts some attention.

Laura from Courtship:

Oh, my God! That worries me so. Suppose I think I’m in love with a man and I marry him and it

turns out I’m not in love with him. (A pause.) What does being in love mean? I wish I didn’t

think so much. I wish to heaven I didn’t. Everything bad that happens to a girl I begin to worry it

will happen to me. All night I’ve been worrying. Part of the time I’ve been worrying that I’d end

an old maid like Aunt Sarah, and part of the time I worry that I’ll fall in love with someone like

Syd and defy Papa and run off with him and then realize I made a mistake and part of the time I

worry… that what happened to Sibyl Thomas will happen to me and… could what happened to

Sibyl Thomas ever happen to you? I don’t mean the dying part. I know we all have to die. I

mean the other part- having a baby before she was married. How do you think it happened to

her? Do you think he loved her? Do you think it was the only time she did? You know… Anyway,

even if I knew, I would be afraid to do something like that before I got married for fear God

would strike me dead.