AUDITION NOTICE

 

The Sound of Music

Book by Howard Lindsay and Russell Crouse

 

Directed for LCCT by Norman Lewis

Musical Direction by Lisa Hermanson

 

Saturday, August 26th   Noon - 5pm

Monday, August 28th     6-9pm

 

Auditions will be held at LCCT - 313 N Main, Las Cruces

The final collaboration between Rodgers & Hammerstein was destined to become the world’s most beloved musical.  Featuring a trove of cherished songs, including “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “My Favorite Things,” ”Do-Re-Mi,” and the title number, The Sound of Music won the hearts of audiences worldwide, earning five Tony Awards and five Oscars.  The inspirational story, based on the memoir of Maria Trapp, follows an ebullient postulant from Nonnberg Abbey who serves as governess to the seven children of the imperious Captain von Trapp, bringing music and joy to the household.  But as the forces of Nazism take hold of Austria, Maria and the entire von Trapp family must make a moral decision.

 

Audition Requirements

• All roles are open and actors of all ethnicities are invited to audition. 

• All roles will require a musical audition.  Please prepare 16 bars of a song from The Sound of Music, or a song from a similar Golden Age musical.  No pop, rock, or rap please.  Please bring your own pre-recorded track to accompany your song, or bring sheet music and an accompanist will be provided.  Singing with no accompaniment at all is acceptable, but not encouraged.

• Many of the roles will also require a brief reading.  Please prepare by familiarizing yourself with the sides below.  There is no need to memorize the sides.    Each role has one or more numbered sides, which are indicated in the character description below.

 

Click Here to Download the Sound of Music Audition Sides

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Rehearsal/Production Dates And Double Casting of Children

Because The Sound of Music is such a popular musical, we will be presenting 14 performances rather than our usual 9 performance schedule.  Because there are 7 children featured in The Sound of Music, we will double cast the children to give more local children opportunities to perform, with each cast of children playing 7 performances.  The two groups of seven will be known as the Red cast and the Green cast.  The adults will not be double cast and will be appearing in all 14 performances.

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There will be a mandatory orientation meeting for the cast and the parents of the children on Thursday, August 31st at 6:30 PM at the Community Theatre.  That will be the only meeting until we begin rehearsal in October.  The Sound of Music will rehearse Monday – Thursday, 6:30-9:30 PM starting Monday, October 16 through Opening Night, December 1st.  Thanksgiving week (week starting November 19th) we will only rehearse Monday and Tuesday, and the final week of rehearsal (called tech week) we will rehearse every night starting Sunday, November 26th – Thursday, November 30th. Although not every actor will be called for every rehearsal, actors should assume they will be called for most rehearsals, especially as we go closer to the opening.  The Rehearsal Schedule lists all rehearsals and who will be called.  This Rehearsal Schedule is subject to change.

Click Here to Download the Rehearsal Schedule

 

 

Performances will be presented as follows:

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Performance Date      Time.        Children’s Cast

Friday, December 1   7:30 PM   Red Cast

Saturday, Dec 2        2:00 PM.  Green Cast

Saturday, Dec 2        7:30 PM.  Red Cast

Sunday, Dec 3          2:00 PM.  Green Cast

Thursday, Dec 7        7:30 PM   Red Cast

Friday, Dec 8            7:30 PM   Green Cast

Saturday, Dec 9        2:00 PM   Red Cast

Saturday, Dec 9        7:30 PM   Green Cast

Sunday, Dec 10        2:00 PM   Red Cast

Thursday, Dec 14      7:30 PM   Green Cast

Friday, Dec 15          7:30 PM   Red Cast

Saturday, Dec 16      2:00 PM   Green Cast

Saturday, Dec 16      7:30 PM   Red Cast

Sunday, Dec 17        2:00 PM   Green Cast

 

 

The Sound of Music Characters:

Please note: The age ranges listed are the characters’ ages, not the ages of the actors.

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ADULT CHARACTERS:

Maria Rainer (belt/soprano, dance, 20-25) A postulant at Nonnberg Abbey – young, free spirited, warm, gentle and kind with much determination.  Should sing The Sound of Music, I Have Confidence, or Do-Re-Mi for the audition.  Familiarity with acoustic guitar preferred but not required.

Captain Georg von Trapp (baritone, moves well, 35-45) A retired Austrian naval captain. Polished, yet very military in the way he runs his life to repress his sadness over the death of his wife; underneath, he is warm, understanding, and determined.  Familiarity with acoustic guitar preferred but not required.

Mother Abbess (legit soprano, wide vocal range to Ab6, 40+, very strong actress) Motherly, understanding, strong and authoritative, but kind.  Should sing Climb Ev’ry Mountain for the audition.

Sister Margaretta (mezzo, moves well) Mistress of Postulants, very kind, understanding and concerned.

Sister Berthe (alto, moves well) Mistress of Novices, prudish, straight laced with a quick tongue, she is less tolerant than other nuns.  Doubles as party guest Frau Zeller, and Fraulein Schweiger in Festival Concert.

Sister Sophia (soprano, moves well) Neither demanding nor critical, sticks with the rules.  Doubles as Baroness Elberfeld and trio member in Festival Concert

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

Elsa Schrader (mezzo soprano, moves well, 35-45) A baroness of taste and elegance, attractive, sophisticated, dignified and mature.

Rolf Gruber (low tenor, dance, 17) Suitor to Liesl, telegram delivery boy, later Nazi soldier. A very pleasant young man who makes the wrong choice.

Franz (non-singing, 30+) The von Trapp butler, rather formal but not without spirit, he is very German and loyal to the Fascist cause. 

Frau Schmidt (non-singing, 30+) The housekeeper, stoic, very little personality; she does her job efficiently but without affection. Strong and somewhat dominating.  Doubles as trio member in Festival Concert.

Herr Zeller (non-singing, 40+) Stern and unsmiling, a Nazi official whose primary concern is to see that everyone toes the line.

Baron Elberfeld (non-singing, 40+) Neighbor to the von Trapps and a loyal Austrian, opposed to the Nazis. Doubles as trio member in Festival Concert.

Admiral von Schreiber (non-singing, 40+) Admiral von Schreiber is a German Navy Admiral who is in league with Hans Zeller and intends to bring Captain Georg von Trapp into the service of Nazi Germany.  Doubles as the priest in wedding scene.

 

CHILDREN’S CHARACTERS:

Liesl von Trapp (mezzo, dance, 16) The oldest child, blossoming into a young lady with an interest in boys. She has a maternal edge to her and cares very deeply for her younger siblings.

Friedrich von Trapp (age 14) Tough exterior, very much trying to be “the man” of the family.

Louisa von Trapp (age 13) Rebellious attitude.

Kurt von Trapp (age 10) Gentle and mischievous.

Brigitta von Trapp (age 9) Smart, reads a lot.

Marta von Trapp (age 7) Very sweet and gentle.

Gretl von Trapp (age 6) Must have the cute factor.