Image: UGA Theatre will hold auditions and callbacks for our Spring semester productions of Hayavadana, the New Georgia Group Grant production First Semester: A Musical, and Little Shop of Horrors in person at the Fine Arts Building on Baldwin Street on Saturday, October 21 between 9:00AM - 1:00PM in Rooms 115 and 51. For individuals who are unable to make the in-person audition, we are updating the below form to allow for a video submission. Please upload your audition video to a video-hosting platform such as YouTube, which allows you to leave it "Unlisted." Once uploaded, put the link in the appropriate field on the audition form.* *This option is for individuals who cannot make the general auditions but all directors would prefer in-person auditions if possible. CALLBACKS Monday, Oct. 23 @ 6:30PMHayavadana callbacksRoom 352 Tuesday, Oct. 24 @ 6:30PMFirst Semester: A Musical callbacks - SidesRoom 400 Little Shop of Horrors callbacks - MusicRoom 151 & Room 51 Wednesday, Oct. 25 @ 6:30PMFirst Semester: A Musical callbacks - MusicRoom 400 Little Shop of Horrors callbacks - Sides/ChoreographyRoom 151 & Room 51 Callback lists will be posted by NOON on Sunday, Oct. 22 at drama.uga.edu. AUDITIONS FORM AND SLOT SIGNUP Fill Out Your Audition Form: Link Here Secure Your Time Slot: Sign Up Here The DEADLINE for submitted the above information is Friday, Oct. 20 by 9AM. At that point the forms will be closed. Please ensure that once you've signed up for your time slot that your audition form is submitted via the above link. For general auditions please bring two copies of your headshot for the directors. If you need a headshot, contact Clay Chastain to arrange for one! The UGA Department of Theatre & Film Studies is dedicated to promoting diversity and providing an inclusive space on our stages. All roles are open to anyone regardless of ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability. Characters' gender-identity as described in casting notices only reflects the presentation of the character in performance of the play. The department is legally contracted to present the gender of the characters as the playwright intended, but this in no way implies a restriction in casting non-binary or trans actors. Show-Specific Audition Information HAYAVADANA | Information Girish Karnad, the well-known actor of stage, television, and screen wrote the play while he was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University. There are excellent roles for all those who are cast in the play. There are three leading roles for men and three for women, as well as excellent supporting roles for at least 3 women and 3 men. The play is set in a colorful area of rural India and is supported by musicians and dancers. Masks and puppets are also used in the performance. At least three readings will be held before the end of this semester and a regular schedule of rehearsals will begin the first week of Spring semester. The show opens February 16, 2024. For questions, contact director Farley Richmond CAST BREAKDOWN Padmini Principal female and center of the conflict of the play. Charming, attractive, and fickle. Vacillates between intellectual attraction and physical appeal. Kali Talkative goddess. A smaller but important role. May also be cast as a musician. Kapila Rough and handsome. Devadatta's friend. In love with Padmini, Devadatta's wife. Devadatta Padmini's husband. An intellectual with a poetic nature and sensitive to the love that his wife has for his best friend. Bhagavata The "stage" manager who speaks with the audience and characters and moves the action of the play forward. He comments on the action from time to time. Ganesh The god of good fortune. Nata A frightened actor. Second Actor Also frightened. Hayavadana Half-horse, half-man. He's not happy with his present state. Two Dolls Sharp tongued little creatures who comments on their masters and their lot in life. May be played by a man and a woman or two women. Chorus & Musicians May be men/women who aid in the progress of the dramatic action. Link for Callback Sides for Hayavadana FIRST SEMESTER: A MUSICAL | Information First Semester: A Musical follows Alicia, a chronic overachiever with an undiagnosed anxiety disorder whose fervor for her first semester is thwarted when she falls for an older guy who breaks her heart. Between her plummeting grades and her long-time friend taking collegiate excess to its extremes, Alicia must find a way to navigate her uncertain new reality. This musical is an exploration of identity, dating, friendship, girlhood, and mental health at one of the most vulnerable stages in one’s life. For auditions, please make note of the requirements of Little Shop of Horrors, as we will be auditioning for First Semester based on whichever pieces you choose for Little Shop. We are seeking 3 female principles (1 mezzo, 1 alto, 1 soprano), 1 male principle (must be a strong tenor). There are 10 smaller roles, which are gender flexible, but at least half must be male. We may expand the size of the ensemble. Link to more information (Included within: Sheet music, sides, voice recordings, links to practice tracks for callback materials, and a copy of the script and synopsis). For questions, contact Wyn Alyse Thomas CAST BREAKDOWN ALICIA BRANTLEY 18-year-old freshman. Female. Extrovert. Wide-eyed and hopeful. Very bright, attending school on a full scholarship. Anxious. Can’t deal with uncertainty. Mezzo soprano, a mixer TIFFANY* Freshman. Female. A good girl in high school with a very strict mom. Has been best friends with Alicia for a few years. Mezzo belter GABRIELLE Freshman. Female. Roommates with Jessie. Gives great advice. Soprano JESSIE Freshman. Female. Sweet, funny, supportive. Alto ZACH FULLER 21-year-old junior. Male. Christian. Awkward, but the cutest smile you’ve ever seen. Introvert. Tenor ALEX A therapist on campus. Any gender, preferably female. RON Older student. A pessimist. Any gender, preferably male. TAYLOR Alicia’s O-Chem TA. Any gender, preferably male. PROFESSOR JACKSON Alicia’s organic chemistry professor. A hardass. Preferably female, but ONLY if RON and TAYLOR are BOTH male DANCE TEACHER Teaches waltz at Zach’s church. Any gender. JASON A frat guy. TODD A frat guy. BEN A frat guy. FRANK A guy Tiffany hooks up with. MAMA Alicia’s mom. *The role of TIFFANY is precast as Jenna Gubran. LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS | Information A deviously-delicious Broadway and Hollywood sci-fi smash musical, Little Shop of Horrors has devoured the hearts of theatre goers for over 30 years. Howard Ashman and Alan Menken (Disney's The Little Mermaid, Beauty and The Beast, and Aladdin) are the creative geniuses behind what has become one of the most popular shows in the world. The meek floral assistant Seymour Krelborn stumbles across a new breed of plant he names "Audrey II" - after his coworker crush. This foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore promises unending fame and fortune to the down and out Krelborn as long as he keeps feeding it... blood. Over time, though, Seymour discovers Audrey II's out-of-this-world origins and intent towards global domination! We are seeking actors/dancers and understudies to play 8 main roles plus potential additional ensemble roles. Anyone interested in auditioning for a role: please prepare a short monologue (1-2 minutes max), plus up to one-minute excerpt from an appropriately stylistic song showcasing your range and abilities. GENERAL AUDITION REQUIREMENT: One monologue, no longer than 2 minutes, plus up to 1 minute cut of a song appropriate stylistically to the show. This will be a preliminary audition singing/monologue only. Dance call will occur at the call backs. PLEASE NOTE: That this production involves kissing and simulated violence. An intimacy director and a fight choreography will be employed by the department in regards to these various elements. For individuals are interested in auditioning for the Urchins (Crystal, Chiffon, and Ronnette) please prepare 32 bars of a 60’s doowop style song. If you are interested in and Urchin as well as Audrey, you may prepare a song cut for Audrey and the included musical side from “Skid Row” (Alarm goes off at seven…). Keep an eye out around the Fine Arts Building to see a preview of the music/sheet music associated with this song... All performers interested in the role of Audrey II should be comfortable exploring the role stylistically as a drag style performance role. We will be using puppets for the early stages of Audrey II. However, in Act 2 we will begin to see Audrey II’s in their fully developed form, as a drag style performer. In addition, the rest of the ensemble may become a drag version of their character during “Don’t Feed the Plants”. All performers should feel comfortable learning choreography heavily influenced by both the Motown Music Scene and the revitalization of the Ballroom drag scene of the 60s–70s. REHEARSALS Rehearsals will begin in early February and will typically be M-F 6:30 – 10:30pm and usually 1 weekend day (2:30-6:30pm). Performances are scheduled for mid-April (April 11 – 21, 2024). All conflicts communicated prior to the acceptance of the role will be considered and the staging staff will do our best to accommodate requests. However, please note that this heavy ensemble driven musical will require a large time commitment if you are cast in one of the 8 major roles. All roles are currently open. CAST BREAKDOWN – Characters’ gender breakdown: 3M, 4F + Plant + Puppeteer+ Possible Ensemble Roles Character Description Age/Gender Vocal Range Seymour Krelborn An insecure, naïve, put-upon florist's clerk and eventual hero. He is a genuine, well-meaning man who is taken for granted because of his clumsy ways and poor social skills. Male, 25 to 35 G4 - A2 Audrey Bleached-blond, Billie-Dawn-like, secret love of Seymour's life. She has poor self-worth and education, but incredibly good looks and a sweet and vulnerable demeanor. Female, 25 to 35 D5 - G#3 Mr. Mushnik The seasoned owner of the failing East Side flower shop and Seymour's nosy boss. He is profit-driven, greedy, and manipulative. His accent, if he has one, is more that of middle-class New York then of Eastern Europe. He seldom smiles but often sweats. Male, 55 to 65 F4 - G2 Orin Scrivello An egotistical dentist with a passion for leather and sadistic tendencies. Audrey's abusive boyfriend, who is targeted by Seymour. (Please Note: This role may also play other roles including Radio Announcer, Mr. Bernstein, Mrs. Luce, Skip Snip, and Patrick Martin). Male, 30 to 40 G4 - G2 The Plant (Audrey II) The plant has an appetite for human flesh that is appeased by Seymour. AUDREY II is conniving, street-smart, funky, conniving 'villain.' - a Rhythm and Blues answer to Richard the Third. Please note: As the plant evolves, the plant reveals themselves as a drag persona. This actor must be comfortable with performing a drag style role and performance. Plant, Newborn G4 - G2 The Plant (Audrey II) – Puppeteer An anthropomorphic cross between a Venus flytrap and an avocado, the plant has an appetite for human flesh that is appeased by Seymour. Puppeteer play various sizes of the plant throughout the show till Audrey II reveals her real form in Act 2. Please note: This role may also play/voice other roles in the show.) Former puppeteering skills are a plus. N/A N/A The Urchins - Crystal, Chiffon, and Ronnette These roles are stylistically based on three famous 60s doo-wop African-American girl groups of the same names (The Crystals, The Chiffons, and The Ronnettes). These girls are street urchins, acting as the occasional Greek Chorus. They are young, hip, street smart, and are the only ones who have a grip on reality. The trio have many features throughout the show. If you are auditioning for them, make sure you listen to recording of each of the groups. Each character should bring stylistic choices from the group they represent to their character. Please note: Those wishing to audition for these roles should prepare one minute song in doo-wop style. Female, 20 to 35 F5 - Ab3 ADDITIONAL ROLES:Please Note: Typically, these roles are played/voiced by the actor who plays Orin, the dentist, see above for range. However, based on the turnout at auditions, these roles may be divided out to others. Dancers/Singers are encouraged to audition. Mr. Bernstein A fast-talking media maven Mrs. Luce The wife of the editor of LIFE magazine. Speaks with a slight English accent. Skip Snip A smooth, trench-coated East Coast talent agent for William Morris Agency. Patrick Martin Yet another sleazy opportunist, of the Licensing and Marketing Division of World Botanical Enterprises. A Voice Not Unlike God's Wino #1 Wino #2 A Customer A Radio Interviewer/Announcer For questions, contact director Daniel Ellis
