Theatre Arts

Foothill Music Theatre Announces Auditions for The Myster of Edwin Drood!

 Milissa Carey – Director

 Audition Dates & Times:  SMITHWICK THEATRE

Sunday, 9/22 5-8pm;      Monday, 9/23 6-9pm;     Tuesday, 9/24 6-9pm

 Callbacks:  

Saturday, 9/28, 11-3;     Sunday, 9/29, 4-8;     Monday 9/30 6-9pm

 Performance Dates: 

February  27th – March 15th, 2020, in the Lohman Theatre on the

Foothill College Campus

Thursdays 7:30; Fridays & Saturdays at 8pm; Sundays at 2pm 

Rehearsal Schedule: Music rehearsals begin Jan 7^th, 2020

Weekday evenings + Sat & Sun afternoons / Expanded Tech schedule

Please prepare a short, (1-2 min), song in the style of the show, songs from the show acceptable. Bring sheet music in your key. An accompanist will be provided. Please bring a headshot and resume. NO APPT NECESSARY.

 All roles are open. A Multi-Ethnic/Multi-Racial cast of 22-23 adults.

 Character Descriptions

YOUR CHAIRMAN or CHAIRWOMAN, MR. WILLIAM CARTWRIGHT (baritone, mezzo). The emcee and host of the Music Hall Royale. The Chairman sets the scenes and keeps the pace of the show moving. Frequently jokes with the audience and is the guide through the mystery. Doubles as the comic role of Mayor Sapsea. A seasoned showperson. Age: 30’s -50’s.

 JOHN JASPER (tenor or bari-tenor). The opium addicted choirmaster of Cloisterham Cathedral. He is madly in love with his music student and his nephew’s fiance Rosa Bud. Played by Clive Pagett, the charmingly egotistical leading man of the Music Hall Royale. Candidate for murderer and lover. Age: 20’s-40’s.

 EDWIN DROOD (mezzo ). John Jasper’s cocky nephew who goes missing on Christmas Eve. He has been engaged to Rosa Bud since they were very young. Played by the quite temperamental Alice Nutting- London’s premier male impersonator. Age: 20’s -30’s.

 ROSA BUD (lyric soprano). A sweet and innocent young lady who is uneasy about her music tutor’s (Jasper) passions towards her. Engaged to Edwin Drood, Rosa is unhappy with the arrangement. Played by Miss Diedre Peregrine, the ingénue of the Music Hall Royale. Candidate for detective, murderer, and lover. Age: 20’s -30’s.

 THE PRINCESS PUFFER: (alto). The down on her luck proprietress of the opium den that John Jasper frequents. Played by the bawdy Grande Dame of the Music Hall Royale, Miss Angela Prysock. A strong comedienne. Candidate for murderer and lover. Age: 30’s -60’s.

 HELENA LANDLESS (mezzo soprano). The mysterious young woman from Ceylon with a “somewhat untraceable geographical accent.” The fiery, temperamental twin sister of Neville. Played by the lively Janet Connover, Candidate for detective, murderer, lover. Age: 20’s -30’s.

 NEVILLE LANDLESS (baritone). The other half of the mysterious family from Ceylon. Neville has a very hot temper and immediately falls for Rosa Bud. He is the main suspect after Drood’s disappearance. Played by Victor Grinstead, the newest member of the Music Hall Royale. Candidate for detective, murderer, and lover. Age: 20’s -30’s

THE REVEREND CRISPARKLE (tenor/baritone). The sweet and kind minister at Cloisterham Cathedral who watches over the Landless twins. He once was in love with Rosa’s mother. Played by Cedric Montcrieffe- a character actor of the Music Hall Royale. Candidate for detective, murderer, and lover. Age: 30’s -50’s

BAZZARD (baritone/tenor). Aspiring playwright and assistant to Reverend Crisparkle. Played by Phillip Bax, the understudy for John Jasper and bit player waiting for a big break. Age: 20’s-40’s. Candidate for detective, murderer, and lover. If played correctly, a guaranteed audience favorite.

DURDLES: (baritone/tenor). The drunken stonemason who inscribes and oversees the crypts at Cloisterham Cathedral. Played by Nick Cricker, the clown prince of the Music Hall Royale. Candidate for murderer and lover. Age: 30’s -60’s

DEPUTY: (tenor/baritone) A young street urchin and apprentice to Durdles. Played by a relative of Nick Cricker who is just starting off in show business. The youngest member of the company. Candidate for lover. Age: Teens-20’s.

STAGE MANAGER, MR. JAMES THROTTLE (non-singing). Tries to keep the show on task. Age: 20’s – 60’s

DETECTIVE DICK DATCHERY: A mysterious white whiskered stranger who appears in Cloisterham after the disappearance of Edwin Drood. Played by Alice Nutting for most of the 2nd act. The audience then votes which character is wearing the Datchery disguise: Candidates: Rosa Bud, Neville Landless, Helena Landless, Bazzard, Rev. Crisparkle

Ensemble Characters: Citizens of Cloisterham; Ages 18-60 to play Townspeople, opium den customers, dancers, servants, police, street vendors, mob, etc. All ensemble members require a great deal of improvisation as they are responsible for joking with the crowd to warm them up and for tallying the hand votes for their designated section of the audience.

Foothill Music Theatre is not-for-pay.

For More Information:  Milissa Carey / careymilissa@fhda.edu

Parking at Auditions Closest parking to auditions is in Student Lot 1, immediately to your right as you enter the Foothill College Campus. There is a $3 parking fee in the lots at all times; permits are available from machines in the lots. If you are cast in the production, you will be given a free parking permit. Foothill College is located at I-280 and El Monte Road, in Los Altos Hills.