SPRING MUSICAL INFORMATION!
Time Stamps: 00:25-01:02
TREBLE VOICE AUDITION PIECES:
#1: Anything Goes: CORRECT KEY TO MUSIC: https://youtu.be/DiKZ-xWjnL0?si=gfDc7zDHjPiTrnn4&t=28
#2: (ALTERNATE)
HAS WORDS BUT NOT RIGHT KEY Sutton Foster - Anything Goes (Karaoke)
Time stamps: 00:37-01:12
#2: Blow, Gabriel, Blow: 'Anything Goes' - Blow Gabriel Blow (Karaoke Version)
Time Stamps: 00:36-01:09
TENOR/BASS AUDITION PIECES:
#1: It's De-lovely: It's DeLovely - Anything Goes (Cole Porter) Karaoke
Time Stamps: 00:08-00:46 (Billy's section)
#2: Be Like The Blue Bird: "Be Like the Bluebird" without vocals
Time Stamps: 00:06-00:55
#3: The Gypsy in Me: Gypsy In Me | Orchestral Backing Track | Anything Goes
Time Stamps: 00:00-00:50
Play Synopsis:
- The Setup: The ocean liner S.S. American sails from New York to England, filled with a colorful cast, including evangelist-turned-singer Reno Sweeney, her showgirls, and the gangster "Moonface" Martin.
- Billy's Mission: Billy Crocker stows away to win Hope Harcourt, but she's engaged to Lord Evelyn Oakleigh, a match arranged for business by her mother, Evangeline.
- Reno & Moonface's Help: Reno and Moonface (disguised as a reverend) join Billy's scheme, using their unique skills to disrupt the engagement.
- Farcical Antics: The voyage descends into comical confusion as Billy tries to woo Hope, Moonface evades the FBI, and various disguises (including Billy posing as a crew member) lead to hilarious mix-ups.
- The Climax: A chaotic wedding scene ensues where Billy, disguised, interrupts the ceremony, revealing the true motives behind Hope's engagement (a business merger) and leading to multiple pairings.
- The Happy Ending: The planned marriage is called off, Hope and Billy end up together, Reno finds romance with Evelyn, and even Hope's mother ends up with Billy's boss, Mr. Whitney, in a delightfully tangled conclusion.
As you prepare to audition for “Anything Goes” in February, here is a list of characters and their descriptions.
ELISHA J. WHITNEY is a rich businessman with expensive taste. He is demanding, straightforward, and knows what he wants. Cast a strong character actor who can convey status.
FRED is the owner of the bar in Manhattan who attends to Whitney while he waits for Billy. This is a fun cameo role for a young performer.
BILLY CROCKER is the show’s leading young man with stars in his eyes and a sweet, earnest disposition. He is Whitney’s assistant and gets in a ton of trouble in pursuit of love. Cast a fantastic singer and actor who can win the hearts of audiences with just one smile.
RENO SWEENEY is the show’s leading lady. She is foremost an entertainer and can command attention just by walking through the door. Reno enjoys the spotlight and easily makes friends with everyone she meets. Cast a performer who is a great singer, actor, and dancer and has a ton of charisma.
The SAILORS (including SAILOR 1 and SAILOR 2) are possibly the most recognizable characters from the entire show. They provide support and life for the world of the show. Cast a group of exuberant young performers who can sing and dance well.
The CAPTAIN is a man of authority, but he is a bit more concerned with making sure the ship has a celebrity aboard than the voyage itself. A young actor with a commanding presence will do the trick for this non-singing role.
The PURSER and the DECK STEWARDESS are essentially the Captain’s right and left hands. Cast a pair of young performers who can convey a sense of urgency and authority as they deal with each new situation onboard. These are great non-singing roles for students who can comfortably sustain characters for the length of the show.
The MINISTER, or Henry T. Dobson, is a pious, religious man traveling with his most recent converts. This performer should display a sense of calm and authority without effort. (only in beginning of show)
SPIT and DIPPY (or Luke and John) are two rascally New York City street toughs with a talent for gambling and picking pockets. Cast a pair of strong comic actors with good chemistry.
Reno’s four ANGELS are a pack of ladies with the vocal and dance stylings to back up Reno. Entertainers by profession, the Angels are filled to the brim with talent, sass, and charisma. Cast your strongest singers and dancers in these great featured roles.
MRS. EVANGELINE HARCOURT is Hope’s overbearing mother who truly wants the best for her daughter and herself, and she will go to whatever lengths necessary to make sure she doesn’t end up poor. This comedic, non-singing role is perfect for a performer with the ability to develop a broad character both in voice and physicality.
HOPE HARCOURT is the perfect mixture of poise and properness befitting her upper class status. While she does care about her place in society, love is what motivates her in the long run. Your performer should be a great singer and actor as well as the perfect companion to Billy.
LORD EVELYN OAKLEIGH is a British gentleman betrothed to Hope Harcourt. He is personable and enjoys meeting other people and learning about their lives. He may come off a bit stiff, but underneath this proper exterior is a generous man looking for excitement. This role is best suited for a great comedic actor.
MOONFACE MARTIN is a gangster who is on the run (as usual). Moonface may not be the smartest person in the world, but when he commits to an idea, he sticks to it. Cast one of your strongest actors who’s able to portray a fun-loving sense of trickery, is a solid singer, and who isn’t afraid to make big – and sometimes silly – choices.
ERMA is Moonface Martin’s partner in crime. Erma is certainly not intimidated by Moonface’s gangster reputation. This non-singing role is perfect for a young actress with a big personality who can hold her own opposite Moonface.
The ENSEMBLE is stocked full of vivid characters, including featured PASSENGERS, REPORTERS, PHOTOGRAPHERS, FBI AGENT 1 and FBI AGENT 2, an ANNOUNCER, an OLD LADY, and a COOK that help create the greater world of the ship and the play.
persuasive and extremely confident. Strong singing and dancing required, as well as comedic
timing. VOCAL RANGE: Alto/Belt.
RENO’S ANGELS – Four (4) backup singers/dancers in Reno’s act, they are showgirls with pizzazz
and personality. All roles require strong singing and dancing skills. VOCAL RANGE: Various.
HOPE HARCOURT - A beautiful heiress with a strong sense of duty, she is willing to sacrifice love and
marry to satisfy her mother’s wishes. Strong singing and dancing required. VOCAL RANGE: Soprano.
BILLY CROCKER – A young businessman who is in love with Hope, he charismatic and charming.
Strong singing required and should be able to dance or move well. VOCAL RANGE: Baritone/Tenor.
LORD EVELYN OAKLEIGH - Hope’s energetic, quirky, and good-natured aristocratic fiancé. English
accent, strong singing and the ability to move well also required. VOCAL RANGE: Baritone.
EVANGELINE HARCOURT - Hope’s overbearing mother who is mainly concerned with money and
social status. Sings with ensemble only.
MOONFACE MARTIN - A loveable gangster who is also loyal and willing to go the distance for a
friend. Requires strong comic timing, plus the ability to sing and move well. VOCAL RANGE: Baritone.
ERMA LATOUR - A playful, independent, impulsive, and loveably clueless “dame” – a typical 20’s
“gun moll” with a ‘Joisey’ accent. Strong singing and dancing. VOCAL RANGE: Mezzo/Belt.
ELISHA WHITNEY - A successful Wall Street banker who is nearsighted and thinks he is always right.
Ability to move well is a plus. VOCAL RANGE: Baritone
REGINALD STRONG – Captain of the S. S. American. Ability to move well is a plus. VOCAL RANGE:
Baritone.
MALE / FEMALE ENSEMBLE – Passengers, stowaways, and members of the crew of the S.S.
American. All must sing and move well. Various roles will be cast from the ensemble
Auditions: How to choose your acting audition monologue and sides based on interest in characters
You need to keep in mind the following when choosing your monologue:
-
THERE ARE SEVERAL CATEGORIES OF CHARACTERS IN THIS SHOW.
Love interests: Hope and Billy feature more “legit” soprano (H) and bari-tenor (B) voices due to the songs they are featured in. Billy needs lots of charm and timing, too. Hope should not be boring either! Watch versions to get ideas for her character.
Comedic characters:
Evangeline, Eli, and even the Captain and Purser must have very defined characters that bring out the comedy and have good timing. Evangeline is NOT a flat character—she overreacts, a LOT and needs an uppity accent. Eli Whitney is very proud of Yale—and is reactive and bold. The Captain/Purser have many lines that set up the joke or are the punchlines. All these sing with the larger group most of the time, and Eli has his Yale song. Excellent parts for good character actors!
Characters with defined accents: Moonie, Erma, Luke and John (Spit and Dippy) all speak with 1920’s/30’s Brooklyn/ “Joisy” (Jersey) accents as mobster, teen delinquent, and moll characters would. Moonie must have strong character with a lot of swagger, and he has a song. Erma also has a song and must have lots of flirt and spunk. The Angels also could have a bit of this.
Characters with defined accents: Lord Evelyn Oakleigh: He is a British character that is a gentleman and a bit of a fop. Must have comedic timing and ability to overplay reactions with an awkwardness that is funny. Must have British accent (straight, not Cockney)
Characters with strong presence and a bit of an accent: Reno Sweeney. She is a “belter” as a singer and is the focus of every scene she is in. Multiple solos that require lots of strength and sound, and comedic timing as she often has the punchlines.
Angels: Strong flirt, ability to dance, and sing in harmony.
YOU NEED TO CHOOSE A MONOLOGUE THAT AIMS FOR THE CHARACTER TYPE YOU ARE MOST INTERESTED IN.
A monologue is a solo acting piece that shows off your ability to play someone besides yourself in a big way. You should understand its situation and memorize it. Audition practices will help you plan movements that fit the place the scene happens in and your character.
Your monologue should be around a minute. (Do not longer than two minutes.) You will have a partner to “prompt” you during the performance—they will give you the next three words if you need a reminder. So, they will need a copy of the monologue on paper to do that.
Your monologue begins with your setting up chairs etc. to represent the setting, and then an introduction:
My name is __________________and I am in __________grade. I am performing a scene from ________________________ in order to show you the ________________character type.
In this scene, my character, _______________, has just been __________________________
And now they are speaking to __________________because _______________.
Then, you go and get in your starting position and begin the scene. Begin the scene and play BIG, LOUD, and SHOW OFF THAT CHARACTER TYPE! You told us that was what you are showing us, so make it obvious
Please use these characters from other shows as references you can look up online or on YouTube to home in on your character type and potentially find a monologue:
Billy :
Sky Masterson: Guys and Dolls
Bobby: Crazy for You
Don: Singin’ in the Rain
Frank Jr.: Catch Me if You Can
Hope:
Sarah: Guys and Dolls
Sandy: Grease
Laury: Oklahoma
Reno:
Lois/Bianca: Kiss Me Kate
Fanny Brice: Funny Girl
Mame Dennis: Mame
Sister Mary Clarence: Sister Act
Lord Evelyn:
Sir Joseph: HMS Pinafore
Lord Dunbury: Me and My Girl
Moonface Martin:
Nathan Detroit: Guys and Dolls
Leo Bloom: The Producers
Some Like it Hot
Anything James Cagney in films
Erma:
Trix: Drowsy Chaperone
Gloria: Damn Yankees
Smitty: How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Adelaide: Guys and Dolls
Evangeline Harcourt:
Moira Rose: TV show “Schitt’s Creek”
Mrs. Eulalie Shinn: The Music Man
Madame Dubonnet: The Boyfriend
Mrs. Higgins: My Fair Lady
Elisha Whitney:
Cosmo Brown—Singin’ in the Rain
Mayor Shinn—The Music Man
General Lord Eisenhower—Can-Can
Angels:
Kay Thompson Kittens—Funny Face
The Supremes: Dreamgirls
The Greek Chorus—Legally Blonde (also Hercules?)
Luke/John (Spit and Dippy):
Artful Dodger and Charley--Oliver!
Timon and Pumbaa—The Lion King
Gangsters—Kiss Me Kate
Captain/Purser:
Admiral Boom—Mary Poppins
Captain Corcoran—HMS Pinafore
Mayor Shinn—The Music Man
Max Detweiler—The Sound of Music