Curtains AUDITIONS

CURTAINS THE MUSICAL

Book by Rupert Holmes, music by John Kander, and lyrics by Fred Ebb

Directed by Laura Jennings

Music Direction by Jared Duncan

Choreography by Becca Tischer
Presented by: Allen Contemporary Theatre

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0D4BACA62FA7F49-54789160-curtains#/

March 23 (6:00PM – 9:00PM) and March 24 (7:00PM – 10:00PM)

March 25 Invited Dance Callbacks and Callbacks (7:00PM-10:00PM)

Cast Meet and Greet/Script Delivery: TBD upon completion of casting

Rehearsals begin May 19, 2025 M-Th 7-10pm and Sun 5-9

Performance Dates: June 27-July 13

Thursday, Friday and Saturdays at 8:00PM; Sunday at 3:00PM

***Please note there is a performance July 4th. ***

This show will be performed with accompaniment tracks.

Audition Requirements:

Please prepare two contrasting pieces. 32 bars or 1 minute selection in the style of the show or classic Broadway. You may only be asked to perform one piece. You may sing from the show. Please bring your electronic tracks for your music selections on your phone. A Bluetooth speaker will be provided.
Cold readings from the script.
Invited callbacks and dance auditions are scheduled for March 25th. If invited to dance callbacks, and you tap, please plan to bring your tap shoes.
A minimal number of rehearsal conflicts will be accepted. No conflicts will be accepted during tech week starting June 22nd. Performance conflicts will not be allowed.
Actors will receive a stipend.

Brief Synopsis:

From the same music team that wrote Chicago and Cabaret, Kander & Ebb, CURTAINS is a hilarious, suspenseful, musical comedy murder mystery whodunnit. The year is 1959, and opening night of the “Oklahoma-esque” musical “Robbin’ Hood” starring washed up Hollywood diva Jessica Cranshaw. The entire cast and crew become suspects when Jessica mysteriously dies on stage. A local detective, who just happens to be a musical theatre fan, arrives on the scene to not only solve the murder, but make improvements on the show! Curtains is full of camp, cheese, melodrama, romance, drama, bouncy tunes, and exciting dance numbers. The Broadway production garnered 8 nominations at the 2007 Tony Awards® including Best Musical.

For Broadway soundtrack see:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAuYY1rdZj7Tz62kEKfkqpv88MncdNw-f&si=AwAOpnum2PjKu-KI

For reference, see the West End London trailer:

https://youtu.be/kRdMpHCz2EI?si=6v62Q6MQBZRbFsxV

Characters:

Actors of all ethnicities welcome.

The following are “suggested” age ranges by the publisher. Casting is open and will depend greatly on the ages of people auditioning to create believable relationships between the characters. Example: mother/daughter; husband/wife

Several actors are required to have kissing scenes. Consent will be discussed/given and an intimacy coordinator will be available, if required.

LIEUTENANT FRANK CIOFFI: This role has been precast.

NIKI HARRIS (30’s – lead - soprano) Pretty, sweet and almost too innocent ingénue, a local performer in a small role hoping “Robbin’ Hood” will be the show that takes her to Broadway. Love interest for Lieutenant Cioffi. Strong comedic skills, legit soprano and strong dancing.

GEORGIA HENDRICKS (30’s – mid-40’s, similar age to AARON – lead – mezzo soprano) Female half of our show-within-a-show’s songwriting team on the lyric-writing side. Ends up taking on the leading lady role. Must sing and dance extremely well.

CARMEN BERNSTEIN (45-65 – lead – mezzo soprano/alto) Brash and brassy Broadway producer. Terrific comedic actress with a belt. Actor must be comfortable using some PG-13 adult language.

AARON FOX (30’s – 40’s, similar age to GEORGIA – lead – tenor/baritone) The composer of the show-within-the-show. His songwriting partner, Georgia, is also his wife, from whom he’s separated but for whom he still pines. He’s a handsome, intense, somewhat tortured artist-type. Requires a strong vocalist with comedy. Playing piano is not required.

SIDNEY BERNSTEIN (Late 50’s-Mid 60’s – featured - non-singing role): The always-angry, sleazy, philandering producer of the out-of-town flop. Sidney is rough around the edges and completely self-serving. Requires a cartoon-like character actor who is funny on arrival. No singing required or dancing, but may join the ensemble if desired.

CHRISTOPHER BELLING (40-60 – supporting - baritone) English director. Very camp. Very droll. Noel Coward meets Addison DeWitt meets Clifton Webb. Requires a superb comic actor. British accent required.

BAMBI BERNÉT (Early 20’s-early 30’s – supporting - soprano) Performer in the chorus, daughter of CARMEN, step-daughter of SIDNEY. Brassy, snarky, but not the brightest bulb in the box. Hungry to work her way out of the chorus; many think she was only hired because of her mother. She surprises everyone, however, when she shows genuine dancing and singing talent when at last called upon. Requires great dancing, strong “street-smart dumb blonde” comedy, and singing. The character of “Princess Kickapoo” has been eliminated by the publisher.

OSCAR SHAPIRO (45-65 – supporting - baritone): from the garment district and sole investor in “Robbin’ Hood.” A likeably gruff man who knows nothing about theatre and frets over every dime of his that’s spent. Requires good “rough around the edges” comedy and singing.

BOBBY PEPPER (30’s to early 40’s, similar age as GEORGIA and AARON – supporting – tenor/baritone) The Gene Kelly of “Robbin’ Hood,” its choreographer and male star, and a handsome rival to AARON for GEORGIA’S affection. Very much leading man musical theatre type. Requires strong dancing, singing, comedy.

DARYL GRADY (30’s-40’s – supporting – non-singing role): Caustic and smug theatre critic for the local Boston newspaper. Patronizingly pompous, enjoys using his power to make or break shows during their Boston tryouts. Does not require strong singing or dancing, but may join the ensemble if desired.

JOHNNY HARMON * (30’s-60’s – supporting – any vocal range) Stage Manager of the show-within-the-show, and both drill sergeant and mother hen to the cast. Barks orders but has a pleasant side as well, he keeps the company in line and on their toes throughout the rehearsal process. Comic actor who can sing. Per the publisher, this role may also be played by a woman changing the name to JENNY HARMON.

JESSICA CRANSHAW (40’s-60’s – featured - soprano) Faded Hollywood star, a grand diva with no right to be one, and a plague to the show-with-the-show and to her cast. An absolutely dreadful singer and inept actress who stars in the show-within-a-show and gets murdered on its opening night in Boston. Must be a gifted comic actress. Skillful enough to sing hilariously out-of-tune and ineptly, and adroit enough to dance perfectly out of step with the rest of the cast. Appears only in the first scene of the musical, but then adopts a different look and joins the ensemble.

RANDY DEXTER (20’s – 30’s – featured – tenor/baritone) a member of the singing & dancing ensemble featured in “Kansasland,” pleasant but with a sensitive side. Comedic actor a must. Part of a men’s singing trio.

HARV FREMONT (20’s – 30’s – featured – tenor/baritone) a member of the singing & dancing ensemble who bears a bouquet. Comedic actor a must. Part of a men’s singing trio.

ENSEMBLE Casting a strong and busy ensemble to portray named characters in the script (MONA, ROBERTA, O’FARRELL, SASHA) and non-speaking ensemble. Looking for very versatile actors who can sing and dance well. Some ensemble members will be featured with lines or solos, and possibly dance solos. The ensemble is KEY to this show with so many large dance numbers and large ensemble scenes. Actors must have an understanding of melodrama, comedic timing, and “play within a play” acting skills.