AUDITIONS

AUDITIONS

 

FRONT PORCH THEATRICALS

has  completed auditions for 

 

A…My Name is Still Alice

and

BANDSTAND

 

 

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About the shows:

May 17-26

A…My Name is Still Alice

This critically-acclaimed musical-sketch revue conceived by Joan Micklin Silver and Julianne Boyd, first produced in 1992 is a sequel to the hit musical revue A...My Name Is Alice. Written by a wide variety of writers, lyricists, and composers, this hilarious lively entertainment continues to explore contemporary women - this time in the 1990s. The five-member cast of women of different ages and types will present a wide variety of situations and relationships with insight, empathy and self-deprecating humor. The music ranges from gospel to country western to rock to some glorious pop ballads.

 

August 16-25

Bandstand

This Pittsburgh Premiere of an original new musical composed by Richard Oberacker with book and lyrics by Oberacker and Robert Taylor, is an unflinching and honest story about confronting the cost of war and finding salvation in the notes of a song.

It’s 1945. American soldiers return home to ticker-tape parades and overjoyed families, and Private First Class Donny Novitski, singer and songwriter, returns with the hope of rebuilding his life with just the shirt on his back and a dream in his heart. Donny joins forces with a motley group of fellow veterans, and together they form a band unlike any the nation has ever seen to compete in a national swing band competition.

Winner! 2017 Tony Award for Best Choreography – Andy Blankenbuehler

Nominee: Two 2017 Tony Awards, including Best Orchestrations

Winner! Two 2017 Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Orchestrations

Nominee: Seven 2017 Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding Music & Outstanding Book of a Musical

 

 

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About Front Porch Theatricals: 

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FRONT PORCH THEATRICALS is a Pittsburgh-based musical theater company recognized for producing high quality, professional musicals embracing meaningful subjects using Pittsburgh’s tremendous talent base. The Company, an IRS §501(c)(3) charitable organization that in 2016 proudly became an Allegheny Regional Asset District asset, produced Only Me in 2009; Next to Normal and In the Heights in 2012 and 2013 in association with Carnivale Theatrics; Parade in 2014; The Last Five Years and The Light in the Piazza in 2015; The Spitfire Grill and Floyd Collins in 2016; Violet and Big Fish (sold out run) in 2017, A New Brain and Grey Gardens (sold out run) in 2018, Bright Star and Fun Home in 2019 (largest season audience in our history), A Man of No Importance and Grand Hotel in 2022, and Falsettos and Merrily We Roll Along  in 2023. The Company's mission is to provide our region with professional, high-quality socially relevant musical theater productions featuring Pittsburgh's diverse actor, artistic and technical talent base. Emphasis is also placed on mentoring youth through our intern and apprenticeship programs and in hiring local artistic and technical talent to create a high-level professional vehicle for directors and artists to realize their visions. Front Porch emphasizes shows addressing serious social, cultural and moral issues and is deeply committed to inclusiveness and utilizing local performers and production team members.

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Performance Dates & Times: 

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A…My Name is Still Alice (8 performances): 

• Friday, May 17th, 8pm

• Saturday, May 18th, 8pm

• Sunday, May 19th, 2pm

• Wednesday, May 22nd 7pm

• Thursday, May 23rd, 7pm

• Friday, May 24th, 8pm

• Saturday, May 25th, 8pm

• Sunday, May 26th, 2pm

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Bandstand (8 performances):

• Friday, August 16th, 8pm

• Saturday, August 17th, 8pm

• Sunday, August 18th, 2pm

• Wednesday, August 21st, 7pm

• Thursday, August 22nd, 7pm

• Friday, August 23rd, 8pm

• Saturday, August 24th, 8pm

• Sunday, August 25th, 2pm

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Rehearsal schedules are still to be determined and will be available at auditions. Please check back later for updates. 

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Alice Breakdowns                                                         

 

WOMAN #1: LAURA - Mid 20’s to early 30’s, positive, a “cosmopolitan woman.”

 

WOMAN #2: KT - Early to late 30’s, sophisticated, but with a slightly demented sense of humor.

 

WOMAN #3: NANCY - Hispanic, early to late 30’s, an excellent dancer, very energetic with a sparkling personality.

 

WOMAN #4: CLEO - Black, 30-50, earthy and attractive, with a strong ironic edge.

 

WOMAN #5: ROO - 50’s to 60’s. Warm motherly type with a mischievous sense of humor.

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Bandstand Breakdowns

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DONNY NOVITSKI–Mid-twenties, ruggedly handsome with his Italian and Polish heritage. A piano (and accordion) prodigy, he is passionate about swing music and writing his own songs. While clearly shining with that elusive star quality, he carries the dark weight ofwartime experiences. Baritone/Tenor, B-flat 2 to B-flat 4

 

JULIA TROJAN–Mid-twenties, beautiful in a wholesome and effortless way. A gifted singer, but one without the drive to be a star. Her talent sare personal to her and not showy, a means of expression and discovery. She is smart, honest, and no one’s fool. Her star quality is born of her natural ability to simply tell the truth when singing; she is emotionally translucent on a stage. Soprano withstrong belt, G3 to F-sharp 5.

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MRS. JUNE ADAMS–Mid-forties to mid-fifties, she is Julia’s mother and a woman of very modest means. She has a nervous anxiety most of the time and a desire to please that belies a personal history filled with disappointment and loss. Out of this energy comes her very quirky sense of comedy. But her grounded honesty is never far away when it comes to Julia’s happiness. Alto, G3 to B4.

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WAYNE WRIGHT–Late twenties to forties, he is a gifted jazz trombone player and a veteran Marine Lieutenant. Wayne manifests his war experiences in a severe case of obsessive-compulsive disorder. He carries enormous tension in his body and mind and maintains an aloofness that hides his emotional turmoil. He is a man that can be very intimidating in his silence. High Baritone, C3 to B-flat 4.(*Must play trombone)

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JIMMY CAMPBELL–Twenties to thirties, he is a gifted jazz reed player, predominantly saxophone and clarinet. He is very bookish, thin, and well put together. He is wisely studying law, having just returned from the Navy. He has a careful and guarded personality but is fiercely loyal to Donny and the band. While the text never gives him away, Jimmy is privately gay and committed to fighting injustices in whatever ways he can. Baritone, C3 to G-sharp 4.(*Mustplay saxophone and clarinet)

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JOHNNY SIMPSON–Twenties to thirties, he is a drumming phenomenon. A returning Army Private, he suffers from severe back pain due to an injury requiring three surgeries. He is therefore reliant on pain medication, which affects his mental clarity. He also shows signs of traumatic head injury with memory loss. But mostly this all combines to give Johnny an almost childlike and gentle personality. He is by no means stupid–he has very honest insight–but he carries a charming simplicity that is in contrast to his sharp and impressive musical skills. HighBaritone, B2 to G-sharp 4.(*Must play drums)

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DAVY ZLATIC–Twenties to early forties, he is a wiz on the upright bass. A recent Army veteran who served in the European theater and liberated Dachau, Davy is modeled heavily on Shakespeare’s lovable Falstaff. A big man of big appetites, he drinks to no end and maintains a constant stream of silly jokes to entertain. He is an incredible talent and a loyal friend, playing the clown but in reality, the protector. Baritone,B2 to F-sharp 4.(*Must play upright bass)

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NICK RADEL–Late twenties to forties, he is a genius trumpet player. A recent veteran of the Army who spent the last months of the European battles in a German prisoner-of-war camp, Nick is a man desperate for career and personal security. He is outrageously confident in his gifts as a musician and always on the lookout for those who would short change him of his deserved credit and compensation. Everything seems to be a personal affront to him, and he has not yet been able to stop fighting for his life every day since returning to the home front. He prides himself on his ability to play exceptionally high notes on his trumpet and sometimes has a hard time being a team player. Baritone, B2 to F4.(*Must play trumpet)

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Woman 1: (Jean Ann Ryan/Ensemble)

JEAN ANN RYAN–Mid-thirties to late fifties, a glamorous local radio personality. Jean Ann prides herself on being the voice of several of WTAM Radio’s most popular programs. She believes herself to be more worldly and sophisticated than she likely is, but her outsized persona is matched by a sentimental and dramatic heart. A voice that recalls early Judy Garland and Kate Smith, she is a warm alto.

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Woman 2: (Jo/Ensemble)

JO –Late twenties to early fifties, a forthright owner of the hole-in-the-wall jazz club The BlueWisp. Jo is a woman in a man’s game and has incredible confidence. She’s possibly pretty masculine herself and doesn’t care who knows it. She’s proud of her little club and loyal to her musicians and her decidedly blue-collar clientele. Ensemble vocal track.

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Woman 3: (Paula/Ensemble)

PAULA–A woman of indiscriminate age, a no-nonsense New Yorker in the heart of the professional radio entertainment capital of the world. Ensemble vocal track.

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Woman 4: (Betsy/Ensemble)

BETSY–Late teens, an excitable bobby-soxer fan of the Donny Nova Band. She is all smiles and enthusiasm when meeting her favorite band. Her comic sense comes out of her blithe honesty and unabashed love of the music. Ensemble vocal track.

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Man 1: (Oliver/Ensemble) OLIVER–Mid-forties to early sixties, a magnanimous owner of one of Cleveland’s most popular nightclubs. The club that bears his name may not be the fanciest in town, but it is respected for its music scene. Oliver treats his guests like family and enjoys the spotlight whenever possible.Ensemble vocal track.

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Man 2: (Andre/Ensemble) 

ANDRE BARUCH–Mid-forties to mid-fifties, the real-life radio host and personality of several popular radio programs on NBC Radio in New York City. Andre is debonair and sincere with a classic radio voice that has the trained Mid-Atlantic accent of the time. Ensemble vocal track.

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Man 3: (Al/Roger/Ensemble)

AL–Mid-forties to early sixties, an elegant and gracious owner of the most prestigious supperclub in Cleveland, The Pavilion. He is suave and attentive to his guests but carries the confidence of the upper classes of Midwestern society. Ensemble vocal track.

ROGER COHEN–Late twenties to early fifties, a corporate businessman in the much larger entertainment machine of the National Broadcasting Company. Roger is officious, efficient, and very good at his job. While he enjoys show business and is comfortable and confident in its rarified world, he has no patience for conflict. Ensemble vocal track.

 

Man 4: (James/Ensemble) 

JAMES HAUPT–Early thirties to early fifties, a successful director of radio programs at NBC Radio in New York City. He has the slickness of a New York show business professional with all the attendant charm and smarts. He always appears genuine and gracious when dealing with the “talent,” but is all business behind the scenes. Ensemble vocal track.

 

Ensemble will portray:

 

Various SERVICEMEN, CLUB PATRONS, SWING DANCERS, WAIT STAFF, RADIO STAFF, STAGE HANDS, JAZZ MUSICIANS, CLEVELANDERS and NEW YORKERS

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2024 Season Schedule

Rehearsals and Performances

A…My Name is Still Alice

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First Rehearsal: Wednesday, April 24, 6PM-10PM Meet and Greet

First week: Tuesday April 23 6-10:30PM (Cast and Stage Management)

Wednesday through Friday 6-10:30PM

Saturday 12-5PM, Sunday 12-5PM

Second and Third Weeks

Monday-Thursday 6PM-10:30PM

Friday OFF

Saturday 12-5PM

Sunday 12-5PM

Sunday, May 12 Sitz Probe 6-9PM Orchestra Read 9-12PM

Monday, May 13 Load-in at Hazlett

Tuesday, May 14 Tech Rehearsal 6PM-10PM

Wednesday, May 15 Tech Rehearsal 10AM-10PM Orchestra 6-10PM

Thursday, May 16 Dress Rehearsal 6-10PM Orchestra 7-10PM

Friday, May 17 Performance 8PM

Saturday, May 18 Performance 8PM

Sunday, May 19 Performance 2PM

Wednesday, May 22 Performance 7PM

Thursday, May 23 Performance 7PM

Friday, May 24 Performance 8PM

Saturday, May 25 Performance 8PM

Sunday, May 26 Performance 2PM Strike

 

Bandstand

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First Rehearsal: July 22, 6PM-10PM

Monday-Thursday 6:30PM-10:30PM

Friday OFF

Saturday 12-5PM (Equity) 12-6PM non-equity

Sunday 12-5PM (Equity) 12-6PM non-equity

Sunday, August 11 Sitz Probe 6:30-9:30PM Orchestra read 1-5PM

Monday, August 12 Load-in at Hazlett

Tuesday, August 13 Tech Rehearsal 6PM-10PM

Wednesday, August 14 Tech Rehearsal 10AM-10PM Orchestra 5:30PM-9:30PM

Thursday, August 15 Dress Rehearsal 6-10PM Orchestra 7-10PM

Friday, August 16 Performance 8PM

Saturday, August 17 Performance 8PM

Sunday, August 18 Performance 2PM

Wednesday, August 21 Performance 7PM

Thursday, August 22 Performance 7PM

Friday, August 23 Performance 8PM

Saturday, August 24 Performance 8PM

Sunday, August 25 Performance 2PM Strike

 

Rehearsal schedule subject to change

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