Upcoming auditions at ‘Players By The Sea’ for new show

So, you think you’ve got talent; well, Players by the Sea will hold auditions for the musical called “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” on Sunday, October 20 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Registration begins at 12 p.m.

Auditionees are asked to prepare 16 bars of a musical theatre song.  An accompanist will be provided, so those auditioning should bring sheet music with them.  No a cappella auditions or recorded accompaniment will be allowed.  A short movement audition will follow the singing portion, so attendees should be prepared to dance.  They may be asked to read from the script but preparation of a monologue is not necessary for this audition.

Players by the Sea is seeking a diverse ensemble cast of eighteen adults (age 18 and over).  All roles are available to any ethnicity.  Gender-fluid casting may also be considered. Roles are open to non-equity actors only.

Director, Michael Lipp said, “Farce is an exciting challenge for both the director and actor, and it requires painstaking specificity and a strong sense of comic split-second timing. I'm looking for a diverse cast as this is a meta "show within a show" and offers lots of roles that can be cast with many different "types." But comedy, and particularly farce, is tough so the cast needs to be ready to work!”

The show is based loosely on classical Roman comedies and tells the bawdy tale of a slave named Pseudolus and his attempts to win his freedom by helping his young master, Hero, woo the “girl next door.”  This hilarious farcical romp is filled with double entendres, puns, mistaken identity, comic deception, satirical comments on social class, and finally, true love.

Those interested in auditioning should bring a headshot and resume stapled if available (no previous experience is necessary), along with a list of all conflicts from October 20th through February 15th.  Please note: rehearsals will begin in early November and will be held primarily on weekday evenings and occasional weekend mornings or afternoons.  Significant time off from rehearsals will be provided the full week of Thanksgiving and the holiday break from December 21st. through New Year’s Day.  All cast members must be free of conflicts for all scheduled rehearsals the final two weeks, beginning January 13, and must be available for all performances.

Performance dates are as follows: January 24, 25, 30, 31, and February 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 2020.

About Players By The Sea — For over fifty-three years, Players by the Sea has brought quality creative and classic theatre to the Jacksonville community.  Players mission is to enrich the community through excellence in theatre.  The nonprofit community theatre welcomes all creative artists to participate in making the magic of theatre come to life, whether on stage, through advocacy or assisting backstage.