WaterTower Theatre Auditions for: A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER


WaterTower Theatre Auditions for:

A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER

By Steven Lutvak (composer/lyricist) & Robert L. Freedman (book/lyrics)

Director/Choreographer: Penny Ayn Maas

Music Director: Jeff Crouse

WaterTower Theatre is dedicated to diversity and inclusion as a core value, and as such we strongly encourage actors of all ethnicities, abilities, genders, and ages to audition. This production will be presented with very limited audience on The Terry Martin Main Stage. Seeking local hires only.

Must be willing to follow strict safety standards and agree to COVID testing which will be paid for by WTT. This production is approved under Actors’ Equity Fully Vaccinated Safety Standards.

All positions are paid. Equity SPT 6 (Small Professional Theatre) contracts available.

Rehearsals: 6/21/2022-7/19/2022 (typically Monday is the observed Equity day off)

Shows: Wednesday-Sunday: 7/20/2022-7/31/2022

About the Show: Running from 2013-2016 on Broadway winning 4 Tony Awards including Best Musical, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder centers on Monty Navarro, a penniless clerk who is informed after the death of his mother that he is ninth in line to inherit the earldom of Highhurst, controlled by the wealthy D’Ysquith banking family. After the imperious ruling Lord dismisses Monty’s claim of being a relative, the eight D’Ysquiths ahead of young Mr. Navarro begin dying in natural and unnatural ways. Meanwhile, Monty is desperately trying to woo money-minded Sibella Hallward —until he finds himself drawn to young Phoebe D’Ysquith. How will all these convoluted storylines come together?

This is a high-style, British farce & all roles require strong singers with comic skills.

Settings: Set in Edwardian London in 1907. All cast members must be familiar with British (RP) accent



ROLES:

We encourage performers to submit for any roles they are interested in; genders listed are those of the character, not the performer.

MONTAQUE (“MONTY”) NAVARRO: legit baritone, any race, male identifying, 25-40; unexpected leading man & heir to the D’ysquith family fortune, clever, charismatic, endearing, Monty breaks the fourth wall with ease and serves as the audience’s guide into his story often commenting on the action with great humor.

SIBELLA HALLWARD: legit mezzo soprano, any race, female identifying, 20 – 35; the girl that Monty loves, flirtatious, narcissistic, willful, calculating, and irresistible. A social climber with tremendous wit and style.

PHOEBE D’YSQUITH: legit soprano (sustained C#6 w/ optional Eb6), any race, female identifying 20-35; a cousin

THE D’YSQUITH FAMILY: baritone, any race, male identifying 30 – 65; must be a transformational comedic actor with a superb grasp on British farce. Role requires physical comedy and incredible stamina, portrays all the following D’Ysquith family members; ASQUITH D’YSQUITH a dandy, REVEREND LORD EZEKIAL D’YSQUITH a clergyman, LORD ADALBERT D’YSQUITH Eighth Earl of Highhurst, LORD ASQUITH D’YSQUITH SR a banker, HENRY D’YSQUITH a country squire, LADY HYACINTH D’YSQUITH a benefactress, LORD BARTHOLOMEW D’YSQUITH a body builder, LADY SALOME D’YSQUITH an actress, CHAUNCEY D’YSQUITH a janitor

ENSEMBLE: all 6 ensemble roles play multiple supporting characters

WOMAN #1: mezzo soprano, any race, female identifying, 30 – 60; plays Miss Shingle a Cockney housekeeper/governess who tells Monty that he is indeed a D’Ysquith heir. Also plays the tour guide, ancestral portrait, skater, wedding guest, pub owner’s wife, Mrs. Pebworth, Phoebe’s Maid, 3rd newsboy, mourner, servant

WOMAN #2: mezzo soprano, any race, female identifying, 30 – 60; plays tourist, ancestral portrait, skater, wedding guest, Mrs. Hetherington, 4th newsboy, mourner, and Lady Eugenia an unhappily married countess with a withering gaze.

WOMAN #3: soprano, any race, female identifying, 20 – 50; plays Sibella’s Maid, tourist, ancestral portrait, Miss Barley an alluring model, Wedding Guest, Hyacinth’s colleague, mourner, servant Hilda

MAN #1: baritenor, any race, male identifying, 20 – 50; plays tourist, ancestral portrait, 2nd clerk, skater, wedding guest, Copley Hyancinth’s colleague, 2nd newsboy, weightlifter, 3rd actor, mourner, ancestral bust, servant, Dr. Pettibone, guard

MAN #2: bass, any race, male identifying, 20 – 50; plays tourist, ancestral portrait, 1st clerk, skater, wedding guest, pub owner, Mr. Cross, 1st newsboy, 1st actor, Lord Asquith’s Physician, mourner, ancestral bust, and Detective Pinkney

MAN #3: tenor, any race, male identifying, 20 – 50; plays tourist, ancestral portrait, wedding guest, pub owner, Mr. Goodsall, 2nd actor, mourner, Mr. Gorby, Lord High Steward, The Magistrate



We encourage performers to submit for any roles they are interested in; genders listed are those of the character, not the performer.

If you have any questions please email Associate Producer, Elizabeth Kensek at EKensek@watertowertheatre.org

VIDEO AUDITIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY end of day on November 29, 2021.

IN PERSON CALLBACKS WILL BE SCHEDULED PER EQUITY SAFETY GUIDANCE on December 4-5, 2021

To submit an audition:

  1. Please record a video of an appropriate song of your choice (16-32 bars). You may sing from the score if desired. Singing with a pre-recorded accompaniment track is perfectly fine- many are available free of charge on you-tube. Please make sure that your voice is audible in the video.
    1. If you require accompaniment tracks, please see the below selections for tracks and sheet music for songs selected by the music director. Actors are not required to record these specific songs, but are encouraged to use these resources if needed.
  2. Post your audition video to youtube/vimeo/dropbox
  3. And finally visit the following portal to submit your information, headshot, resume & link to your audition for the Creative Team to review: https://airtable.com/shrftYfgQeMVgNYkT

ALL VIDEO SUBMISSIONS WILL BE VIEWED IN FULL BY THE TEAM.


Accompaniment Tracks:

TENOR (Monty):

Sibella

ALTO/MEZZO:

Inside Out

SOPRANOS (Sibella):

I Don't Know What I'd Do Without You

SOPRANOS (Phoebe):

I've Decided to Marry You

BARITONE/BASS (D’Ysquith Family):

Better With A Man

Lady Hyacinth Abroad

I Don't Understand The Poor


All corresponding sheet music can be found here:

Gentleman's Guide Sheet Music