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Event Series:
THE BOY FROM OZ
THE BOY FROM OZ
16 June @ 2:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Written By: By Arrangement with David Spicer Productions www.davidspicer.com.au Music and Lyrics by Peter Allen. Book by Nick Enright Original Production by Ben Gannon and Robert Fox
Creative Team: DIRECTOR: Selena Britz
MUSICAL DIRECTOR: Jane Feast
CHOREOGRAPHER: Carmel Vistoli
The Boy From Oz is the most successful Australian musical ever and the first to make it to Broadway. It is a musical biography/tribute to the late great Peter Allen. Peter Allen was born in the outback Australian town of Tenterfield in 1944. He made his entertainment debut at the age of 5 impersonating Al Jolson. As a teenager he became a pop star and then toured Asia. There he met Judy Garland who took him to London where he met and become engaged to her daughter Liza Minnelli. In the US Peter enjoyed the highs of success by winning an Oscar, selling out performances in Radio City Music Hall, and receiving adulation when he returned to Australia. There were also plenty of lows … breaking up with his wife, staging a Broadway flop, the death of his partner and his own battle with illness. Peter Allen had an extraordinary life which producer Ben Gannon realized had the potential to become a magnificent musical and with Robert Fox they turned it into the smash hit it became.
The Boy From Oz is a class above all other ‘jukebox’ musicals. The late Nick Enright skillfully weaved his plot around the life and complexities of Peter Allen. The songs and lyrics sit easily with the rhythm of the piece and with the characters as they enter and re-enter his life, be they dead or alive. It leaps, as does Peter himself, from past to present and back to past all within the familiar context of one of his energy-packed concerts.
Information Session: 03/06/2024
Maylands Church of Christ Hall, corner Portrush Road and Nora Street Maylands at 7:45 pm
Audition Information: TRYBOOKING
| Audition Information #:0 | |
| Date: | 16/06/2024 |
| Time From – Time to: | 2:30 pm to 10:00 pm at Maylands Church of Christ Hall, corner Portrush Road and Nora Street, Maylands |
| Audition Information #:1 | |
| Date: | 17/06/2024 |
| Time From – Time to: | 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm at Maylands Church of Christ Hall, corner Portrush Road and Nora Street, Maylands |
| Character Descriptions #:0 | |
| Role Name: | PETER ALLEN (Male) |
| Gender: | Male |
| Stage Age: | 30 |
| Role Information: | The great Australian entertainer, singer, songwriter, and dancer. Looking for a triple threat … and more! A mammoth role that anchors the show, Peter covers all emotions, works the audience by breaking the fourth wall convention, and moves the story line through flashback, narration, humour and drama. A dynamic, exhaustingly energetic song and dance man with his own brand of Australian charm who is capable of holding an audience and leaving them yelling for more. Should be able to recreate the Peter Allen style, manner, and charisma. Let old You Tube clips of Peter be your guide! Please do your research! Ability to play piano is an advantage. Stage Age: negotiable, ideally around 30yrs Vocal Range: High Baritone / B-flat Falsetto Dancer Audition Songs: Not the boy next door. Bars 29-52 |
| Character Descriptions #:1 | |
| Role Name: | YOUNG PETER ALLEN (Male) |
| Gender: | Male |
| Stage Age: | 10 |
| Role Information: | He will dance, he will sing, he will do anything! Looking for a capable singing voice and the ability to tap-dance is a must. Energetic and optimistic and full of hope Stage Age: around 10yrs Vocal Range: Middle C# – D (treble/unchanged voice) A short dance routine in audition appointment – please bring tap shoes. Audition Songs: When I Get My Name in Lights |
| Character Descriptions #:2 | |
| Role Name: | MARION WOOLNOUGH (female) |
| Gender: | Female |
| Stage Age: | 50 |
| Role Information: | Peter’s Mother; Solid, supportive, “good sport” type. Played mostly through flashback. Marion provides the insight into Peter’s childhood in 1950’s rural New South Wales. She and Peter have a strong bond with shared interests in music and movies and she is fiercely protective of Peter’s emerging talent and defends it against her drunken husband’s disapproval. Her heartfelt “Don’t Cry Out Loud” as the show reaches its climax carries a lot of gravity. Australian accent required. Stage Age: mid 50s Vocal Range: E (below the stave) to B-flat on stave. Strong Lyrically Connected Singer with Character Voicing. Good mover Audition Songs: Don’t Cry Out Loud (in full) |
| Character Descriptions #:3 | |
| Role Name: | JUDY GARLAND (female) |
| Gender: | Female |
| Stage Age: | 40 |
| Role Information: | One of the greatest, if not THE greatest singing stars of the Hollywood Golden Era of Musicals. Smokey, Star Power, Attitude, Sarcasm, Witt and Endearing with a good balance of Troubled History, Experience and Exhaustion. Looking for a truthful re-creation of Judy. Check out You Tube Clips of her television show and the recent film starring Renee Z. Judy’s gestures, vibrato and mannerisms are iconic and very distinct. Please do your research. AGE: 40 – 55 ys Some dance. Vocal Range: E-flat below the stave to A on the stave Short movement routine will be taught during their audition appointment. Audition Songs: All I wanted was a dream. In full. |
| Character Descriptions #:4 | |
| Role Name: | LIZA MINNELLI (female) |
| Gender: | Female |
| Stage Age: | 20 |
| Role Information: | Strong triple threat performer, however living in the shadow of her famous mother until her own iconic career takes off. Married to Peter; her career overshadows his. Eventually their marriage breaks up, however Liza and Peter remain soulmates. Quirky, energetic, stylish and a true theatre beast. Liza has a very distinct sound and distinct mannerisms we wish to capture. Watch Liza perform “And The World Goes ‘Round” and ‘Liza With a Z’ concert or any materials you can on You Tube. Please do your research. be a strong singer and dancer. Early in her career, this is Liza as the star is born; at first a little quirky and awkward, her self-confidence grows and gives way to the Liza with a ‘Z’. Stage Age: 20s Vocal Range: F (below the stave) to C# on the stave Strong dancer with star quality and sense of style. Great Fosse skills highly regarded. Audition Songs: Sure Thing Baby. Bars 8-44 I’d Rather Leave While I’m In Love |
| Character Descriptions #:5 | |
| Role Name: | THE TRIO: (KAREN, SHENA & LINELLE) (females) |
| Gender: | Female |
| Stage Age: | Any |
| Role Information: | Exceptional singers, strong dancers/movers. The trio are part of Peter’s show, interacting with him and the audience in the cabaret-style presentation. They are entertainers and present much of the music of the show either as vocal leads or backing singers to Peter. We are looking for confident personalities with experience in part-singing. Stage Age: any Vocal Range: Low E-Flat – Bb (above stave), most often split into SSA. Short movement routine will be taught during their audition appointment. Audition Songs: Not the boy next door. Bars 61-75 |
| Character Descriptions #:6 | |
| Role Name: | GREG CONNELL (male) |
| Gender: | Male |
| Stage Age: | 30 |
| Role Information: | Peter’s partner. A sexy Texan cowboy-type. Could be mistaken for the strong silent type, until you get to know him; he is sincere, realistic, loving, and quite cheeky. Texan Accent preferred. Stage Age: 30s, comparable to Peter Vocal Range: Middle C – D in stave Audition Songs: I honestly love you. Bars 13-37 |
| Character Descriptions #:7 | |
| Role Name: | CHRIS BELL (male) |
| Gender: | Male |
| Stage Age: | 20 |
| Role Information: | Singer and dancer. A young song-writer and other half of the Allen Brothers, with Peter. A confident performer who enjoys the song-and-dance man life, just enough fame and fortune to do well with the ladies and ‘live the life’. He knows what he’s good at and is happy enough with that. Stage Age: 20s Vocal Ranger: Middle C – D in stave Dancer. Audition Songs: Pretty Keen Teen. Bars 6-32 |
| Character Descriptions #:8 | |
| Role Name: | DEE ANTHONY |
| Gender: | Male |
| Stage Age: | 50 |
| Role Information: | CHARACTER DESCRIPTION. Dee Anthony is a US artist’s manager of renown. Described as “barrel-chested with a bark that came from deep down, the guttural dialect of the New York boroughs. You could hear the guy coming a block away.” AGE: 50+ VOCAL: Non-singing role |
| Character Descriptions #:9 | |
| Role Name: | DICK WOOLNOUGH |
| Gender: | Male |
| Stage Age: | 50 |
| Role Information: | Dick Woolnough is a brooding Australian from Armidale, who never lived up to his potential. An alcoholic with a tendency towards violence. Strong Actor with physical presence. AGE: 50+ VOCAL: Non-singing role If necessary Dick and Dee could be played by the same actor. |
| Character Descriptions #:10 | |
| Role Name: | WALLY BELL |
| Gender: | Male |
| Stage Age: | 45 |
| Role Information: | CHARACTER DESCRIPTION: Strong Character Actor/Singer. Wally Bell is a self-made entrepreneur and father of Chris Bell. AGE: 45+ VOCAL RANGE: Any, strong singer. |
| Character Descriptions #:11 | |
| Role Name: | VALERIE ANTHONY / JOSIE MANN / VARIOUS OTHERS |
| Gender: | Female |
| Stage Age: | 35 |
| Role Information: | Strong Character Actor/Singer. Josie Mann is an Aussie, salt of the earth, country pub owner. Valerie Anthony is a New Yorker, supporter of the arts and married to Peter’s manager, Dee Anthony. Will take many of the minor female speaking roles. AGE: 35+ VOCAL RANGE: Any, strong singer. DANCE ABILITY: Mover |
| Character Descriptions #:12 | |
| Role Name: | CHRIS BELL/ENSEMBLE |
| Gender: | Male |
| Stage Age: | 20 |
| Role Information: | CHARACTER DESCRIPTION: Strong triple threat. The other half of the The Allen Brothers, a young pop duo styled on the Everly Brothers. AGE: 20s VOCAL RANGE: C3 – G4 DANCE ABILITY: Must have solid jazz technique and show excellent ability in a range of theatre dance styles/periods. |
| Character Descriptions #:13 | |
| Role Name: | ENSEMBLE |
| Gender: | Undefined |
| Stage Age: | Any |
| Role Information: | All experienced Dancers and Strong Singer/Actors. A variety of smaller roles will be played by ensemble members. Diversity encouraged. VOCAL RANGE: Any, strong singers & mix of ranges DANCE ABILITY: Must have solid jazz technique and show excellent ability in a range of theatre dance styles/periods. Rockette style and tap skills are preferable and a good understanding of Fosse.From the male ensemble we will be casting: Brian Henderson – host of Australian Bandstand. Mark Herron – 30s, attractive fiancé of Judy. |
| Character Descriptions #:14 | |
| Role Name: | ALL AUDITIONEES |
| Gender: | Undefined |
| Stage Age: | Any |
| Role Information: | ALL AUDITIONEES WILL SING: 1. I Still Call Australia Home – bars 54-85. (Please note the change in time signature) 2. Don’t Cry Out Loud – bars 36- 52. |
More Information at: www.metmusicals.com.au
PLEASE NOTE: Audition bookings will be through TRYBOOKING from 9 pm on Monday 3 June
Contact: Carolyn Mesecke
themetsa@gmail.com
0407 457 821
