​The Averitt Center is YOUR community arts center, and auditions are open to EVERYONE. No experience is required. Even if you have never been in a production before, don’t be shy about auditioning. During each season, we have roles of all sizes for adults, teens, and children.

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A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

Direction by  Robert Cottle

Book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart

Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

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About the Show:

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Book by Burt Shevelove & Larry Gelbart, Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and based on the plays by Plautus. Originally produced on Broadway by Harold S. Prince.

 

A fast-paced, musical comedy takes situations from 2000-year-old stories, adds the energy of vaudeville, and the plot twists and mistaken identity of farce to create one classic show.  The clever slave, Pseudolus, plots to earn his freedom by winning the hand of a lovely courtesan for his young master and ends up in quite a few tangled schemes in the process.

Sondheim’s Tony Award-winning musical comedy is a story of shenanigans, hijinks, and tomfoolery as a lowly servant endeavor to scheme his way to freedom in this antic romp through Rome with desperate lovers, scheming neighbors, and scandalous secrets behind every toga. The plot twists and turns with cases of mistaken identity, slamming doors and a showgirl or two. This big Roman musical will have you dancing in the aisles with the infectious energy of classic vaudeville!

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Audition dates:

Saturday, August 19th

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Location: Whitaker Black Box Theater, Averitt Center for the Arts

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Time:  9 am - 1pm

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Auditions will include:

• A singing portion - Please bring your music; actors are encouraged to sing songs from the show.

• A reading portion - Actors will be asked to read for characters.

• A dance portion - Actors will be shown choreography and asked to copy.

• Please bring a resume and headshot, if you have one.

• Please be prepared to provide all potential conflicts

• Actors should be prepared to read from the script, readings will be given at auditions.

• Please bring appropriate clothing/shoes for a dance/movement audition. 

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Schedule of performances 

October 12-14th 7:30 pm

October 15th at  3:00 pm

 

Roles:

Every role is open to all ethnicities; diversity is important to see on the stage. All roles are for ages 16 and older.

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Pseudolus-   A Roman slave, owned by Hero.  Quick-witted and scheming.

Male, age 30 to 50. Vocal range: A2-A4.

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Senex- An old man and father to Hero and hen-pecked husband to Domina.

Male, age 45-60. Vocal range: B2-G4.

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Domina- Senex’s wife. A shrewish woman: controlling, demanding, and manipulative.

Female, age 40 -60. Vocal range: B3-F5.

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Hero- The young son of Senex and Domina. Practical, privileged, romantic.

Male, age 20-30. Vocal range: B2-G4.

 

Hysterium- The chief slave in the House of Senex.  Anxious and loyal; the order he so desperately wants for everything eludes him.

Male, age 40 to 55. Vocal range: D4-G5.

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Erronius- An old man, searching for his lost children.

Male, age 45-70. Vocal range: B2-G4.

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Miles Gloriosus- A captain in the Roman army. Commanding, boastful, manly and strong.

Male, age 25-35. Vocal range: B3-F5.

 

Lycus-  The buyer and seller of the flesh of beautiful women.

Male, age 40 to 50. Vocal range: A3-F5.

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Philia-  One of Lycus? courtesans, still a virgin. Young, pretty, devoted ingenue.

Female, age 18 to 25. Vocal range: B3-G5

 

Ensemble-

Courtesans (6x): Female ensemble from the house of Lycus.

 

Gymnasia: (Greek for “Athletic”)

 

Tintinabula: (Latin for “Bells”)

 

Vibrata: (Latin for “Vibrant”)

 

Geminae (2x): (Latin for “Twins”)

 

Panacea: (Greek for “Cure All”)

 

Proteans (3x):  Plays multiple roles (slaves, citizens, soldiers, and eunuchs).