Auditions Announced for ONCE (The Musical)

Director/Choreographer
SHARON A. WILCOX
Music Director
DAN RINGUETTE

PERFORMANCE DATES:     Sat., Feb. 3, 2018 |  8PM
Sun., Feb. 4, 2018 | 2PM
Fri., Feb. 9, 2018 | 8PM
Sat., Feb. 10, 2018 | 8PM
Sun., Feb. 11, 2018 | 2PM

Monday, November 6, 2017 at 7:00pm (by appointment)
Tuesday, November 7, 2017 at 7:00pm (by appointment)
                                  
All roles are open to audition.  We are specifically seeking talented actor/musicians of ALL ethnicities, who can also act and sing, for this musical production (4-5 women; 7-8 men, 1 girl). This musical is based on the film ONCE. 
 
Please sing a short folk/rock song (one minute or less) in the style of the show; and if you are able, please be prepared to accompany yourself on the instrument that you are most proficient in. There will be a keyboard in the room.  Actors must bring any other instrument(s) they intend to play for the audition.  If you play any of the other instruments listed below, please submit video links of you playing those as well. Please feel free to submit band reels and other promotional material for review! 
 
Instruments needed in ONCE: Piano, guitar, violin, cello, double bass, electric bass, mandolin, ukulele, accordion, banjo, harmonica and drums/percussion.
 
Playing an instrument is not a requirement for the audition for this show.  If you do not play an instrument, we will have an accompanist available.  If you do not play an instrument, please come with sheet music clearly marked for the accompanist.  This does not apply to Girl (who must play piano) and Guy (who must be an excellent guitar player).
 
Please note:  The traditional orchestra stipend may apply to actors serving as musicians.  There will be scheduled orchestra rehearsals outside the performer rehearsal schedule for all musicians (including actor/musicians) and therefore a stipend may be available to those performers doing double duty in the production.
 
Rehearsals will be held three nights per week on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7:00-10:00pm beginning Tuesday, November 28, 2017.  Tech week rehearsals will be Sunday through Thursday, January 28-February 1, 2018.  We do ask that Friday, February 2, 2018 be held in case an additional tech week rehearsal is needed.  The pickup rehearsal will be held on Thursday, February 8, 2018.

If you are unable to make the mandatory tech week rehearsals and/or pickup rehearsal, we will be unable to cast you in this production.

The Warner Stage Company is a regional community theatre company and does not offer compensation or housing for performers.
 
CALLBACKS:        Thursday, November 9, 2017 at 7:00pm (if needed)
 
AUDITIONS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

ABOUT THE SHOW
You know the story: Guy meets Girl. But in ONCE, an unconventional and romantic musical based on the award-winning 2006 film, what follows is not a traditional love story. Guy, a heartbroken musician busking for coins on the streets of Dublin, meets Girl, a Czech immigrant with a complicated history and a broken vacuum cleaner. Despite their differences, Guy and Girl find common ground, a shared language, and genuine love in creating music together. With a cast of incredible actor-musicians who accompany themselves on the soaring, gut-wrenching folk-rock score, ONCE is a uniquely theatrical experience that will move you to laughter, to tears, and to a deep understanding of the particular joy of joining together in song.
 
Featuring all of the magical songs from the critically acclaimed film, including the Oscar-winning "Falling Slowly," this achingly beautiful, joyously uplifting show strikes an unforgettable chord in audiences and speaks to the power of music to connect us all. A show like that only comes around ONCE.
 
CHARACTER LIST (ALL ROLES ARE OPEN)
PLEASE NOTE: If possible, all actors in the cast of ONCE may play at least one instrument. However, unlike most productions of this musical, the instrumentation in the Warner Stage Company production will be less specific to the character. For example, Andrej usually plays the double bass and Svec usually plays drums. This may be reversed in this production, depending on the actors. This does not apply to Girl (who must play piano) and Guy (who must be an excellent guitar player).

Instruments needed in ONCE: Piano, guitar, violin, cello, double bass, electric bass, mandolin, ukulele, accordion, banjo, harmonica and drums/percussion.

GIRL, Female, 20-35, mezzo soprano; direct, intelligent, no nonsense and witty. Should have something ‘other’ about her. Has had to work hard at life but doesn't think she deserves any sympathy. Must play the piano and sing extremely well. Should have a strong Czech (Eastern European) accent.   

GUY, Male, 30-39, baritone; a busker who, after suffering a painful breakup has decided to give up on his music and has resigned himself to living a life as a vacuum machine repairman, and living along above his dad's shop; brooding and charismatic. Must play the guitar and sing extremely well.  Should have a strong Irish accent.   

BILLY, Male, 30-49, baritone; a large Irish man. Owner of the music store where Girl plays piano. Loud, funny and protective of Girl but also has a vulnerability. Must sing and play guitar well. Should have a strong Irish accent.  (If following the original production casting, Billy also plays Ukelele, Cajon, Snare Drum)  
  
REZA, Female, 25-29, Soprano; a sexy, funny, smart Czech girl. Often a bit larger then life. Must sing well and ability to play violin/fiddle is a bonus. Should have a strong Czech (Eastern European) accent.  

BARUSKA, Female, 45+, alto; mother of Girl. A cool but caring Czech mother who likes a full house and full stomachs. Not many inhibitions. Must sing and should play the accordion/piano well. Should have a strong Czech (Eastern European) accent.  (If following the original production casting, Baruska plays piano, accordion, Tambourine, Melodica)   

BANK MANAGER, Males & Females, 30-49, tenor/alto; seems quite prim and proper but has a secret passion for music. Must sing and play guitar & cello well. Should have a strong Irish (Cork) accent.   

DA, Male, 50+, baritone; Guy's dad. A man of few words, but a lovely and caring father. Should play guitar, ukulele/mandolin well. Should have a strong Irish accent.   

SVEC, Male, 20-39, baritone; a real odd ball. Loves television and coffee. Playing guitar & drum kit well is a plus. Should have a strong Czech (Eastern European) accent.  (If following the original production casting, Svec plays Banjo, Guitar, Mandolin, Drum Set)  

ANDREJ, Male, 20-29, baritone; earnest and kind. It works well if he has a slight build, made slighter by his oversized interview suit. An employee at a fast food chain, but has big dreams. Should play guitar & bass guitar extremely well. Should also have a strong Czech (Eastern European) accent.  (If following the original production casting, Andrej plays Electric Bass, Ukelele, Tambourine, Cajon, Guitar)  

EAMON, Male, 20-49, baritone; the music studio manager where Guy and Girl record their album. A tough nut to crack but eventually gives into the musician’s talents. Must sing well; playing guitar (& piano) well is a plus. (If following the original production casting, Eamon plays Guitar, Piano, Melodica and Harmonica). Should have a strong Irish accent.

EMCEE, Male, 20-49, baritone; the emcee at a bar. A good-natured ball buster. Must sing well, playing guitar (& piano) well is a plus. Should have a strong Irish accent.   

EX-GIRLFRIEND, Female, 20-39, mezzo-soprano; Guy's ex-girlfriend who now lives in New York. Kind, lovely and likeable. Playing violin well is a plus. Should have a strong Irish accent.   
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IVANKA, Female. 7-10, mezzo-soprano; the sweet-natured daughter of Girl, should be comfortable on stage and have the ability to sing. Note: Should be between 40 and 45 inches tall.