Audition Notice - The Wizard of Oz

By L. Frank Baum

With Music and Lyrics by Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg

Background Music by Herbert Stothart

Dance and Vocal Arrangements by Peter Howard

Orchestration by Larry L. Wilcox

Adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company 

Based upon the Classic Motion Picture owned by

Turner Entertainment Co. and distributed in all media by Warner Bros.

Directed by Trinidad Snider

Musical Direction by Matthew Dolan

Choreography by Andrea Belser-McCormack

"And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true."

L. Frank Baum’s classic novel comes to life on the Near West Theatre stage! This adaptation features all the songs and moments from the 1939 classic film, that you know and love. Dorothy Gale is swept away by a tornado from her home in Kansas to the magical Land of Oz. There, she encounters a group of whimsical characters, from witches, good and bad, to munchkins, to flying monkeys, oh my! To make her way home, she must follow the Yellow Brick Road to meet the all-powerful Wizard in Emerald City. Along the way, she makes new friends, who on the journey, find things within themselves they never knew existed. They have to use their brains, follow their hearts, and find the courage to defeat the Wicked Witch of the West, who will stop at nothing to get her hands on Dorothy and her magical ruby slippers. To make it back safely, Dorothy must learn an important lesson: there’s no place like home.

THE WIZARD OF OZ is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC. www.concordtheatricals.com

Fall Intergenerational Production, Ages 7 & up

CASTING - Near West Theatre is committed to authentically casting to ensure that all marginalized groups are represented. 

Character Descriptions

DOROTHY GALE: Female Identifying, (Mezzo/Mix) Young Kansas girl, earnest, expressive, and strong-willed, in search of something more. A very strong singer who moves well.

HUNK / SCARECROW: Any Gender Identity, (Baritone) Plucky and clever in a pinch, even while lacking a brain. Looking for a strong singing voice and an excellent dancer – acrobatic skills are a bonus.

HICKORY / TIN MAN: Any Gender Identity, (Baritone/Tenor) Desperate for a heart. A kind-hearted romantic. Looking for a strong singing voice and someone who can move well.

ZEKE / COWARDLY LION: Any Gender Identity, (Baritone) A mix of bravado and cowardice.  A warm presence with excellent comic timing. Looking for a strong voice and someone who can move well.

ALMIRA GULTCH / WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST: Any Gender Identity. Character villain with an over-the-top stage presence. Excellent comic with a killer cackle. Sings comically but doesn’t have to sound good.

PROFESSOR MARVEL / THE WIZARD:  This role has been cast.

GLINDA: Any Gender Identity, (Soprano) Glinda is the Good Witch of the North. Benevolent and beloved. Strong singer.

AUNT EM: Female Identifying. Aunt Em is demanding but loves her niece. Non-singing.

UNCLE HENRY: Male Identifying. Dorothy’s pleasant uncle. Non-singing.

EMERALD CITY GUARD: Any Gender Identity, (Baritone) Strong comic performer with a big presence.

MUNCHKINS: Any Gender Identity. The little people of Munchkinland. Long oppressed, and happy to be freed, the Munchkins will (mostly) be played by children. Group singing and coordinated movement are required. Dance experience is a plus. There are some featured roles among the munchkins, such as The Coroner, The Lollipop Guild, and The Lullaby League.

ENSEMBLE ROLES: Any Gender Identity. All Ages. WINKIES/ FLYING MONKEYS/ OZIANS/ JITTERBUGS - The chorus of the show, with featured speaking/vocal/dancing roles available. Singing and movement are required. 

Auditions 

• You must be at least 7 years of age to audition.
• Audition dates are scheduled for Tuesday, September 5, Wednesday, September 6 & Thursday, September 7, from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM.  Anyone auditioning will be required to stay for the entire time. Please register below to reserve a space.
• Callbacks are scheduled for Saturday, September 9, from 10 AM to 3 PM.
• Our audition process involves group work, in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. You do not need a headshot or resume, and no preparation is required. It is a group experience of theatre games, improvisation, characterization, and movement. Simply come as you are, in comfortable clothing, and be ready to engage with your peers. Decisions and notifications will be made by the end of the following week 

Expectations

• Cast members are expected to prioritize rehearsals during the eight (8) weeks this production rehearses and for the nine performances.
• Any known rehearsal or performance conflicts need to be communicated to the Stage Manager and/or Director by the end of your audition.

Rehearsals

• The first week of rehearsals will be September 24, 25, 26, and 27.
• General days for rehearsal are Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and some Thursdays.
• Rehearsal times will vary.  A weekly updated schedule will be distributed by Thursday of every week.
• Generally, rehearsals are Sunday –12 PM to 4 PM; or 5 PM to 9 PM (based on availability)/Monday – Thursday 7 PM to 10 PM.  Participants age 15 and under will be dismissed at 9:PM.  
• Two weeks prior to tech week, and during tech week, rehearsals will be extended to 10:00 PM but will not go past 10:30 PM.

Tech Week  (Attendance is mandatory during this week!)

• Sunday, November 12 is Tech Sunday.  Participants are required to be here from 12 PM to 10 PM.  A potluck dinner will be scheduled for this day.  
• Monday, November 13 - Thursday, November 16 is Tech Week.  The call times for these rehearsals are typically 6 PM to 10:30 PM.    This is the part of the process where we begin to add all the technical elements. 

Performances

• The performances are scheduled for November 17, 18, 24, 25, 26, and 30 December 1, 2, & 3. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday shows are at 7:30 PM and Sundays are at 2 PM.
• Call times for the cast are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 6:00 PM and Sundays at 12:30 PM.

Registration is full at this time.  For more information, please contact Trinidad Snider at tsnider@nearwesttheatre.org.