Audition Notice: Cabaret

Cabaret

Book by James Masteroff
Based on the play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood
Music by John Kander
Lyrics by Fred Ebb

Director & Choreographer:  Vincent S. Ratsavong
Music Director: David Wright

Performances Dates: March 30 at 8pm, 31 at 2pm, April 5 & 6 at 8pm, 7 at 2pm, 12 & 13 at 8pm
Tech Dates (attendance is required): March 24 - March 29
Location: The Footlight Club, Eliot Hall, 7A Eliot Street, Jamaica Plain, MA
Rehearsals: Rehearsals will begin January 7th at 7pm and will typically be held on Mondays & Wednesdays from 7-10pm and Sundays from 1-5pm.

AUDITIONS: By appointment only, please sign up here.
Location: The Footlight Club, Eliot Hall, 7A Eliot Street, Jamaica Plain, MA
Dates: Monday, December 3rd & Wednesday, December 5th from 7pm - 10pm
Callbacks: Saturday, December 8th at 6pm. 


Audition Details:

  • Please sign up for a SINGING audition slot on 12/3 or 12/5 at 6:30-7:30pm or 8:30-9:30pm.

  • ALL MUST also sign up for a DANCE audition slot from 7:30-8:30pm on 12/3 or 12/5.

  • Please be prepared to stay for the entire hour of your singing and dancing slots.

Audition Requirements:

  • Audition forms can be filled out ahead of time (will be emailed out the week prior) or at the time of your audition.

  • Please arrive at least 15 minutes proper to your slot if you need to complete an audition form on site.

  • Bring a headshot and resume, only if you have one!

  • Know your conflicts to list on the audition sheet. Please be thorough.

  • Vocal Audition: Please prepare 16-32 bars of a Kander & Ebb favorite or a jazz standard and please bring music in the proper key. (Please, no a capella and no songs from Cabaret.)

  • Dance Call: The original Cabaret choreography was helmed by the great Bob Fosse. We will try to accomplish as much of the original choreography as possible. That being said, please be prepared to dance at auditions as all characters in this version of Cabaret require these skills. Please wear form fitting dance clothing to the audition. No loose fitting or baggy clothing will be permitted. Women, please wear character heels and men, please wear jazz shoes.

Show Summary:

Set in 1931 Berlin, as the Nazis are rising to power, Cabaret focuses on the nightlife at the seedy Kit Kat Klub, and revolves around young American writer Cliff Bradshaw and his relationship with English cabaret performer Sally Bowles. 


The Characters:
The Footlight Club welcomes and encourages qualified performers of all ages, ethnicities, body types, and genders to audition. Please feel free to audition regardless of the age and gender listed for each character.

Emcee, Lead, Male/Female 20-50
Vocal range: middle C to high C#, tenor; the host/master of ceremonies at the Kit Kat Klub--presented as a gender-questionable character comfortable with being close to both men and women; comedic, lovable; requires agile stage movement and dance; age range and appearance flexible, speaks with a German accent.

Sally Bowles, Lead, Female, 20-35
Vocal range: low A to high C, soprano, strong belt; a British cabaret singer at the Kit Kat Klub, a quirky character who comes across as flighty, yet at times struggles with knowing the darkness of the reality of her life as a cabaret performer; comfortable with stage movement and light dance; speaks with a British accent.

Clifford (Cliff) Bradshaw, Lead, Male, 20-35
Vocal range: low A to high E, tenor; an American novelist and English teacher traveling to Berlin; presented as a closeted gay man exploring his sexuality; comfortable with stage movement and light dance; speaks with an American accent.

Fraulein Schneider, Supporting, Female, 50+
Vocal range: low D to Ab above middle C, alto; a landlady who rents rooms in her large flat; comfortable with stage movement and light dance (waltz); speaks with a German accent.

Herr Schultz, Supporting, Male, 50+
Vocal range: low G to high F, tenor; one of Fraulein Schneider’s roomers and the proprietor of a fruit shop; comfortable with stage movement and light dance; speaks with a German accent.

Fraulein Kost, Supporting, Female, 25-40
Vocal range: low A flat to high F, alto/mezzo; another of Fraulein Schneider’s roomers, she earns money by offering favors to sailors, presentation of the character should exhibit a strong sexual comfort and commanding nature; comfortable with stage movement; speaks with a German accent.

Ernst Ludwig, Supporting, Male, 20-50
Sings in the chorus, vocal range flexible; a friendly and likable German, takes English lessons from Cliff, and smuggles funds for the Nazi party; comfortable with stage movement and light dance (waltz); age range is flexible, speaks with a German accent.

Kit Kat Klub Girls, Ensemble, Female, 18-35
Various featured roles; seeking strong singers in all voice parts; the individuals will also be part of various scenes as performers and as club patrons; the ladies can be of various shapes and sizes--the key is that they are comfortable with their femininity and scanty costumes that show off sex appeal; features (“Two Ladies,” “Telephone Dance,” etc.) will be drawn from this group; excellent dance skills required.

Kit Kat Klub Boys, Ensemble, Males & Females, 18-34
Various features; seeking strong singers in all voice parts; should be comfortable with portraying free in gender depictions; features (Bobby, Victor, “Tomorrow Belongs to Me,” etc.) will be drawn from this group; excellent dance skills required.