Check out this great video put together by Marketing Director, Geoff Short, highlighting our recent photo shoot for the 2011-2012 season brochure!
‘Miss Saigon’ Auditions
Auditions for Ages 13 (entering high school) - 19
May 24, 25 & 26
(Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)
7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
This is a group audition. Come one of these evenings.
Plan to stay for the entire time specified.
Audition Location: St. Patrick’s Club Building
West 38th St. & Bridge Ave. in Ohio City
Arrive 15 minutes early to register
Anyone arriving after the starting time will not audition that day.
About the Show:
Music by Claude-Michel Schonberg Lyrics by Richard Maltby Jr. and Alain Boublil Adapted from the original French lyrics by Alain Boublil Additional material by Richard Maltby Jr. Orchestrations by William D. Brohn Originally produced on the stage by Cameron Mackintosh *This production licensed by Josef Weinberger Ltd. on behalf of Music Theatre International & Cameron Mackintosh Ltd.*
Miss Saigon, brings Puccini’s Madame Butterfly to post-millennium America in a moving testament to the resiliency of the human spirit. In the final chaos of the Vietnam War, an American soldier and a Vietnamese girl fall in love, only to be separated during the fall of Saigon. This is an intimate story of love, war, loyalty, survival and a mother’s drive to give her child a future of promise. Raw and uncompromising, Miss Saigon is an intense experience of the losses suffered and the sacrifices made in a fearful world using violence to achieve peace. Songs include: “The Movie In My Mind”, “Sun & Moon” and “The Last Night of the World.”
About the Audition:
Looking to build a large, racially & ethnically diverse cast of characters. All roles are open. No experience necessary. No prepared material needed. A relaxed, playful and friendly atmosphere. Wear comfortable clothing & shoes for dancing so you can move easily.
Group audition process. Actors are led through multiple improvisational exercises including acting, movement and singing.
Rehearsals begin Sunday, June 12, 2011
The show runs July 22-August 7, 2011
Miss Saigon MAJOR PRINCIPAL ROLES
We will be flexible in casting around age and ethnicity.
ALL ROLES ARE OPEN FOR AGES 13 (entering high school)- 19.
Chris (Tenor to G#, 20 -30s, Caucasian or African-American)
Disillusioned and conflicted marine. Strong conscience.
Kim (Belt or strong mix to E, late teen – 20′s+, Asian)
A young, innocent orphaned Vietnamese woman. Determined,
maternal.
John (25-40+ Non-Asian. Tenor to Bb)
Chris’s superior officer and friend. Passionate and full of life.
Gigi
An experienced bar-girl, crowned “Miss Saigon”
The Engineer (35 – 55, Tenor or strong Baritone to G)
Owns “Dreamland” an after-hours club in Saigon. Eurasian or other ethnic background. Charismatic, chameleon, operator, pimp.
Thuy (20′s – 30′s+, Tenor to G#, Asian)
The man to whom Kim was betrothed by her parents. Militaristic. See things in black and white. Threatening.
Ellen (20-30′s, Belt or strong mix to E, Caucasian or African American)
Chris’s dutiful wife.
Tam (3 – 5 years old, Asian)
Kim’s very young son – may be played by a boy or girl
MANY MINOR ROLES &
LARGE MULTI-RACIAL COMPANY PLAYS
American GI’s of all types, pimps, bar girls of all races, refugees, tourists of all types, vendors
The Road “Into the Woods”
Geoff Short, Near West Theatre’s Director of Marketing and creator of the “Call-Back” video series that featured our production of Rent School Edition last summer, has created a new series about the process and stories associated with our upcoming production of Into the Woods. Check out the videos and then go here to purchase tickets!
Part 1
Part 2: Joe & Jill
PITCH-IN PARTY!
PITCH-IN PARTY FOR:
Saturday, April 16th
Noon until 4:00pm
Our Technical Director Josh Padgett and the design team need your assistance with building scenery, painting, costumes, props and lighting.
If you can, please come and join them if only for a couple of hours.
The theatre will be open at 10a.m. if you want to come earlier.
Pizza & pop will be provided.
For more information, call Josh at 440-915-5484.
Thanks so much!
‘Into the Woods’ production image
A few weeks ago, some of the members of our all-star cast gathered for a photo shoot. Those photos were masterfully adapted by our set designer, Laura Carlson Tarantowski, into the ominous, haunting image below:
Join us as we journey Into the Woods- May 6-22! Get tickets by calling 216-961-6391 or visiting www.nearwesttheatre.org.
Near West needs YOU!
SHARE IN THE THRILL OF LIVE THEATRE!
Get involved as a
Front of House Volunteer
2010/2011 Season
In keeping with our mission to include and involve our community, we invite you to join us as a Front of House (FOH) volunteer for either or both of our next two shows this season.
We are especially in need of:
bakers for concessions and house managers
Of course, we also need house greeters, concessions workers, gift shop salespersons, ticket takers and assistants at the box office.
(Ages 8 & up are welcome)
Whether you have helped us before or this would be the first time, your commitment to make the Front of House work smoothly is greatly appreciated not only by Near West, but our audiences as well. Our FOH volunteer recruiter, Sue Stewart, (a volunteer as well) will begin her search for volunteers for Into The Woods in the next couple of weeks.
If you’d like to help one night or more, please contact Sue: 216-861-0318
or susanstewart11@aol.com.
For more information, visit us at www.nearwesttheatre.org
Into The Woods (need 126 volunteers)
May 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21& 22, 2011
Miss Saigon (need 112 volunteers)
July 22, 23, 28, 29, 30 August 5, 6 & 7, 2011
Our theatre is located at St. Patrick’s Club Building
3606 Bridge Avenue in Ohio City
House Greeters
Concessions Workers
Gift Shop Salesperson
SPACES ‘Wagner Apocalypse’
Near West Performers & Friends- Looking for an exciting performance opportunity this weekend? Check out the information below about an innovative project being taken on by SPACES. Don’t delay- RSVPs need to be received today!! (Near West Theatre has no direct association with this production. We are just passing on an opportunity!)
SPACES is seeking performers to join a one-night experimental production of Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle, WAGNER APOCALYPSE, orchestrated by Los-Angeles based performance artist Liz Glynn as part of the Machine Project residency. The performance is scheduled for SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26th, at 8pm, at SPACES.
WAGNER APOCALYPSE is a silent re-enactment of the complete stage directions from the Ring Cycle. The stage directions will be projected like a silent film in the background; the performance appears as a walk-through rehearsal, in which performers seek to embody the epic through simple bodily gestures. The performance was originally developed for the L.A. Opera’s Ring Cycle Festival in 2010.
No vocal skill, or professional experience is necessary, though we would love to have experienced actors and actresses engage in this experiment.
Performers are asked to convene 90 minutes prior to the start time at SPACES for a brief introduction to the piece. Pizza, beer, and refreshments will be provided.
Please rsvp to lizglynn@machineproject.com by Thursday at midnight.
MORE INFORMATION FROM LIZ:
The idea is to take this epic “gesamptkunstwerk” and strip off many of the layers which make opera difficult to access. This follows the legacy of Brecht, whose theories led to several hyper-minimal productions of Wagner following WWII which removed the baroque naturalism which had become equated with the Nazis and German nationalism, and focused the attention on the emotional and psychological dynamics of the opera. Wagner Apocalypse operates at the margin where the participants are quite literally going through the motions in order to construct this emotional exchange.
The piece was developed for the Ring Cycle Festival in LA in 2010, but a lot of my research looked at the evolution of the Bayreuther Festspiele, the opera company founded by Richard Wagner himself and operated by his various descendents since his death. This company has been emblematic of the battleground over interpreting Wagner politically / socially. My favorite production is the one by Patrice Chereau from the 70s.. Flight of the Walkure (theme from Apocalypse Now)–that one is really amazing, as they’re actually dragging corpses across the stage.
Images of “Street Beat” from Near West Theatre!
Enjoy a few photos from this year’s benefit for Near West Theatre, “Street Beat”!
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‘Into the Woods’ auditions start tonight!
Artistic Director, Bob Navis Jr., talks about Into the Wood auditions…
Audition information:
INTO THE WOODS
For Ages 16 & up
INTO THE WOODS
For Ages 16 & up
February 22, 23 & 24
(Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)
7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
This is a group audition. Come one of these evenings.
Plan to stay for the entire time specified.
Audition Location: St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
West 78th St. & Lake Road
Arrive 15 minutes early to register
Anyone arriving after the starting time will not audition that day.
(This production will include a small group of children
who will be added to the cast by invitation.)
About the Show:
Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim Book by James Lapine
Originally directed on Broadway by James Lapine Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick
An ambivalent Cinderella? A blood-thirsty Little Red Riding Hood? A Prince Charming with a roving eye? A Witch…who raps? They’re all among the cockeyed characters in James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim’s fractured fairy tale. When a Baker and his Wife learn they’ve been cursed with childlessness by the Witch next door, they embark on a quest for the special objects required to break the spell, swindling, lying to and stealing from Cinderella, Little Red, Rapunzel and Jack (the one who climbed the beanstalk). Everyone’s wish is finally granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later, with disastrous results. What begins a lively irreverent fantasy becomes a moving lesson about community responsibility and the stories we tell our children.
About the Audition:
Looking to build a large, racially & ethnically diverse cast of characters. All roles are open. No experience necessary. No prepared material needed. A relaxed, playful and friendly atmosphere. Wear comfortable clothing & shoes for dancing so you can move easily.
Group audition process. Actors are led through multiple improvisational exercises including acting, movement and singing.
Rehearsals begin Sunday, March 13, 2011
The show runs May 6 to 22, 2011
THOUGHTS FROM THE DIRECTOR……
Hi Everyone!
I’m thrilled you are curious about auditioning for Into the Woods, our upcoming spring production at Near West Theatre. This is a Sondheim treasure! Funny, gripping, sophisticated and ruthlessly honest when dealing with human nature.
A wonderful group of designers and I are conceiving a fresh production, staged in the round, with an expanded COMPANY. The “Chorus” members will play other fairytale characters living in this mythical kingdom. These characters will be chosen and created to more fully develop the aspects of the plot that deal with the village and the impact our main characters’ choices have on the greater community.
So, for example, because of the WOLF, we could add the Three Little Pigs, because of RED RIDING HOOD’S love of eating, we could add the gingerbread (“not my gumdrop buttons”) boy. How about adding Pinocchio, Hansel and Gretel or even the 3 men in a tub!!! The imagination goes wild. Think Into the Woods meets Shrek. Anyway…just come. A fun and irreverent time is promised all. This is going to be a hoot! Plan to delve.
To enchantment! Bob Navis Jr., Artistic Director
Character Breakdown:
CINDERELLA- Soprano- Earnest, warm-hearted.
CINDERELLA’S FATHER- Baritone
CINDERELLA’S MOTHER- Mezzo-Soprano
CINDERELLA’S PRINCE- Baritone- Vain and gorgeous.
CINDERELLA’S STEPMOTHER- Mezzo-Soprano- Mean-spirited.
FLORINDA- Soprano (Mezzo-Soprano)- Cinderella’s stepsister, lovely but black of heart.
GIANT
GRANNY- Red’s fiesty, savage grandmother.
JACK- tenor- The feckless Giant Killer, almost a man.
JACK’S MOTHER- Mezzo-Soprano- Browbeating and weary.
LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD- Soprano (light Mezzo-Soprano) A spoiled smart aleck.
LUCINDA- Mezzo-Soprano- Cinderella’s stepsister, lovely but black
of heart.
MYSTERIOUS MAN- Baritone- A mischievous vagrant.
NARRATOR- Baritone- Intellectual and pleasant.
RAPUNZEL- Soprano- A loopy-but-lovely maiden.
RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE- Baritone- Just as vain and gorgeous.
SLEEPING BEAUTY
SNOW WHITE
STEWARD- Surly and bureaucratic.
THE BAKER- Baritone- Harried and insecure.
THE BAKER’S WIFE- Mezzo-Soprano- Determined and bright.
THE WITCH- Mezzo-Soprano- Sarcastic, ugly-then-gorgeous.
WOLF- Baritone- Hungry and insatiable.
For information, call the director, Bob Navis Jr.
216-281-6879 orNear West’s Office 216-961-9750
Near West Theatre Office
6514 Detroit Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44102
Performance Site
St. Patrick’s Club Building
3606 Bridge Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44113
www.nearwesttheatre.org
Near West Theatre is an open & affirming organization.
Monday February 21
**The Gathering at Edgewater Park has been cancelled due to the ice and weather conditions!
HOWEVER, we ask that between 12 and 1 p.m. today that you hold Near West Theatre’s future and promise in your heart and ask for blessing and expansion of resources. Ask for big daring dreams and the celebration of life and our future.
THANK YOU,
Near West Theatre Executive & Artistic Directors, Stephanie & Bob**
Dear Friends of Near West Theatre,
We are asking people to join us at Edgewater Park, lower beach level, under Mother Willow at 12 Noon this coming Monday.
We will join our spiritual forces to ask the Universe/God/Goddess/Vortex/All That Is to open to Near West Theatre an immense river of financial support as we have a particularly golden opportunity for a large sum of money to come our way during the coming week.
It will be short.
We will have a fire going. There will be drumming.
We will send a unified, passionate message out that WE ARE READY and deserving of unlimited financial abundance. We are ready to move!
If you cannot join us at the park, join us with your mind and spirit between 12:00pm and 1:00pm.
That’s this Monday, February 21.
Thanks so very much!
Sincerely,
The Staff of Near West Theatre
