Joliet Drama Guilds Music Man Auditions

Music Man Auditions Will be held May 7th and 8th at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre from 7 - 10 PM, with callbacks scheduled for May 10th with those same times.
This production will be under the direction of Mr. Kit Crawford, director of many shows at Plainfield North High School over the past 7 years, and numerous shows before that. He will be assited by Music Director Chris Hasson, Choreographers Michael Mendoza and Kalista Roling, with the talented Vera McCary as Costumer.

Here is a list of the characters in the show, for those who may be unfamiliar: (is that even possible?)

Professor Harold Hill (Baritone, A flat to high F) A conman who is ruining the reputation of all traveling salesmen. Extremely charismatic and charming.
Marian Paroo (Soprano, Low G to high A) The town's music teacher/town librarian. An upright, outspoken, confident, and honest woman.
Marcellus Washburn (Tenor, G to high A) Hill's old friend & one-time partner-in-crime. Comic role.
Charlie Cowell (Non-Singing) A traveling salesman who wants Harold Hill caught.
Mayor Shinn (sings with ensemble) The blustery self-important mayor of River City
Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn (Alto, D to D) The mayor's strutting peacock wife. Comic role.
Zaneeta Shinn (sings with ensemble) The mayor's oldest daughter who has a crush on Tommy Djilas.
Tommy Djilas (sings with ensemble) Zaneeta's popular, mischievous young suitor.
Winthrop Paroo (C to E flat) Marian's self-conscious little brother. Speaks with a lisp.
Amaryllis (Alto, C to E) Marian's young piano student. Loves Winthrop.
Mrs. Paroo (Mezzo, A flat to E flat) Marian's and Winthrop’s mother – speaks with an Irish brogue.
Gracie Shinn (sings with ensemble) The mayor's youngest daughter.
Ewart Dunlop, Oliver Hix, Jacey Squires, Olin Britt (Olin–Bass: A – High D, Oliver–Baritone: E – High F sharp, Ewart–Baritone: E – F sharp, Jacey–Tenor: B – High A) The Quartet: four judgemental board members
Ethel Toffelmier (D – High D) moves well and Marcellus Washburn’s girl.
Alma Hix, Maud Dunlop, Mrs. Squires (D – High D) Pick-A-Little ladies core group, strong singers, comic timing, move well, married to 3 of Quartet men and part of Eulalie’s entourage.
Other Characters: traveling salesmen, conductor, newspaper readers, Constable Lock, River City Townspeople, River City Kids

During the two nights of auditions, we will be scheduling ten people per hour. The link to the online sign-ups is https://www.wejoinin.com/sheets/nggog. Just click on the "join" link in the hour and day you wish to audition, and sign up! It's easy! Auditions consist of readings from the script and singing, either a song from the show, or one that you would prefer to sing. If you have a song on your phone, you can play it through a bluetooth device we will have there. If you have other material, such as a monologue you'd like to use, you can do that as well. Here are the sides and songs we will be using:

Guys

Harold
Mothers of River City! Heed the warning before it’s too late! Watch for the tell-tale signs of corruption! The moment your son leaves the house does he re-buckle his knickerbockers below the knee? Is he memorizing jokes out of Captain Billy’s Whiz Bang? Are certain words creeping into his conversation? Words like “swell” and “so’s your old man”?
(then, into the next bit . . .)
Mrs. Paroo do you realize you have the facial characteristics of a Cornet virtuoso? If your boy has that same firm chin, and those splendid cheek muscles – By George! Not that he could ever be really great, you understand, but – Well – you see all the really great Cornet players were Irish – O’Clark, O’Mendez, O’Klein – Sign here, Mrs. Paroo. Your boy was born to play the Cornet! Fine, fine. That will be seven dollars earnest money. Nothing more due until the first installment payable at opening of band practice. And of course, I’ll need the boy’s measurements for his band uniform.
Marcellus
Too many close shaves the way you work. Besides I got me a nice comfortable girl – Ethel Toffelmeier – boss’s niece. What’s the new pitch? You’re not back in the band business! I heard you was in steam automobiles. You’ll never get anywhere in the band business with these stubborn Iowans, Greg. Besides, we got a stuck-up music teacher here who’ll expose you before you get your grip unpacked.
Charlie Cowell or other town men
That fella’s been the raspberry seed in my wisdom tooth just long enough. He spoiled Illinois for me and he’s not gonna spoil Iowa! He’s had his hand in your wallet, mister, and yours, madam, and yours, little lady, ever since the first moment he came to this town. There’s more ocumented evidence than you’ll have time to read! There isn’t any band. There never was any band and there never will be any band! And if you don’t hunt this man down right now like a mad dog, there won’t be any Harold Hill either! He’ll be on the next train out of town.
Mayor Shinn
I’m sure we’re all grateful to my wife, Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn for leading the
singing and to Jacey Squires for his fine stereoptician slides… and to Ethel Toffelmier, our fine
player-piano player – piano. As Mayor of River City I welcome you River Citizens to the
Fourth of July exercises set up for the indoors here in Madison Gymnasium account the
weather. Four score… Four score (Shinn is handed a note) Ah – the members of the School Board will now present a patriotic tablow. (Re-reads note) Oh – the members of the School Board will NOT present a patriotic tablow. Some disagreement about costumes, I suppose.

Winthrop
My Cornet! Gee thankth, Profethor! Thither! Thither! Ithn’t thith the motht
thcrumpthyuth gold thing you ever thaw. I never thought I’d ever thee anything tho
thcumpthyuth ath thith thcrumpthyuth tholid gold thing! O thither! He told me all about hith home town, Gary Indiana. And he thaid he’d take me there thum day. And he taught me a thong that hardly hath any etheth in it. And look I thtill have thum wormth left.

Girls
Marian
Professor of what? At what college do they give a degree for annoying women on the street like a Saturday night rowdy at a public dance hall? Even should that happen to be true does that give you the right to follow me around wherever I go? Another thing, Mister Hill, I’m not as easily mesmerized or hoodwinked as some people in this town and I think it only fair to warn you that I have a shelf full of reference books in there which may very well give me some interesting information about you.
(then into the next bit . . .)
Halfway here I nearly turned back. I suppose I’m not the first to find it easier to think clearly when not under the spell of your salesmanship. But, you’ve given me something. That’s why I decided to come. Something beautiful. Oh, please don’t be afraid that I expect too much more. One can’t expect a travelling salesman to stay put. I know there have been many ports of call – and there will be many more. But that’s no reason for me not to be grateful for what you will have left behind for me!
Mrs. Paroo (with an Irish accent if possible)
You’ll have to excuse Winthrop, Professor. We can’t get him to say three words a day even to
us. And if you get him to play in the band you’ll have St. Michael’s own wings with you. But if anybody can do it I’ll bet you can. Out of a crowd I’ll pick you for a hod-carrying, clay-pipe smokin’, shamrock-wearin’, harpplayin’, Mavorneen-pinchin’, Tara’s hall minstrel-singin’ Irishman! Be-gob and be-jabbers! Where are ye from, me bye?
Amaryllis
I’m patient. Even though he doesn’t ever talk to me – but I do to him – every night – I say goodnight to him on the evening star. You have to do it the very second you see it, too, or it doesn’t count. “Goodnight, my Winthrop, goodnight. Sleep tight.”
Eulalie MacKecknie or other town women
I shouldn’t tell you this but she advocates dirty books. CHAUCER! RABELAIS! BAL-ZAC! And the worst thing - of course I shouldn't tell you this but... She made brazen overtures to a man who never had a friend in this town till she came here - old Miser Madison. When he died he left the library building to the city... But he left all the books to her! She was seen going and coming from his place. She made brazen overtures with a gilt-edge guarantee! She had a golden glint in her eye, and a silver voice with a counterfeit ring! Just melt her down and you’ll reveal a lump of lead as cold as steel!