KEY DATES

Auditions:Monday 30 & Tuesday 31 October from 7-10pm at the Market Tower, LewesYou need to complete an audition form and return it to a member of the production team or by email to scoop.freeman@btinternet.com by 9pm on Thursday 26 October. If you absolutely cannot make either of these audition dates, please speak to a member of the production team to see if other arrangements can be made. There will be no further auditions after 31 October unless a part remains uncast.

Pre-audition workshops:Thursday 19 October - music (principals and company) from 7.45pmMonday 23 October - choreography audition pieces from 7.45-9pm*Thursday 26 October - choreo from 7.45pm*; music from 8.45pm*Dance audition pieces will be taught at these sessions, so it is essential to attend at least one.

Rehearsals:Mondays and Thursdays from 2 November (normally 7.45-10pm)Christmas/New Year break - Friday 22 December to Wednesday 3 January (inclusive)Sunday 19 November - Music day (times to be advised)Sundays 4, 11, 18 and 25 March plus Easter Monday, April 2 (provisionally 2-6pm)

Show Dates:Tuesday 10 – Saturday 14 April 2018 (7.30pm Tue-Fri, 7pm Sat)Dress rehearsal – Monday 9 April (7.30pm curtain up)Band call and technical dress rehearsal – Sunday 8 April (provisionally 10am-6pm)Technical rehearsal (no cast) – Saturday 7 April

FOR LOS MUSICAL THEATRE

Director Andy Freeman – 07484 849134 Musical Director Carl Greenwood – 07759 492083 Choreographer Joanna Thomas – 07578 715823 Production Assistant Mark Greenwood – 07713 234037

This is the team that will form the audition panel.

If you are cast in the show and are not already a member, your membership subscription (£25) will become due immediately - a form can be downloaded at www.losmusicaltheatre.org.uk. All members of the cast will also be required to a pay a show levy of £25 by 8 January. (£35 after this date).

CHARACTERS

Frederick ‘Freddie’ Trumper (Tenor): The world chess champion from the United States – a self-absorbed, fame-and-fortune-seeking, short-tempered, xenophobic bad boy. Playing age 25-45. American accent.Music: No. 19: Pity the Child – bars 1 – 61Dialogue: Act 1 Sc 2 - (Reporter) “Does your opponent deserve such abuse?” to “What’d you say?” (This is from song “Press Conference” - the reporters’ counter-dialogue will be spoken.)Dialogue: Act 2 Sc 2 - “Thank you, Walter...” to “...Frederick Trumper...”

Anatoly Sergievsky (Baritone/Tenor): The champion from Soviet Russia – a troubled husband and father who despises the propaganda and politics of the tournament, eventually deciding to defect from his homeland, even at the cost of deserting his family. Playing age 25-45. A hint of Russian accent required, but not strong.Music: No. 23: AnthemDialogue: Act 1 Sc 3 (Molokov) “What we’ve just seen is a pathetic display...” to “...you go and play these other games.” (The majority of this is song ,“Anatoly & Molokov”, but interpret and speak the lines as dialogue.)

Florence Vassy (Mezzo-Soprano/Belter): Freddie’s strong-willed second and possible paramour, born in Budapest, raised in England and separated from her presumably captured or killed father during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956; Florence feels strained by Freddie’s brashness and falls in love with Anatoly, eventually becoming his mistress. Playing age 35-45. English accent.No. 15: Nobody’s SideDialogue: Act 1 Sc 5 - (Molokov): “The game is greater than its players...” to “I’ll do the business.” (Some of this is song, “Florence & Molokov”, but interpret and speak the lines as dialogue.)

The Arbiter (Baritone/Mezzo Soprano): While written for a man, we are opening this part to a male or female. The coldly objective, no-nonsense referee of the championship tournament and also the president of the International Chess Federation. Playing age 35-65. No specific nationality or accent.Music: No. 8: The Arbiter – bars 1 – 79Dialogue: Prologue - “The International Chess Federation...” to “...Welcome, world, to Merano.”Dialogue: Act 1 Sc 4 - “If the leaders of both delegations...” to “...but now let us dedicate ourselves to the spirit of chess.”

Alexander Molokov (Bass/Bass-Baritone): The conniving head of Anatoly’s delegation who is apparently also a manipulative KGB agent. Playing age 40-65. Russian accent.Music: No 28: Soviet Machine – bars 1 – 71Dialogue: Act 1 Sc 5 - “The game is greater than its players...” to “We’ll do the business.” (Some of this is song, “Florence & Molokov”, but interpret and speak the lines as dialogue.)

LOS MUSICAL THEATRE

Walter de Courcey (Bass-Baritone): Leader of Freddie’s delegation, but also heads up the Global TV marketing and broadcast operation and almost certainly has CIA links, if not an agent himself. Playing age 40-65. American accent.Music: No. 29: Interview - bars 23 – 70Dialogue: Act 1 Sc 4 - “This is Walter de Courcey reporting...” to “...Walter de Courcey for Global Television.”Dialogue: Act 2 Sc 8 -”So in the end our hero won...” to “...After all, it’s only a game.”

Svetlana Sergievskaya (Mezzo-Soprano/Belter): Anatoly’s estranged wife who, under Molokov’s machinations, tries to persuade Anatoly to return to his homeland and family. Although upset at Anatoly’s betrayal, she also understands that Florence has given Anatoly something she cannot herself. Playing age 30-45. A hint of Russian accent required, but not strong.Music: Someone Else’s StoryDialogue: Act 2 Sc 5 - “How man times do you want to be champion...” to “...Back where you started.” (Some of this is song, “The Deal”, but interpret and speak the lines as dialogue.)

Citizens of Merano, Reporters, Delegates, Civil Servants and various other rôles to be played by The Company. A corps of dancers will be drawn from among The Company, but all auditionees will be required to do a movement audition (see below).Music: No. 1: The Story of Chess – bars 72 – 103 (choose your part) orMusic: No. 23: Anthem – bars 1 - 41

CHOREOGRAPHY AUDITIONS

The same choreography audition piece will be taught for principals and company and will also include those who want to be involved in the more complex numbers. Please indicate on the audition form if you are particularly interested in dancing.

Auditions will be held in small groups - if you wish to audition with someone in particular, you and they should indicated this on your audition form and we will do our best to accommodate your request.

OTHER AUDITION NOTES

We are not seeking music auditions from memory (you can if you wish), but in dialogue auditions we are looking for evidence of your acting abilities, so at the very least, please make yourself very familiar with the piece so that you are not constantly looking at the words.

Readers will be available to read in the other parts in dialogue auditions, but if you would prefer to bring in your own reader, you are welcome to do so. This may be someone else who is auditioning, but will not count as their audition and they may not stay in the room for your music audition.