The Floating Opera Company announces auditions for Stephen Sondheim's SWEENEY TODD, fully staged with chamber orchestra. Floating Opera is partnering with an important local organization to produce an immersive, site-specific experience in an exciting location, to be announced once details are finalized. Please note that Floating Opera performs without the use of microphones, so strong singer/actors with excellent diction are needed for this production.
Floating Opera Artistic Director: Daniel Grambow
Directed by Michelle Jasso
Musical Direction by Catherine O'Shaughnessy
Character Descriptions:
Sweeney Todd/Benjamin Barker (baritone): Expert barber Benjamin Barker returns home to London after a 15-year exile to take revenge on the corrupt judge who destroyed his life. Please note: fight scenes (fight choreo experience or willingness to learn required)
Mrs. Lovett (mezzo-soprano/alto): Clever and conniving, Mrs. Lovett wants one thing and one thing only - Sweeney Todd - and will allow nothing and no one to stand in her way.
Anthony Hope (tenor): Anthony left his home an optimistic, naive lad and has returned just budding into a courageous, kind-hearted young man. He has never known love.
Johanna Barker (soprano): Young, beautiful, naive, and devastatingly lonely - with more than a touch of darkness - Johanna is filled with questions and haunting memories. She longs to see the world beyond the prison of her home.
Judge Turpin (bass/bass-baritone): The villainous, entitled "vulture of the law" who believes that everything and everyone is his for the taking.
Tobias Ragg (tenor/boy soprano): Toby is the product of the child slavery prevalent during Industrial Revolution London. Usually cast as a young man, we will also consider children for this role.
Beadle Bamford (tenor/countertenor): Judge Turpin's trusted, twisted sidekick with a heart of pure ice.
Beggar Woman/Lucy Barker (mezzo-soprano): "Only a half-crazed beggar woman" who carries a heartbreaking secret. Dance experience a plus.
Adolfo Pirelli/Daniel O'Higgins (dramatic tenor): Duplicitous scoundrel and con man with a long-held grudge against Benjamin Barker. Please note: fight scenes (fight choreo experience or willingness to learn required); strong Italian and Irish dialects required (or willingness to learn).
Ensemble - Mixed ensemble, all voice parts needed. The ensemble for Sweeney Todd serves as a Greek chorus for the show, which will guide the audience through this immersive experience. Strong, committed singer/actor/movers required for this ensemble. Several featured parts available.
Auditions will be held at Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church: 600 W Fullerton Pkwy, Chicago, IL 60614
Production Dates:
First read-thru: early September 2016
Rehearsals begin likely last week of September
Weekly rehearsals include 7:00pm-10:00pm weekdays and some weekend days.
There is at least one designated day off each week, selected at the director's discretion. Six performances over two weekends around Halloween 2016 (hint, hint).
For consideration for SWEENEY TODD, please prepare two contrasting music theatre selections (full songs). Sondheim not required, but certainly welcome. We welcome selections from the score, especially if you are interested in being considered for a particular role. Please also prepare a one to two minute monologue. PLEASE NOTE that we must charge a $15 audition fee to cover the cost of the (excellent) pianist and the space. As we perform without microphones, we need to ensure that you can fill a large room.
Contact Info:
To request an audition slot, please email with your headshot, resume, and preferred audition time.
Website: www.thefloatingoperacompany.com