Metropolis Performing Arts Centre
Little Shop of Horrors

Pay: Yes

Description:

Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in downtown Arlington Heights, IL announces general auditions for Little Shop of Horrors (Spring 2021), book and lyrics by Howard Ashman and music by Alan Menken. Little Shop of Horrors will be directed by Enrico Spada, with musical direction by Kenneth McMullen, and choreography by Breon Arzell. Seeking strong non-Equity adult actors/singers/dancers and actors/singers who move very well and are open to/eager to learn various forms of movement. Particularly seeking BIPOC, all gender identities, and differently abled actors for all roles.

Audition Dates:
By online submission of audition materials only.
Audition submission deadline Thursday, March 11, 2021.

Callback Dates:
Will be cast from online callback submissions, as well as possible virtual callback.
Sides will be provided to those invited to callbacks based on audition materials review.
Callback submission deadline Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.

Performance Location:
Outdoor Tented Performance
Location TBA
Arlington Heights, IL

Producing Company:
Metropolis Performing Arts Centre
111 W. Campbell Street
Arlington Heights, IL 60005

Pay:
Rehearsals - Flat fee
Show(s) - Per show pay
Travel stipend applications available
**Good pay

Little Shop of Horrors is a goof on B-movie horror with an authentic heart. Lowly flower seller Seymour suddenly finds himself awash in new opportunities and confidence after finding a strange and mysterious plant-that has evil intentions of its own. With shlock and gore, romance and murder, doo-wop and rock-and-roll, Little Shop is a classic about dreams, ambition, and outgrowing the pot you're planted in.

Little Shop of Horrors Character Descriptions:
Chiffon, Crystal, Ronnette - (BIPOC) A trio of street urchins who narrate the story. They are smart and opinionated, and know so much it makes you wonder-are they somehow involved? Strong singers and movers. Seeking all gender identities. Ab3 to F5.

Mushnik - A hard-working, though failing, Skid Row business owner, Mushnik cares deeply for Audrey and Seymour, but is easily moved by the clanging of the cash register. Simultaneously hapless and enterprising. Strong actor with some singing. Seeking all ethnicities and all gender identities. G2 to F4.

Audrey - (Female-identifying) Honest, kind, and open-hearted, Audrey has a lot to learn and a lot to teach. Audrey is not necessarily the archetypal "damsel in distress", although she is often in distress. A dreamer. Seeking all ethnicities and all gender identities. G#3 to D5.

Seymour - (Male-identifying) Initially awkward and lacking confidence but grows out of his naivete as his fortune's change. Well-meaning, even though he feels put down by the world. Seeking all ethnicities and all gender identities. A2 to G4.

Orin Scrivello/Mr. Bernstein/Skip Snip/Mrs. Luce/etc. - (Male-identifying) Must be versatile and playful, adept at physical comedy and vocal transformation to play multiple roles, specifically Dr. Orin Scrivello, DDS-the sadistic dentist who knows exactly what he wants from his life and goes to get it. Seeking all ethnicities and all gender identities. G2 to G4.

Audrey II - (BIPOC) The plant, an evil trickster hell-bent on taking over the world. Seeking an actor to voice the plant but may also embody the plant as well. Seeking all gender identities. G2 to G4.

Understudies - Understudies will be hired to cover each track as well.

Metropolis' Standards & Procedures
The health and safety of our artists, staff and patrons are our first priority. As such, a daily online symptom questionnaire will be offered to artists and staff. Prior to any in-person rehearsals and performances, artists and staff will need to be tested for Covid-19. Artist and staff health Covid-19 tests will be paid for by Metropolis. The Metropolis Theatre complex and outdoor performance spaces have been disinfected and protected with an EPA and FDA registered antimicrobial coating. These sites are cleaned after each use and daily. The Metropolis Theatre HVAC systems have been sanitized and upgraded to MERV 13 filtration levels.

For the production a) actors for the first month in rehearsals will be in their homes with sanitized equipment/props provided by the theater, followed by b) actors in rehearsals and tech rehearsals masked and socially distanced will be in sanitized spaces within the Metropolis Theatre complex and/or in a sanitized outdoor tented performance space, and finally c) actors in performances will be in a sanitized outdoor tented performance space. Actors will be socially distanced at minimum 15' from the audience. The audience and staff will be masked at all times. Masks will be worn by actors when not in performance. Audience caps will be based on state legislation/guidelines. Metropolis will adhere to the health mandates as determined by the IL Department of Public Health.

Time Commitment:

Rehearsals - Monday, March 22, 2021 - Monday, April 26, 2021: Weekly rehearsals may include 6:00pm-10:00pm Mondays-Fridays and 1:00pm-5:00pm Saturdays-Sundays. There is a designated evening off each week TBD before rehearsals begin. Understudy rehearsals TBA. Please note that online rehearsals will be held from Monday 3/22-Sunday 4/18, and in-person rehearsals will be held from Monday 4/19-Monday 4/26.

Tech Rehearsals - Tuesday, April 27, 2021 - Wednesday, May 5, 2021: Actors with tech rehearsal conflicts will not be under consideration. Tech schedule is as follows: Tuesday 4/27-Thursday 4/29, 5:30pm-10:30pm; Sunday 5/2, 12:00pm-11:00pm; Monday 5/3-Wednesday 5/5, 5:30pm-10:30pm; Thursday 5/6-Friday 5/7, 3:00pm-5:30pm TBA; Post preview notes TBA; there are no rehearsals Friday 4/27-Saturday 5/1. Tech rehearsals will be in-person.

Previews & Performances - Thursday, May 6, 2021 - Saturday, June 19, 2021: Standard performance schedule includes 7:30pm on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays; 3:00pm matinees on Saturdays and Sundays. There are no 3:00pm matinees on Sunday, June 13 and Saturday, June 19.

Material To Prepare:

To be considered for Little Shop of Horrors, please prepare one comedic contemporary monologue 1-2 minutes in length. Please prepare 32 bars of a pop/theater/gospel song (not from the show if possible). Also share a link to recorded dance footage of (or create) 4-8 counts of 8 that showcase your dance/movement ability. In your email, please list what styles of dance you have experience in, and where you would place yourself on a dance technique scale of 0 to 10 (10 being highly technical).

Contact Info:

Please email your statement of intent to audition along with your current headshot, resume and any conflicts with the rehearsal/tech/performance schedule with LITTLE SHOP AUDITIONS in the email header to Metropolis Casting at casting@metropolisarts.com. Following that, by the Thursday, March 11 deadline, please submit a clickable link(s) of your self-tape for consideration. This link(s) should include the monologue, the song, the dance footage, your dance styles, and dance ranking. The self-taped should be in a shareable format, such as an Unlisted YouTube link(s), that Casting can forward to the creative team. The self-tape submission may be submitted as separate links or a single link. Please make sure that your resume includes your current phone number. After reviewing Metropolis' Standards & Procedures, we welcome you to share your comfortability with the rehearsal and performance process. Please let us know if we can assist with any accessibility accommodations or questions to facilitate the casting process. Casting questions and requests for online coaching can be directed to the same email as well. Casting Authority - Robin Hughes, Casting Director, Metropolis Casting.

Reply To Email: casting@metropolisarts.com
Website: www.metropolisarts.com