Download sparrow audition packet

AUDITION INFORMATION FOR THE 2011 WINTER PLAY:
The Sparrow
By Chris Matthews, Jake Minton & Nathan Allen
About the Play:
In 2006, The House Theatre of Chicago found critical success with their original
play, The Sparrow. It is the story of Emily Book, a small-town girl returning
home ten years after a tragic accident that claimed the lives of her entire class.
As the town struggles to accept the strange girl who reminds them of what they
lost, Emily attempts to hide the special powers that make her different.
WHEN:
Tuesday, January 18, 3:40pm.
Wednesday, January19, 3:40pm. (Callbacks)
WHERE:
West Auditorium
HOW:
Sign up for audition slot on the East Theatre Call Board (outside
Little Theatre)
FIRST REHEARSAL: Thursday, January 20th: 3:45pm – West Auditorium
REHEARSAL TIMES:
January 20 – March 4th: 3:40-6:00pm.
DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE MULTI-MEDIA ASPECTS OF THE PLAY, THERE
WILL BE 2 WEEKS OF TECH REHEARSALS (March 4- March 17). These
rehearsals are mandatory. Tech rehearsals may run from 3:40 to 8:00pm . Please
note that there will be rehearsals on February 21 and March 4 and 7 even
though there is no school.
There will also be some Saturday rehearsals to cover the show’s choreography.
PERFORMANCE DATES:
Friday, March 18, 7:30 pm
Saturday, March 19, 7:30 pm.
(There will also be an in-school performance on Thursday, March 17)
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
•Auditions for The Sparrow are Tuesday, January 18 at 3:40 pm
Callbacks are Wednesday, January 19 at 3:40 pm in the West Auditorium.
•Performances of the play are March 18 & 19, 2011. Before you try out, check these
dates in addition to the listed rehearsal dates with your parents/caregivers and be sure that
you do not have prior commitments including doctor or orthodontist appointments,
college visits, and other family travel plans. Please list all known conflicts on your
conflict sheet.
•When you audition for a show at Stevenson High School, you are auditioning for every
role. It is the Director’s job to cast you or not cast you as he/she sees fit.
•If you drop out of the show after you have been cast, you will NOT be eligible to
audition for another show at Stevenson unless you can prove through work in theatre
classes and crew that you can accept the responsibility of being cast in a show. Do not
damage your reputation by dropping out of a production.
•Sign up for an audition slot at the Theatre Call Board located at the outside of the Little
Theatre (4200). Do not leave open slots. Sign up in the first available opening. If a slot is
not available just show up and we will accommodate you.
•All cast members are required to help in building sets, hanging lights, etc. Crew dates
will be announced at the beginning of the rehearsal process.
•You may be asked to furnish your own costume. The budget does not always allow the
luxury of designing costumes for each character. Additionally, if and when costumes are
provided for you, you must take care not to damage your costumes. Any rented or
borrowed costume or costume piece for which SHS is charged “excessive wear” and/or
replacement fees, the student will be expected to cover that cost. So, please take care of
all the garments you are issued for production.
THE AUDITIONS:
Prepare one of the monologues included at the end of this packet. Copies of the script are
available for overnight checkout in the SHS Library. Reading the script before
auditioning will help you understand the characters and story.
Callbacks: A callback list will be posted by Wednesday morning on the Theatre
Department Website. Callbacks will be held Wednesday, Jan. 19: 3:40-8:00pm.
Be prepared to attend for the full time if necessary.
If you have any questions please e-mail Mrs. Rawitz at: [email protected]
Monologue Options:
Prepare one of the following monologues for the audition. Memorization is
recommended. Copies of the full play are available in the school library and will help to
put the monologues in context. Take your time. Please be aware there is a reason for the
style and punctuation.
JOYCE: (To Emily)
About the other night….I know you’re not my daughter, Emily Book.
But I’ve been calling you Sweetie
Because I want you to feel loved here.
I want you to feel safe
And I want to kiss you on the head and make you feel loved
Even though we don’t know each other yet
Because I think that you should have a place where you can feel that
way.
And I’m sorry if I…
I come into Sara’s room when I feel
Overwhelmed, because I don’t want to bring that into the rest of the
house
But this is your room now, Emily, and I won’t bring that in here
anymore.
I just…I look at you and I…
I start to think about
What happened
It’s not fair to you, and it’s not your fault, but when I look at you
I think about Sara
I get stuck
I want to be better than that for you
But I get stuck.
….
Emily
I’m looking forward to getting to know all about you.
ALBERT:
(To Emily)
That’s for you.
That’s aThat’s a corsage.
It’s, uh, it’s for your wrist.
I thought you could
If you wanted to wear it
Tonight for the dance,
That’s what we used to….
If it’s not too corny.
Listen.
Emily.
I’m glad you’re here and…
…
I’m glad you’re here and I hope you feel like you’re home because
…
I feel like you’re home.
…
I’m glad you’re home.
I didn’t think I’d feel like that
So I haven’t been…
But I…
You make this feel like home.
You know you oughta put on a dress and
Go down there and just
Have a good time and
Dance with everybody and
It’s the homecoming dance, you know?
And you’re home…
So…
And Margaret Rosenthal talked me through that
Corsage deal
And if you don’t use it
I’ll hear about it
…
Okay?
JENNY: (To Emily)
Hi.
I was justSorry.
Nobody else ever comes out here.
…
I’m sorry about your grandmother.
…
It must be hard to be back here.
Everyone knows you.
That must feel good.
…
You know me.
People are going to stare at you, Emily.
You remind them…
They’re all so heavy.
But you can remind them that there’s life…
You can…
Be what people need you to be.
You can help them.
…
Well, you picked the right week to come back.
We’ve got the big homecoming game tomorrow, and the dance on
Friday…
You could be a cheerleader!
Usually, you’d have to try out
But I’m the captain, so…
Or the boys need a bench manager for the game…
We could hang out together on the sidelines.
Tweet! You’re officially involved.
It’ll be fun, I promise.
EMILY: (To Mr. Christopher)
I’m so sorry.
I’m embarrassed.
Mr. Christopher, I didn’t mean toI didn’t mean for that to happen.
I can control it.
I’m in control. It does what I
Tell it to do, I just…
Sometimes
If I get overwhelmed or over
Excited.
It can get a little…
Unmanageable.
And just now in class…
I got excited.
…
It’s just that it’s not easy to be here
But you…
Everybody looks at me like
I’m a….
But you understand and
You make me feel normal
And special at the same time.
I feel like I can just be myself with you
And like I belong here.
…
I’m sorry.
PRINCIPAL SKOR: (male or female)
Hello, Students,
Skor here
Happy Homecoming everyone,
Bug Game Tonight
Against our biggest rival—
The Greenview HORNETS
They’ve beat us every year for the past twenty years and
That victory banner of theirs hangs in our gym to shame us
Hangs way up in the rafters there, defying us to tear it down!
But this year, I feel it,
This is our Homecoming
This is the year we Tear That Hornets Banner Down!
So let’s spell V for Victory!
And P. for Sparrow Pride
And remember…
If you need guidance on your principles
You can always talk to….your principal.
Teachers, back to you.
Mr. CHRISTOPHER: (To Emily)
Okay.
The first thing I want to tell you, Emily, is that I think you’re
wonderful.
Absolutely.
Completely apart from the fact that you have
Astonishing magical powers,
You’re smart, and funny…
You’re pretty.
You’re dark and mysterious in a kind of…
Well I just think you’re the cat’s pajamas.
You’re a catch.
But I’m not the guy that you should be…
Emily…I put a lot of thought into trying to be
That cool teacher, you know?
I mean, hey---I remember when I was your age…
The point is, it’s okay to acknowledge what you’re feeling.
There’s nothing wrong with feeling---things.
It’s just a matter of what you do with it,
We, all of us, just have to be responsible with our feelings.
We have to stay in control.…
Tell me you’re going to the dance tonight
…
Of course you are.
You’re gonna cut some rug, slow-dance with a boyYou know…a cute boy, without a receding hairline.
And have some fun.
We’ll leave the dancing on the dance floor
And the biology in my classroom
Now get outta here, Supergirl.
MR. CHIRSTOPHER: (To Emily)
Emily…that wasn’t supposed to happen.
Jenny was feeling…
She came in there
And I was trying to…
She needed someone----She needed me to be
There
And she looked at me like
She
I said all those things to you today about
Being responsible---And being in control.
I believe those things I said
And I didn’t
Think that was going to happen
But I let it happen.
I could see how it
…
I could see how it was about to go
And I let it go.
How does that happen?
When you see it coming
And you know you’re about to hurt someone
And you let it happen?
I know I hurt you too, Emily
But I’m glad you were there.
I don’t know what else….
I should tell someone.
It was my fault.
I should stay here and—
I have a responsibility to..…
I’m a good person.
I should tell everyone.
….
I wish I could tell my wife.
The Sparrow: Student Information Sheet
Fill out the following information neatly (I must be able to read your name and ID number
clearly) and bring it with you to the auditions on Jnauary 18. You will not be cast without this
form.
Name ____________________________________________ ID Number _________________
Parent Name(s) _____________________________________ Phone ____________________
Email _____________________________________________________________________
Year in School: 9
10
11
12
Dance experience in ballet, modern, jazz and tap ______________________________________
(use back if you need more room)
Student Directors will be asked to attend all rehearsals and will be a vital part of the creative
process.
Are you interested in Student Directing?
YES
NO
Please check which positions besides acting you are interested in:
Lighting Set Construction
Props
Costume/Make-up
Stage Management
What possible conflicts might you have with after school rehearsals? Be VERY SPECIFIC
AND HONEST about times and dates. Availability is crucial and will impact casting. Conflicts
are NOT permissible during tech week. Please list Saturday during the day conflicts.
Time
3:30
4:00
4:30
5:00
5:30
6:00
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Other Conflicts (Please check with your parents/guardian regarding medical and dental
appointments, college visits, family trips...etc.):
I have read the audition packet and fully understand its contents. I also understand that
rehearsals for The Sparrow will be held after school from 3:40pm-6:00pm and during tech weeks
from 3:40pm-9:00pm. There will also be some Saturday rehearsals and non-school day
rehearsals on Feb. 21 and March 4 & 7. It is clear to me that my participation in the audition
process indicates a willingness to accept any role that I am cast in. I understand that if I audition
and then decline a role I have been given, I will forfeit the privilege of auditioning for other
Theatre Department productions until a crew or staff position has been served.
____________________________________________Student Signature
I am aware that my son/daughter is auditioning for the Winter Play and that rehearsals will be
held after school during the months of January, February and March at the aforementioned
times. I am also aware that the performance dates for The Sparrow are Friday March 18 and
Saturday March 19 at 7:30p.m.
____________________________________________Parent Signature
*Senior Option: (Only fill out if you are a Senior)
Signify which statement applies:
I will accept any role.
*I will accept only certain roles.
*Signify which roles:
____________________________________________________________________________
Please be honest. I would rather not cast actors as ensembles members who don’t really wish
to be there.