Ragtime by Middleton Players Theatre

Ragtime

By Stephen Flaherty & Lynn Ahrens

Directed by Thomas J. Kasdorf & Matt Starika-Jolivet

"It was the music of something beginning, an era exploding, a century spinning..." From the creators of Seussical The Musical and Lucky Stiff comes this incredibly moving and emotionally stirring musical about one of the greatest and most erratic eras in American History!

Produced by Middleton Players Theatre at Middleton Performing Arts Center, Middleton High School, 2100 Bristol Street, Middleton

Performances: August 10-13, 2017

Performance Times:
August 10 - August 12 @ 7:30pm, August 13 at 2:00pm

Ticket Prices: $25 adults, $20 seniors, $15 students

Call 800-838-3006 for reservations or more information.

Auditions

AUDITIONS FOR THE FULL MONTY, 42nd STREET, & RAGTIME
Middleton Players Theatre will hold open call auditions for our 2017 Summer Season on Friday, October 7th and Saturday, October 8th. Auditions will be held at Clark Street Community School at 2429 Clark Street, Middleton, WI 53562.

AUDITION PROCESS AT MATERIALS
Anyone auditioning for our 2017 season shows will need to prepare 16-32 bars of a Classic/Traditional Musical Theatre piece and 16-32 bars of a Modern/Contemporary Musical Theatre piece. An accompanist will be provided. Please make sure to bring sheet music for your song, in the appropriate key. All tempos, dynamics, and cuts should be clearly marked and placed in a 3-ring folder (no loose sheet music). An accompanist will be provided. Pre-recorded accompaniments and or/acapella auditions will not be accepted.
Pre-sign up for audition times is required. Walk-in auditions will only be taken if time allows.
A headshot/resume is not required, but is strongly suggested.

DANCE AUDITION:
There will be no open call audition this year. Dance call audition is by invite only, and will only be assessed for those auditioning/being called back for 42nd Street. If you are selected for consideration in 42nd Street, you will need to attend the dance callback (date/time listed below). Please wear comfortable clothing or dancewear. Tap shoes are not required, but strongly suggested. If you don’t have tap shoes, please wear hard sole shoes or character shoes.

OPEN CALL AUDITION DATES & TIMES:
Friday, October 7 - 6:00pm to 10:00pm
Saturday, October 8 - 10:00am to 10:00pm

CALL BACK AUDITION DATES & TIMES:
The Full Monty - Sunday, October 9, 1:00pm to 3:00pm (Clark Street Community School)
42nd Street (vocal) - Sunday, October 9, 3:00 to 4:30pm (Clark Street Community School)
42nd Street (dance) - Sunday, October 9, 5:00 to 7:00pm (Middleton Performing Arts Center)
Ragtime - Monday, October 10, 7:00pm to 10:00pm (Middleton Performing Arts Center)

For more information, please visit our website at www.middletonplayers.com
For questions about auditions, please email us at mptdirectors@gmail.com

Character Breakdown

RAGTIME is an epic musical with historic sweep that paints a nostalgic and powerful portrait of life in turn of the century America. Three distinct stories intertwine to poignantly illustrate families coping with rapid changes of early 20th century America. History's timeless contradictions of wealth and poverty, freedom and prejudice, hope and despair, and love and hate are the underpinnings of intimate interactions among Anglo-American, African-American, and European immigrants. With a score that is as diverse as the melting pot of America, RAGTIME -

draws upon traditional Jewish folk sounds to color the haunting music of the European immigrants,

borrows from Vaudevillian styles to capture the spectacle of Anglo-American upper-middle-class society,

utilizes Joplin and Jazz to invoke the enlivened spirit and rhythms of African-American, working class Harlem.

movingly presents inspirational power-ballads with demandingly rich choral resources.

Cast breakdown: a Multi-Ethnic/Multi-Racial cast including all ages, about 50+ adults/older teens, and 3 featured children. 3-6 additional children may be cast for ensemble, ages 8-12. The entire ensemble sings. (Non-singing actors may be considered for non-singing featured roles; however singers will be given preference due to the challenging choral score.) Generally minimal dance requirements, although preferable for African-American Ensemble members to be dancers.

LEAD AND FEATURED ROLES
(ages listed are based on history and/ or author recommendations, and should not be taken literally)

Coalhouse Walker, Jr: (lead) African-American male. 25-35 (baritone with strong top range; range: Ab to G, with a sustained high F#). pianist; proud, confident, and stubborn.
Sarah: (lead) African-American female. Late teens-early 20's (lyric soprano; range: low G# to high F# on staff)
Mother: (lead) Anglo-American female. 30+ (lyric soprano; range: low G to high Eb on staff) gentle, compassionate, optimistic
Father: (lead) Anglo-American male. 40+ (baritone; range: B to E on staff) cautious; resistant to change
Mother's Younger Brother: (supporting) Anglo-American male. 20-25+ (tenor/baritone with strong top range: B to high F#) passionate anarchist; intense and high-strung
*Young Boy: (supporting) Anglo-American male. 8-12 (juvenile voice; range: E to Db on staff) precocious and curious
Tateh: (lead) Eastern European/Jewish Immigrant male. 30+, slight accent (tenor; range: Db to high F#) intelligent, passionate, creative
Emma Goldman (supporting- historical): Eastern European/Jewish Immigrant female/Anarchist. 40+, slight accent. (alto, range: low G# to Db on staff)
Harry Houdini (supporting - historical): Hungarian Immigrant male/Magician/body-builder. 30+ (tenor; range: mid. C to high G)
Evelyn Nesbit (supporting - historical): Anglo-American female. Vaudevillian performer. 18-25 (belter/soprano, range: middle C to Db on staff) dancer preferred.
*Young Girl (supporting) Tateh's daughter: Eastern European/Jewish Immigrant female. 8-12 (juvenile voice; range: E to Db on the staff) quiet and shy.
Sarah's Friend: (cameo) African-American female. Late teens - 30. (Gospel lyric-soprano or alto range: low G to stratosphere scat top note)
Grandfather (cameo) (Mother's father): Anglo-American male. 55+ (some "speak sung" lyrics, baritone) gruff & outspoken.
Booker T. Washington (cameo - historical): African-American male, distinguished. 45+ (some "speak sung" lyrics, baritone)
Henry Ford (cameo - historical): Anglo-American male. 30-45 (some "speak sung" lyrics, baritone)
JP Morgan (cameo - historical): Anglo-American male; banking mogul. 45+ (some "speak sung" lyrics, baritone)
Willie Conklin (cameo)- Head of the volunteer fire brigade. Violent and harsh racist tendencies.
*Little Coalhouse: (cameo) Walk-on at end of show. African-American male. Age 3-4 (no spoken lines or singing)

SUPPORTING/ENSEMBLE/CHILDREN ROLES:

RAGTIME offers members of the three ensembles multiple opportunities to play a number of smaller parts with lines and some solos. Supporting roles with final casting decisions possibly made during rehearsals) include: Admiral Peary, Stanford White, Harry K. Thaw, Judge, train conductor, people of New Rochelle/Harlem/Union Square, Jewish immigrants, factory workers, demonstrators, newsboys, reporters, bureaucrats, Coalhouse's Men, and numerous other ensemble roles.

The RAGTIME Chorus must be one of the major stars of the show. Chorus is extremely involved and active throughout the show. The three distinct ensemble groups must each produce a full and balanced choral sound.