Please be advised, The Court Theatre has not publicly released its 2021 season programme, so the title and details of this show are to be kept strictly confidential.
The Court Theatre is seeking actor/singer/musicians for various roles in Once. All artists must sing and play musical instruments in the show. The score consists of parts for: guitar, piano, ukulele, mandolin, cello, melodica, violin, banjo, bass guitar, accordion, and drums/percussion.
Book by Enda Walsh
Music and Lyrics by Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova
Based on the motion picture by John Carney
Director: Melanie Luckman
Music Supervisor: Luke Di Somma
Music Director: Andy Manning
Rehearsal and Production Dates & Locations
Rehearsals begin 17 May 2021. Performances run 19 June - 24 July 2021 at The Court Theatre, Christchurch.
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Auditions
Auditions will be held at the Court Theatre in Christchurch on 16 and 17 October 2020, with a recall workshop on the afternoon of 17 October 2020.
There are TWO ways to audition for the show:
- For Christchurch performers: Please fill in the audition form HERE to apply for an audition. If successful, you will be invited to audition in person on the above dates. (Note: the preparation for the live audition will likely be similar to the requirements for the self tape audition below. Further instructions and information will be sent with any invitation to audition in person.) Applications due by Friday 11 September, 5pm.
- Out of town performers: Please fill in the audition form HERE and prepare the requirements below in a self tape. Please attach a link to the self tape in the appropriate field. If your self tape is successful, you will be invited to audition in person in Christchurch on the above dates, at your own expense. Audition material due by Friday 18 September, 5pm.
WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
We are looking for a wide range of people, with a wide range of skills for this show. We want to hear from actors, musical theatre performers, musicians, singers and other performers who have some capacity across singing, acting, playing instruments and movement. We are committed to building a diverse cast - in terms of ethnicity, age, gender, size and performance background.
OUT OF TOWN SELF TAPE INSTRUCTIONS
(NB: the in person requirements for Christchurch performers will likely be similar to these.)
Please provide the following:
1. Instrumental excerpt from the show. Please find the link to the material HERE. Please choose one song per instrument, where more than one excerpt is provided. Remember that in this show, there is no separation between the actors and the musicians - ALL the cast do EVERYTHING, so it's important to show us that you can perform and act as well as singing and playing your instrument(s) to an excellent standard.
2. Vocal delivery of a song in style of the show. For rhythm section instrumentalists, we’d prefer this was self accompanied. String players may, but this is optional. Max 2 minutes.
3. Short monologue of your choosing in either Irish or Czech accent. Max 1 minute.
Please upload this as a private YouTube or Vimeo video and put the link in your audition form. For queries related to auditions you can email erica.browne@courttheatre.org.nz
Audition material due by Friday September 18, 5pm. - For Christchurch performers: Please fill in the audition form HERE to apply for an audition. If successful, you will be invited to audition in person on the above dates. (Note: the preparation for the live audition will likely be similar to the requirements for the self tape audition below. Further instructions and information will be sent with any invitation to audition in person.) Applications due by Friday 11 September, 5pm.
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Roles
Note: Guy and Girl must play the prescribed instruments. For those wishing to audition for other roles, there is some flexibility both in instrumentation and vocal range, so while you should audition for the role that you think best suits you, do not be limited by that, as we will be open to making changes where needed.
Girl
Female. 25-39. Vocal range: C4 to G3. Any ethnicity.
Czech-born. Direct, intelligent, and witty with a no-nonsense attitude. Doesn't want sympathy from others. Mezzo-soprano with a rock/folk voice. Speaks with a Czech accent. Must play the piano.Guy
Male. 25-39. Vocal range: G2 to C#5. Any ethnicity.
Irish-born. A struggling musician who works with his father in a vacuum repair shop. After a painful breakup he has decided to give up on his music. He is brooding and charismatic. A broken man. Bari-tenor with a rock/folk voice. Speaks with an Irish accent. Must play guitar.Billy
Male. 30-49. Vocal range: G2 to G#4. Any ethnicity.
Irish-born and has one parent from Spain. Owner of the music store where Girl plays piano. Loud and funny but also protective of Girl. Baritone with a rock/folk voice. Speaks with an Irish accent. Must play guitar. Cajon, ukulele, and cymbals a plus.Reza
Female. 25-39. Vocal range: C4 to A5. Any ethnicity.
Czech-born. Bold, funny and smart with a larger than life attitude. Soprano with a rock/folk voice. Speaks with a Czech accent. Violin/fiddle a plus.Baruska
Female. 45. Vocal range: G3 to C5. Any ethnicity.
Czech. Girl’s mother. A caring woman with few inhibitions. Alto with rock/folk voice. Speaks with a Czech accent. Accordion and e concertina a plus.Da
Male. 50-69. Vocal Range: Baritone. Any ethnicity.
Irish-born. Guy's father, who runs a vacuum-repair shop. A man of few words but caring and warm. Baritone with rock/folk voice. Speaks with an Irish accent. Mandolin a plus.Bank Manager
Male. 35-45. Vocal range: G3 to B4. Any ethnicity.
Irish-born. Prim and proper bank businessman with a secret passion for music. Tenor with a rock/folk voice. Speaks with an Irish (Cork) accent. Must play guitar or cello or both.Andrej
Male. 20-35. Vocal range: C2 to G#4. Any ethnicity.
Czech-born. An employee at a fast food chain with big dreams. Earnest and kind. Baritone with a rock/folk voice. Speaks with a Czech accent. Must play electric bass. Ukulele and guitar a plus.Svec
Male. 25-39. Vocal range: B2 to G#4. Any ethnicity.
Czech-born. An eccentric guy who spends most of his time watching television and drinking coffee. Baritone with a rock/folk voice. Speaks with a Czech accent. Must play drums. Banjo, mandolin, and guitar a plus. Disclaimer: Character removes trousers on stage.Ex-girlfriend
Female. 25-35. Vocal range: Mezzo-soprano. Any ethnicity.
Irish-born. Guy's ex-girlfriend who now lives in New York. Kind and likeable. Mezzo-soprano with a rock folk voice. Speaks with an Irish accent. Violin and cajon a plus.Emcee
Male. 30-49. Vocal range: G2 to G#4. Any ethnicity
Irish-born. A good-natured ball buster who works at the local bar. Baritone with a rock/folk voice. Speaks with an Irish accent. Guitar a plus.Eamon
Male. 20-49. Vocal range: G2 to G#4. Any ethnicity.
Irish-born. Music manager at the studio where Guy and Girl record their album. A tough nut to crack. Baritone with rock/folk voice. Speaks with an Irish accent. Guitar, piano, melodica, cajon, and castanets a plus.
ABOUT THE SHOW
You know the story: Guy meets Girl. But in ONCE, an unconventional and romantic musical based on the award-winning 2006 film, what follows is not a traditional love story. Guy, a heartbroken musician busking for coins on the streets of Dublin, meets Girl, a Czech immigrant with a complicated history and a broken vacuum cleaner. Despite their differences, Guy and Girl find common ground, a shared language, and genuine love in creating music together. With a cast of incredible actor-musicians who accompany themselves on the soaring, gut-wrenching folk-rock score, ONCE is a uniquely theatrical experience that will move you to laughter, to tears, and to a deep understanding of the particular joy of joining together in song.
Featuring all of the magical songs from the critically acclaimed film, including the Oscar-winning Falling Slowly, this achingly beautiful, joyously uplifting show strikes an unforgettable chord in audiences and speaks to the power of music to connect us all. A show like that only comes around ONCE.
Applications for Christchurch based performers due Friday 11 September, 5pm.
Applications and audition material for out of town performers due Friday 18 September, 5pm.