The Chatham Players are happy to announce auditions for “The Drowsy Chaperone” with music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison and book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar.  Production dates are April 17th, 18th, 24th, 25th, May 1st, and 2nd at 8pm and April 26th at 3pm.  Auditions will be held on Monday, December 8th and Wednesday, December 10th beginning at 6:30pm at The Chatham Playhouse, 23 North Passaic Ave. Chatham.

The Drowsy Chaperone is a whimsical musical comedy with catchy, clever tunes, outrageous characters, and a heartfelt tribute to the golden age of Broadway. 

Please CLICK HERE to register for an audition slot.  [NOTE:  Man in Chair is the only character who does not sing or dance - if only auditioning for this and not interested in any other roles, please CLICK HERE to register for a Man in Chair timeslot, on Tuesday, December 9th.)

Please CLICK HERE to complete an audition form.

Director John AC Kennedy, Choreographer Julia Cassisi and Musical Director Eric Van Hoven seek 20 performers; age ranges and actor examples below are merely suggestions and possibilities…

• MAN IN CHAIR: (40s plus)  A witty, if lonely, musical theatre devotee who serves as narrator, he guides the audience through his favorite 1930s Broadway Musical.  Sincere, caustic, complex and extraordinarily well-informed, should enjoy engaging directly with the audience.  
   
• JANET VAN DE GRAAFF: (30s) Star of Feldzieg’s Follies – an attractive, confident, charismatic, triple threat (singing, dancing, acting), who loves being the center of attention.  A 1930s starlet combination of Claudette Cobert, Ruby Keeler and Clara Bow. Strong dance and special skills (acrobatics, juggling, etc.) a plus. Vocal range: Alto with big belt (G3-E)
   
• ROBERT MARTIN: (30-40)  Charming if awkward 1930s leading man; cheerful, optimistic, and slightly naïve -- maybe a young Jimmy Stewart or Dick Powell. Must be able to tap dance and roller skate!  Vocal range: Tenor (C3 – Ab4)
   
• THE DROWSY CHAPERONE: (40s-50s) Janet’s care-free, inebriated and delightfully inappropriate guardian; an experienced, larger-than-life “woman of the world” with a dry wit.  A diva to be reckoned with, she chews the scenery and steals just about every scene she is in.  Great comedic role; Liza Minnelli meets Tallulah Bankhead. Vocal range: Alto with strong belt (F3-D5)
   
• ALDOLPHO: (40s-50s) A self-proclaimed Latin lover—over-the-top, melodramatic, and hilariously self-absorbed.  Another great comedic role; Rudolph Valentino/Ramon Navarro gone wrong, with a “European” accent. Vocal range: Bass/Baritone + great falsetto (A#2-G4)
   
• GEORGE: (30s-40s) Robert’s anxious best man; energetic, detail-oriented, and easily flustered.  Supportive but a little fussy, in an Edward Everett Horton kind of way. Must be able to tap. Vocal range: Tenor (F3-Bb4)
   
• MRS. TOTTENDALE: (45-60) A wealthy widow; imperious and eccentric; regally discombobulated. Margaret Dumont, Mary Boland, oblivious to the confusion her behavior generates in others. Vocal range: Alto character voice (G3-Db5)
   
• UNDERLING: (50s-60s) Mrs. Tottendale’s unflappable butler and manservant. Stoic, dry-humored and perpetually exasperated, a master of deadpan delivery and the spit-take.  Look up Franklin Pangborne, Eric Blore. Vocal range: Tenor character voice (Ab2-G4)
   
• MR. FELDZIEG: (40s-50s) Harried, scheming, unscrupulous producer, desperate for the show to go on.   Big personality.  John Barrymore?  Maybe.  Groucho Marx?  Maybe… Vocal range: Baritone (Db3-Db4)
   
• KITTY: (30s) 1930s comically-dim chorine with big dreams of stardom.  Bubbly, flirtatious, and oblivious.  Jean Hagen is pretty funny in Singin’ in the Rain - but so is Gracie Allen.  Vocal range: Soprano comedic belt (Bb3-F5)
   
• TRIX THE AVIATRIX: (35-50) The brave and brash female aviator. A sassy, sleek, take-charge kind of gal. Lena Horne, Paulette Goddard, with a terrific song; may also appear in ensemble numbers.  Vocal range: Alto (Ab3-Eb5)
   
• GANGSTERS 1 & 2: (30s-40s) Two gangsters forced to pose as pastry chefs.  Ultimately harmless, but an actual burly, menacing presence a plus.  We can teach you to dance. Vocal range: Tenor (Db3-Gb4)
   
• ENSEMBLE: (20-40) A strong, dancing/singing ensemble, men and women. Tap dance a plus.  You will be busy.  Vocal range: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass

Please prepare 16 bars of an up-tempo song and bring sheet music in the appropriate key. An accompanist will be provided. You will also read from the sides provided and learn a small group dance sequence. Please be sure to be on time and prepared to stay for the entire hour for which you register.

The Chatham Players have an open call casting policy. ALL roles are open, none are precast, and everyone is encouraged to audition. Any questions, please call Gus Ibranyi at (201)-563-0362 or email casting@chathamplayers.org. For directions or additional information, please visit www.chathamplayers.org.