Metropolis Performing Arts Centre
Arlington Heights, IL
US

DESCRIPTION

Metropolis PAC is excited to announce general auditions for the staged concert version of Mary Poppins in Concert, original music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman & Robert B. Sherman, book by Julian Fellowes, with new songs and additional music and lyrics by Anthony Drewe & George Stiles., co-created by Cameron Mackintosh. Mary Poppins in Concert, a co-production with the Metropolis School of the Performing Arts, is led by creative team members, Danny Kapinos, Director (he/him); Aaron Kaplan, Music Director (he/him); and Tiffany Gates, Choreographer (she/her). Seeking Non-Equity adult & youth (grades 3-12) strong singers/actors/dancers. All identities, races, and ethnicities are strongly encouraged to audition for all roles. A diverse representation of performers is highly desirable.

Audition Dates:

Sunday, October 6, 2024 – 6:30-10pm

Monday, October 7, 2024 – 5-10pm

*Please contact us if unable to attend auditions.

Callback Dates:

Sunday, October 13, 2024 – 6:30-10pm

Monday, October 14, 2024 – 6-10pm

Callback & Performance Location:

Metropolis Performing Arts Centre

111 W. Campbell Street

Arlington Heights, IL 60005

www.metropolisarts.com

Accessible from the Metra UPNW Line; located two blocks from the Arlington Heights stop.

For directions and parking: www.metropolisarts.com/directions-parking

Pay:

Adult Principal: $715 ($225 rehearsal flat fee + $70 per show performed).

Adult Supporting: $620 ($200 rehearsal flat fee + $60 per show performed).

Youth Roles: Metropolis School of the Performing Arts Tuition Stipend of $250 (Good for use toward a SOPA group class or tuition for a SOPA production).

Internal Understudies: $50 additional rehearsal flat fee.

12 shows total

What to submit and prepare:

To sign up, please go to Mary Poppins Audition Appointments to choose an audition time.

Then submit an email to [email protected] with Mary Poppins in the subject line. Include the following:

· Headshot & resume

· Any conflicts with the production schedule (no tech conflicts allowed)

· If you have a dance reel or a clip of you dancing, we would love to see it. Especially seeking dancers who tap.

· Links to your work are welcome but not required.

· Please send info prior to your audition day.

Please prepare for audition: 32-bars or 1 minute of a musical theater song in the style of the show. Also prepare one short monologue in the style of the show. Entire audition not to exceed 3 minutes. Please bring a copy of your headshot/resume to your audition. Please bring sheet music in a 3 ring binder. An accompanist will be provided.

Please let us know if we can assist with any accessibility accommodation or questions to facilitate the casting process. The School of Performing Arts offers coaching, space, and self-tape sessions for a fee to those who may need it. For inquiries, contact [email protected].

Mary Poppins in Concert Description (description provided by Broadway.com):

Mary Poppins in Concert is the story of the Banks family who live in a big house in London on Cherry Lane. Things are not going well for the family, the children, Jane and Michael, are out of control and are in need of a new nanny. Jane and Michael have their own ideas about what sort of caretaker they should have, while their parents—and in particular Mr. Banks—are insistent on someone strict for the job. When a mysterious young woman named Mary Poppins appears at their doorstep, the family finds that she’s the answer to their prayers, but in the most peculiar way. Mary Poppins takes the children on many magical and memorable adventures, but Jane and Michael aren’t the only ones she has a profound effect upon. Even grown-ups can learn a lesson or two from the nanny who advises that “anything can happen if you let it.”

Mary Poppins in Concert Characters (descriptions provided by MTI):

We acknowledge that many roles we list fall on the gender binary, but invite transgender, gender non-conforming, non-binary performers to read for the roles (cisgender or otherwise) they identify with.

Bert - The narrator of the story, is a good friend to Mary Poppins. An everyman, Bert has many occupations, including hurdy-gurdy player, sidewalk artist and chimney sweep. Bert watches over the children as well as the goings on in Cherry Tree Lane. He has charm, speaks with a Cockney accent and is a song-and-dance man. Gender: male. Age: 30s. Vocal range top: F#4, Vocal range bottom: B2.

George Banks - The father to Jane and Michael Banks, is a banker to the very fiber of his being. Demanding "precision and order" in his household, he is a pipe-and-slippers man who doesn't have much to do with his children and believes that he had the perfect upbringing by his nanny, the cruel Miss Andrew. His emotional armor, however, conceals a sensitive soul. A baritone, George may speak-sing as necessary. Gender: male. Age: 40s. Vocal range top: Eb4, Vocal range bottom: Bb2.

Winifred Banks - George's wife and Jane and Michael's mother. A former actress, she is loving and distracted homemaker who is busy trying to live up to her husband's desire to only associate with "the best people" as well as be the model wife and mother. She suffers from the conflicting feelings that she's not up to the job of "being Mrs. Banks," yet, she is, and more. She has great warmth and simplicity to her tone. Gender: female. Age: 30s. Vocal range top: D5, Vocal range bottom: A3.

Jane - The high-spirited daughter of Mr. and Mr. Banks, is bright and precocious but can be willful and inclined to snobbishness. Gender: female. Age: 11-12. Vocal range top: F#5, Vocal range bottom: A3.

Michael - The cute and cheeky son of Mr. and Mrs. Banks. Excitable and naughty, he adores his father and tries to be like him. Both he and Jane misbehave in order to get the attention of their parents. Gender: male. Age: 9-10. Vocal range top: E5, Vocal range bottom: A3.

Katie Nanna - Jane and Michael’s nanny at the beginning of the show. Overwhelmed and upset, she has absolutely had her fill of the Banks children. Gender: female. Age: 30s.

Policeman - A neighborhood fixture who is respected by and observant of households on his beat. Gender: male. Age: 30-40.

Miss Lark - The haughty next-door neighbor of the Banks family who treats her dog, Willoughby, as if her were child. Gender: female. Age: 30s.

Admiral Boom - A retired Royal Navy man and neighbor of the Banks family. A physically large man with a loud and booming voice, he speaks in Navy jargon and has a soft spot for his neighbor, Miss Lark. Can be any vocal range as needed. If Admiral Bloom doubles as the Banks Chairman, he can be a baritone. Gender: male. Age: 50s.

Mrs. Brill - The housekeeper and cook for the Banks family. Overworked and harassed, she's always complaining that the house is understaffed. Her intimidating exterior is a cover for the warmth underneath. Mrs. Brill doesn't have a high opinion of nannies in general and Mary Poppins in particular. She does not have to be a strong singer. Gender: female. Age: 50s. Vocal range top: D#5, Vocal range bottom: F#3.

Robertson Ay- The houseboy to the Banks family. Lazy, sleepy and grumbling, he never gets things right and believes himself to be useless. He doesn't do a lot of singing, but his "Spoonful" solo can be a fun surprise. Gender: male. Age: 20s. Vocal range top: G#4, Vocal range bottom: F3.

Mary Poppins - Jane and Michael Banks's new nanny. She is extraordinary and strange, neat and tidy, delightfully vain yet particular, and sometimes a little frightening but always exciting. She is practically perfect in every way and always means what she says. A mezzo soprano with strong top notes, she should be able to move well. She can have a more traditional soprano sound, but precision and diction is the key. Gender: female. Age: 20s. Vocal range top: C6, Vocal range bottom: Gb3.

Park Keeper - Uniformed and officious, he makes sure no one breaks park regulations. His life is defined by rules, but he secretly hankers after his childhood. Gender: male. Age: 40s.

Neleus - The statue of a young boy posed with a dolphin in the park. Neleus was separated from his father, Poseidon, and misses him very much. A small and lonely being, he is very happy to befriend Jane and Michael. This role is a wonderful opportunity to feature one of the strong dancers in your ensemble. Gender: male. Age: Teen.

Queen Victoria - A statue in the park. Gender: female. Age: 40s.

Bank Chairman - The head of the bank where Mr. Banks is employed, is an Edwardian stuffed-shirt. He can speak/sing his lines if necessary. Gender: male. Age: 50-60. Vocal range top: D4, Vocal range bottom: C3.

Miss Smythe - The Bank Chairman's humorless secretary. Gender: female. Age: 40s.

Ensemble - Annie, Fannie, Valentine, Teddy Bear, Mr. Punch, Doll, Chimney Sweeps, Toys, Parkgoers.

Von Hussler - A businessman seeking a loan from the bank for a shady business deal. He speaks with a German accent. Gender: male. Age: 30s.

John Northbrook - An honest businessman seeking a loan to build a factory for his community. He speaks with an accent from Northern England. Gender: male. Age: 30s.

Bird Woman - Covered in a patchwork of old shawls, her pockets are stuffed with bags of crumbs for the birds. She tries to sell her crumbs for the birds. She tries to sell her crumbs to passersby, who ignore her as if she doesn't exist. Sings "Feed the Birds." There can be a gruff, folksy quality to her voice that reflects the hardness of her life. Gender: female. Age: 50s. Vocal range top: C5, Vocal range bottom: Gb3.

Mrs. Corry - Owns a magical gingerbread shop. She is a mysterious woman of great age who speaks with a Caribbean accent (or any accent that would make her seem exotic). Gender: female. Age: 40s.

Miss Andrew - George's overbearing and scary nanny. With her bottle of nasty-tasting brimstone and treacle to keep naughty children in line, she is a bully who only knows one way of doing things - her way. A soprano with an alto belt, there can be some heaviness to her voice along with range. Gender: female. Age: 40s. Vocal range top: F5, Vocal range bottom: Gb3.

Mary Poppins in Concert Production Dates:

Please note: We are asking about your conflicts for wider range of availability than may actually be used for rehearsals.

Rehearsals – Mon 1/27-Mon 2/10/25: Weekly rehearsals will be chosen from the following times: 6pm-10pm Mondays, Tuesdays, & Thursdays and 10am-4pm Saturdays & Sundays. Wednesdays will be the day off each week. There will be one Understudy rehearsal TBD.

Tech Rehearsals – Tue 2/11-Wed 2/19/25:

- Tue 2/11, 5-11pm - Spacing

- Wed 2/12, 5-11pm - Spacing

- Thu 2/13, 5-11pm - Tech

- Fri 2/14, 5-11pm - Tech

- Sun 2/16, 12-9:30pm - Sitzprobe/Tech

- Tue 2/18-Wed 2/19, 5-11pm - Dress

- No rehearsal on Mon 2/17

Previews & Performances – Thu 2/20-Sun 3/9/25:

- Performance schedule includes 7:30pm on Thursdays-Saturdays & 2pm on Sundays.

- Additional matinees at 2pm on Thursday 2/27 & Saturday 3/1.

- There is no 7:30pm show on Saturday 3/1.

Metropolis Casting is dedicated to upholding Metropolis PAC’s values of equal opportunity and engages in a policy of promoting a positive model of diversity, equity, inclusivity, and accessibility. As such, Metropolis Casting confirms our commitment to equitable hiring practices in order to achieve that goal. We celebrate inclusivity and encourage actors of all genders, ethnicities, body types, and abilities to submit for the roles to which they most identify.

DURATION

Jan 27, 2025 - Mar 9, 2025

SALARY

$250.00 – $1,065.00 per gig

APPLY ONLINE

https://calendly.com/metropolis-casting/mary-poppins-in-concert?month=2024-10