ART 4 IS EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE AUDITIONS FOR
Godspell
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and Book by John-Michael Tebelak
Category: Non-Equity Auditions
Pay: $200-$385
Deadline for Online Submissions: Complete Online Form (below) by Friday, December 23 at 9:00 PM
Time Commitment: Rehearsals will start the week of January 8 with staggered read-throughs and vocal rehearsals. The cast will rehearse 4-6 times a week. A rehearsal schedule will be provided after the show is cast and conflicts are taken into consideration. Technical rehearsals will begin on Monday, March 6. Performances take place March 17 - 26. Strike will follow the final performance on Sunday, March 26.
Show Description: We open our 2023 season with one of the most-produced musicals of all time, by Tony Award winner Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak. This spring, prepare ye for the timeless musical retelling of the Gospel of Matthew. With the international hit, “Day by Day,” and a parade of beloved music, including “Prepare Ye’,” “Learn Your Lessons Well,” “All for the Best,” “All Good Gifts,” “Turn Back, O Man” and “By My Side.” Godspell spreads the message of community and understanding, as the apostles create a beautiful city with hope and light.
Seeking: Art 4 is looking to hire a diverse range of artists and is specifically seeking Black, Indigenous, People of Color. Although there are female/male identifying roles, Art 4 is committed to diversity and inclusivity. We hold ourselves accountable for the equitable environment that our industry needs to bolster and provide. Therefore, we encourage performers of all ages, gender identities, and ethnicities, as well as disabilities to prepare for and attend every audition we hold.
Preparation for In-Person Auditions:
Please prepare one (1) 32-bar cut of a contemporary musical theatre song. An accompanist will be provided. Actors are required to bring their own sheet music. Those with a headshot and resume should bring a copy. All artists will be asked about their vaccination status and will be required to provide their availability from January 8 to March 26.
***Character Descriptions:
Jesus - Must be the most charismatic individual in the cast. High energy, charming, funny, gentle but with strength. He is the sort of person others instinctively follow.
John The Baptist/Judas - He has attributes of both Biblical figures: He is both Jesus' lieutenant and most ardent disciple and the doubter who begins to question and rebel. Like Jesus, he is also charismatic, but in more of an overt revolutionary way. Usually played by someone handsome and masculine, with an undertone of sexuality. He is the most "serious" and intellectual of the group, though as with all the actors, he must still possess a good sense of physical comedy.
Nick - Very high energy. Impish and playful. In the original, he played several musical instruments, including concertina, recorder and guitar.
Telly - Not the brightest in the bunch, he is a little slow on the uptake. But there is a great sweetness and innocence about him. Because he sings "All Good Gifts" he must be a very good singer.
George - The comedian, the class clown. The guy who can do a hundred voices and imitations.
Anna Maria - A bit of a tomboy, but basically open and sweet. Perhaps the youngest of the group. She is the first of the group to commit to following Jesus in the song "Day by Day."
Lindsay - The confident one, the show-off. The first one to volunteer, sometimes she jumps in before she really understands what's going on.
Uzo - The shy one. Sometimes a little slow to get things, but when she does, she commits all the way. Has an "earth mother" kind of warmth to her.
Morgan - Sassy and slightly cynical, the most urban of the group. Also the "sexy" one, but her sexiness contains a large element of put-on, in the manner of Mae West or Madonna (who in fact once played this role.)
Celisse - The female equivalent of the class clown. Goofy and a cut-up. In the 2012 Broadway revival, she played several instruments, including conga, ukulele and guitar.
***Character descriptions are provided by Musical Theatre International and may be subject to change based on actor interpretation and the director’s discretion.
PREPARATION FOR ONLINE SUBMISSIONS:
Please submit one (1) video performing 32 bars of a contemporary musical theatre song and a short narrative about yourself. The piece must be performed with accompaniment; no acapella, please. The piece does not need to be recorded with piano though; accompaniment can be any pre-recorded material available to you. In addition to 32 bars, please include a one (1) minute narrative telling us more about yourself. We want to get to know you! Please include your headshot and resume with your video submission.
VIDEO:
Please submit only one (1) video file containing a slate (name, song title and show), song submission as a Youtube link (unlisted or public), and a short narrative about yourself. Video must not exceed three (3.5) minutes. Multiple videos, videos requiring downloads, or password-protected material will not be accepted.
HEADSHOT/RESUME:
Please submit together as one (1) PDF file named lastname_firstname.pdf (Doe_John.pdf). Materials not submitted as a PDF or not following the file format will not be accepted.
To Submit: Visit the form beneath this announcement to submit your material and answer a few questions.
Submissions not following the above guidelines will not be considered. However, if you experience technical difficulties formatting your submission as requested, please let us know and we will be happy to accommodate. If you cannot submit your materials via the website, please send an email to ask@art4sb.org with your full name in the subject line, your one (1) video link in the body of the text, and your headshot/resume PDF attached. Due to the volume of submissions, we will not be able to respond to each performer individually. We will contact you if we need anything else, or if a callback is wanted. Thank you for your patience in advance.
General Tips for Video Auditions**:
Make sure the video is lit properly. Not too dark, not too light. An option to ensure your video is properly exposed, stand facing a window that is not receiving direct sunlight.
Make sure that you are using an iPhone 8 or above, or a video camera. Stabilizing your camera and having a good picture are two important factors to ensure that we are focused on your presentation, not visibility.
The camera angle should be coming down on you, not pointing up at you and the frame of the picture ends about 6 inches above your head and just below your waistline. (When you relax your arms all the way down, we should be able to see your fingertips.)
**These are suggestions and by no means will affect our casting decision. Please submit your video whether or not you can fulfill the above suggestions. We want to see the best representation of you!
Questions: Email us at ask@art4sb.org
The SAFETY Information You Need to Know:
Art 4’s production of Godspell will be a live performance. Art 4 will operate rehearsals and performances with the utmost care and concern for safety and the following conditions will be met:
All cast and crew members are required to be fully vaccinated by the first rehearsal date.
Coachings will be live and in-person.
Hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes (or other appropriate cleaning supplies) will be available during all rehearsals and performances.
All patrons attending performances or guests visiting rehearsals will be required to be fully vaccinated and masked to enter the theatre.
If you are interested in the full plan regarding safety precautions, please review our COVID-19 policy or email ask@art4sb.org and we will be happy to provide more information. Your health and safety are of the utmost importance to us, and it is our number one priority throughout the entire rehearsal and performance process. This experience will be new for many of us, and we are committed to ensuring everyone’s safety throughout.
Disregard for the safety precautions set will be cause for dismissal from the production.
Audition Video Submission Form
Please complete the following form as your “online video audition” for Art 4’s upcoming production of Godspell