Into the Woods
Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by James Lapine
Directed by Sam Manser-Mullin
sammansermullin@gmail.com
Key Dates
Info Afternoon: Sun 27 April 4.30pm
Singing/Movement Audition: Fri 2 May 7pm
Acting Recalls: Sat 3 May 7pm
Performance Dates: Weds 10th – Sat 13th September, 7:30pm. Saturday 13th September 2pm.
Synopsis
James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim take everyone’s favourite storybook characters and bring them together for a timeless yet relevant piece about family, love, and being careful about what you wish for.
The story follows a Baker and his wife who wish to have a child, Cinderella who wishes to attend the King’s Festival, and Jack who wishes his cow would give milk. When the Baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a Witch’s curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse. Everyone’s wish is granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results.
Information evening
Join us for an Into The Woods information afternoon at The Playhouse Theatre. There will be short presentations from the each area of the creative team featuring a set model, costume design illustrations and puppetry prototypes amongst other things. I will also be detailing my creative vision of the show, which will inform character work you may wish to apply to your audition the following week. There will be more information about singing specific rehearsals, the role of the ensemble within the show and an opportunity for you to ask questions about the show, audition process and rehearsals.
Physical copies of acting recall material will also be available if you prefer paper sheets over digital copies.
Audition Process
Initial Audition – Friday 2nd May
7pm – Arrive and Sign In
7.30pm – Welcome, Info, Group Singing
8pm – Movement/Dance Call
8.30pm – Solo Singing
Group singing and movement will be done altogether, although you may be required to perform in small groups during this section of the audition. Solo singing auditions will be done in private in front of a panel of the creative team.
Acting Recalls – Saturday 3rd May
If you are auditioning for one of the following parts you will need to attend the acting recall audition and prepare the scenes listed for each character. Being off book for auditions is not required but please be familiar with the scripts. Make bold choices but prepare to be directed and for these to change. All acting auditions will be done in a group setting in front of the creative team and your fellow auditionees.
Jack, Narrator, Mysterious Man, Baker, Baker’s Wife, Cinderella, Jack’s Mother, C Prince, R Prince, Little Red Ridinghood, Witch, Rapunzel, Granny and Steward
7pm – Arrive and Sign In
7.30pm – Acting Sides
Cast Breakdown
Please note: all characters will speak/sing with a British accent. I am particularly keen for all auditionees to explore regional dialects for their character (Welsh/Scottish/Yorkshire/Bristol/Newcastle/Cockney etc). You must be able to sustain the accent whilst signing.
All actors will be required to perform choreography throughout the show – a strong dance technique is not a requirement, but the movements will sometimes be fast and complex. Due to staging of this production, there will also be the need for actors to handle large props, chairs and puppets throughout the show.
Narrator
An intellectual and pleasant storyteller who helps to orchestrate the show and illustrate lessons to the audience. Mainly spoken role – a couple of solo singing lines
Gender: Any
Playing Age: 25+
Vocal range top: E4
Vocal range bottom: G2
The Baker
A harried and insecure baker who is simple and loving, yet protective of his family. He wants his wife to be happy and is willing to do anything to ensure her happiness but refuses to let others fight his battles.
Gender: Male
Playing Age: 25 to 40
Baritone
Vocal range top: G4
Vocal range bottom: Ab2
The Baker’s Wife
Determined and bright woman who wishes to be a mother. She leads a simple yet satisfying life and is very low maintenance yet proactive in her endeavours.
Gender: Female
Playing Age: 25 to 40
Mezzo-Soprano
Vocal range top: G5
Vocal range bottom: F3
Cinderella
A young, earnest maiden who is constantly mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters.
Gender: Female
Playing Age: 20 to 30
Soprano
Vocal range top: G5
Vocal range bottom: G3
Jack
The feckless Giant killer who is ‘almost a man.’ He is adventurous, naive, energetic, and bright-eyed.
Gender: Male
Playing Age: 16 to 20
Tenor
Vocal range top: G4
Vocal range bottom: B2
Little Red Riding Hood
A spoiled young girl who is strong-willed, quick-wited, fearless, yet youthful and naive.
Gender: Female
Playing Age: 16 to 20
Mezzo-Soprano
Vocal range top: F5
Vocal range bottom: Bb3
–
The Witch
Sarcastic, ugly-then-gorgeous, obsessive protector of Rapunzel who is straightforward and aggressive.
Gender: Female
Playing Age: 30+
Mezzo-Soprano
Vocal range top: G5
Vocal range bottom: F3
Cinderella’s Prince
Vain and gorgeous, he is a disloyal lover who is currently searching for the next new, exciting thing.
Gender: Male
Playing Age: 25 to 40
Baritone
Vocal range top: F4
Vocal range bottom: B2
Rapunzel
A loopy-but-lovely maiden who is sheltered by the Witch and terribly lonely. She yearns to experience the world.
Gender: Female
Playing Age: 20 to 30
High Soprano
Vocal range top: A5
Vocal range bottom: B3
Rapunzel’s Prince
Just as vain and gorgeous as his Prince brother, he is always chasing the newest, most exiting endeavour.
Gender: Male
Playing Age: 25 to 40
Baritone
Vocal range top: E4
Vocal range bottom: C#3
Jack’s Mother
Browbeating and weary, Jack’s protective mother who is independent, bold, and strong-willed.
Gender: Female
Age: 50+
Soprano
Vocal range top: Gb5
Vocal range bottom: Bb3
Cinderella’s Stepmother
The mean-spirited, demanding stepmother of Cinderella.
Gender: Female
Playing Age: 40+
Mezzo-Soprano
Vocal range top: F#5
Vocal range bottom: A3
Florinda and Lucinda
Cinderella’s stepsisters who are black of heart. They follow in their mother’s footsteps of abusing Cinderella.
Gender: Female
Playing Age: 20 to 30
Mezzo-Soprano
Vocal range top: Ab5
Vocal range bottom: C4
Mysterious Man
A mischievous vagrant and nosy meddler. He is a good-natured protector and observer.
Gender: Male
Playing Age: 40+
Baritone
Vocal range top: Eb4
Vocal range bottom: G2
Wolf (+ ensemble track)
Hungry and insatiable hunter who takes advantage of the weak by misleading and captivating his prey. Seductive and sexy.
Gender: Male
Playing Age: 25 to 40
Vocal range top: Gb4
Vocal range bottom: Bb2
Cinderella’s Mother (+ ensemble track)
Deceased with her soul guarding and aiding her daughter from a tree.
Gender: Female
Playing Age: 25+
Soprano
Vocal range top: F4
Vocal range bottom: E4
Granny (+ ensemble track)
Bitter and vindictive, she is Little Red’s feisty, savage, knife-wielding grandmother.
Gender: Female
Playing Age: 60+
Spoken role – no solo singing
Excellent ensemble and harmony singing needed
Steward (+ ensemble track)
Surly and bureaucratic, full of self-importance.
Gender: Male
Playing Age: 30+
Spoken role – no solo singing
Excellent ensemble and harmony singing needed
Snow White (small cameo + ensemble track)
Gender: Female
Playing Age: 18 to 30
Excellent ensemble and harmony singing needed
Ideally strong mover/dancer
–
Sleeping Beauty (small cameo + ensemble track)
Gender: Female
Playing Age: 18 to 30
Excellent ensemble and harmony singing needed
Ideally strong mover/dancer
Additional Ensemble
4 x any gender
Playing Age: 16+
Excellent ensemble and harmony singing needed.
Will take on small fairytale roles throughout the show and operate puppets including Milky White, Giant Hen, Giant’s Wife etc.
Ideally strong movers/dancers
Audition Pieces (click on the title of each piece to download the audition script)
Music (Singing Audition Friday 2nd May)
All music audition pieces, example and accompaniment tracks can be found here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MizHwKaaPLnt-Fg6y805VH4uAMy6UWWGI9qbrmi-LHg/edit?usp=sharing
Scenes (Acting Audition Saturday 3rd May)
baker, baker’s wife, jack pg 33 – 35
jack, baker, mysterious man, baker’s wife, witch pg 58-61
c prince & r prince pg 62-63
baker’s wife, cinderella’s prince pg 146-147
jack, little red pg 84 – 85
rapunzel, witch pg 82 – 83 (just dialogue) / pg 126
baker, little red, granny pg 43
narrator, jack, baker, jack’s mother pg 118-119
narrator, baker, cinderella, steward pg 119-120
baker’s wife, cinderella, c prince, steward pg 46-48