Chess, a musical (UK version)
Location: Thousand Oaks, CA
Type: Theater
Special Audition Requirements: An accompanist will be provided; bring sheet music or CD (no vocals) in your key. Please wear/bring dance attire — note: there is NO tap. Sides will be provided. Open call audition; no appointment necessary. Non-Equity; no pay.
Rehearsal Schedule: Starting 9/18, Monday through Friday evenings. There will be some Saturday and Sunday rehearsals — but not both in the same week.
Performance Schedule: November 17 – December 17, 2017, Thursday, Friday, & Saturday at 8:00pm, Sunday at 2:00pm (No performance Thanksgiving Day)
For more information, please contact: Priscilla Losey, producer, at pcillalosey@gmail.com
Plot Summary:
In this energetic rock musical, the ancient game of chess becomes a metaphor for romantic rivalries, competitive gamesmanship, super-power politics, and international intrigue. The pawns in this drama form a love triangle: the loutish American chess star, the earnest Russian champion, and a Hungarian-American female assistant who arrives at the international chess match in Merano with the American but falls for the Russian. From Merano to Bangkok, the players, lovers, politicians, and spies gleefully manipulate … and are manipulated themselves.
Character Breakdown:
Florence Vassy – Female, Lead, Age 25-40, Mezzo/Belt (to E). Frederick’s chess second; Hungarian-born, she’s worked hard to become the cosmopolitan woman she is today — and sometimes tries too hard.
Anatoly Sergievsky – Male, Lead, Age 25-40, Baritone (to G#). Russian chess champion. Brilliant, unexpectedly charming, romantic, Married, but falls in love with Florence.
Frederick Trumper – Male, Lead, Age 25-40, Rock Tenor (to C). American chess champion, arrogant, temperamental, prideful, a genius, dangerously obsessed.
Alexander Molokov – Male, Supporting, Age: 40-65, Bass (down to F#). Anatoly’s second; KGB agent and head of Russian delegation, politically manipulative, intellectually formidable and fiercely patriotic. Russian accent helpful.
Svetlana – Female, Supporting, Age 20-40, Strong belt voice. Domestic, wholesome, still effortlessly elegant.
Arbiter – Male, Supporting, Age 30’s, Rock high baritone (to A). Judge/Referee of chess match; all business, cares only for the match and not for politics. Authoritative, with clockwork precision. Must move well.
Walter de Courcey – Male, Supporting, Age 40-60, Bass-baritone (down to G#). Marketing agent; seemingly respectable, of substance, trustworthy — but secretly a CIA agent.
Ensemble – Dancers who sing and singers who dance. There is featured dancing in several scenes and the vocals will serve as a “pop” choir in many of the solo numbers, with equal members chosen for each voice part.
Ages are only a suggestion. All ethnicities are welcomed and encouraged to audition.
Audition Dates and Times: 7:30pm-10:00pm, Sunday 9/10, Monday 9/11, and Tuesday 9/12
Audition Location: Conejo Players Theatre, 351 S. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91361
Payment: Non Paid
City or Location of call: Thousand Oaks, CA
This casting notice was posted by: Conejo Players Theatre
