DOGFIGHT Music and Lyrics by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, Book by Peter Duchan
Director: Elizabeth Drews
Music Director: Jack Bertrand
Choreographer: Jaime Orton
AUDITION SIGN UP: https://tinyurl.com/DogfightSignup
About the show:
It's November 21, 1963. On the eve of their deployment to a small but growing conflict in Southeast Asia, three young Marines set out for one final boys' night of debauchery, partying and maybe a little trouble. But, when Corporal Eddie Birdlace meets Rose, an awkward and idealistic waitress whom he enlists to win a cruel bet with his fellow recruits, she rewrites the rules of the game and teaches him the power of love and compassion.
Performances: March 4 - 21 (Note for students/teachers: Dogfight runs through spring break.)
Thursdays-Saturdays March 4-6, 11-13, 18-20 at 7:30pm
Sundays March 7, 14 & 21 at 2:00pm
Auditions are December 5th and 6th, with attendance required both days:
Vocal and Acting Audition: Saturday Dec. 5th, 10am-3pm, at The Station Theatre, 223 N. Broadway Ave. Urbana.
Dance/Movement Audition: Sunday Dec. 6th, 1pm-3pm, at the Urbana Fine Arts Center, 2860 S. Philo Road, Suites H, I and J, Urbana. (No signup, just show up!)
All roles are available, along with female and male understudies selected from the ensemble. Understudies will be expected to be memorized and will have guaranteed performances.
Callbacks will be Monday, Dec. 7th, 7pm-9pm, at The Station Theatre.
TO AUDITION:
- Please prepare a 32-bar cut of a song similar in style to the show and/or a song that highlights your vocal range. Please bring in your own backing track or upload your backing track in your audition form (and label it with your name so we are able to pull it up for you in advance).
- If you prefer to sing a song from Dogfight, please use the Rose cut of “Pretty Funny” or the Birdlace cut of “Come Back” in the Audition Sides folder linked below; backing tracks for both are provided.
- Please prepare an acting side from the supplied sides, memorization is not necessary. Please look at all the character descriptions and review the sides before auditioning. Actors may be asked to read for multiple roles.
The Station Theatre strives to make our productions open to all actors, regardless of experience. We aim to make the audition experience a fun and relaxed experience.
Dance/Movement Audition:
We would like to see all auditionees for the Sunday 12/6 dance call. While not all roles will require a lot of dancing, we want to have a good sense of your ability to move. Please wear comfortable clothing that will not inhibit your movement (no jeans please). Jewelry such as long earrings or necklaces should not be worn. Dance shoes such as jazz, ballet, or character shoes are preferred, socks can also be worn. Because of the studio floor, we require no outside shoes to be on the marley floor. Please bring shoes that are clean on the bottom and have not been worn outside.
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS:
All roles are open to actors of any race/ethnicity. Ages listed below represent the ages of the characters.
Eddie Birdlace: A Marine private first class. He is well-respected and a natural leader amongst his comrades. Initially a hothead; a cocky smooth talker. He eventually sheds his brash exterior when he falls for Rose. (Special note: Actor may be asked to cut hair short or “crew cut.”)
Gender: M
Age: 18-25
Voice Part: Tenor
Rose Fenny: A diner waitress who dreams of life as a musician. She is a naturally shy girl, naive of the world around her. Becomes smitten with Birdlace and discovers self-respect and confidence along the way.
Gender: F
Age: 18-21
Voice Part: Mezzo-Soprano
Bernstein: A Marine private first class and Birdlace's good friend. A bit nerdy and very inexperienced with the opposite sex. (Special note: Actor may be asked to cut hair short or “crew cut”)
Gender: M
Age: 18-25
Voice Part: Tenor
Boland: A Marine private first class and Birdlace's closest friend. A poor Southern cad, he is the most vocal supporter of the dogfight and fairly crude in his behavior and language. (Special note: Actor may be asked to cut hair short or “crew cut”)
Gender: M
Age: 18-25
Voice Part: Tenor
Marcy: Boland's date for the dogfight and a homely prostitute. Crass and brash, but sneaky and cunning.
Gender: F
Age: 25-35
Voice Part: Mezzo-Soprano
Mama: The owner of the local diner. She is unamused by the Marines' antics and protective of her daughter Rose.
Gender: F
Age: 40-50
Voice part: Flexible
Lounge Singer: The Lounge Singer oversees the marines’ party and their dogfight. He sings in several popular 1960s musical styles.;
Gender: M
Age: Flexible
Voice Part: Tenor
Ensemble: Marines (Sergeant, Gibbs, Fector, Stevens, Pete), Waiter, Praying Drag Queen, Big Tony, Women (Ruth, Chippy, Peggy, Librarian, Suzette), Bus passengers, Singers, Hippies. (Special Note: Male Actors may be asked to cut hair short or “crew cut.”)
Voice Parts: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass
We are aiming for five male presenting and five female presenting ensemble members that will be throughout the show in different characters.
Understudies: We will be casting understudies from our ensemble. Understudies will be expected to be memorized and will have guaranteed performances.
IMPORTANT CONTENT WARNING: Dogfight explores some serious and important subjects. Please take care while considering your ability and comfort dealing with these issues. Please note the following:
Text deals with issues regarding body image and perceived attractiveness.
Birdlace and Rose are required to kiss.
Birdlace appears to be struggling with PTSD after returning home from war.
Birdlace, Bernstein, Boland, and other marines visit a sex worker (Chippy) where sexual assault is implied.
Some scenes depict themes of war, violence, and death, including gun violence.
Some scenes and songs include coarse language and adult themes.
There is misogynistic content throughout text.
Flashing lights may be used in this production.
Rehearsals: Schedule will be finalized as soon as the Dogfight production team has the full scope of actors’ schedules. Rehearsals will tentatively run Monday - Friday from 6pm- 9pm (subject to change pending casting, and everyone will not be called every night).
Conflicts: On your audition form please list all known commitments Jan. 7- March 21, Mon-Fri 6pm-9pm, and weekends.
If you cannot make auditions on Dec. 5th or 6th but would like to audition, please reach out as soon as possible before Dec. 5th to arrange for an alternate time or a video audition. Email [email protected]
ANY QUESTIONS? Contact [email protected]
Event venue
223 N Broadway Ave, Urbana, IL, United States, Illinois 61801
Tickets
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.