The 2010-2011 season of the San Mateo High School Drama Department will be as follows:
FALL
THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY
SPELLING BEE
Music and Lyrics by William Finn
Book by Rachel Sheinkin
Thursday, November 4, 2010 @ 7:30 PM
Friday, November 5, 2010 @ 7:30 PM
Saturday, November 6, 2010 @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, November 7, 2010 @ 2:00 PM
Audition Dates: Monday, August 23, 2010, 3:15pm, Performing Arts Center
Meet Chip, Schwarzy, Coneybear, Barfee, Marcy and Olive: six overachievers competing for the spelling championship of a lifetime. As they deal with raging hormomes, parental issues, and mystifying word roots, our six young heroes learn that winning isn’t everything and that losing doesn’t necessarily make you a loser. This hilarious musical will have you cheering for a quirky yet charming cast of outsiders for whom a spelling bee is the one place where they can stand out and fit in at the same time.
Directed by Brad Friedman, Musical and Vocal direction by Emily Dunham.
THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE CHARACTERS
THE SPELLERS (in order of appearance)
CHIP TOLENTINO: The reigning spelling champion of Putnam County, relatively athletic and social, he expects things to come easily to him. Lately though, he's been going through some weird changes, and things are slipping out of his control. His major solo, Chip's Lament, has some very high notes!
LOGAINNE SCHWARTZAND GRUBENNIERE: Younger than most bee participants, she is driven by internal and - external pressure – but above all by a desire to win to make her two fathers (from whom she takes her combined last name) proud. She lisps, is a little uncomfortable in her body, has some tics, but still manages to strike a strong presence with her political awareness and keen sense of justice. Having drilled words for hours a day, she is aware of everything that passes in the room. Her big solo is Woe is Me.
LEAF CONEYBEAR: A second alternate, he never expected to compete here today. Home- schooled with his many siblings, everything about this public bee is an adventure to him, from meeting the other kids to showing off his homemade clothing, to each moment of unexpected attention. He may have severe Attention Deficit Disorder but delights in his own wandering focus. Leaf doesn't expect to win – or even to spell one word correctly – but he finds absolutely everything incredibly amusing. His mother has made him wear his protective helmet to the bee. His big solo isI'm Not that Smart.
WILLIAM BARFEE: Has a host of health problems and a lot to prove. Loud and combative as a defensive posture, he is the fat kid who becomes a bully to avoid being picked on (though he often gets picked on anyway so gets into a lot of fights). His parents are divorced, his father remarried to a much younger woman; and William does not expect kindness from anyone but his mother. So friendship takes him by surprise. Still, he's noticed on the spelling circuit for his remarkable technique – spelling words out on the floor with his foot. Taken out of competition last year because of an ill-timed allergic reaction, he's here for vindication. The journey he doesn't expect is one of coming to care about someone else when he sees outside his own needs for perhaps the first time, it shakes him fundamentally. His big solo is Magic Foot.
MARCY PARK: The ultimate over-achiever, Marcy has never been given another option. She comes from a family where excellence is expected and so simply produced. A parochial school student, she assumes God, too, expects perfection. She sees herself as a mass of problems but she keeps them to herself. Having moved often because of her parents' work, she knows she can beat the local competition. Her many talents include piano, dance, martial arts, baton twirling, and/or whatever special gifts the actress playing her possesses. Her big solo is I Speak Six Languages.
OLIVE OSTROVSKY: A word lover, Olive has a fairly quiet life. An only child with often- absent parents, Olive spends a lot of her time alone. She fills some of that time reading the dictionary – the words bring her comfort, as does the idea of the vastness of the world the book contains. During the first half of the bee, she often peers into the audience to see if her father, who is delayed at work, has made it yet. She starts enormously shy, an shyly blossoms. Her big solos are My Friend the Dictionary and The I Love You Song.
THE ADULTS (in order of appearance)
RONA LISA PERRETTI: Putnam's long-time spelling bee hostess, a local realtor, and 3rd annual Putnam County spelling champion. This is Rona's day to be queen. From her perspective she keeps the bee running smoothly, upholds protocol, and conveys crucial information to the audience. Her interest in the competition is unflagging and drives it forward. She thinks of this as a complex cerebral sporting event, and she wants the audience to understand every twist and turn. If anything, in her life in general, she has to minimize the importance of this event to her, embarrassed that her own championship moment remains such a highlight. A little concerned when the substitute word pronouncer arrives, she knows she has to step up her game to make the day a success. Her big solos include several private moments in which she marvels at how much she loves the whole process of the bee.
VICE PRINCIPAL DOUGLAS PANCH: Of Lake Hemingway Dos Passos Junior High is frustrated with his life. He fell into education, less out of love than a general ability uncoupled to a particular passion. The drive of the young spellers is alien to him. He never found anything that important. Stuck in his current job, endlessly awaiting a promotion that isn't coming, he was not happy to get the call this morning that he was needed to substitute; but he starts the bee eager to do well, to redeem himself for past mistakes, and to impress the local hostess, Rona Lisa, who impressed him long ago. WARNING: This actor HAS to be able to keep a straight face while saying some of the funniest lines in the play!!
MITCH MAHONEY: With a bouncer's physique and demeanor, Mitch appears an odd choice to be the bee's "comfort counselor," but it's part of his community service assignment. The outsider, who in a way gets to inhabit the audience perspective, he wonders about the wisdom of putting the kids through this at all. He has no idea how to offer comfort, but does increasingly find himself wishing he could find a way to make the kids feel better about losing, and perhaps place misspelling in wider perspective. His big solo is Prayer of the Comfort Counselor.
ENSEMBLE
In the original production, the nine characters above played all the other characters in the show. If we get a good showing of strong singing actors, we will create an ensemble that plays these other roles. Each ensemble actor may also play more than one role. However, we could also, as needed, double cast as the original did, so the original match-ups are included here….just in case.
CARL GRUBENIERRE: Schwarzy's main trainer, the more intense and competitive of Schwarzy's fathers. Sings Woe is Me. (Normally played by actor playing Leaf.)
DAN SCHWARZ: The more laid back and ineffectual of Shwarzy's fathers. Sings Woe is Me. (Normally played by actor playing Mitch.)
LEAF'S MOM, DAD, and SIBLINGS: (normally played by the spellers and audience volunteers) – all more academically gifted than Leaf, they are even more surprised than he is at his success.
OLIVE'S MOM: A fantasy version of Olive's mom at her Ashram in India. Sings "The I Love You Song. (Normally played by the actor playing Rona.)
OLIVE'S DAD: A fantasy version of Olive's dad coming to the bee from work. Sings The I Love You Song. (Normally played by the actor playing Mitch.)
JESUS CHRIST: Deity invoked by a speller in need! (Normally played by the actor playing Chip.)
WINTER
THE WEDDING SINGER
Music by Matthew Sklar
Lyrics by Chad Beguelin
Book by Chad Beguelin and Tim Herlihy
Based on the New Line Cinema film written by Tim Herlihy
Friday, February 4, 2011 at 7:30 PM
Saturday, February 5, 2011 at 7:30 PM
Sunday, February 6, 2011 at 2:00 PM
Friday, February 11, 2011 at 7:30 PM
Saturday, February 12, 2011 at 7:30 PM
Sunday, February 13, 2011 at 2:00 PM
Audition Dates: Monday and Tuesday, November 8 and 9, 2010, 3:15pm, PAC
Meet Robbie Hart and Julia Sullivan, New Jersey’s answer to Romeo and Juliet. It’s 1985, and Robbie, a rock-star wannabe and wedding singer, has just been dumped by his own fiancée. He finds a friend in Julia, a lovely but insecure caterer’s assistant, only to discover that she has just become engaged to another! Will Robbie and Julia sort out their romantic complications and find happiness together? Join us on their tuneful journey, filled with “Flashdance” inspired choreography, tender ballads and a rapping grandma.
Directed by Brad Friedman, choreographed by Robyn Tribuzi, music by Til Tribuzi and vocal direction by Shawn Reifschneider.
THE WEDDING SINGER CHARACTERS
MEN
ROBBIE HART: Our hero, a lovable guy with a strong streak of insecurity, despite his minor success writing a song that folks love to hear sung at weddings. His arrested development is about to undergo a change when he meets the girl of his dreams. Strong tenor, (who can also rock out); must have good acting skills.
Songs: It’s Your Wedding Day, Awesome, Somebody Kill Me, Casualty of Love, Come Out of the Dumpster, Today You Are a Man, Not That Kind of Thing, Saturday Night in the City, All About the Green, Single, If I Told You, Grow Old With You
SAMMY: Robbie’s bassist in the wedding band, a shaggy man-child who dreams of success as a rocker. He loves Holly, but he continues to blow his chances with her. Rock voice.
Songs: It’s Your Wedding Day, Today You Are a Man, Right in Front of Your Eyes, Single
GEORGE: Robbie’s keyboardist, out and proud. Should possess a strong
headvoice/falsetto.
Songs: It’s Your Wedding Day, Today You Are a Man, George’s Prayer, Single, Move That Thang
GLEN GUGLIA: Julia’s fiancé, a slick investment banker, with the looks of a stud and the morals of a jackal. A sexist goon who thinks very highly of himself.
Songs: Pop, Saturday Night in the City, All About the Green
SWEET JIM: Robbie’s drummer, will probably be the orchestra’s drummer in disguise!
ENSEMBLE MEN: This is a good ensemble show, with many choice small roles for the ensemble men to play, including the various GROOMS and their family members, slick EXECUTIVES in Glen’s investment firm, a bartender named RICKY, some VEGAS IMPERSON-ATORS, and a very funny BUM. All of them sing and/or dance in many numbers, including It’s Your Wedding Day, Pop, Casualty of Love, Not That Kind of Thing, Saturday Night in the City, All About the Green, Right in Front of Your Eyes, Single
THE WEDDING SINGER CHARACTERS
WOMEN
JULIA SULLIVAN: Robbie’s female counterpart, a sweet and pretty young woman who dreams of wedded bliss – if she can just figure out the right partner. She works for her cousin as a caterer and has some self-esteem issues. Must sing and act well.
Songs: Someday, Awesome, Pop, Come Out of the Dumpster, Not That Kind of Thing, Saturday Night in the City, If I Told You, Grow Old With You
HOLLY: Julia’s cousin, owner of a catering firm, and the epitome of 80’s glam. A strong, “new” woman, who takes no crap from men and likes to party hard, but with a good heart. Strong acting, singing and dancing skills.
Songs: Pop, Saturday Night in the City, Right in Front of Your Eyes
ROSIE: Robbie’s grandmother, with whom he has lived since his parents died. She looks like a sweet old lady and loves her grandson with all her heart, but she also has a wild streak and a natural rapping ability.
Songs: A Note from Grandma, Move That Thang
LINDA: Robbie’s fiancée, a heartless, selfish, beautiful rocker chick. Must sing with a strong rock voice.
Songs: A Note from Linda, Let Me Come Home
ENSEMBLE WOMEN: This is a good ensemble show, with many choice small roles for the ensemble women to play, including the various BRIDES and their family members, SECRETARIES in Glen’s investment firm, ANGIE, Julia’s mother, some VEGAS IMPERSONATORS, and a romantic SALES CLERK. All of them sing and/or dance in many numbers, including It’s Your Wedding Day, Someday, Pop, Casualty of Love, Not That Kind of Thing, Saturday Night in the City, All About the Green
SPRING
ENCHANTED APRIL
By Matthew Barber
Based on the novel by Elizabeth von Arnim
Thursday, April 28, 2011 at 7:30 PM
Friday, April 29, 2011 at 7:30 PM
Saturday, April 30, 2011 at 7:30 PM
Sunday, May 1, 2011 at 2:00 PM
Audition Dates: Tuesday, March 1, 2011, 3:15pm, TBA
Meet Lotty and Rose, two neglected wives in Victorian London who decide that renting a villa on the Italian coast is just the tonic to restore a sense of balance in their lives. Joined by a stuffy British widow and a young lady with decidedly modern views, the four women have no idea how a month in Italy will reawaken their passion for life and allow them to find just the romance they need, though perhaps not the romance we – or they – expect to find. You too will fall under the spell of this enchanting romantic comedy.
Directed by Nancy Metzler.
AUDITION INFORMATION
- All auditions require you to come prepared with audition material, completely memorized, for all directors. For the musicals, you must sing a song from a Broadway musical. For either musical, you may choose a traditional or pop-style Broadway song. (Both musicals are available on CD; we strongly encourage you to familiarize yourselves with them.) For Enchanted April, you will need to prepare a short monologue from a 20th century play.
- You must bring sheet music for your song with you to auditions for the accompanist to play as you sing. We will not allow accompaniment tapes, nor will we let anyone sing á cappella (without music.) Music can be found in libraries and music stores.
- For the winter musical, you will be required to take part in a dance audition. Dress comfortably but not sloppily. Wear shoes that are good for dancing. (Simple sneakers should be all right, but avoid clunky shoes or high heels.) Bare feet and sandals are not allowed.
The two tricks toward a successful audition are to be prepared and be positive. Don’t pick your song or monologue at the last minute. Give yourself plenty of time to practice until you know your material backwards and forwards and feel confident presenting it. Warm up physically and vocally before auditions. If you have a resume, bring it. Be polite at the audition. Be a good sport, whether you get into the play or not! Finally, I urge you to familiarize yourself with the shows. CDs of Putnam County and Wedding Singer are available. The film of Enchanted April is available, although it differs slightly from the play.
If you have any questions, contact drama director Brad Friedman at 558-2348 or e-mail him at bkfriedman@hotmail.com.