Cast call announced for ‘Once Upon a Mattress’
Broadway Bayou Productions has announced that it is looking for cast members for its upcoming production of “Once Upon a Mattress,” which will be performed at the Grand Opera House June 3 - 12.
Auditions will take place at the opera house on Monday, Feb. 15, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Wednesday, Feb. 17, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sign-in will begin at 5:30 p.m. Headshots and resumes of previous theatrical work are encouraged.
Callbacks will be held on Sunday, Feb. 21, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Location will be confirmed when callback is received.
How to prepare
Those auditioning should prepare 32 bars of a contemporary musical theatre piece (not rock or pop style). Music should be clearly marked and placed in a 3-ring binder with pages copied back to back.
A professional accompanist will be provided. A cappella auditions are discouraged. Participants will be asked to dance, so bring comfortable shoes.
Schedule
Regular rehearsals will begin Monday, March 28. A complete rehearsal schedule will be available at auditions. Auditionees should bring their calendars to the auditions to note any conflicts at that time. Note that all cast members must be available from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. from May 29 to June 2 for technical week rehearsals.
Casting Decisions
Casting decisions will be made by Sunday, Feb. 28. All actors who are cast will receive a personal phone call by the end of the day on Sunday, Feb. 28. In addition, the cast list will be posted on the Broadway Bayou Productions website.
Character Breakdown
• Minstrel (tenor, age 20-35): The handsome narrator of the story, as well as in the musical story line. He becomes smitten with Lady Larken and tries to persuade her to flee to Normandy with him. He and the Jester join forces to stop the Queen’s plans.
• Princess No. 12 (n/a, age 16-25): She is the first princess that the audience sees who is performing the round of treats. Very eager, smart, thinks well on her feet, and of course the Prince wants to marry her.
• Wizard (baritone, age 30 plus): The egotistical, ex-performer who directly serves the Queen. He is the Queen’s henchman and thinks of all the Princess’ tests. He prides himself in his position and basically obeys all of the Queen’s orders.
• Lady Larken (soprano, age 18 plus): Is the Queen’s lady-in-waiting but is put in charge of Princess Winnifred. She is madly in love with Sir Harry and desperately wants to marry him, because she is pregnant with his baby. She tries to flee the kingdom after having an argument with Sir Harry, but is convinced by Winnifred to reunite with him.
Queen Aggravain (alto, age 40 plus): The loud, talkative woman who really rules the country. She is an overprotective, stubborn, sly Mom who is trying to keep her son, Prince Dauntless, from getting married.
• Prince Dauntless (baritone, age 22 plus): A nice, not too smart, everyday type of young prince who desperately wants to get married, but is prevented by his mother’s strict tests that she gives to all potential candidates.
• King Sextimus the Silent (mute, age 40 plus): A kind, expressive, playful, and comedic character who is silent due to a curse placed upon him by a witch before the birth of Dauntless. He likes to chase girls through the corridors of the castle. Needs good improv skills.
• Jester (tenor, age 20 plus): An energetic and peppy man who is the King’s right-hand man and assists him with every endeavor. The Jester also plots with the Minstrel to spoil the Queen’s plans.
• Sir Harry (tenor, age 25 plus): he is the Queen’s Champion-in-Arms – the Lancelot of Knights – the macho, slightly egotistical, brave, romantic knight who decides to leave the kingdom to search for a princess and finds Princess Winnifred in the swamp. Easily jealous, but loves Lady Larken with all his heart. Harry cannot marry Lady Larken until Prince Dauntless has found a suitable bride.
• Princess Winnifred the Woebegone (Mezzo good belt, age 20 plus): A feisty, outspoken, independent, strong, optimistic and free-thinking princess from the swamp lands. She isn’t too good with manners. She wants to get married, but must go through the Queen’s unfair test as well. The Prince, naturally, falls madly in love with her.
• There will also be an ensemble of 13 people (ages 16 and up) who will play knights, ladies-in-waiting and servants.