Audition Dates: Auditions will be held on Saturday, March 16th at 1:00 pm, and Sunday, March 17th at 7:00 pm at The CENTER for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck (661 Route 308, Rhinebeck, NY 12572).
In early 20th-century London, a lower-class Cockney flower girl named Eliza Doolittle is selling violets to upper class Opera patrons when, to her horror, she discovers her words are being written down in a mysterious hand by an elocutionist named Henry Higgins, who boasts that he can pass her off as a sophisticated duchess in only six months with little more than improvements to her speech and diction.
To improve her social status and thereby obtain a respectable job working in a flower shop, Eliza agrees to become a pawn in Higgins’ game, but she has no idea she’ll be subjected to psychological stress, threats of physical abuse, and constant degradation not only because she is strong person who dares to stand up to those who threaten her, but also because she is a woman and a member of the lower class. Will Eliza fulfill Henry’s vision of what the ideal woman should be, or will she carve a new path for herself and rewrite the role society has prescribed for women of her class, income, and education?
Rhinebeck Theatre Society is proud to announce auditions for My Fair Lady, arguably the crown jewel of America’s Golden Age of musical theatre. With lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, music by Frederick Loewe, and a libretto based on George Bernard Shaw’s play Pygmalion, the show features a treasure trove of musical theatre standards, including Wouldn’t It Be Loverly, On the Street Where You Live, I’m Getting Married in the Morning, I Could Have Danced All Night, and I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face. When it premiered in 1956, My Fair Lady catapulted Julie Andrews into the ranks of musical theatre legends and provided Rex Harrison with a role he continued to perform until his death at the age of 82. The original Broadway production ran for six and a half years before transferring to London’s West End, where it ran for another five and a half years.
Performance Dates: Friday, June 14 – Sunday, July 7. Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 3pm.
The production will appear at The CENTER for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck (661 Route 308, Rhinebeck, NY 12572).
To Audition: Your audition will consist of three parts: singing, accent work, and dancing.
Singing: Please prepare a one-minute cut from a musical theater song that shows off your legit voice (no rock musical songs, please). If possible, be encouraged to learn a song from the call back materials (to be posted asap). Bring sheet music or a backing track – whichever is most comfortable for you. If you use a backing track, please download or save it locally to not rely on Wi-Fi.
Accent Work: Before the auditions begin, we will lead a brief tutorial on speaking with “high” and “low” British accents. We recommend that you view Matt Pocock’s helpful videos which are linked on the full audition notice at www.RhinebeckTheatreSociety.org. After you’ve completed your singing audition, you’ll be asked to say a few simple sentences using both accents.
Dancing: No matter what your level of experience, we want everyone to participate in some dance numbers, so we are asking everyone to TRY. Although all kinds of dance styles will be incorporated into this production (including step dance and Broadway-style), our dance audition will focus on waltzing. You will need to decide whether you wish to lead or follow. If you wish to lead, please bring a pair of dress shoes, preferably with non-rubber soles. If you wish to follow, please bring a pair of shoes with heels that are between approximately 1½- and 2½-inches. Character shoes with heels would work well but aren’t required.
Resume: Please bring a resume detailing your theatre experience or be prepared to list your performance experience. Bring your schedule and be prepared to list conflicts through July 7 of this year.
Who will be in the room?
Director: Robb Fessler (he/him)
Musical Directors: JoAnne Schubert (she/her) & Paul Schubert (he/him)
Producer: Dot Luongo (she/her)
Stage Manager: Mike Clark (he/him)
Virtual Audition Submissions: Email a YouTube link or Google Drive link of your singing audition to rhinebecktheatersociety@gmail.com by Sunday, March 17th at 7:00 pm.
About the Company: Rhinebeck Theatre Society is committed to providing community-minded, inclusive and welcoming theatre experiences. We seek to present stories in a way that reflects a richly diverse world. Feel free to email director Robb Fessler (he/him) or producer Dot Luongo with any questions at rhinebecktheatersociety@gmail.com, including questions about accessibility and accommodations.To view the character breakdown and full audition notice, please visit www.RhinebeckTheatreSociety.org.