418 Liberty St, Schenectady, NY 12305-1909, United States
Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by George Furth
Originally produced and directed on Broadway by Harold Prince
Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick
At SLOC Musical Theater, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse environment that reflects the vibrant Schenectady community. We actively encourage actors from all backgrounds, including those who identify as LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and people of all gender identities, to audition for every role. Your unique voice and perspective enrich our productions, and we invite you to be part of our theater family. Join us in building a theater where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.
SLOC Musical Theater never charges tuition or fees to artists of any age to participate in our productions.
About the Show
The concept of Company began as a series of one-act plays by George Furth about marriage. Stephen Sondheim read the plays and suggested to Furth that they be adapted into a larger musical. The collaboration among Furth, Sondheim, and Hal Prince resulted in this early-1970s story of Bobby, who is approaching 35 and enjoying friendships with his married friends and single girlfriends while wondering why he hasn’t yet found a mate for life—or if he ever will. On a more basic level, Company is about the search we are all engaged in for connection to the world and to one another, as well as our quest for happiness, intimacy, and real friendship.
Production Staff
Director: Melissa Putterman Hoffmann
Music Director: Joanne Mensching
Choreographer: Trish Scott Dembling
Producer: Julie Phillips
Stage Manager: Regina Baker
Audition Dates
Audition Location
What to Prepare
Performance Dates
Contact
If you have any questions, please contact the production team at companymusical@sloctheater.org
Rehearsals
All roles are open to performers age 18 and older.
We are hoping to cast a culturally and ethnically diverse group of actors to portray Bobby and his friends in 1970 New York City. Please note that, while the age range of characters may be flexible, we need to believe that all of the characters are part of Bobby’s social circle.
Available Roles
Robert (Bobby): On the surface, Bobby, the central figure, is a 35-year-old boyish, affable bachelor (think human golden retriever) who enjoys the good times he has with his married friends and the women he dates. His friends think he is a GREAT guy who always makes the party fun. His girlfriends think he is a GREAT guy when he’s attentive, and the most frustrating date ever when he’s aloof. The truth is Bobby talks about commitment, but we wonder if he is really ready. As the story unfolds, we see that even though he’s often the life of the party, Bobby sometimes feels distant from his friends and aware that three-way friendships like the ones he has with each of the five couples in his social circle have their own complexities. Ultimately, Bobby realizes that while he hasn’t found her yet, he wants to feel deeply connected to someone special.
Male-presenting, high baritone, appears to be in his mid-30s
Couple #1: Sarah and Harry
Sarah: A source of comic relief, Sarah is warm and caring but can be nitpicky when it comes to her husband, Harry. While in a loving marriage, she and Harry are very competitive with each other. They each have their area of vulnerability. Sarah is a chronic dieter who constantly thinks about food. Recently, she has become a promising student of karate in an effort to be more fit. She doesn’t like to be the focus of scrutiny, and she knows how to fend off Bobby’s questions and Harry’s comments about her appetite. Sarah enjoys having Bobby as a friend.
Female presenting, mezzo soprano, appears to be in her 30s
Harry: Also a source of comic relief, Harry loves his wife and loves sparring with her. He is confident about many things, including his memory of events and the probability that he can prevail in any competition with her. He is a recovering alcoholic but wants to have fun with his friends, even if they are having drinks (which they often are). A little older than Bobby, Harry believes Bobby is in his prime at 35 and envies the freedoms that are part of being single at that age. Harry is an honest friend who does not pretend to know all the answers to Bobby’s questions about the benefits and struggles of marriage, but he does believe that the advantages of marriage outweigh the disadvantages.
Male presenting, baritone, appears to be 30-50
Couple #2: Susan and Peter
Susan: A southern belle in New York, Susan is sweet and maternal. She adores her husband and believes he isn’t afraid of anything. Susan appears happy to be getting divorced at the start of the story, but we can see that she feels unfulfilled. Is she as cheerful about the divorce as she seems?
Female presenting, mezzo soprano, appears to be 30-40
Peter: Ivy league, intelligent and somewhat wealthy, Peter is a perfectionist who seems comfortable in his marriage and equally comfortable about his upcoming divorce from Susan. We know their marriage must be missing something if they are divorcing, but we’ll never know what it is. When Susan talks about Peter, we can see that she loves him. When Peter talks about Susan, his focus is on his image as a guy who is stand-up and meets his responsibilities to his soon-to-be ex-wife and their children.
Male presenting, baritone, appears to be 30-40
Couple #3: Jenny and David
Jenny: A self-described conservative square, Jenny is sweet and playful. Of the five wives, Jenny stands out as someone who thoroughly enjoys Bobby’s friendship with her and David. She challenges Bobby’s assertion that he has no resistance to the idea of matrimony and is ready to be married. Perhaps a more traditional wife than the others, Jenny is obedient and attentive to her husband without always getting the same kind of treatment back from him.
Female presenting, soprano, appears to be in her 30s
David: In comparison to Bobby’s other married friends, David and Jenny are an average, slightly colorless couple. A “checks and balances” man, David believes 1) that in being married, he has everything but freedom; 2) his wife and children are worth whatever he has given up to be a husband, so 3) it all evens out. He is completely comfortable in his role of the man in charge at home.
Male presenting, baritone, appears to be in his 30s
Couple #4: Amy and Paul
Amy: Perhaps the funniest character, Amy, is about to marry Paul, but is highly anxious about marriage. She frantically overthinks her concerns and spares no energy in making her case that awful things will happen if she goes through with the wedding. But she loves Paul. In spite of her frenetic behaviors, it is Amy who calmly explains to Bobby the importance of finding the right person to marry.
Female presenting, mezzo soprano, appears to be in her 30s
Paul: Though perhaps mildly clingy, Paul is genuine in his love and caring for Amy. He is levelheaded and patient, and willing to wade through Amy’s crazy assertions that their wedding and marriage will lead to doom. As Amy becomes undone on their wedding morning, Paul remains patient and absolutely in love with her.
Male presenting, baritone, appears to be 30-40
Couple #5: Joanne and Larry
Joanne: Of all the women, Joanne is the least content and most restless. Divorced several times, she appears cynical about marriage, although she and her husband understand each other well and appear compatible even when Joanne is erratic. Joanne is in a social “No Man’s Land.” She is older than the other wives, has nothing in common with the younger set and wouldn’t be caught dead spending time with men and women in her own age bracket. She is stylish, funny, and acerbic – probably because she is dissatisfied with what it means to be aging. Under that brash exterior we know she is vulnerable. Joanne’s relationship with Bobby is different from his interactions with the other wives.
Female presenting, alto, appears to be 40-65
Larry: In contrast to his wife, Larry is thoroughly grounded and comfortable being a little past middle age. He continues to make a good living in Manhattan, loves his wife and understands that when she lashes out, it is because she feels insecure and needs to know that he adores her.
Male presenting, baritone, appears to be 45-65
Women Involved with Bobby
Marta, Kathy and April are what we might call today “friends with benefits.” They are in different stages of being involved with Bobby. For all three women, dance experience will be appreciated.
Marta: Definitely the character most in love with New York, Marta is astute about life in the big city and the constant efforts of people to connect with each other. Opinionated and hip, she thrives on the chaos of the Big Apple and the diverse people she can come across there.
Female presenting, mezzo soprano, appears to be 25-35
Kathy: No longer romantically involved, she is now a friend of Bobby’s. If there was a time when he would have asked her to marry him, it is past and she is moving on with her life (even if she sometimes wishes things had turned out differently). Because she is no longer sexually involved with Bobby, Kathy has the most objective view of him. She understands his foibles as well as the frustrations of other women he is dating.
Female presenting, mezzo soprano, appears to be 25-35
April: The stereotypical sexy, ditzy stewardess, April is beginning to date Bobby as the story unfolds.
Female presenting, mezzo soprano, appears to be 25-35
Vocal Minority: Three additional vocalists may be cast as written in Sondheim’s orchestration. The Vocal Minority (VM) backs up certain numbers, giving them a 1970s/Burt Bacharach style. These are usually women’s voices, but we are willing to consider all voices. The ability to hold a part in tight chords will be a plus. The VM will be onstage and may sometimes be part of the action in a scene.
Contact
If you have any questions, please contact the production team at companymusical@sloctheater.org
Company is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. MTIShows.com