PR1111

November 11 - For Immediate Release

For the Glory: Auditions December 9
New Production Seeks Additional Performers

Cheng / Ferrara Productions, in association with Kelsey Theatre, artistic director M. Kitty Getlik, is pleased to announced limited auditions for its February 2007 production of For the Glory: The Civil War Musical, by Frank Wildhorn, Gregory Boyd, and Jack Murphy. For the Glory is the new title of the production performing on Broadway under the name The Civil War; the Kelsey Theatre staging will be based upon the revised script and score performed last summer in Gettysburg, PA. As with C / F Productions’ October production of Wildhorn’s Dracula: The Musical, this production of For the Glory will involve the participation of the composer, with musical direction by Wildhorn’s assistant Nicholas Cheng; the show will be directed by Frank Ferrara, with choreography by Jillian Potash, lighting design by Jason Conrad, and stage management by Ruth Kresge and Nancy Russell.

Auditions will be held on Saturday, December 9, 2006, from 11:00AM-5:00PM; audition appointments are very strongly recommended, and may be obtained by e-mailing chengferraraproductions@gmail.com or calling director Frank Ferrara at (609) 499-1388. This is a nonequity, unpaid performance opportunity.

For the Glory will open on Friday, February 9, 2007, with additional performances Saturday 2.10 at 8:00PM, Sunday 2.11 at 2:00PM, Saturday and Sunday 2.16 and 2.17 at 8:00PM, and Sunday 2.18 at 2:00PM. There is a possibility that extra performances for educational audiences may be added contingent upon ticket sales.

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to the interference of the holiday season on available rehearsal time, this production of For the Glory will have an extremely unusual (and somewhat abbreviated) rehearsal schedule. The cast will be asked to meet once before the New Year, for distribution of materials and costume fitting; rehearsals will then commence on Saturday, January 20. After this date, there will be a total of six rehearsals prior to tech week: Wednesday, 1.24 and Wednesday 1.31, from 7-10PM, and all day rehearsals Saturday/Sunday, 1.27-1.28, and Saturday/Sunday, 2.3-2.4. These four weekend rehearsals will run from 10:00AM to 5:00PM each day, with a one hour break for lunch; interested actors must be available for at least most of all four extended rehearsals.

The following roles are open; the remaining roles have already been cast by previous audition. Seeking seven African American actors, four male and three female, and three male actors of any ethnicity. Specific roles include:

THE ABOLITIONIST (African American male, plays age 25-40): The Civil War-era abolitionist Frederick Douglass, he is fiery and incredibly charismatic. Although he is angry, it is not anger but hope and determination that shape his character. Sings lead on the song “Freedom’s Child,” with a considerable amount of additional solo work; must have a very strong high tenor singing voice.

THE CONFEDERATE CAPTAIN (Male, plays age 30-40): The Captain of the Confederate Army, he is charming, swaggering, and quintessentially Southern; he hides his anger and fear exceptionally well. High tenor comfortable to a high A; must be an outstanding singer.

THE HUSBAND (African American male, plays age 25-40): Civil war era slave, quiet, masculine, and mournful. Sings the song “If Prayin’ Were Horses,” with solo work in several other songs; must be a true bass comfortable singing with resonance to a low G and below.

“RIVER JORDAN” SOLOIST (African American male, plays age 18-30): Civil war era slave, and featured soloist on the song “Freedom’s Child,” he also sings the gospel number “River Jordan” and solos on several other songs; must have an extremely high voice and be comfortable singing in gospel style (cf. Bebe Winans).

THE WIFE (African American female, plays age 21-40): Civil war era slave, married to “The Husband,” sings the other half of “If Prayin’ Were Horses.” Must have fairly traditional musical theatre voice with a very strong high belt.

“SOMEDAY” SOLOIST (African American female, plays age 30-50): Civil war era slave, leads the gospel number “Someday;” must have extremely high belt and be comfortable with this musical style (cf, Patti LaBelle, Melba Moore).

‘CANDLE IN THE WINDOW” SOLOIST (African American female, plays age 18-28): Plays both a Civil War era slave and a young woman from the north; in both cases is young, hopeful, and perhaps excessively idealistic. Strong traditional (alto) musical theatre voice.

ENSEMBLE: Also seeking one African American male and two additional males (to play both Confederate and Union soldiers). All three will have some solo work throughout the production.