AUDITION INFORMATION

ABOUT THE SHOW

WHEN:

Auditions are scheduled for Sunday, July 24 at 3:00 pm and Monday, July 25 at 7:00 pm.

Auditioners only need to attend one of the above dates. Sign-up begins 1/2 hour prior to the audition start time, and anyone auditioning must arrive no later than 90 minutes after the start time.

WHERE:

Auditions will be held at Holmdel Theatre, 33 Crawfords Corner Rd, Holmdel, NJ, 07733. Callbacks, if needed, will be Tuesday, July 26, beginning at 7:00 pm.

WHAT TO PREPARE:

Please prepare 32 bars of a gospel song and one contemporary monologue. The monologue should be no more than two minutes. Bring sheet music in your key; an accompanist will be provided. Please bring a headshot and resume stapled together and be prepared to provide all potential conflicts for weekday evening and weekend daytime rehearsals beginning August 7. Non-union; no pay.

       Crowns is a moving and celebratory musical play in which hats become a springboard for exploring black history and identity as seen through the eyes of a young black woman who has come down South to stay with her Grandmother after her brother's death. Hats are everywhere, in exquisite variety, and the characters use the hats to tell stories concerning everything from the etiquette of hats to their historical and contemporary social functioning. There is a hat for every occasion, from flirting to churchgoing to funerals to baptisms. The tradition of hats is traced back to African rituals and slavery and forward to the New Testament and current fashion.

       Some rap, but predominantly gospel music and dance underscore and support the narratives. The conclusion finds a young woman whose cultural identity has been at odds with the more traditional and older Southern black women, embracing hats and their cultural significance as a part of her own fiercely independent identity.

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN

SEEKING:

Seeking Male and Female African American Actors, all vocal ranges. A cast of 6 women and one male performer.

Please address any questions to gwenricksspencer@gmail.com.

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:

[Mother Shaw] 50s-60s: A Nurturer. Present. Yolanda's no-nonsense Grandmother. Rooted. A strong woman who has worked hard all of her life. Mother Shaw is steadfast in her beliefs and does not suffer fools. She has a hard-earned and sizeable hat collection. Strong gospel voice.

[Velma] 30s-40s: Great sense of humor. Strong, sassy, and fabulous. Marches to her own beat. A licensed funeral director and a firm believer in "hattitude," the attitude one must possess to wear a hat well. Strong Bluesy/Jazz vocalist.

[Yolanda] Late teens-Early 20s: Brooklyn girl with an edge. Has an attitude and sensitive side. At a crossroads in her life and mourning her brother's death, she has been sent from her home in Brooklyn to South Carolina to live with her Grandmother. Not afraid to go against the grain, she speaks up for what she believes is right, though she still has much about life to learn. Strong vocally. Must be able to rap and move very well.

[Mabel] 30s - 50s: Fiery percussive presence. Always front and center and will tell it like it is. A force to be reckoned with. A preacher's wife and lover of hats. She believes that "praising the Lord" is the most important thing on earth and that a proper lady dresses modestly for Him. Vocally versatile and moves well.

[Jeanette] Early 20s - late 30s: Feminine and flirtatious. Lovely. Centered. She understands the flirtatious powers of a good hat and its value. A solid singer/dancer/mover.

[Wanda] 30s-50s: By the book. Refined. Always plays by the rules. A judge/ teacher. She admired her Grandmother's hats as a child and hopes to one day pass down the Hat Queen tradition and the family history that goes with it. She sees Sunday service as not only a time of faith but also of fashion—a place to worship and show off your style. Sings and moves well.
 

[Preacher] 30s-50s: Strong presence and stature. Extremely versatile character man. Represents all of the men in the women's lives: husband, preacher, father. Strong vocally and moves well.