Auditions set Aug. 28-30 for Theatre-at-Tusculum’s production of Lionel Bart’s musical ‘Oliver!’

Theatre-at-Tusculum will have auditions Aug. 28-30 for its annual fall musical directed by Marilyn duBrisk. This year duBrisk and her creative team will be bringing the classic musical “Oliver!” to the stage.

Auditions will be held Monday, Aug. 28 and Tuesday, Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. for the senior cast (ninth grade through adult) and Wednesday, Aug. 30 at 4 p.m. for the junior cast (third through eighth grade). Registration for auditions will begin 30 minutes prior to the listed audition times for each date.

All auditions will take place in the auditorium of the Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Building on the Tusculum College campus. Auditions will consist of singing, choreography, and readings from the show’s script. No prepared audition pieces are required. Callbacks will take place as needed on Thursday, Aug. 31 at 6 p.m.

Performances are scheduled for Nov. 10-12 and 16-19. Rehearsals will take place during the fall on Monday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. and on Tuesday, and Thursday evenings from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. with some Sunday afternoons scheduled. Rehearsals begin with a cast call on Sunday, Sept. 3 at 2 p.m. and a tentative rehearsal schedule will be posted during auditions.

The production team is looking to compile a cast of approximately 60 men, women and children for the production. Those wishing to audition should be prepared to list any scheduling conflicts between Sept. 3 and the performance dates during registration.

The musical, which is based on the Charles Dickens classic novel Oliver Twist, centers on the poor, orphan boy Oliver as he becomes entangled in a group of pickpockets and villains in 19th century London. The show was an instant hit after it premiered on the West End in London in 1960. It ran for over 2,500 performances, and featured Ron Moody as Fagin who later reprised the role for the 1968 motion picture adaptation, which won six Academy Awards including Best Picture.

“Oliver!” premiered on Broadway in 1963 and was a critical success and received ten Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical, Best Actor in a Musical, Best Actress in a Musical and Best Featured Actor in a Musical. It won the awards for Best Scenic Design, Best Original Score and Best Music Direction. Memorable songs from the show include: “Food, Glorious Food,” “Where is Love?,” “Consider Yourself,” “I’d Do Anything” and “As Long As He Needs Me.”

Roles include Oliver Twist, a lonely orphan boy; Fagin, a conniving career criminal who takes in homeless boys and teaches them to pick pockets for him; Nancy, a tragic heroine who takes a liking to Oliver and helps look after Fagin’s Pickpockets; Mr. Brownlow, Oliver’s grandfather; Bill Sikes, Nancy’s brutal and abusive lover and burglar; Mr. Bumble, the pompous beadle of the orphanage workhouse; The Artful Dodger, the cleverest of Fagin’s pickpockets; Mr. and Mrs. Sowerberry, the insensitive couple who take in Oliver and use him in their funeral business; Mrs. Corney, the matron of the orphanage workhouse, and several others.

For “Oliver!”, duBrisk has assembled a production staff, including Brian Ricker as assistant director, Angie Clendenon as musical director, Kim Berry as choreographer and Kasie Shelnutt as accompanist.

For more information regarding auditions or to see a full character breakdown, please visit the Arts Outreach website at http://arts.tusculum.edu, Tusculum College Arts Outreach on Facebook or call 423-798-1620.

Costume Director Erin Schultz; Assistant Director Brian Ricker and Director Marilyn duBrisk, from left, discuss costuming for Theatre-at-Tusculum's production of “Oliver!” Auditions begin on Aug. 28 with the show opening on Nov. 10.