Auditions for the upcoming production of “Tarzan,” the stage musical are scheduled to be held in August. “Tarzan” is a production of Tusculum University Arts Outreach’s Theatre-at-Tusculum program.
The musical production, based on the 1999 animated Disney film of the same name, follows the story of Tarzan, an orphaned boy who is taken in and raised by apes.
A special audition for the lead role of adult Tarzan will be held on Sunday, Aug. 19, at 2 p.m. at the Annie Hogan Byrd Theatre on the Tusculum University campus.
Auditions for the rest of the senior cast, ninth grade through adult, will take place on Monday, Aug, 20 and Tuesday, Aug. 21 at 6 p.m. with registration beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Auditions for the junior cast, third grade through eighth grade, will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 22, at 4 p.m. with registration beginning at 3:15 p.m.
Callbacks will be scheduled as needed for Thursday, Aug. 23, at 6 p.m.
The production show dates are November 2, 3, 4, and 8, 9, 10, 11.
The production team, led by director Marilyn duBrisk, will be looking for actors, singers and dancers to fill the cast of approximately 65. All auditions will take place in the Annie Hogan Byrd Theatre on the Tusculum University campus. No prepared audition pieces are required but those wishing to audition are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing and shoes for active portrayals of human characters and various jungle flora and fauna.
Auditions will consist of three portions; singing from the show’s score, a choreography/movement portion and cold readings from the show’s script.
Human character roles include;
- Tarzan’s Father and Mother, a Victorian couple who become shipwrecked on the African coast.
- Young Tarzan, an innocent young boy who loses his parents and is raised by the apes.
- Adult Tarzan, a vulnerable, fearless young man raised by apes.
- Jane an adventurous young English botanist who falls in love with Tarzan.
- Porter, Jane’s father, a bumbling English professor of biology.
- Clayton, a brutish, greedy hunter and guide.
- Snipes, Clayton’s second in command.
- The Expedition Crew, a group of sailors led by Clayton.
Animal character roles include;
- Kala, a gentle mother ape. Kerchak’s mate and Tarzan’s protector.
- Kerchak, the gruff leader of the gorillas and Kala’s mate.
- Young Terk, a sarcastic adolescent ape who becomes Tarzan’s best friend.
- Adult Terk, a sarcastic ape and Tarzan’s best friend.
- The Apes, a shrewdness of apes of varying ages in the African jungle.
- Leopard, a fierce carnivore that threatens both gorillas and humans.
- Various animals, birds, plants and flowers of the jungle.
With music and lyrics by the legendary Phil Collins, and book by Tony Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang, the musical premiered on Broadway in 2006. The story is based on the classic Edgar Rice Burrough’s novel, “Tarzan of the Apes.” The show’s score features the Academy Award winning “You’ll Be in My Heart,” as well as “Son of Man” and “Two Worlds.” The musical is being produced through special arrangement with Music Theatre International.
The production team includes familiar and new faces, including Director duBrisk, Assistant Director Brian Ricker, Musical Director Kasie Shelnutt and Choreographer Elizabeth Sparks. The show will feature costume design by Erin Schultz, make-up design by Trenda Berney, set design by Frank Mengel and box office management by Jennifer Hollowell.
Theatre-at-Tusculum is under the auspices of Tusculum University Arts Outreach which is led by Director duBrisk; Assistant Director Ricker, Coordinator Hollowell, Technical Director Mengel and Costume Director Schultz. It is supported in part by a grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission, Hearts for the Arts, as well as many generous donors and volunteers.
For information about auditions or other Arts Outreach programming please call 423-798-1620, or visit http://art.tusculum.edu.
The production team of Theatre-at-Tusculum’s “Tarzan” is looking high and low for actors, singers and dancers for upcoming auditions. Front row, left to right are Jennifer Hollowell, Marilyn duBrisk, Elizabeth Sparks and Brian Ricker. Back row, left to right are Trenda Berney, Kasie Shelnutt and Erin Schultz.