Toby auditions for the role of “Edison,” the Potts’ family dog in Theatre-at-Tusculum’s upcoming production of “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.” Auditions for his fellow human cast members will be held Aug. 25-28 at Tusculum College. From left are the show’s choreographer, Kim Berry Toby, the musical’s assistant director Brian Ricker and the show’s director Marilyn duBrisk.
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!
Theatre-at-Tusculum announces auditions Aug. 25 – 28 for its annual fall production. This year, director Marilyn duBrisk and her team will bring Ian Fleming’s fantastical tale about a magical flying car to the stage as Theatre-at-Tusculum presents Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
duBrisk and her production team are looking for actors, singers, and dancers to fill a cast of approximately 35 adults and 30 children. The cast includes 10 leading roles and around 15 supporting roles for men and women of varying ages as well as an ensemble of singers and dancers.
Auditions will be held in the Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Building on the Tusculum College campus, and will span three days with possible call-backs being held on a fourth day.
Adult auditions, for those ranging in ages from high school students to senior citizens, will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 25 and Thursday, Aug. 27. Registration on both days will begin at 5:30 p.m. The auditions will start at 6 p.m.
Youth auditions, for second through eighth graders, will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 26. Registration will start at 3:30 p.m., and auditions will begin at 4 p.m.
Possible call-backs will be held at 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 28, as needed.
No prepared pieces are required for any of the auditions, but those auditioning are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing and footwear. No flip-flops please.
Auditions will consist of readings from the script, and singing selected music from the show’s score. Vocal auditions will be lead by musical director Angie Clendenon and accompanist Kasie Shelnutt. Those auditioning will also participate in a brief choreography audition lead by the show’s choreographer, Kim Berry.
Technical director Frank Mengel will also be looking for several dedicated volunteers to assist with set construction and the elaborate technical aspects of the show in addition to possible backstage crew members. Set construction work calls are scheduled for Wednesday and Friday evenings from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Anyone interested in assisting with construction must be aged 18 years or older. Those under 18 years are welcome to attend but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who is willing to assist as well.
The production will be directed by duBrisk and produced with the help of Arts Outreach staff and many generous community volunteers. In addition to duBrisk, Clendenon, Shelnutt,
Berry and Mengel, the production staff includes assistant director Brian Ricker, costume director Barbara Holt, box office manager Jennifer Hollowell and stage managers Jim Holt and Suzanne Greene.
Based on Fleming’s novel Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car, this fun, fast-paced musical comedy is the stage adaptation of the 1968 film starring Dick Van Dyke and with music by renowned Disney composers, Richard and Robert Sherman. The Sherman Brothers provided scores for many of Disney’s most popular musicals including “Mary Poppins,” “The Jungle Book,” “Charlotte’s Web,” “The Aristocrats,” “ Bedknobs and Broomsticks” and “The Parent Trap.”
The show features songs from the movie including “Toot Sweets,” “Me Ol’ Bamboo,” “Doll on a Music Box” and the Academy Award nominated, “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.”
Performances are scheduled for November. 13-15 and 19-22 with rehearsals on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings, as well as some Sunday afternoons.
Anyone wishing for more information regarding auditions, or possibly volunteering to help with the production crew are asked to call Tusculum College Arts Outreach at 423-798-1620 or e-mail Arts Outreach Coordinator Jennifer Hollowell at jhollowell@tusculum.edu or Arts Outreach Assistant Director Brian Ricker at baricker@tusculum.edu.