26 Oct 2023
Burwood Girls High School production of Chicago the Musical
Please read the following rehearsal requirements to ensure that you are available to be involved:
- Rehearsals are on Tuesday afternoons, 3 - 5pm in the school hall / music room
- First day of rehearsal: Tuesday, 28 November, 3 - 5pm
- Holiday Rehearsal Friday 26 April, 9am - 3pm
- Weekend Rehearsal 1 Sunday 2 June, 9am - 3pm
- Weekend Rehearsal 2 - Sunday 9 June, 9am - 3pm
- Term 2 Week Seven Production Week - students required for the following:
- Monday 10 June, 8.30 - 5pm
- Tuesday 11 June, 8.30 - 5pm
- Wednesday 12 June, 8.30 - 9.30pm (matinee and evening performances)
- Thursday 13 June, 5 - 9.30pm (evening performance)
What to prepare for the audition:
A song from a contemporary musical that shows your range as a singer and performer. It can be from Chicago itself. Bring sheet music or backing tape.
- First round auditions: Tuesday 7 November, 3 - 6pm in school hall (auditionees attend in allotted 10 min time slots)
- Second round auditions and callbacks: Tuesday 14 November, 3 - 6pm (auditionees attend in allotted 10 min time slots)
- Callbacks (if required): Tuesday 21 November, 3 - 6pm
Please note: there will a production charge of $100 per performer, payable in two installments
Register your interest in auditioning by emailing Michael Gallaway. If auditioning for the roles of Velma, Roxie, Amos, Mama, Billy or Mary Sunshine please indicate that in your email:
michael.gallaway@det.nsw.edu.au cc’ing: Nerys.AndrewsArabi@education.nsw.gov.au
You will receive a reply with your audition time.
★ Students from diverse cultural backgrounds are encouraged to audition. ★
Roles
Lead Roles:
● VELMA KELLY: Female, (Range: Alto, E3-D5) Vaudeville performer who is accused of murdering her sister and husband. Hardened by fame, she cares for no one but herself and her attempt to get away with murder.
● ROXIE HART: Female, (Range: Mezzo-Soprano, F3-B4) Reads and keeps up with murder trials in Chicago, and follows suit by murdering her lover, Fred Casely. She stops at nothing to create a media storm with one goal: to get away with it.
Main Roles:
● AMOS HART: Character is male but casting is gender blind, (Range: Baritone, C3-F#4) Roxie’s faithful husband. Lies for her and tries to take the blame until he realizes that he has been two-timed by Roxie. Still in love with her, or misguided, he believes anything she says in her pursuit to get out of jail.
● MATRON "MAMA" MORTON: Female, (Range: Alto, F#3-Bb4) Runs the Cook County Jail. The total essence of corruption. Accepts bribes for favours, from laundry service to making calls to lawyers. “When you’re good to Mama, Mama’s good to you.”
● BILLY FLYNN: Character is male but casting is gender blind, (Range: Baritone Bb2-G4) Established lawyer who hasn’t lost a woman’s case yet. Master of media manipulation who will get a girl off the hook as long as she can fork up the hefty $5,000 fee.
● MARY SUNSHINE: Female, (Range: Soprano, Bb3-Bb5) Sob sister reporter from the Evening Star. Believes there is a little bit of good in everyone and will believe anything she is fed that matches her beliefs. (Traditionally, this is played by a counter-tenor in female drag. So male students with the range will also be considered.) Supporting Roles (played by members of the Ensemble):
● FRED CASELY: Character is male but casting is gender blind, (Range: Ensemble/Part Flexible) Roxie’s short lived lover. Murdered for trying to leave Roxie.
● SERGEANT FOGARTY: Character is male but casting is gender blind, (Range: Ensemble/Part Flexible) Assigned to Roxie’s case. After asking the right questions, he manages to get Roxie to confess.
● LIZ: Female, (Range: Ensemble, A3-C#5) Prisoner at Cook County Jail. She is imprisoned after shooting two warning shots into her husband’s head. (featured in ‘Cell Block Tango’)
● ANNIE: Female, (Range: Ensemble, A3-C#5) Prisoner at the Cook County Jail. Murder’s her lover after finding out he already has six wives. “One of those Mormons, ya’ know.” (featured in ‘Cell Block Tango’)
● JUNE: Female, (Range: Ensemble, A3-C#5) Prisoner at Cook County Jail. After her husband accuses her of screwing the milkman, he mysteriously runs into her knife ten times. (featured in ‘Cell Block Tango’)
● HUNYAK: Female, (Range: Non-Singing Role, classical ballet training desirable ) Hungarian Prisoner at Cook County Jail. The only English she speaks is the phrase, “Not Guilty.” Which follows her to her grave. (featured in ‘Cell Block Tango’)
● MONA: Female, 18-45 (Range: Ensemble, A3-C#5) Prisoner at Cook County Jail. Murders her lover after he has a round of affairs with other women, and an occasional man. I guess you could say it was “artistic differences.” (featured in ‘Cell Block Tango’)
● MARTIN HARRISON: Character is male but casting is gender blind, 35-55 (Range: Ensemble/Part Flexible) Ensemble member who doubles as the Master of Ceremonies at times.
● GO-TO-HELL-KITTY: Female, 21-40 (Range: Ensemble, A3-C#5) Steals the spotlight when she Murders her husband along with three other women. Her crimes are labeled “Lake Shore Drive Massacre.”
● HARRY: Character is male but casting is gender blind (Range: Ensemble/Part Flexible) Murdered by Go-To-Hell Kitty for sleeping around with three women behind her back.
● DEFENCE LAWYER: (Range: Ensemble/Part Flexible) Court appointed lawyer for Hunyak. Tries to get her to confess to speed along the trial.
● JUDGE: Character is male but casting is gender blind, 40-65 (Range: Ensemble/Part Flexible) Judge overseeing Roxie’s Trial.
● COURT CLERK: (Range: Ensemble/Part Flexible) Swears people in with their hand on the bible.
● MEMBERS of the ENSEMBLE: Non-speaking roles that will be in musical numbers.