OLIVER!
Oliver!
Audition Information
Directed by Ryan Fredericks
Musical Direction by Becca Voight
Auditions: April 1st and 2nd at 6:00 (More Information Below)
Callbacks: April 3rd at 6:00 (More Information Below)
*Auditions are at Musical Theatre Village in Irvine
36-C Mauchly, Irvine, CA, 92618
There is no pay for this production, but the theater does require a cast fee that goes towards some production costs. Cast Fees are: $125 up through 16 yrs, $75 (ages 17-20 yrs) and $55 (18+). Cast Fees are to be paid at the time of the audition and ALL REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE CONFLICTS MUST BE GIVEN AT THE TIME OF AUDITIONS. Video Submissions will be accepted but must be sent to the theater email musicaltheatrevillage@gmail.com by Monday April 1st at 9:00 PM
*Audition Materials can be found here as they are added:
Rehearsals will be Monday – Thursday nights from 6:00-9:00 pm with some Fridays as well. Rehearsals start April 8th and end May 17th with the week of May 13th being tech week.
Performances: Oliver! opens May 17th and goes until June 16th. Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 and Saturday and Sunday afternoons at 2:00
Audition Information
Monday April 1st, Kid General Auditions, 6:00-9:00
6:00-7:00 General Auditions for Kids & Teens under 18 (other than Oliver or Dodger). Please sing “Food, Glorious Food”
7:00-7:30 General Audition for Oliver. Please sing “Where is Love”
7:30-8:00 General Audition for Dodger. Please sing “Consider Yourself”
8:00-8:30 Oliver Vocal Callback. Please sing “Who Will Buy”
8:30-9:00 Dodger Vocal Callback Please sing “I’d Do Anything”
Tuesday, April 2nd, Adult Preliminary Auditions, 6:00-9:00
6:00-6:30 General Auditions for Adult Roles (other than Nancy, Fagin, Bill Sykes, Sowerberrys, Widow Corney & Mr. Bumble). Please sing “Who Will Buy”
6:30-7:00 General Audition for Fagin. Please sing “Be Back Soon”
7:00-7:30 General Audition for Nancy. Please sing “It’s A Fine Life”
7:30-8:00 General Audition for Sowerberry’s. Please Sing “It’s Your Funeral”.
8:00-8:30 General Audition for Mr. Bumble & Widow Corney. Please Sing “I Shall Scream”
8:30-9:00 General Audition for Bill Sykes. Please Sing “My Name”.
Wednesday, April 3rd, Callbacks 6:00-9:00
6:00-7:00 Dodger and Oliver Callback Scene
7:00-7:45 Fagin and Kids Callback Scene
7:45-8:00 Noah and Charlotte Callback Scene
8:00-8:30 Fagin Vocal Callback. Please Sing “Reviewing the Situation”
8:30-9:00 Fagin, Nancy & Bill Sykes Callback Scene
9:00-9:30 Nancy Vocal Callback. Please Sing “As Long As He Needs Me”
9:30-10:00 Mr. Bumble & Widow Corney Callback Scene
A Summary of the Show
Consider yourself at home with Lionel Bart’s classic musical based on the Charles Dickens novel, Oliver Twist. The Tony and Olivier Award-winning show is one of the few musicals to win an Academy Award for Best Picture and is widely hailed as a true theatrical masterpiece by actors and audience members alike.
The streets of Victorian England come to life as Oliver, a malnourished orphan in a workhouse, becomes the neglected apprentice of an undertaker. Oliver escapes to London and finds acceptance amongst a group of petty thieves and pickpockets led by the elderly Fagin. When Oliver is captured for a theft that he did not commit, the benevolent victim, Mr. Brownlow takes him in. Fearing the safety of his hideout, Fagin employs the sinister Bill Sikes and the sympathetic Nancy to kidnap him back, threatening Oliver’s chances of discovering the true love of a family.
Oliver! is a musical theater masterpiece, perfectly showcasing the talents of a large ensemble cast as they bring these classic characters and score to life.
Character Descriptions
Oliver Twist: A orphan workhouse boy, age range 8-13, singer (smooth boyish soprano)/actor. British (not cockney) accent, bright and innocent.
Artful Dodger: A street kid, age range 13-18, singer/actor. Cockney accent. Very energetic, highly personable, intelligent and savvy beyond his years, Fagin’s right hand “man”.
Fagin: Middle aged leader of a children’s band of thieves, age range 35-50s, singer/actor. Cockney accent. Described as devious, a user, sly fox,con man, very personable.
Nancy: When she was younger worked for Fagin, now a “barmaid” at the Three Cripples Bar, age range 20-30s, singer (good belt)/actress should have decent movement skills. Cockney accent. She lives with and loves Bill Sykes, pretty, intelligent, longs for a better life.
Bill Sykes: Also worked for Fagin as a youth now a feared master criminal, age range 20-30s actor/singer (baritone). Cockney accent. Good looking in a rough sort of way, sociopath, a killer who only looks out for himself.
Mr. Bumble: The Master of the Workhouse, age range 35-55, singer (high tenor)/actor. Cockney accent. A large, pompous and corrupt bureaucrat.
Widow Corney: The Mistress of the Workhouse, age range 30-50, singer (soprano belt)/actress. Cockney accent. Sharp tongued widow, also corrupt.
Bet: Nancy’s friend, may also have worked for Fagin, age range 16-25, singer/actress should move well. Cockney accent. She idolizes Nancy.
Mr. Sowerberry: The undertaker, age range 30-45, actor/singer (baritone). Cockney accent. Kind of creepy, “buy” Oliver from Bumble to work in the funeral home as a coffin follower, may be an alcoholic.
Mrs. Sowerberry: The undertaker’s wife, age range 30-45, actress/singer (mezzo). Cockney accent. More business savvy than her husband.
Noah Claypole: Undertaker’s apprentice, age range 18-25, actor. Cockney accent. May have also come from Workhouse. Feels threatened by, dislikes and torments Oliver.
Charlotte: Sowerberry’s daughter, age range 16-21, actress. Cockney accent. Attracted to Noah, kind of flirty.
Mr. Brownlow: Older gentleman, age range 40-60, actor/singer. British (not cockney) accent. Kind upper class gentleman, Oliver’s grandfather.
Dr. Grimwig: A doctor, age range 35-55, actor. British (not cockney) accent. Upper class, friend of Mr. Brownlow.
Mrs. Bedwin: A housekeeper, age range 35-55. British (not cockney) accent. Works for Mr. Brownlow. Warm personality.
Old Sally: An old lady who dies on stage with a hacking cough. Very comedic, small role.
Workhouse & Fagin KIDS Age ranges 5-18, will cast boys AND girls. Including Dodger’s friend Charley. Singers/actors. Lots of lines and solos. There will also be a Fagin 8 dance team.
Adult Featured Ensemble Age ranges 15 and up, singers (all voice types), characters with cockney and traditional British accents.
Include in this are the “featured” soloists:
The Rose Seller (mezzo), Strawberry Seller (soprano), Milk Maid (soprano), Knife Grinder (baritone) and Long Song Seller (Tenor); featured roles Old Lady (cockney accent), & the Chairman.