A Winnie-the-Pooh Birthday Tail

Transcription

1 Maurer Productions Onstage Inc. Presents A Winnie-the-Pooh Birthday Tail (A Children s Musical) Featuring the MPO Puppets Audition Information Auditions are Saturday May 17 th :00 PM 5:00 PM Sunday May 18 th :00PM 5:00 PM Show dates are August & 23, 24, 2008 You can sign up Online for an audition slot at or us at Audition@mponstage.com or call (609)

2 MP Onstage Inc. INDEX 1. Introduction 2. Audition Info 3. Audition Form 4. Plot Synopsis 5. Characters 6. Musical Numbers 7. Audition Scenes

3 A Winnie-the-Pooh Birthday Tail Based on the stories by A. A. Milne Book, Music & Lyrics James W. Rodgers Don't Miss This Exciting Opportunity for Actors OnStage is once again offering local actors the chance to audition for a very special show in which they'll not only act and sing, but also learn about the exciting art of puppetry. If you enjoyed last years puppet filled production of Winnie the Pooh the Musical or if you are a musical theatre actor interested in expanding your skills by learning how to become a puppeteer, then OnStage's new production of A Winnie-the-Pooh Birthday Tail is a great opportunity. OnStage will present an all new A.A. Milne Musical, A Winnie-the-Pooh Birthday Tail as a hybrid of traditional children's theatre (in which actors portray both human and non-human characters) and large scale puppeteering similar to Jim Henson's Muppets. Actors portraying non-human characters will wear simple, non-descript street clothes. They will perform their character's role in front of the audience, while simultaneously operating a puppet designed to look like the character from the famous A.A.Milne stories. The actor will be completely visible at all times. The combination of the actor's physical, facial and vocal expressions, together with his or her puppeteering, will create a uniqe hybrid performance that brings the character to life. This new technique for bringing actors and puppets together on stage was made famous in the current Broadway production of Avenue Q. The Puppets have been hand made especially for MPOnStage and puppeteering lessons will be provided to the cast. Last years production of Winnie-the-Pooh the Musical was a big success, so don't miss out on this opportunity to learn an exciting new skill. To audition, follow the links above to learn about the roles, download the audition application, and schedule an appointment online. If you have questions, please contact us at info@mponstage.com. All photos on this page are from last year's Perry nominated production of Winnie the Pooh the Musical

4 Auditions: A Winnie-the-Pooh Birthday Tail, a musical. From the stories of A. A. Milne Audition Dates 05/17/2008-1:00pm - 5:00pm Location Show Dates 05/18/2008-1:00pm - 5:00pm Mercer County Community College West Windsor Campus August 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24 Company: Maurer Productions Onstage Inc. Director: Diana Gilman Maurer Music Director: Israel G. Herman Stage Manager: Jeff Cantor Producers: John M. Maurer, Dan Maurer Choreographer: Jane Coult ROLES AVAILABLE (3 Adults) Important: The original cast from last year's production of "Winnie-the-Pooh the Musical were asked to return and reprise their roles for this show, but the following roles are still open and could be played by male or female actors. We are looking for adult actors at least 17-years-old. Owl (Hand and Rod Puppet) Rabbit (Hand and Rod Puppet) Tigger (Hand and Rod Puppet/Human arm) Adult Adult Adult WHAT YOU NEED FOR THE AUDITION 1. You can now use our online audition sign-up sheet. Go to and sign up for an available slot. If you don t have access to a computer or if you have any problems you can still call (609) or audition@mponstage.com to schedule an audition time. 2. Please look over the supplied scenes for each role. We ask that you audition with one of these scenes. You may also be asked to do a cold reading from the script. 3. You are auditioning for one of the puppet characters so we will need to see your hand coordination. You will be asked to do your song and scene with a puppet. If you own a puppet with a moving mouth please bring it to use in the audition. If you don't own or have access to a puppet, we recommend you practice at home with a simple sock puppet. Puppets will be provided at the audition. 4. Please audition with 16 bars of an upbeat song, you will be asked to sing a cappella 5. Please print and fill out the audition form. Please bring it with you to the audition. (forms will also be available at the audition) 6. Bring resume and a recent photo, neither will be returned. 7. If you don t fill out the audition form before arriving be prepared to list all rehearsal conflicts from May 17th through August 24th. 8. Rehearsals will be weekly starting May 29th. We are planning three rehearsals (Two evenings and one weekend afternoon) per week. The schedule will be based on cast availability. Not everyone will be needed for every rehearsal. Call sheets will be made available to the cast to tell you which rehearsals you will need to attend 9. All cast members will be required to assist at load in and load out.

5 Maurer Productions Onstage Inc. Sign up online for an audition slot at Or call (609) or to schedule an audition time. Do not write on this line A Winnie-the-Pooh Birthday Tail (a musical) Book, Music & Lyrics James W. Rodgers From the stories of A. A. Milne AUDITION FORM NAME: ADDRESS: HOME NUMBER: CELL NUMBER: WORK NUMBER: AGE: DOB (month & day) SEX: PREFERRED ROLE (S): VOICE: (soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass) VOCAL RANGE: HOW DO YOU RATE YOUR DANCE SKILLS: PLEASE LIST EXPERIENCE: PLEASE LIST TRAINING: (Voice, Acting or Dance) PLEASE LIST SCHEDULING CONFLICTS: (Use Calendar Pages after this form) Do not write below this line:

6 May Sun Mon Tues Wed Thur Fri Sat Auditions 1p 5p 18 Auditions 1p 5p Memorial Day June Sun Mon Tues Wed Thur Fri Sat

7 July Sun Mon Tues Wed Thur Fri Sat Independance Day August Sun Mon Tues Wed Thur Fri Sat Show 7pm 16 Show 2 & 4 17 Show 2 & 4 18 Show 10 AM 19 Show 10 AM Show 2 & 4 24 Show 2 &

8 A Winnie-the-Pooh Birthday Tail based on the characters and poetry of A.A. Milne Based on the much loved Characters of A. A. Milne, who's poetry is known the world over. A Winnie-the- Pooh Birthday Tail follows the exploits of Pooh, Piglet, Rabbit, Eeyore, Owl, Tigger, Kanga & Roo as they try to find Eeyore's tail in time for his big birthday party. With songs like "Everybody Needs A Friend" and "What Tigger s Do Best" this is a fun filled romp throughout the 100 Acre Woods. Pictured here is author A.A. Milne and the real Christohper Robin.

9 CHARACTERS (3 Adults) Rabbit (Hand & Rod Puppet, Adult) Rabbit is the old curmudgeon of the group. He likes his life organized. Pushy and decisive, he likes to be in charge (even if he isn't very good at it). Rabbit will be a hand and rod puppet. We are looking for a possible grumpy older sounding voice for this character. Owl (Hand & Rod Puppet, Adult) Owl is the intellectual of the group... or so he believes. His favorite pastimes are lecturing and telling stories to anyone who will listen. Owl will be a hand and rod puppet. We are looking for a self important voice for the character. Tigger (Hand & Rod/Human Hand Puppet, Adult) Tigger is an excitable young tiger full of energy and enthusiasm. He tends to leap first and ask questions later. Tigger will either be a hand and rod puppet OR a human arm puppet depending on casting. We are looking for an actor with high energy and character.

10 Musical Numbers ACT 1 "It's a Winnie-the-Pooh Birthday Story " "Ol' Gray Donkey " "Think Yourself UP " "Cottleston Pie " "It's a Captainish Sort of Day " "What Tigger s Do Best " "Dear Little Roo " "The Search Song " "Putting on a Party" "Owl's Song" "Everybody Needs a Friend" "Have Yourself a Happy Birthday' Christopher Robin Eeyore Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore Pooh, Piglet Rabbit & Company Tigger & Company Kanga Company Christopher Robin & Pooh Owl Eeyore & Piglet Company

11 Audition Scenes All actors must audition with at least one of the scenes below. Choose the scene for the character you wish to audition for. You may audition for more than one part. Keep in mind that while the actors will carry and operate puppets on stage, they will also be required to act the parts physically and with vocal and facial expressions. Rabbit (Hand & Rod Puppet, Adult) (Entering) I don't like it. I don't like the sound of it. (Seeing Pooh and Piglet) Oh Pooh.. Piglet there you are. I suppose you've heard that a strange animal is coming to the forest? (Disapointed when they said they have) Oh, you have... well did you know that her name is Kanga and she is one of the fiercer animals (They know.) Oh you do... well I believe she has one offspring, it's name is Roo. (As an aside) Imagine having a family of only one... (shaking it off) Well the important thing is that Kanga is coming, she's bringing an offspring named Roo, and that's not all she's bringing. (Looks around to make sure no one else is listening) She's bringing a bathtub! And you know what happens when there is a bathtub around... it ends up filled with water and you end up in it. Now you see what all the exitement is about. You see the necessity for taking action. Owl (Hand & Rod Puppet, Adult) (Lecturing.) So what are we going to do about the bottle of poison? She has one, you know. A small bottle -- filled with brown stuff. And clearly written on the lable is the word "Poison". In addition to the word "Poison," there is a picture on the label. A picture of the bones of some dead creature. The evidence clearly indicates that she is up to no good! Now listen to me... Action must be taken... We shall follow the customary procedure... in other words... we'll have a meeting. Tigger (Hand & Rod/Human arm Puppet, Adult) I was just out on my morning bounce. Exercising, you know. Very important. Best way to start the day. Hut 2, 3, 4. Keeps you fit and full of vigor. You can never have to much fit and vigor. You must always be on the alert. You never know when a Hefalump or Woozle will pounce! They hide you know. Behind bushes, behind trees, even behind flowers and bees! But I m ready for them because I exercise every day. It s what Tigger s do best!