Auditions for "The Color Purple"

The Charleston Light Opera Guild is tackling a terrific show this spring, and auditions begin Tuesday for The Color Purple!

The group posted some detailed information about the auditions, reprinted here for your convenience:

AUDITIONS - THE COLOR PURPLE

January 17, 18, 19 ~ 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, January 17 - 7:30 p.m. ~ Singing
Prepare a musical selection to showcase your voice; bring sheet music for Guild accompanist

Wednesday, January 18 - 7:30 p.m. ~ Reading, Acting
Scripts will be provided for cold readings of major and cameo characters.
Some characters will be selected from the ensemble.

Thursday, January 19 - 7:30 p.m. ~ Dancing
Auditions for African scene dancers, dress to dance, barefoot or ballet or jazz shoes

All auditions at the Charleston Light Opera Guild Theatre
411 Tennessee Ave at Roane Street
Charleston, WV 25302
304-342-9312

THE COLOR PURPLE
will be performed at Charleston Civic Center Little Theatre
May 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 18 and 19, 2012

AVAILABLE ROLES:
CELIE: Female actress-singer 20s – 30s, insecure, yet spirited, appears meek and timid but has a tough interior, treated poorly for years, a strong passionate, belter

MISTER: Albert, an attractive, dominant man 30s – 60s, disrespectful and demanding, marries Celie and mistreats her; true feelings are for Shug Avery, strong vocalist with power

SHUG: Well-known singer, 30s – 50s, very charismatic, a sexy confident and powerful woman, comforts Celie and Mister, a dynamic Bessie Smith style bluesy singer

SOFIA: Female warrior, 20s – 30s, humorous, independent, physically larger with a self confidence in her own skin, marries Harpo, will not be mistreated, strong singer

HARPO: Mister’s vulnerable, good-natured son, 20s – 30s, marries Sofia, learns to treat women well, romances Squeak when Sofia leaves until her return, strong singer

NETTIE: Celie’s sister ages 20s – 30s, adventuresome, spunky and educated, has a strong bond with Celie, separated from Celie by Mister, she finds a new life and calling in Africa, strong belter

SQUEAK: Age 18 - 20s, Harpo’s girl after Sofia leaves and until she returns, spunky, fun, sassy opinionated, good mover-dancer, strong belt and soprano capability

OL’ MISTER: Mister’s father, owner of the farm and house that Mister works and lives on with Celie, self-centered man, verbally abusive towards his son, 55 - 80, strong actor often doubled as the Preacher

CHURCH LADIES (Doris, Darlene, Jarene): A trio of strong personalities and presences, character women who are the busybodies of the town, different types and ages, strong singers with comedic flair.

ENSEMBLE ROLES (Cameo role characters who also sing with the chorus):
Young Nettie, Young Celie (both ages 12-16), Mister’s daughter (8-14), Young Olivia (12-16), Henrietta (8-12), Young Harpo (8-12), Young Adam (8-12), Preacher, if not double cast with Ol’ Mister (30-60), Pa (40-60), Prison Guard (30-50), Buster, Chief, Guard, Older Olivia, Older Adam, Church Soloist, Daisy, Glodene, Odessa

ENSEMBLE SINGERS: Strong male and female voices, all physical and vocal types.

ENSEMBLE DANCERS: Strong male and female dancers for huge African dance scene. Dancers may double in the chorus or cameo roles.

THE COLOR PURPLE is a musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer winning novel. Scott Sanders, Quincy Jones and Oprah Winfrey produced the musical on Broadway in 2005 starring LaChanze with a book by Marsha Norman, music and lyrics by Brenda Russel, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray. The score features a blend of gospel, blues, soul and musical theatre arrangements. The 1985 film featured an impressive cast led by Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover and Oprah Winfrey.

The musical is presented as Celie’s march to freedom and search for peace. Taking place in rural Georgia the story spans the years between 1909 and 1949. Young Celie faces many hardships including a pregnancy at 14, marriage to a cruel farmer called Mister and Mister’s imposed separation of Celie from her sister and best friend, Nettie. Mister’s son, Harpo, grows up and brings home Sofia, a proud and strong-willed woman whom he loves and later marries. Mister’s former love, a blues singer named Shug Avery, helps Celie become a stronger woman.

Nina Denton Pasinetti, director/choreographer
Bobby Hodges, Jr., musical director
For more information call the director at 304-545-6945.