Auditions for "Stepping Out"

One of the area's finest directors in Gene Anthony, who recently retired from Marshall's Theatre Department.

I recently heard the great news that he's coming out of retirement, and with his lovely wife Coni will direct the show Stepping Out.

If you have any interest at all in theatre or dancing, I give this my strongest recommendation. I was lucky enough to work with Gene on a show years ago, and it was a delight from start to finish.

Enough gabbing from me - he sent out this note with the announcement:

My friend, Bil Neal, has recently been installed as the new president of Arts Resources for the Tri-state (ARTS).

Knowing that he has a high regard for my theatrical background, I decided that in celebration of his new appointment I would offer to come out of retirement and direct a show for ARTS. He enthusiastically accepted and so we are on for a project.

Coni and I will direct a production of Stepping Out with performance nights on June 15, 16, 17 and June 22, 23 and 24.

Stepping Out was written by British Playwright Richard Harris, and after its London run, was revived for Broadway by Tommy Tune.

Stepping Out is a delightful piece for nine women of various ages and one man. Basically, it is a character-driven comedy. All of the characters are delicious, challenging, and of equal importance; in other words, it is a true ensemble piece.

Eight women and one man, each with his or her own "baggage," assemble once a week for a community tap class which is taught by an ex-show girl. None but the teacher, Mavis, and one other lady in the class, know how to tap. They learn in the course of the play and it ends with the group doing a public, costumed performance for a charity event.

This is our plan of action. The initial audition will be held at ARTS (old
Huntington High), beginning at 7:00 p.m. on January 20. It will be a dance audition. All of my darling friends and associates that just groaned because they don't tap dance can take heart. The point of the audition is for us to discover which of our brilliantly talented actor/singer/musician buddies and any others would be able TO LEARN how to tap in the course of a rehearsal period.

The play's primary requirement is a cast of good ACTORS. Coni and I will spoon feed the tap dancing element to the cast.

So, y'all show up and we'll decide if we think you can learn to tap. What do you have to lose? Call backs will be scheduled at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. We will read from the script for the call back audition.

There are some very specific casting specifications: 1. All of the characters require a comic facility; 2. One of the females does not dance but needs to be able to play the piano; 3. The play would be extremely well served by an integrated cast.

Once a cast has been chosen we will begin a free tap class, meeting once a week on Thursday night beginning at 7:00 p.m. on February 2. The class will continue until show rehearsals begin starting the week of May 6. I prefer a five week rehearsal schedule of about four rehearsals per week; three on a weekday evening schedule and one at an acceptable time each weekend.

If you know how to tap dance, you still need to be at the dance audition on January 20. We'll just "stick you in the back row" so that you can't intimidate the newbies. Love you all and looking forward to this project.

- Gene and Coni