The most important thing in acting is honesty. If you can fake that, you've got it made.
George Burns
Meridian Little Theatre 4334 Hwy 39 North, Meridian, MS 39301
***Purchase tickets from the Box Office Page***
***Purchase tickets from the Box Office Page***
Meridian Little Theatre Auditions for Dreamgirls- Mon. & Tues. March 9-10 6:30 p.m. at MLT.
There will be a call-back audition on Mon. March 16 at 6:30 for those cannot make it the previous week. Rehearsals will begin Tues. March 17 at 6:30 p.m. and will be each week Mon. – Thur. at 6:30 p.m. until the weekend before the show when there is a rehearsal with the orchestra on Sat. May 2 at 10:00 a.m. and Sunday May 3 at 1:30 p.m. and dress rehearsals Mon. May 4 – 6 at 6:30 p.m.
Performances are scheduled for May 7-13 with evening performances at 7:30 p.m. on all dates except Sun. May 10 with a 2:00 p.m. matinee and there is no show on Mon. May 11. Only leads will be scheduled for most rehearsals.
Audition Guidelines
Be prepared to sing a short piece of music (6 bars or 30 sec. worth) of a soul, gospel or rock and roll number that best demonstrates your vocal ability. Songs from Dreamgirls are preferable. If not from the show, bring your own sheet music for the Audition Piano Accompanist to play. Capella is not recommended. Also wear loose clothing and shoes suitable for the Dance Auditions. You will also read cuttings from the Dreamgirls script with other auditionees as part of the auditions.
Dreamgirls Synopsis
Setting: Chicago, Illinois. Time: -1960’s- 1970’s.
This groundbreaking musical, loosely based on the career of The Supremes, takes you to a revolutionary time in American music history when rhythm and blues blended with other styles of popular music and created a new American sound—Motown. In the ‘60s, three friends form The Dreamettes and get their big break at an amateur competition, and begin singing backup vocals for a major star. As their own fame grows, however, things begin to spin out of control when their agent’s business maneuvers trump their friendship, and fortune and success take them down a path of heartbreak and turmoil. Over two decades The Dreams, as they become known, learn hard lessons about love, trust and the changing tastes of the American public.
Dreamgirls Character Break-downs (Note: age suggestions can be varied.)
Lead Roles
Marty - Theatrical agent for Jimmy (James Thunder) Early- 40’s/ Baritone
Curtis Taylor, Jr. - Cadillac dealer/manager of The Dreamettes- 30-40’s/ Baritone
Deena Jones - The Dreamettes backup singer, later lead singer- 20’s/ Mezzo soprano
Lorrell Robinson - The Dreamettes backup singer- 20’s /Soprano
Effie Melody White - The Dreamettes lead singer- 20’s/ Mezzo soprano with a big vocal range
C.C. (Claridge Conrad) White - Composer, Effie’s brother- 20-30’s/ Baritone
Jimmy (James Thunder) Early - Principal “soul” singer- 30-40’s/ Tenor (a la James Brown style
Michelle Morris - Backup singer, replacement for Effie- 20-30’s/ Mezzo soprano
Supporting Roles
Stepp Sisters Quartet - Vocal group for Apollo Talent Show- 20’s
Charlene and Joann- Backup singers for Jimmy (James Thunder)- 20’s Early/ Mezzo soprano
M.C. - Master of Ceremonies, Apollo Theatre- 30-40’s
Tiny Joe Dixon – Apollo Talent contestant - 30-40’s/ Blues singer range
Little Albert and the Tru-Tones - Vocal group for Apollo Talent Show- Teens-20’s/ (a la Jackson 5 style)
Wayne - Record producer/director-30’s
Dave and the Sweethearts – White vocal trio (1 male & 2 females)-20’s/ (a la Pat Boone style)
Frank - Press agent 30’s/ Baritone
Jerry Norman - Nightclub owner- 40’s-50
Dwight - TV studio director- 30-40’s
Wayne- Record producer/director- 40’s- 50’s
Stage Manager - TV studio- 20-30’sMr. Morgan - Effie’s Lawyer 30-40’s
There will be a call-back audition on Mon. March 16 at 6:30 for those cannot make it the previous week. Rehearsals will begin Tues. March 17 at 6:30 p.m. and will be each week Mon. – Thur. at 6:30 p.m. until the weekend before the show when there is a rehearsal with the orchestra on Sat. May 2 at 10:00 a.m. and Sunday May 3 at 1:30 p.m. and dress rehearsals Mon. May 4 – 6 at 6:30 p.m.
Performances are scheduled for May 7-13 with evening performances at 7:30 p.m. on all dates except Sun. May 10 with a 2:00 p.m. matinee and there is no show on Mon. May 11. Only leads will be scheduled for most rehearsals.
Audition Guidelines
Be prepared to sing a short piece of music (6 bars or 30 sec. worth) of a soul, gospel or rock and roll number that best demonstrates your vocal ability. Songs from Dreamgirls are preferable. If not from the show, bring your own sheet music for the Audition Piano Accompanist to play. Capella is not recommended. Also wear loose clothing and shoes suitable for the Dance Auditions. You will also read cuttings from the Dreamgirls script with other auditionees as part of the auditions.
Dreamgirls Synopsis
Setting: Chicago, Illinois. Time: -1960’s- 1970’s.
This groundbreaking musical, loosely based on the career of The Supremes, takes you to a revolutionary time in American music history when rhythm and blues blended with other styles of popular music and created a new American sound—Motown. In the ‘60s, three friends form The Dreamettes and get their big break at an amateur competition, and begin singing backup vocals for a major star. As their own fame grows, however, things begin to spin out of control when their agent’s business maneuvers trump their friendship, and fortune and success take them down a path of heartbreak and turmoil. Over two decades The Dreams, as they become known, learn hard lessons about love, trust and the changing tastes of the American public.
Dreamgirls Character Break-downs (Note: age suggestions can be varied.)
Lead Roles
Marty - Theatrical agent for Jimmy (James Thunder) Early- 40’s/ Baritone
Curtis Taylor, Jr. - Cadillac dealer/manager of The Dreamettes- 30-40’s/ Baritone
Deena Jones - The Dreamettes backup singer, later lead singer- 20’s/ Mezzo soprano
Lorrell Robinson - The Dreamettes backup singer- 20’s /Soprano
Effie Melody White - The Dreamettes lead singer- 20’s/ Mezzo soprano with a big vocal range
C.C. (Claridge Conrad) White - Composer, Effie’s brother- 20-30’s/ Baritone
Jimmy (James Thunder) Early - Principal “soul” singer- 30-40’s/ Tenor (a la James Brown style
Michelle Morris - Backup singer, replacement for Effie- 20-30’s/ Mezzo soprano
Supporting Roles
Stepp Sisters Quartet - Vocal group for Apollo Talent Show- 20’s
Charlene and Joann- Backup singers for Jimmy (James Thunder)- 20’s Early/ Mezzo soprano
M.C. - Master of Ceremonies, Apollo Theatre- 30-40’s
Tiny Joe Dixon – Apollo Talent contestant - 30-40’s/ Blues singer range
Little Albert and the Tru-Tones - Vocal group for Apollo Talent Show- Teens-20’s/ (a la Jackson 5 style)
Wayne - Record producer/director-30’s
Dave and the Sweethearts – White vocal trio (1 male & 2 females)-20’s/ (a la Pat Boone style)
Frank - Press agent 30’s/ Baritone
Jerry Norman - Nightclub owner- 40’s-50
Dwight - TV studio director- 30-40’s
Wayne- Record producer/director- 40’s- 50’s
Stage Manager - TV studio- 20-30’sMr. Morgan - Effie’s Lawyer 30-40’s
The Red Velvet Cake War Cast
Gaynelle Verdeen Bodine - Donna P. Colburn
Peaches Verdeen Belrose - Sidney Covington
Jimmie Wyvette Verdeen - Connie Bishop
Uncle Aubrey Verdeen - Allen Hunt
Aunt LaMerle Verdeen Minshew - Charlotte Tabereaux
Newt Blaylock - Zena Limerick
Cee Cee Windham - Sharon Burt
Bitsy Hargis - Stacey Pollock
Elsa Dowdall - Tori Moore
Cousin Purvis Verdeen - Billy Jack Ethridge
Sheriff Grover Lout - Ward Calhoun
Mamma Doll Hargis - Ann McKee
Gaynelle Verdeen Bodine - Donna P. Colburn
Peaches Verdeen Belrose - Sidney Covington
Jimmie Wyvette Verdeen - Connie Bishop
Uncle Aubrey Verdeen - Allen Hunt
Aunt LaMerle Verdeen Minshew - Charlotte Tabereaux
Newt Blaylock - Zena Limerick
Cee Cee Windham - Sharon Burt
Bitsy Hargis - Stacey Pollock
Elsa Dowdall - Tori Moore
Cousin Purvis Verdeen - Billy Jack Ethridge
Sheriff Grover Lout - Ward Calhoun
Mamma Doll Hargis - Ann McKee
Thanks to the Riley Foundation for the 2014-2015 grant to upgrade the infrastructure and facilities of MLT.
This project is supported in part by funding from the Mississippi Arts Commission, a state agency, and in part, from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
MAC Mini Grant awarded to MLT Board Members to attend the 2015 Back Stage Pass Conference in Hattiesburg, MS Jan. 21 & 22, 2015
