A uditions
Directed by Julia Kemp
WHEN & WHERE
Audition Dates & Times:
*Those auditioning only need to come to one audition session.
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Monday, February 5, 2024 -- 6:00pm
- Tuesday, February 6, 2024 -- 6:00pm
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If you are unable to attend in-person auditions but would like to audition, please email jkemp@theacademytheatre.org.
Audition Location
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The Academy Theatre, 275 Chestnut Street, Meadville, PA 16335
WHAT TO PREPARE
Music
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40-60 seconds of a Broadway style song of your choice
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Songs from Fiddler on the Roof are permitted.
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Must have accompaniment (either piano or instrumental track)
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Pianist will be provided.
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Speaker will be provided for phone/device.
*Audition sides will be provided.
*There is no need to prepare a monologue or dance routine.
*There will be no dance call.
CHARACTER LIST
Male Roles
Tevye
Age Range: 35 – 55
Vocal Range: Tenor/Baritone (Ab2 – F5)
Acting: VERY strong actor who must carry the show and have a strong connection to the audience. He is the heart and conscience of Fiddler on the Roof.
Movement: move well
Tevye is the humble but wise narrator and main character of the story. His stature comes from his integrity and zest for life. An impoverished milkman in the small village of Anatevka, Russia circa 1905, he is the father of five daughters, husband to Golde, and a leader in his Jewish community. He is faced with many struggles to uphold the traditions of his people, especially concerning the marriages of three of his daughters. Tevye is a likeable, hard-working, pious man (somewhat of a dreamer) who sees the positive side of life. He is humorous and usually relaxed, but when pushed, shows stubbornness and rage.
Motel, the Tailor
Age Range: 18 – 35
Vocal Range: Strong Tenor (E3 - F#4)
Acting: Great character role needing someone who can show Motel’s sensitive, nervous but loveable character. Must have good comic timing and the ability to show vulnerability.
Movement: move well
Motel is the meek and very poor village tailor. He seeks the hand of Tevye’s eldest daughter Tzeitel. He must challenge the tradition of parents choosing a mate and in the process comes into his own by standing up for his feelings for Tzeitel.
Perchik, the Student
Age Range: 18 – 35
Vocal Range: Tenor (B2 – E4)
Acting – Strong acting skills. Actor must show intensity and an unfailing commitment to his radical beliefs. He should be able to hold his own against Tevye as he clashes with him idealistically. He is also likeable, charming, and ultimately an accepted part of Tevye’s family.
Movement: move well
Perchik is a visitor and outsider to Anatevka. He brings with him radical views that challenge traditions. Perchik and Hodel (Tevye’s second oldest daughter) fall in love and again challenge Tevye’s beliefs.
Fyedka, the Russian Soldier
Age Range: 16 – 30
Mainly speaking role but may have short solo in “To Life”
Acting: Good actor who can use a Russian accent. Gentle with Chava but stands up to Tevye
Movement: Strong dancer preferable. Dances a Russian dance in “To Life”
Fyedka is a Russian soldier who falls in love with Chava, Tevye’s third oldest daughter. He and Chava elope because Tevye cannot accept this total break in Jewish tradition.
Lazar Wolfe, the Butcher
Age Range: 40-70
Vocal Range: Baritone (C3 – F#4)
Acting: Strong, feisty actor with good comic skills.
Movement: move well
Lazar Wolfe is the brawny and feisty butcher of Anatevka. He is the town’s wealthiest citizen. He is the same age as, or older than, Tevye and by the tradition of parental arranged marriages, is matched with Tzeitel, Tevye’s eldest daughter. He loses Tzeitel to Motel and is very resentful.
The Constable
Age Range: 35 – 60
Non-singing Role
Acting: Strong character role
The constable is a Russian military official stationed near Anatevka. He knows the villagers well and even likes some of them, especially Tevye. These superficial relationships do not prevent him from violence against the Jewish villagers and eventually he carries out orders for a pogrom in which the Jewish citizens are forced to leave Anatevka.
The Rabbi
Age Range: 40 – 70
Small mostly acting role
The Rabbi is the Jewish spiritual leader.
Mendel, the Rabbi’s Son
Age Range: 18 - 40
Small, mostly acting, role and part of chorus
Mordcha, the Innkeeper
Age Range: 30 - 65
Small acting role and part of chorus
Mordcha runs the local bar and is a friend of Tevye.
Avram, the Bookseller
Age Range: 30 – 65
Small acting role and part of chorus
Russian Soloist in “To Life”
Age Range: 20 – 50
Vocal Range: Tenor
Other Small Male Roles
Nachum, the Beggar; Yussel, the Town Hatter; Russian Priest;
Sasha and Boris – Fyedka’s fellow soldiers and friends
Female Roles
Golde, Tevye’s Wife
Age Range: 40 – 55
Vocal Range: Mezzo/Alto (A3 – Eb5)
Acting: Strong actor, good comic timing, exudes sarcasm
Movement: Moves well
Golde is Tevye’s strong –willed wife who hopes for good matches for her daughters, so they have easier lives than she and Tevye. She is the strength behind Tevye and keeps the household going.
Tzeitel, Eldest Daughter
Age Range: 18 – 30
Vocal range: Soprano/Alto (B3 to D5)
Acting: Strong dramatic actor
Movement: move well
Tzeitel is the first daughter to challenge tradition. She is madly in love with Motel, the Tailor and in a desperate crying scene persuades her father to let her marry Motel in spite of the fact that Tevye has made her a match with Lazar Wolfe who is old enough to be her father.
Hodel, 2nd Eldest Daughter
Age Range: 18 – 25
Vocal Range: Soprano with strong chest voice (B3 – E5)
Acting: Strong dramatic actor
Movement: move well
Hodel becomes involved with Perchik and eventually leaves Anatevka to be with him in Siberia where he is imprisoned for his reform activities. She and Perchik defy tradition by not asking permission to wed, only Tevye’s blessing. Hodel sings the haunting solo Far from the Home I Love as she says goodbye to her father at the train station.
Chava, 3rd Eldest Daughter
Age Range: 16-21
Vocal Range: Soprano/Alto
Acting: Strong dramatic actor
Movement: Ballet and/or Lyrical Modern
dance training preferred.
Chava is Tevye’s scholarly, middle daughter who loves reading. She falls in love with the Russian soldier Fyedka and elopes with him. This huge break from tradition breaks her father’s heart and Chava becomes dead to him.
Shprintze, 4th Eldest Daughter
Age Range: 10 - 14
Vocal Range: Soprano/Alto
Acting: few spoken lines but needs to have good stage presence and reactions
Movement: move well
Shprintze takes lessons at home from Perchik and appears in several scenes.
Bielke, Youngest Daughter
Age Range 9– 12
Vocal Range: Soprano/Alto
Acting: few spoken lines but needs to have good stage presence and reactions
Movement: move well
Bielke takes lessons at home from Perchik and appears in several scenes.
Yente, the Matchmaker
Age Range: 45 – 65
Vocal Range Soprano/Alto (F3 – F5)
Acting: Strong comedic talents
Movement: move well
Yente is the village matchmaker. She is a widow and a meddling busy-body who makes it her business to know all of the town gossip.
Grandma Tzeitel
Age Range: 60 – 80
Vocal range: Mezzo/Alto (C#4 – D5)
Acting: strong actor
Movement: move well
Grandma Tzeitel is Golde’s deceased grandmother who appears as a ghost in the Dream Sequence. She has a great solo in which she endorses the marriage of Tzeitel to Motel. The person who plays this role will double as chorus as well.
Fruma-Sarah
Age Range: 35 – 60
Vocal Range: Mezzo/Alto (C4 – Eb5)
Acting: very strong
Movement: move well
Fruma-Sarah is Lazar Wolfe’s dead wife who appears as a ghost in the dream sequence to warn Tevye and Golde not to allow Tzeitel to marry her husband or dire results will befall the family. Her solo is a show stopper and the actor must carry this challenging solo.
Small Female Roles
Shaindel – Motel’s mother
The Fiddler
May be Male or Female
Move well
ENSEMBLE
Will be made up of adults, teens and children.
There is a large ENSEMBLE of villagers that will make up all different kids of families, Russian soldiers, and dancers as well. Both speaking and non-speaking roles are available. The ensemble is heavily used in this show.
Children
We will select approximately 4 – 6 children to be part of the village family groups.
CREW & VOLUNTEERS
Not a fan of the spotlight, but still want to be involved? We need volunteers for everything from hair and make-up to crew and lights. Send an email to jkemp@theacademytheatre.org
Performance Dates:
Friday, April 12, 2024 at 7:30pm
Saturday, April 13, 2024 at 7:30pm
Sunday, April 14, 2024 at 2:00pm
Friday, April 19, 2024 at 7:30pm
Saturday, April 20, 2024 at 2:00pm
Saturday, April 20, 2024 at 7:30pm
Sunday, April 21, 2024 at 2:00pm
Friday, April 26, 2024 at 7:30pm
Saturday, April 27, 2024 at 7:30pm
Sunday, April 28, 2024 at 2:00pm
Friday, May 3, 2024 at 7:30pm
Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 7:30pm
Sunday, May 5, 2024 at 2:00pm