The Bridges of Madison County Auditions
Music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown and book by Marsha Norman
Directed by Colin Armstrong and Musical Direction by Sue Fletcher
ABOUT THE SHOW
Based on the best-selling novel, a forbidden love affair between a photographer and a housewife changes them forever.
Francesca Johnson, a beautiful Italian woman who married an American soldier to flee war-ravaged Italy, looks forward to a rare four days alone on her Iowa farm when her family heads to the 1965 State Fair. When ruggedly handsome, National Geographic photographer, Robert Kincaid, pulls into her driveway seeking directions, though, what happens in those four days may very well alter the course of Francesca's life.
AUDITIONS
Sunday 28 April, 1pm - 5pm and Monday 29 April, 7pm - 10pm
SEASON DATES
Friday 9 August, 7.39pm, Saturday 10 August, 7.30pm, Sunday 11 August, 2pm
Friday 16 August, 7.30pm, Saturday 17 August, 7.30pm, Sunday 18 August, 2pm
Friday 23 August, 7.30pm, Saturday 24 August, 7.30pm
REHEARSALS
Monday and Thursday evenings and Sundays. Times will be confirmed based on cast availability.
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
Francesca: A beautiful Italian woman, generous, luminous, and funny, now married to a farmer and living in Iowa.
Character gender: Female, Character age: 35 to 45
Vocal range top: A flat 5 Vocal range bottom: G3, Soprano
Richard "Bud" Johnson: Francesca's husband. An Iowa farmer, a good guy, diligent and dependable, but always exhausted and irritated that things haven't gotten easier.
Character gender: Male, Character age: 40 to 50
Vocal range top: F4 Vocal range bottom: C3, Baritone
Robert Kincaid: A ruggedly handsome, worldly, visionary photographer.
Character gender: Male, Character age: 40 to 50
Vocal range top: A4 Vocal range bottom: B2, Baritone
Marian: Robert's former wife, a musician.
Character gender: Female, Character age: 35 to 45
Vocal range top: D5 Vocal range bottom: A3, Mezzo-Soprano
Chiara: Francesca's sister still living in Italy.
Character gender: Female, Character age: 35 to 45
Michael: Francesca and Bud's son
Character gender: Male, Character age: 16 and transition into adulthood
Vocal range top: A flat 4 Vocal range bottom: E3, Tenor
Carolyn: Francesca and Bud's daughter
Character gender: Female, Character age: 14 and transition into adulthood
Vocal range top: C5 Vocal range bottom: A3, Soprano
Marge: Francesca's neighbour, sassy and nosy
Character gender: Female, Character age: 45 to 60
Vocal range top: C5 Vocal range bottom: G3, Alto
Charlie: Marge's husband.
Character gender: Male, Character age: 60 to 70
Vocal range top: C4 Vocal range bottom: E3, Bass
We are seeking performers 18 years and older from a wide range of ages, cultural and linguistically diverse backgrounds, gender identities and body types to be part of this special production. The creative team are open to different interpretations of the character descriptions.
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
Auditions will be 15 minutes in duration. You may be asked to cold read from a script of the show.
Please prepare TWO songs from Classic (not pop/rock) Broadway musicals keeping in mind the following:
We will only hear one – the second song should be a 16-32 bar selection as a backup choice should we want to hear something different
Songs should showcase your vocal range and storytelling ability
We may cut off the songs
You may receive redirects of your song so please make sure you are really comfortable with it
Please no songs from The Bridges of Madison County. We’ll hear those on call-back day!
We may ask you to stop mid-song, give you a re-direct, and ask you to continue
There will be no use of backing tracks, recordings or unaccompanied auditions
Please help the pianist to help you! Make sure your sheet music is:
In the proper key for the pianist
Hole punched and placed in a binder or in a display book
Clearly marked for the accompanist with any cuts or repeats
Please refrain from taping together sheets of music or bringing single loose sheets of music.