We’re holding auditions for our March 2020 musical ‘Kiss me Kate’!

Audition dates are 4th and 11th November 7:30 – 9:00pm at the Lever Club, Port Sunlight. 4th November will be giving out scripts and read through as well as singing the songs and 11th will be the auditions.

If you would like to audition for any parts, please email our director to show an interest and for any further information or queries about the auditions, please email: janedirectorpsp@gmail.com

Please note – there is a lovely old film of the show, with Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson as Fred and Lilli… but we will be producing the 1999 Broadway revival (stage show) which is slightly different from the original production. To learn about the Broadway revival production, and to prepare for auditions or for your role in the chorus, please watch the show, and you’ll find the whole show (with sing-a-long subtitles!) on there. It’s a fantastic production -all filmed on stage – and the offstage and on stage character roles are very clear.

Watch the show here

CAST: Please note – Each person will play an offstage character in the company who are staging “The Taming of the Shrew”. The company is small so each offstage character also plays an onstage character in the company’s performance. For example (see first row of the cast list below) Pops is the stage doorman when the company are in a theatre, but he is also an actor and plays the role of the Padua Priest in “The Shrew”

Character (offstage)	Character (“Shrew”)	Voice – Solos & linesin songs etc.	Profile, playing age & build etc.
Pops (stagedoorman)	Plays Padua Priest	Baritone.                                         Another Op’nin’, Another Show,I sing of Love, Bianca. Kiss Me Kate.	Older character – everyone’s “show” dad, kind & helpful.
Hattie (Lilli’s dresser) 2nd dance captain	Plays Serving lady to Katharine/Kate	Mezzo soprano.                             Another Op’nin’, Another Show, Kiss Me Kate.	30s-40s, busy, unflappable, discreet and trustworthy. Paul’s girlfriend.
Stagehand #1 (electrician)	Plays Nathaniel – servant to Petruchio	Baritone                                        Another Op’nin’, Another Show,          I sing of Love, Bianca, Kiss me Kate	30s-40s actor/technician, good humoured/long suffering
Stagehand # 2 (assistant electrician)	Plays Philip – servant to Petruchio and half of the pantomime donkey	Baritone.                                         Another Op’nin’, Another Show,          I sing of Love, Bianca, Kiss Me Kate	30s-40s actor/technician, good humoured/long suffering and energetic as the pantomime donkey
Stagehand #3 (carpenter and driver to General Howell)	Plays Haberdasher and half of the pantomime donkey	Baritone                                        Another Op’nin’, Another Show, I sing of Love, Bianca, Kiss Me Kate	30s-40s actor/technician, good humoured/long suffering and energetic as the pantomime donkey
Wardrobe mistress & wardrobe ladies	Play Ensemble Singers	Mezzo Soprano.                          Another Op’nin’, Another Show, I sing of Love, Bianca, Kiss Me Kate	Older more experienced performers who mentor younger seamstresses
Ensemble ladies	Play Padua Inn waitresses, ensemble singers and ensemble dancers.	Mezzo soprano/alto/mixed             Another Op’nin’, Another Show, I sing of Love, Bianca, Kiss Me Kate	20s-30s, Strong singers & dancers
Ensemble men (below)	Play Padua Inn customers, ensemble singers and ensemble dancers	Baritone/Bass baritone/mixed   Another Op’nin’, Another Show, I sing of Love, Bianca, Kiss Me Kate	20s-30s. Strong singers & dancers
Paul (Fred’s dresser) dance captain	Plays Gregory – servant to Petruchio	Tenor/Baritone                                 Too Darn Hot, I sing of Love, Bianca, Kiss me Kate	40s. A “seen it all” confidante to Fred. Strong singer and dancer
Ralph (stage manager)	Plays Ensemble Singer	No solos but sings in ensemble	Older character – serious, loud voice
Lois Lane	Plays Bianca Minola	Mezzo Soprano.                                   Why can’t you behave,                 Tom, Dick or Harry,Always True to You in My Fashion, Kiss me Kate (finale)	Early 20s – A cute, dim-witted but lovable nightclub singer. “The Shrew” is Lois’ first ‘featured’ role on the stage. She is ambitiousand grateful to Fred for his support.
Bill Calhoun	Plays Lucentio(suitor)	Baritone.                                       Why can’t you behave? I sing of Love,Bianca, Kiss me Kate.	Late 20s – early 30s. A Broadway “hoofer”, Lois’ boyfriend and a hopeless gambler.
Lilli Vanessi	Plays Katharine/Kate	Soprano.                                      Wunderbar, So in Love, We open in Venice, I Hate Men, From this moment on, I am ashamed that women are so simple. Kiss me Kate.	Early-Mid 30s. Experienced “star”stage and screen actress. Lilli is the leading lady of “The Shrew” and Fred’s recently divorced ex-wife.
Fred Graham	Plays Petruchio, Katharine’s husband	Baritone.                                      Wunderbar, We Open in Venice, I’ve come to Wive it wealthily in Padua, Were thine thy special face, Kiss Me Kate, Where is the Life that late I led? So in Love.	Late 30s – Early 40s. Fred is an experienced writer, producer, director, actor and theatrical ‘superman’.
Harry Trevor	Plays BaptistaMinola(Katharine’s Dad)	No solos but sings in ensemble	Older character – veteran Broadway character actor
First Man/Gangster	Plays an “Aide” to Katherine/Lilli	Baritone.                                     Brush up your Shakespeare	Middle aged debt collector/gunman gangster & half donkey in finale
Second Man/Gangster	Plays an “Aide to Katherine/Lilli	Baritone.                                        Brush up your Shakespeare	Middle aged debt collector/gunman gangster & half donkey in finale
Flynt (aide to General)	Plays Gremio (first suitor)	Baritone.                                         Bianca, I sing of Love. Kiss me Kate	Strong physique & motorcyclist
Riley (aide to General)	Plays Hortensio (second suitor)	Baritone.                                        Bianca, I Sing of Love. Kiss me Kate	Strong physique & motorcyclist
General Harrison Howell	The general is the only character who does not play a role in “The Taming of The Shrew”.	Bass Baritone.                                          From this moment on.	50s – square-jawed, with a strong physique. Harrison is a career minded, military officer, a newly appointed politician, friend of the president& Lilli’s “new” man.

Synopsis
Act One
It is 1952 and a musical version of “The Taming of the Shrew” is about to open in Baltimore, USA. Performing in the show, with producer &actor-manager Fred Graham, are the leading lady (his former wife) LilliVanessi; Lois Lane, a young nightclub singer in whom he is ‘interested’, and Bill Calhoun, who is Lois’s boyfriend… and a busy, but not very successful gambler.Soon after the cast arrive at the Theatre,Bill arrives late and tells Lois that he has signed Fred’s name to a $10,000 IOU for his own gambling debts. She begs him to reform, stop gambling and to pay the debt back before the “heavies” come looking for Fred. She also reminds him that Fred has given them both their “big break” in the Theatre and they should respect him rather than ‘stich him up’ with a gambling debt.
Backstage in adjoining dressing rooms, Fred and Lilli snipe and bicker… then they reminisce nostalgically about other shows they have appeared in together – it’s clear that they still love each other and, after singing “Wunderbar”, they eventually kiss and begin to patch up their differences. Soon after, Fred sends a ‘good luck’ card &bouquet to Lois, which is delivered, in error, to Lilli. On stage, as Katherine in a public performance of “The Shrew”, Lilli discovers that the bouquet was meant for Lois; she is furious, refuses to kiss and is then spanked by Fred/Petruchio. And sheflounces angrily ‘offstage’. Her early departure, however, is prevented by two gangsters who have come to collect the IOU Bill forged withFred’s signature. They want the show to continue its run so that Fred can pay his debts back – so Lilli is forced (at gunpoint) to stay. As the first Act ends Lilli is raging, both as Kate in “The Shrew” and in reality – her fiancé (a self-important American general with political ambitions) is on his way from Washington to save her from the humiliation she says she’s suffered at the hands of Fred: but the 2 gangsters are dressed in “Shrew costumes” and accompany her everywhere- even on stage – so that she cannot leave.
Act Two
Some of the actors are gathered, in their “Shrew” costumes during the interval, in the alley behind the theatre – they sing that it’s “Too darn hot!”, but rush back in to the theatre when they hear the opening bars of Act 2 of “The Shrew”. Fred (in costume as Petruchio) explains to the audience that Miss Vanessiis “indisposed” and unable to ride a donkey in the next scene. They must jump forward to the honeymoon scene, where Petruchio, just married to Katherine/Lilli, realises that married life will be hard – so he sings and yearns for his life as a single man. Backstage we learn that because of a sudden change in gang“administration” (their boss has been murdered by rival gangsters)the gangsterstear up the now worthless IOU andprepare to leave. Lilli’s newly promoted boyfriend, General Harrison Howell, appears and, released from the demands of the gangsters, she prepares to walk out on the show… Fred muses on his love for her and tries to stop her… but (even knowing that she loves him too) she still decides to leave to be married to the controlling and unfaithful general the next day. The two gangsters try to leave the theatre but get trapped in front of the show curtain – seeing the audience, they seize the opportunity to sing the show-stopping “Brush up Your Shakespeare” as the company wait backstage to carry on with “the Shrew” without their leading lady.Petruchio/Fred finally enters prepared for the worst, but as the show comes to a close, Lilli unexpectedly returns to the stage (dressed as Kate) and ‘in character’ agrees to be an obedient wife to Petruchio… andalso expresses her intention of returning to her ex-husband, Fred.
Fred/Petruchio and Lilli/Kate embrace – and it is the happiest kiss in all of kissing history – the company sing of love and the two gangsters appear as the pantomime donkey, laden with baskets of flower petals… which the company take and throw above the happy couple like confetti at a wedding. Curtain – the end.

Our musical for March 2020 is ‘Kiss Me Kate’!

The show will be performed at the Gladstone Theatre, Port Sunlight from 19th – 21st March 2020.

With music and lyrics from the legendary Cole Porter, the show involves a musical version of Shakespeare’s ‘The Taming of the Shrew’.

Cole Porter poured huge amounts of his best music into Kiss Me Kate. The show boasts a great stream of lovely melody allied to words by the wittiest lyricist America ever produced… and the score scintillates with timeless “Broadway” tunes like “Another Op’nin’, Another show…”, “Wunderbar”,”So in Love”, “Too Darned Hot” and the brilliantly witty and stylish “Brush up your Shakespeare”.

Tickets are £14 and £10 concessions (including booking fee) and will be available to buy online soon.

For details of our audition information and dates, please click here.

Our Christmas show this year is a variety show packed full of songs from the musicals and a whole bunch of Christmas songs!

There will be fantastic dance numbers for you to tap your feet to and plenty of well loved songs for you to sing along with!

The show is on Saturday 7th December 14:30 and 19:30 at the Gladstone Theatre, Port Sunlight.

Tickets are just £9 and available from the theatre box office and online:
https://gladstonetheatre.org.uk/events/port-sunlight-players-christmas-cracker/

We hope to see you there to get you in that Christmas spirit!

We’re thrilled to announce our June play for 2019 is ‘The Darling Buds of May’. Famous from the TV series starring David Jason and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

A comedy set in the 1950’s in an idyllic rural setting in Kent “somewhere at the end of the rainbow. Pop Larkin who makes a fortune from various deals but has never paid any tax lives a blissful live with his big-hearted wife ‘Ma’ and their six children. When a young, earnest tax official turns up to investigate, he is bewitched by their eldest daughter Marietta and soon succumbs to the boisterous Larkin family charm.

On at the Gladstone Theatre, Port Sunlight, 7:30pm on 27th and 2:30pm and 7:30pm 29th June 2019.

Tickets available online https://gladstonetheatre.org.uk/events/darling-buds-of-may/

There is quite a large cast including principle roles, children and supporting roles.

Characters and audition information:

Main Characters:

Pop Larkin. Fortyish.Has an air of boisterous, breezy, happy confidence in all he says and does. He is very likeable and warm-hearted, especially with his family and friends. He is an irrepressible, infectious spiv. Played on the TV by David Jason. This does not mean however the actor must try and copy him.

Ma Larkin. Ma is two yards wide. She is a bit younger than Pa. She is very motherly and loveable too. She is always calm. She loves cooking and looking after her family. She once was and still is, very handsome.

Mariette. 17 years old. The eldest of the Larkin children. She is very pretty and has ‘a fine figure.’ She has the same laid back attitude to life as her parents. This is the role that launched the career of Catherine Zita-Jones.

The other Larkin Children

They are in and around for a large part of the play, although there are not lots of lines, the children are an important part of the action and the play. They are as follows;

Montgomery, 15. Primrose, 13. Petunia and Zinnia,11. Victoria,9

Mr Charlton. “Charley”  He is a junior tax inspector. The first description of him is; “about twenty- four, spectacles, pale face, trilby-hat, earnest and rather shy.” During the play he comes out of his shell and ends up staying with the Larkins.

Supporting Characters

All are good character parts and have decent amounts of lines. * Means they are in Act 2 only.

Tax Inspector. Is Charley’s boss. He is tall, middle aged and smartly dressed. Needs to be older than Charley, but age can be flexible.

The Brigadier. He is sixtyish, tall, straight as straw. He speaks in cryptic tones that are not without humour. His suit is crumpled and ill-fitting and it’s shrunk in the wash. He wears socks that do not match.

Edith Pilchester. * She is about forty five, sallow, heavy featured, rather hearty. She is well spoken and has a crush on Pop.

Pauline Jackson. * She is a big, well made, sunburnt blonde of nineteen.

Angela Snow. * She is tall, aristocratic, very fair and with a figure like a reed. She is a cool, languid and attractive creature. Her voice drawls delightfully.

Sir George Bluff-Gore. * He is cadaverous, humourless and funereal.

Lady Bluff-Gore * His wife. Lady of the manor type.

Auditions are on Tuesday 26th February at the Gladstone Theatre, Port Sunlight at 7pm (please come in bar entrance round the back).

If you would like to audition we would love to see you at the auditions ☺️

Below is the rehearsal schedule for “The Sound of Music”.

As you will see, rehearsals start on Monday 7^th January – at 6pm for Maria and the children – and from 7.30pm for all Ladies in the chorus. Gentlemen, you are very welcome to attend on Monday 7^th January but, as there is very little singing for the male chorus until Act 2, you may wish not to attend until Monday 14^th January. Most rehearsals follow our usual schedule of chorus (music and large scene) rehearsals on Mondays, when we will have the larger space in the civic centre, and main character (songs and small scene) rehearsals on Wednesdays. There will be some further (smaller female and male role) auditions in early January but these will take place during or at the end of Monday evening rehearsals.

Scripts (the full libretto and vocal score) will be available for all main characters to pick up from Valerie Houldin at the first rehearsal on 7^th January. Scripts are hired at a significant cost, so each person who receives a script will be asked to sign for it and to pay a £5.00 deposit to Valerie before they take it away. The deposit will be returned to you when your book is cleaned of all (pencil only) markings and returned to Valerie at the end of the show.

There are 3 Sunday afternoon rehearsals scheduled for 24/2, 03/03 and 10/03 at Bebington Methodist Church and two further Sunday rehearsals on 17^th and 24^th March when we are in the Theatre. Rehearsals and performances which take place on Sundays and other days of the week in the last 2 weeks before the performance are indicated with an asterisk. (*)

The rehearsal schedule will be displayed at every rehearsal and there will be a signing in sheet for all rehearsals. Performers who miss more than two rehearsals without first agreeing their absence with Jane, Greg or Valerie may lose their role in the show.

Please email Jane on janedirectorpsp@gmail.com as soon as possible if you (and/or your child) are unable to attend a particular rehearsal. We will do our best to re-schedule rehearsals to accommodate people who can’t be with us when their scenes are being rehearsed but, as time is short and there is a very large company for this show, it’s unlikely that we will be able to please everyone!

We look forward to seeing you in January! – Jane, Greg, Valerie and the Port Sunlight Players Committee.

Day/Date	Time	Venue	Who is needed?	What will we be doing?	With
Week 1 Monday 07.01.19	6.00 – 7.00pm 7.00 – 7.30pm 7.30 – 9.00pm	Bebington Civic Centre	Children and Maria Rolf and Leisl Female Chorus (Nuns)	Act One songs 16 Going on 17 Act One songs	Greg and Jane
Wednesday 09.01.19	6.00 – 7.00pm 7.00 – 7.30pm 7.30 – 9.00pm	The Lever Club	Children and Maria Rolf and Leisl Main characters	Act One early scenes – read & block Act One early scenes – read & block Maria & Captain – Act One songs	Jane and Greg (Greg)
Week 2 Monday 14.01.19	6.00 – 7.00pm 7.00 – 7.30pm 7.30 – 9.00pm	Bebington Civic Centre	Children and Maria Rolf and Leisl Male & Female chorus (Smaller role auditions)	Act Two songs 16 Going on 17 Act Two songs	Greg and Jane
Wednesday 16.01.19	6.00 – 7.00pm 7.00 – 7.30pm 7.30 – 9.00pm	The Lever Club	Children and Maria Leisl and Maria (16/17 Reprise) Main characters	Act Two early scenes – read & block Act Two early scenes – read & block Captain, Elsa & Max –  Act One songs	Jane and Greg (Greg)
Week 3 Monday 21.01.19	6.00 – 7.00pm 7.00 – 7.30pm 7.30 – 9.00pm	Bebington Civic Centre	Children and Maria Rolf and Leisl Female Chorus (Nuns)	Act One Songs & movement 16 Going on 17 – movement Act One Songs	Greg and Jane
Wednesday 23.01.19	6.00 – 7.00pm 7.00 – 7.30pm 7.30 – 9.00pm	The Lever Club	Children and Maria Rolf and Leisl – movement Main characters	Act One later scenes – read & block Act One later scenes – read & block Maria & Captain – Act Two songs	Jane and Greg (Greg)
Week 4 Monday 28.01.19	6.00 – 7.00pm 7.00 – 7.30pm 7.30 – 9.00pm	Bebington Civic Centre	Children and Maria Maria & Mother Abbess Male & Female Chorus	Act Two songs & movement Sound of Music/Climb every Mountain Act Two songs & movement	Greg and Jane
Day/Date	Time	Venue	Who needed?	What will we be doing?	With
Wednesday 30.01.19	6.00 – 7.00pm 7.00 – 7.30pm 7.30 – 9.00pm	The Lever Club	Children and Maria Maria and Captain Main characters	Act Two later scenes – read & block Act Two later scenes – read & block Captain, Elsa & Max – Act Two songs	Jane and Greg (Greg)
Week 5 Monday 04.02.19	6.00 – 7.00pm 7.00 – 7.00pm 7.30 – 9.00pm	Bebington Civic Centre	Children Maria and Captain Male & female chorus Ball scene characters	“So long farewell” song & movement Landler Ball scene and Landler movement	Greg and Jane
Wednesday 06.02.19	6.00 – 7.00pm 7.30 – 9.00pm	Lever Club	Children and Maria Main Nuns & Maria	“Do a Deer” song and movement Act One scenes, songs & movement	Jane and Greg
Week 6 Monday 11.02.19	6.00 – 7.00pm 7.00 – 7.30pm 7.30 – 9.00pm	Bebington Civic Centre	Children and Maria Maria and Captain Male & Female chorus Ball scene characters	“So long farewell” song & movement Landler Ball scene and Landler movement	Greg and Jane
Wednesday 13.02.19	6.00 – 7.00pm 7.30 – 9.00pm	Lever Club	Children and Maria Main Nuns, Maria, Captain	“Lonely Goatherd” song & movement Act Two scenes, songs & movement	Jane and Greg
Week 7 Monday 18.02.19	6.00 – 7.00pm 7.00 – 7.30pm 7.30 – 9.00pm	Bebington Civic Centre	Children and Maria Max, Elsa and Captain Male & Female chorus Ball scene characters	Act One songs and movement Act one songs – movement Act One Ball scene and Movement	Greg and Jane
Wednesday 20.02.19	6.00 – 7.00pm 7.30 – 9.00pm	Lever Club	Children and Maria Main Nuns/Main characters	Act Two Songs and Movement Act Two Nuns Wedding scenes	Jane and Greg
* Sunday 24.02.19	2pm – 5pm	Methodist Church CH63 7RA	Act One (Costume) Full Company Chorus & Main characters	Act One scene development Act One songs and movement Act One – Slow Run	Jane, Greg & Team
Day/Date	Time	Venue	Who is called to rehearse?	What will we be doing?	With
Week 8 Monday 25.02.19	6.00 – 7.00pm 7.00 – 7.30pm 7.30 – 9.00pm	Bebington Civic Centre	Children, Maria & Captain Main characters & nuns’ Male & Female Chorus	Act Two songs and movement Act Two wedding chorus procession Act Two Kaltzburg festival scene.	Greg and Jane

 

Wednesday 27.02.19	6.00 – 7.00pm 7.30 – 9.00pm	Lever Club	Children, Maria & Captain Main characters	Act Two songs and movement Act Two songs and movement	Jane and Greg
*Sunday 03.03.19	2pm – 5pm	Methodist Church CH63 7RA	Act Two (Costume) Full Company Main characters & chorus	Act Two scene development Act Two songs and movement Act Two – Slow Run	Jane, Greg & Team
Week 9 Monday 04.03.19	6.00 – 7.30pm 7.00 – 9.00pm	Bebington Civic Centre	Children, Maria, Captain Main character nuns and Nuns’ chorus	Act Two scenes, songs & movement Act Two scenes, songs & movement Act One nuns scenes	Greg and Jane
Wednesday 06.03.19	6.00 – 7.30pm 7.00 – 9.00pm	Lever Club	Children, Maria, Captain Max, Elsa, Captain	Act One scenes, songs & movement Act Two and Act One scenes & songs	Jane and Greg
* Sunday 10.03.19	2pm-5pm	Methodist Church CH63 7RA	Act One (Costume/Props) Full Company Main characters & chorus	Act One scene development Act One songs and movement Run Act One	Jane, Greg & Team
Week 10 Monday 11.03.19	6.00 – 7.30pm 7.00 – 9.00pm	Bebington Civic Centre	Children, Maria, Captain Main character nuns and Nuns’ chorus	Act One scenes, songs & movement Act Two scenes, songs & movement Act One nun scenes	Greg and Jane
Wednesday 13.03.19	6.00 – 7.30pm 7.00 – 9.00pm	Lever Club	Children, Maria, Captain Max, Elsa, Captain	Act Two scenes, songs & movement Act Two and Act One scenes & songs	Jane and Greg
* Sunday 17.03.19	2pm – 4pm 4pm – 6pm	Gladstone Theatre	ACT TWO on stage ACT ONE on stage	Act One scenes rehearsed in Bar Act Two scenes rehearsed in Bar	Jane & Greg
Week 11 Monday 18.03.19	6.00 – 7.30pm 7.00 – 9.30pm	Theatre	Children & main characters Full company (Act One) Costume, props & set	Act One children’s scenes on stage Act One other scenes on stage Ball & Landler Scene rehearse in Bar	Jane, Greg & Team
Wednesday 20.03.19	6.00 – 7.30pm 7.00 – 9.30pm	Theatre	Children & main characters Full company (Act Two) (Costume, props & set)	Act Two children’s scenes on stage Act Two other scenes on stage Nuns procession rehearse in Bar	Jane, Greg & Team
* Friday 22.03.19	7.00 – 10.00pm	Theatre	Full Company Children Cast A on stage Children Cast B to watch	Run full show with costume, props, set & lights	Jane, Greg & Team
* Sunday 24.03.19	1.00 – 4.00pm   4.00 – 7.00pm 7.00 – 10.00pm	Theatre	Full Company Children Cast B on stage Main characters TBC	Run full show with costume, props, set & lights-Children Cast A to watch Band call with main cast soloists Trouble shooting rehearsal if needed	Jane, Greg & Team
Week 12 Monday 25.03.19	Show week 6.00pm 6.30pm 7.30pm	Theatre	Main characters & children Chorus Full Company	Radio mics, sound checks Costume, make-up and notes etc. Dress rehearsal 1 (Cast A)	Jane, Greg & Team
* Tuesday 26.03.19	6.00pm 6.30pm 7.30pm	Gladstone Theatre	Main characters & children Chorus Full Company	Radio mics, sound checks Costume, make-up and notes etc. Dress rehearsal 2 (Cast B)	Jane, Greg & Team
Wednesday 27.03.19	6.00pm	Theatre	TBC	Trouble shooting rehearsal for full company songs, difficult scenes etc.	Jane, Greg & Team
* Thursday 28.03.19	6.00pm 6.30pm 7.30pm	Theatre	Main characters & children Chorus Full Company	Radio mics, sound checks Costume, make-up and notes etc. Performance 1 (Cast A)	Jane, Greg & Team
* Friday 29.03.19	6.00pm 6.30pm	Theatre	Main characters & children Chorus Full Company	Radio mics, sound checks Costume, make-up and notes etc. Performance 2 (Cast B)	Jane, Greg & Team
* Saturday 30.03.19	1.00pm 1.30pm 2.30pm     5.30pm   6.00pm 6.30pm 7.30pm	Theatre	Main characters & children Chorus Full Company     Break between shows   Main characters & children Chorus Full Company	Radio mics, sound checks Costume, make-up and notes etc. Matinee Performance 3 (Cast A)       Radio mics, sound checks Costume, make-up and notes etc. Performance 4 (Cast B)	Jane, Greg & Team         Jane, Greg & Team

Please note that this schedule is in draft form. Rehearsals, rehearsal content, times and venues may have to be re-scheduled or changed at short notice in the event of unforeseen circumstances.

Once again, a huge thank you to everyone who auditioned for ‘The Sound of Music’.
We are pleased to announce our final cast list:

Maria	Elenka Bennion
Mother Abbess	Phillipa Hipwell
Sister Berthe	Margaret Jones
Sister Margaretta	Adele Riley
Sister Sophia	to be auditioned and cast in January
Captain Von Trapp	Iain Tyrrell
Franz the butler	to be auditioned and cast in January
Frau Schmidt (housekeeper)	to be auditioned and cast in January
Rolf Gruber	Joe Mears
Max Detweiler	David Oliver
Elsa Schraeder	Marie Williams
Children	Cast A	Cast B
Leisl	Cara Roberts	Kirsty Brennan
Freidrich	Charles Knowles	Dominic Williams
Louisa	Gabrielle Ryan	Olivia Gardener
Kurt	Jack Lally	audition in Jan
Brigitta	Sadie Putnam	Niamh Phelan
Marta	Olivia Hanrahan	Amelia-Rose Ratcliff
Gretl	Ava Smith	audition in Jan
Herr Zeller	to be auditioned and cast in January
Baron Elberfeld	to be auditioned and cast in January
A new postulant (non-speaking)	to be auditioned and cast in January
Admiral Von Schreiber	to be auditioned and cast in January
The following chorus roles will be cast during rehearsals in January 2019.
At the Abbey	Nuns, novices and postulants (singing only)
At the Von Trapp villa	Guests & dancers at the ball (non-speaking)
At the Kaltzberg concert hall	The Herwegen trio (non-speaking)
Fraulein Schweiger (non- speaking)
Soldiers/offstage voices/3 men in SS uniforms

Congratulations to everyone who received principle roles! There are still some smaller roles to be cast in January so please come along to rehearsals or contact us if you are interested in any of these roles.

–

In March 2019 we’re producing the heart-warming family classic musical ‘The Sound of Music’. The story of ‘Maria’, the youthful and enthusiastic woman studying to become a nun, who finds herself as a governess to the seven children of the stern and regimental Captain Von Trapp. Follow the loving story of Maria’s challenges as she comes to love the family and finds the warm and loving heart of the Captain.

A definite classic, you won’t be able to resist singing along to the score including the brilliant ‘my favorite things’, ‘Edleweiss’, ‘Sixteen going on seventeen’ and of course ‘doh-a-deer’.

Dates & times:

Thursday 28th March – 7.30pm
Friday 29th March – 7.30pm
Saturday 30th March – 2pm & 7.30pm

Tickets

Tickets will be available from the Gladstone Theatre box office soon (0151 643 8757) and online shortly at https://gladstonetheatre.org.uk/

 

Congratulations to all of you shortlisted for final shortlisted auditions!

Final shortlisted auditions will be taking place on Wednesday 17th October at the Lever Club (upstairs) in Port Sunlight.

Children – 6-7pm

Adults – 7-8pm

Jane will be in touch with each of you over the weekend to discuss final casting and rehearsal schedule further.

If anyone can not make this date/time, please let Jane know when she contacts you at the weekend. Or you can email us portsunlightplayers1@gmail.com

Here is a reminder of the shortlist:

• MARIA / SISTER SOPHIA: Elenka Bennion, Katie Erich
• CAPTAIN VON TRAPP / MAX: Gerry Johnston, Ian Tyrrell,Tony Lacey
• ROLF: Joe Mears
• LEISL: Cara Roberts, Kirsty Brennan
• FREIDRICH: Charles Knowles, Dominic Williams
• LOUISA: Gabrielle Ryan, Olivia Gardener
• KURT: Jack Lally
• BRIGITTA: Niamh Phelan, Sadie Putnam
• MARTA: Amelia Rose Ratcliffe, Olivia Hanrahan
• GRETL: Ava Smith
• ELSA / SISTER MARGARETTA: Adele Riley, Marie Williams
• MOTHER ABBESS / SISTER BERTHE: Margaret Jones, Phillipa Hipwell
• SISTER BERTHE: See above
• SISTER MARGARETTA: See above, Rebecca Patterson, Nest Anerin Jones
• SISTER SOPHIA: Rachel Glynn-Williams, Rosie Bennett, Emily-Anne Loughead, Ellis Knox

Thank you and break a leg everyone 🙂

Thank you to everyone who auditioned for the Sound of Music over the past two weekends.

You all did really well and have made the casting job very difficult for us all!
The following people have been shortlisted for roles in the production.

***UPDATE*** Auditions for Sister Berthe, Sister Margaretta, Sister Sophia, Max, Elsa and Mother Abess are now being held on Sunday 23rd September at 2pm (Same location).

We’re auditioning for our March 2019 production of ‘The Sound of Music’!

When and where is the show?

Thursday 28th (evening), Friday 29th (evening) and Saturday 30th (matinee and evening) March 2019 at the Gladstone Theatre in Port Sunlight.

When will rehearsals be?

Rehearsals will begin 2nd January for principles and 7th January for chorus. There will be 2-3 rehearsals per week (Mon, Wed and Fri) with additional Sundays closer to the show.

How do I audition?

If you’re interested in auditioning for a character or being in the chorus, please enter your details into the form below.

Once you’ve entered your details we will add you to our list for the audition day 🙂

(More details about the auditions/characters are further down this page).

 

 

If you have any trouble with this form please email us portsunlightplayers1@gmail.com

When and where are the auditions?

Auditions for all parts will be held on Sunday 16th September 2018 2-5pm at the Methodist Church on Bromborough Road, Bebington (opposite Sunlight bar and restaurant). Auditionees will be shortlisted and call backs will then be on Sunday 23rd September.

Audition pieces information

Audition pieces will be given out on Sunday 16th with time to read through and rehearse prior to auditions. Please have a listen to the songs on youtube if you don’t already know them 🙂

Character audition information

Please note there will be two casts of children who will perform two shows each.

Character information

• Maria Rainer (soprano/mezzo, some dance, early-mid 20’s)
  A postulant at Nonnberg Abbey. She is young, free spirited, warm and kind. She is from the Austrian countryside, an orphan, who has used her resourcefulness, intelligence and inner confidence to overcome the difficulties of her early life. There is a part of her that wants sheltering from the uncertainties of the outside world as well, and that, coupled with her absolute faith in God’s will, is what has led her to seek life as a nun. The actor who plays Maria must have versatility, a powerful voice, great sense of natural humor, ability to move well.
• Mother Abbess (powerful soprano, wide vocal range, 45-70, strong actress)
  Motherly, understanding, authoritative, she is Maria’s guiding light. Her years have brought her wisdom, patience and inner confidence.
• Sister Berthe (alto) Mistress of Novices (30-60)
  She is the most critical nun, finding all the faults in Maria’s conduct, and may be a little pompous.
• Sister Margaretta (mezzo) Mistress of Postulants (30-60)
  She has a good sense of humor, and so appreciates what is humorous in Maria’s conduct.
• Sister Sophia (soprano) (30-60)
  She is more inclined to notice the positive aspects of Maria’s conduct. All three are frustrated with Maria’s inability to settle into the lifestyle of the Abbey.
• Franz (non-singing, 40+, strong actor)
  The von Trapp butler, formerly the Captain’s orderly on shipboard; formal, but not without spirit; his loyalties move very swiftly to the Fascist cause.
• Frau Schmidt (non-singing, 40+, strong actor)
  The housekeeper, rather stoic, but with a guarded sense of humor; she knows how to run the household as the Captain wishes it.
• Captain Georg von Trapp (baritone, moves well, 35-45)
  A retired Austrian naval captain. Educated, polished, and military in the way he runs his life, his home and his children’s lives. The father of seven, ranging in age from six to sixteen, he is a widower. When we meet him he is still in mourning over the death of his wife; his unconscious defence has been to push his children away and remove himself from the home that reminds him too much of what he has lost, resulting in a cool, detached exterior; underneath, he is warm, understanding, and as much in need of love himself as are his children.

The Children

• Liesl von Trapp (mezzo, strong dancer, 16)
  The oldest child, blossoming into a woman, and smitten by Rolf. She also has a maternal edge and cares deeply for her younger siblings. Initially she thinks herself too old to need a governess; she discovers otherwise.
• Friedrich von Trapp – age 14
  Proud to be “the oldest boy” in this family of mostly girls, and an often-absent father.
• Louisa von Trapp – age 13
  The trickster of the family, kind but full of mischief.
• Kurt von Trapp – age 10
  Gentle and a peacemaker. He dances the Laendler with Maria at the ball.
• Brigitta von Trapp – age 9
  Smart, reads a lot, always tells the truth, even when it may be inappropriate.
• Marta von Trapp – age 7
  Very much the little princess; pink is her favorite colour.
• Gretl von Trapp – age 6
  Very cute, just wants to be loved.

 

• Max Detweiller (baritone, 40’s-50s)
  Charming and sophisticated, enjoys the good life, which he can’t afford, so he avails himself of the Captain’s hospitality at every opportunity. He is practical and sees the coming of Nazism as unavoidable which brings him into conflict with the Captain. Ultimately, he proves to be a true and loyal friend to the family.
• Elsa Schrader (mezzo, moves well, 35-40)
  A baroness of taste and elegance; she is sophisticated and worldly. Like Max, she will find a way to accommodate the coming Anschluss. She tolerates the children, but would prefer to send them off to boarding school, so that she and the Captain could spend more time in Vienna. She loves the Captain in a measured way; he represents good social standing and a continuation of the comfortable, luxurious lifestyle she enjoys.
• Rolf Gruber (tenor, ideally a strong dancer or very good mover, 17)
  Rolf is a telegraph delivery boy on bicycle, and is later drawn into the Nazi youth movement. He and Liesl look for every opportunity to see one another.
• Herr Zeller (non-singing, 40+, strong actor)
  A Bureaucratic neighbour who becomes an early Nazi official in Austria. He is critical of the Captain’s loyalties to the old Austria, and ultimately, as an official of the Third Reich, leads the move to take the Captain into Nazi naval service at the end of the show; He is hard-nosed and inflexible.
• Admiral Von Schreiber (non-singing, 40+, strong actor)
  The Admiral of the Navy of the Third Reich. He arrives in Act 2 to escort the Captain to his forced commission. He is more flexible and accommodating than Zeller.
• Men and Women Ensemble/chorus members (16-60+ years)
  Roles include; nuns, monks, priests, novices, postulants, guests at the Captain’s party, Salzburg citizens, and Contestants/performers in the Festival Concert which takes place at the end of Act 2.

If you’re interested in auditioning for any of these parts, please complete your details on the contact form above so we can add you to our audition list 🙂