Rebk424
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Audition in May! Help!!!Alrighty, everytime I try and post this my computer spazzes. Hopefully it will work this time. 
I have auditions for a student production of Les Mis in May and need a few tips.
I am a strong actor and can play most any part. However, I am smallish and blonde which often restricts me to the "sweet" roles. I am much better at playing sassy characters which is why I like Eponine.
With singing... I was trained classically and have a relatively large range. My voice is strong if not belty or jazzy. This seems to be the style in Les Mis which is good.
What I've gotten from the soundtrack is that Cosette is a more trained voice and that Eponine should (obviously) be talented but not "trained" sounding. Is that correct?
I LOVE Madame Thenardier but I don't really fall into the stereotype for this role. I think she could be played an entirely different way, think less harsh older woman and more smart ass woman in her early 30's who is still relatively attractive. anyone else agree? or is her character kind of accepted a certain way?
Any song recommendations for those characters?
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The Very Angry Woman
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Re: Audition in May! Help!!! | Rebk424 wrote: | | What I've gotten from the soundtrack is that Cosette is a more trained voice and that Eponine should (obviously) be talented but not "trained" sounding. |
Cast recording, not soundtrack.
Casting call from some time ago:
"LES MISERABLES," NAT'L TOUR
Tara Rubin Casting is casting future replacements for the national touring company of "Les Miserables." Cameron Mackintosh, prod.; David Caddick, exec. prod.; Trevor Nunn & John Caird, dirs.; Jason Moore & Evan Ensign, assoc. dirs.
Seeking: Jean Valjean: late 30s-early 40s, sings to a B (high lyric baritone or tenor with strong low notes), of peasant stock, but rises to affluence, is
possessed of a natural nobility, a powerful figure;
Javert: 30s, powerful baritone, sings to a G, policeman who haunts Valjean relentlessly, ultimate "law and order" figure, capable of violence;
Thenardier: late 30s/early 40s, a consummate comedian, an innkeeper and a thief, corrupt, greedy, boorish, and vulgar, intellectually dangerous, baritone, sings to F sharp; Mme. Thenardier: 30s, tough, sharp, coarse, boorish, vulgar, strong character comedienne role, belter;
Marius: 20s, romantic lead, student, attractive, masculine, high pop tenor (sings to A) with strong low notes;
Enjolras: late 20s/early 30s, leader of the revolutionary movement, charismatic, striking physical presence, baritone to G sharp, very strong singer;
Fantine: 20s/young-looking early 30s, belts to C, sings to E flat, strong actress-singer, pretty, poignant and desperately vulnerable;
Eponine: late teens/early 20s, daughter of the Thenardiers, very pretty, fired by an unrequited love for Marius, heartbreaking waif with an enormous and beautiful belt voice (to C in chest, sings to E flat);
Cosette: early 20s, delicate, elegant, vulnerable and beautiful, soprano (to C), not an operatic-sounding soprano;
Ensemble: male actor-singers to play university students and various character parts and female actress-singers to play a wide range of assorted characters, all must be excellent singers and well-trained actors, ensemble will understudy the above-mentioned roles, with a few exceptions, all the women must be strong belters.
Note: The show is entirely sung and everyone in it must be a strong singer with a wide range. With only one or two exceptions, women must be strong belters. The men are primarily rangy high baritones, or tenors with strong low ranges. Cast entirely interracially.
Equity chorus call will be held Oct. 11 at 10 a.m. (female singers) and 2 p.m. (male singers) at the AEA Audition Center, 165 W. 46th St., 2nd fl., NYC. Bring a contemporary musical theatre song to sing. Opera, jazz, R&B, and rock are not the proper styles. Have pix & r�sum�s and your book of music with you in case you are asked for a second selection. An accompanist will be provided. Equity chorus call procedures are in effect. $1,422 min./wk. Equity Production
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Sweeney Hyde
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First off, it is a cast recording, not a soundtrack. Soundtracks are for movies.
As for your questions:
I think Cosette is supposed to sound more "trained" than Eponine.
I think of Mme. Thernadier as a woman in her 40s...I think they usually make her look uglier than prettier because she is wicked.
For audition pieces:
Mme. Thernadier: My Mother's Wedding Day from Brigadoon
Eponine: And I Was Beautiful from Dear World
Cosette: Yours, Yours, Yours from 1776
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eponine5
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I wouldn't play Madame Thenardier as a pretty or incredibly smart character. Don't forget that charactarisation doesn't only come from the material written in the musical, but it also goes back to the original book.
It sounds like you could go for either Cosette or Eponine. It also sounds like you could consider auditioning for Fantine (being small wouldn't matter with her, as you never see her next to the other main female characters until the end).
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The Very Angry Woman
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| eponine5 wrote: | | I wouldn't play Madame Thenardier as a pretty or incredibly smart character. |
Incredibly smart does work. Did you ever see Jennifer Butt?
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Eponine93
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Rebk424, why don't you check out the audition song thread in the audition forum?
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eponine5
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| The Very Angry Woman wrote: | | eponine5 wrote: | | I wouldn't play Madame Thenardier as a pretty or incredibly smart character. |
Incredibly smart does work. Did you ever see Jennifer Butt? |
No, I didn't. Hmmm, now I'd be interested to see a smart Madame T... I've always imagined Thenardier as the intellectually strong one. Now that I think about it, I guess it could work the other way around...
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The Very Angry Woman
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Jennifer Butt and Norman Large were one of most interesting couples I'd ever seen. He played it dumb and she played it incredibly smart. You knew they couldn't have survived in life without each other because of it.
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Quique
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| The Very Angry Woman wrote: | | Jennifer Butt and Norman Large were one of most interesting couples I'd ever seen. He played it dumb and she played it incredibly smart. You knew they couldn't have survived in life without each other because of it. |
They're definitely one of my favorite couples to ever play those roles. I also loved David Benoit but I think Norman was just brilliant!
And Jennifer played the role like I've never seen it played before. I had always found it difficult to describe her portrayal and always settled with "creepy," but come to think of it, "smart" is exactly the perfect word to describe her Mme. Thenardier.
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BoundBySound
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Hey I'm auditioning in May as well.
I guess I'll see you there. 
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Rebk424
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| BoundBySound wrote: | Hey I'm auditioning in May as well.
I guess I'll see you there. |
oh my. are you serious? that's so cool good luck
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Cloudy This Morning
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Egads, I say, another North Carolinian. "Hola" from a fellow...whatever we North Carolinians call ourselves. Tarheels.
Where, pray tell, is this audition being held? *is interested*
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Rebk424
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| Cloudy This Morning wrote: | Egads, I say, another North Carolinian. "Hola" from a fellow...whatever we North Carolinians call ourselves. Tarheels.
Where, pray tell, is this audition being held? *is interested* |
It's broadway series south and wake county public schools that are putting it on. Basically, you have to be in highschool in wake county and you can audition. They did Aida last year and it was AMAZING! They have a broadway director come down, a professional choreographer and everything. So if you live in the area you should definetly try out.
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Elphaba_Thropp
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Les Miserables AuditionsI'm from NC too, and I was wondering if middle schoolers could try out because I was hoping to go for Young Cosette...could you send me more information please?
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BoundBySound
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| Rebk424 wrote: | | Cloudy This Morning wrote: | Egads, I say, another North Carolinian. "Hola" from a fellow...whatever we North Carolinians call ourselves. Tarheels.
Where, pray tell, is this audition being held? *is interested* |
It's broadway series south and wake county public schools that are putting it on. Basically, you have to be in highschool in wake county and you can audition. They did Aida last year and it was AMAZING! They have a broadway director come down, a professional choreographer and everything. So if you live in the area you should definetly try out. |
Oh yes I have several friends that were in Aida, I didn't know them at the time (I am only a freshman this year) but they said it was great... My friend said her pants ripped on stage one night haha. That must've been embarassing!
Oh and I dont think middle schoolers can try out. My choral teacher said it was only for current 9, 10, and 11th graders, sorry. It would've been nice to've seen you there though.
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Elphaba_Thropp
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Les MisI have a friend who's in eigth and they said she could try out...hmmm.
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superdave
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I dont know why in the world every girl wants to be Epionine. I mean, I find her character extremely shallow--but that's just me...I guess she's better than Cosette. Cosette's character is so weak, so frail--she is the only female lead that doesnt have ONE good song in the score. To me a part, If I was a female, I'd want to play is Fantine--she has depth in her character, has a strong song-- the best in the show (In my opinion), and I dont know--It's just the character I'd love to go after-- If I was a girl..but I'm not...so oh well. Thats such a disadvantage in this play-- The only strong Female parts are Fantine and Mme. Thenadier. The Males have it so good--being that the show is dominated by powerful male roles. Javert, Valjean, Enjorlas--The Comical, M. Thandier.
I would audition for Fantine if I were you. But that's just me.
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Elphaba_Thropp
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Les MisI'm too young to go for Fantine...or were you talking to the other girl? Oh well, the only part I could go for is Young Cosette...she gets "Castle On A Cloud", which is cute!
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The Pirate King
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Re: Les Mis | Elphaba_Thropp wrote: | | I'm too young to go for Fantine...or were you talking to the other girl? Oh well, the only part I could go for is Young Cosette...she gets "Castle On A Cloud", which is cute! |
It's not really..."cute".
If you play the song as "cute" you're completely missing the point of the character.
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Elphaba_Thropp
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Les MiserablesPlease someone send me the information for the auditions since I don't know where to find it! I need every scrap of info possible as soon as possible!
(btw, I know the song isn't cute)
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Rebk424
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sorry i've been grounded so i haven't been able to get info to you guys. Middle schoolers could audition but only for like two roles. Unfortunately, auditions were on sunday. Lauren Kennedy is directing it, I saw her the other day and I almost peed myself. i was like LAUREN KENNEDYYY!!! GAHHHH! and all my friends were like "hm okay bekka..." If you did get the auditions info and auditioned then I hope you did great!
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