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"Pride & Prejudice - The Musical" 

Book, Music and Lyrics by Lawrence Rush 
Orchestrations by Matt Castle and Frank Galgano
Adapted from the novel by Jane Austen 

Directed by Fabio Polanco (he, him, his) 
Choreographed by Courtney Brown (she, her, hers) 
Music Directed by Jennifer Korecki (she, her, hers) 

Audition Information 

Please read it in its entirety.

��ɫapp "Pride & Prejudice - The Musical" 

(adapted from the libretto of "Pride & Prejudice - The Musical")

Setting: England 
Time: circa 1800 
Hearing the young, rich, single Mr. Bingley will rent Netherfield, Mrs. Bennet plots to marry one of her five daughters to him, but her second eldest, Lizzy proclaims she will wait for true love. At a ball, Jane catches Bingley’s eye but Lizzy is snubbed by his rich, arrogant friend, Mr. Darcy. Lizzy hopes she will never see him again but they keep getting thrown into each other’s path until they both grow to realize that they are exactly what each other has wished for.

Rehearsals: 

Music Rehearsal: (Tentative) Sept. 12 and 13 from 6 to 10 p.m. 
Choreography Rehearsals: TBD 
Regular Rehearsals: (Tentative) Monday through Friday 6 to 10 p.m. and Sundays from 3 to 9 p.m. beginning Thursday, Sept. 12.
Sitzprobe: Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024.
Technical Rehearsals Begin: (Tentative) Friday, Oct. 18.

Performances: 

Oct. 25 - Nov. 3, 2024 (10 a.m. high school matinee on Oct. 30)

Auditions

Auditions are open to all ��ɫapp students. 

When: 
Monday, August 19 and Tuesday, Aug. 20 (6 p.m. to 10 p.m.) 

Where: 
D302 Center for the Performing Arts 

Audition Signup: 
Please use the link below to sign up for an audition day and time. Auditions will be scheduled in 5-minute increments. Later audition times will be opened once the earlier times have been filled. 

How to Prepare: 
If you are able, research the story and listen to the music before the preliminary audition. Click  and for audio and video recordings of songs from the show (These materials are for preparation purposes only. Please do not distribute.)

What to Prepare: 
Please prepare a 1 to 2-minute cut of a song in the style of the show. You will be provided an accompanist. 

• Students of all experience levels are strongly encouraged to audition. There are numerous non-solo roles in the show. We want to see and hear you! 
• Please bring a clearly marked sheet music in the correct key. Sheet music can be secured from and through the Kent State Performing Library, as well as purchased from websites like . 
• At this preliminary audition, please do not sing in a dialect/accent other than your own.

Callbacks

Callbacks will be announced by 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 21.

When: 
Thursday, Aug. 22 beginning at 6 p.m. 

Where: 
D302 Center for the Performing Arts

What to Prepare 
If you are called back you may be asked to attend a movement call, read from the script, and/or sing from the score in the orchestrated key. (We regret that we will not be able to transpose keys for the production.) Callback sides and sheet music will be provided.

Important Note: At the callback, students will be asked to attempt a standard British/RP dialect while reading the provided sides and music (Received Pronunciation Standard British/RP is likely what you think of when you think of a British dialect.) We are not looking for or expecting perfect dialects. We just want to get a sense of where you are. If you are cast you will be guided by our dialect coach in learning the required dialect for the role.

Character Breakdown 

(adapted and expanded on from the libretto of "Pride & Prejudice -The Musical" ) 

Open to individuals of all abilities. Please contact director Fabio Polanco ( fpolanco@kent.edu ) if you need accommodation(s). 
When character ages are listed they are for reference and to illuminate familial and personal relationships. 
Some roles WILL be combined. 

MRS. BENNET - (female-identifying or gender non-binary - all ethnicities) Mezzo-soprano. Character belt. 
The mother of the Bennet brood. A bit “extra." 

MR. BENNET - (male-identifying or gender non-binary - all ethnicities) Bass. Legit voice. 
Dry sense of humor. The father of the Bennet brood. 

JANE BENNET – (female-identifying or gender non-binary - all ethnicities) Legit Soprano. 22 years old. 
Honest and forgiving. 

ELIZABETH BENNET (female-identifying or gender non-binary - all ethnicities) Mezzo-soprano. 20 years old. Strong belt/mix to High F. 
Smart and feisty. 

MARY – (female-identifying or gender non-binary - all ethnicities) Soprano. 18 years old. Legit voice but can sing purposefully out of tune to high Bb.
Comically serious and bookish. 

KITTY – (female-identifying or gender non-binary - all ethnicities) Mezzo-soprano. 16 years old. Legit character voice. 
Perhaps a bit silly. Lots of energy. Like Lydia, very excited about soldiers.

LYDIA – (female-identifying or gender non-binary - all ethnicities) Mezzo-soprano. 15 years old at the beginning of the story and then turns 16. Legit to High F, belt to High D
Perhaps a bit silly and wild. Lots of energy. Big personality. Very excited about soldiers. 

MR. BINGLEY – (male-identifying or gender non-binary - all ethnicities) Tenor. 23 years old. Legit voice. 
Good-spirited, optimistic and kind. 

CAROLINE BINGLEY – (female-identifying or gender non-binary - all ethnicities) Mezzo-soprano. 21 years old. Legit character voice.
Mr. Bingley’s sister. Elegant and snobbish. 

MR. DARCY – (male-identifying or gender non-binary - all ethnicities) Baritone. 27 years old.  Legit voice with mix to high G.
Introverted, brooding, judgemental but good-hearted, intelligent.

CHARLOTTE LUCAS – (female-identifying or gender non-binary - all ethnicities) Mezzo-soprano. 24 years old. Legit voice with a mix on top. 
Elizabeth’s friend. Practical. Warm. A sort of counterpoint to Elizabeth. 

MR. COLLINS – (male-identifying or gender non-binary - all ethnicities) Tenor. 29 years old. Legit character voice to High Bb. 
Mr. Bennet’s cousin and future inheritor of the Bennet estate. A minister. Ridiculously pompous and flowery.

GEORGE WICKHAM – (male-identifying or gender non-binary - all ethnicities) Tenor. 22 years old. Legit/mix to High F# 
Currently a soldier. Seemingly friendly, but a con artist and veiled rake.

LADY CATHERINE DE BOURGH – (female-identifying or gender non-binary - all ethnicities) Speaking role. 
A grande dame. Rich, snobbish, controlling. 

Non-solo singing roles out of chorus : 

SIR WILLIAM LUCAS – (male-identifying or gender non-binary - all ethnicities) 
Charlotte’s father. 

LADY LUCAS – (female-identifying or gender non-binary - all ethnicities) 
Charlotte’s mother. 

MR. DENNY – (male-identifying or gender non-binary - all ethnicities) 
Soldier. 

MRS. REYNOLDS - (female-identifying or gender non-binary - all ethnicities)
The housekeeper at Pemberley. (Darcy’s Estate). 

GEORGIANA - (female-identifying or gender non-binary - all ethnicities) 
Darcy’s younger sister. 

MR. GARDINER – (male-identifying or gender non-binary - all ethnicities) 
Mrs. Bennet’s Brother. 

MRS. GARDINER – (female-identifying or gender non-binary - all ethnicities) 
Mrs. Bennet’s sister-in-law. 

ANNE DE BOURGH – (female-identifying or gender non-binary - all ethnicities) 
Madame De Bourgh's daughter. Often ill. 

FOOTMAN, SERVANTS, CHAMBERMAID, STEWARD (all gender identities and ethnicities) 

CONTENT ADVISORY: 

Explores received notions of gender roles. Actors playing Lydia and soldiers dancing in the song “Brighton” will wear era-specific bathing clothes. Per the B.F.A. Musical Theatre audition requirements, B.F.A. Musical Theatre students have the right to petition to be released from the B.F.A. Musical Theatre obligation to audition for and accept all roles (see below). 

INTIMACY: This production includes but is not limited to familial touch (i.e. hugging) and romantic touch for the actors playing Elizabeth and Darcy (i.e. hugging with the possibility of exploring an on-the-lips kiss). The production will collaborate with actors’ boundaries, utilizing consent-forward practices. 

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS FOR BFA MUSICAL THEATRE AND MFA STUDENTS 

B.F.A. Musical Theatre candidates are required to audition for all theatre division main stage productions and accept roles if cast. Exemptions to the audition requirement may be granted under certain circumstances. Circumstances include but are not limited to religious beliefs, moral objections, psychological triggers with the play and physical concerns. In order to be exempted from the audition requirement, students must submit a written petition to the performance faculty prior to the beginning of the casting process for the production in question. The performance faculty will make a good-faith effort to deliberate and come to a decision on the petition at the first performance area meeting after the receipt of the petition. At no point will a student be asked to disclose sensitive personal information.” 

For information on all the B.F.A. Musical Theatre requirements please go to the following. /theatredance/revised-requirements-bfa-musical-theatre-program 

*This audition notice and breakdown was written and edited by Fabio Polanco