Auditions
A U D I T I O N S for
ALL THE KING'S WOMEN
written by Luigi Jannuzzi
directed by Simon James
Tales of Elvis Presley told through the eyes of 15 women.
Some Enthralled. Some Appalled. All Obsessed!
From Tupelo, Mississippi - where an 11yr old Elvis wanted a BB Gun instead of a guitar - to censorship on the Steve Allen Show, from President Nixon's office, to Andy Warhol's studio, a late-night encounter in a supermarket by the bananas, to a romp through a Cadillac Car Yard, to the reflections of a Graceland Security Guard, to a female Elvis impersonator trying to break free ...
This series of monologues and short plays are comedic, dramatic, tragic and hilarious and are more about the characters than Elvis - although we experience alot about him, too!
Currently we have most of the cast made up from ARENA Members (although no definitive allocation of female characters has been made yet) but are looking for some enthusiastic and experienced actors to make up the cast of twelve.
The production is seeking :
4 FEMALES for characters aged in their 20s, 30s and 40s. Each actor will double-up : playing a character in one of the Act I Scenes and a different character in one of the Act II Scenes.
Dancing for some characters! A Group Singalong to "Jailhouse Rock" for all!
American accents are a must for this show. The scenes occur in Memphis, New York and Washington DC so a variety of regional as well as generic American accents would work. We hope to have a Vocal Coach who can give actors some pointers in getting the accents right, but the Auditionees must be able to give it a go in the first place.
PERFORMANCE SEASON
We have a season of 14 performances at two different venues.
PHOENIX THEATRE
Cnr Carrington & Rockingham Rds, Hamilton Hill
OCTOBER 13, 14, 15, 16 @ 8pm
and then ...
CAMELOT THEATRE
Lochee St, Mosman Park
OCTOBER 29, 30 @ 8pm
NOVEMBER 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13 @ 8pm
Matinees on OCTOBER 31 @ 2pm and NOVEMBER 7 @ 2pm
Since the production is made of short self-contained plays, we can use one as ARENA's entry in DRAMAFEST. This is held over the long weekend 24-27 Sept. It will be WHEN NIXON MET ELVIS, so people cast in this will need to be rehearsed a bit ahead of the rest of the show.
REHEARSALS
Auditionees will need to be available for the set Rehearsal times of SUNDAYS 1.00pm - 5.00pm and TUESDAYS 7.00pm - 10.00pm. Rehearsals at other times will depend on people's availability.
We rehearse at the PH&PC Hall on the picturesque northeast bank of Herdsman Lake. About ten metres from the actual lake!
FIRST READING
SUNDAY 4th of July, 1pm - 5pm.
AUDITIONS
Sunday 27th June 1.00pm - 4.00pm
Monday 28th June 7.00pm - 9.00pm
These will be conducted in one-hour blocks of three people per session.
Spaces are very limited. To register your interest in an Audition, or for more info, please email :
simon_james63@hotmail.com
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And some more info about the production ...
SCENE and CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
1. ONE TUPELO SALESWOMAN1F : Saleswoman
approx 10 mins
Set in Tupelo, Mississippi in 1946
A "greeter" at a hardware store retells the story of how she met the 11yr old Elvis and mother when they came to buy a birthday present. Elvis wanted a gun. She sold him his first guitar.
A character that has a large, loud, yet friendly personality. She loves her gossip. She has a smile that dazzles - even if it is a little fake!
2. THE CENSOR AND THE KING
3F+1M : Abby, Barbara, Chester, Janitor.
approx 15mins
Set in New York, 1956.
On the set of the Steve Allen show, two dogs await their appearance in "Hound Dog" with Elvis, whilst the Network censors debate with Elvis' rep just exactly what he can and can't do on television.
Some hard-headed studio executives lock horns with the more relaxed Elvis rep. There's a comedic cameo of the Janitor doing some Chaplinesque buffoonery in the background.
3. THREE A.M. IN THE GARDEN WITH A GOD
1F : Eve
approx 10mins
Set in Memphis, Tennessee, 1967.
An insomniac shopper in a deserted supermarket runs into a dark stranger who asks for some of her bananas.
A manic monologue describing the terror in the fruit section of a supermarket - seemingly being stalked by a madman, and the awe upon meeting Elvis. A rollercoaster monologue - with bananas.
4. WHEN NIXON MET ELVIS
3F : Alice, Beth, Cathy.
approx 25mins
Set in Washington DC, 1970.
Three secretaries at the Whitehouse are hit with a problem when Elvis turns up at the gates asking to see the President.
Fast-paced dialogue - alot on switchboard phones back and forth between the characters - is the driving force of this piece. Each character sings acapella a verse or two from their favourite Elvis songs. A few dance steps done, too.
5. WARHOL EXPLAINS ART TO ELVIS
3F : Ally, Bonny, Cindy.
approx 15mins
Set in New York, 1963.
Warhol wants Elvis to endorse a portrait that he has done of him. Some of Warhol's arty, yet rather business-driven staff try to come up with a "sales pitch" to win Elvis over.
Pretentiousness and snootiness riddle two of the "bored/done that" characters, whilst the other is a little naive, although very earnest, and a little curious as she is always trying to peek under the cloth to see the portrait herself ...
6. PINK CADILLACS AND GOD
3F : Lora, Mona, Paula.
approx 15mins
Set in Memphis, Tennessee, 1976.
Two highly competitive saleswomen fight over who is going to sell Elvis his 100th Cadillac. Even the intervention of the boss can't keep these feudin' gals apart!
Some very physical comedy going on here - wrestling, poking, pushing, etc to outright catfight! A chance for some visual/physical humour, with some old-fashioned slapstick thrown in, too.
7. ONE PRIVATE GUARD
1M : Guard.
approx 10mins
Set in Graceland, Memphis, Tennessee, 1977.
The Guard at the gates to Graceland is bailed up by a reporter shortly after Elvis' death. The Guard reminisces about the times he spent with his "boss" and the comments made to him by members of the family.
***PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS CHARACTER HAS ALREADY BEEN CAST***
8. THE IMPERSONATOR
1 F: Edie
approx 3 mins
Set : present day.
A female Elvis Impersonator (yes, in Las Vegas Elvis white jumpsuit and cape costume) mimes and moves along to the song "The Wonder Of You" - lyrics which have extra meaning when directed at, and to mean, the audience.
A great opportunity for an actor to be Elvis!! The impersonation should be quite good (although a little dodgy here and there would be amusing), so some research into mimicking real Elvis concert moves is on the cards here.
9. LEAVING GRACELAND
3F : Leslie, Edie, Manager.
approx 10mins
Set in Graceland, Memphis, Tennessee : present day.
In the gift shop at Graceland, a departing employee is hassled by the manager during a stocktake, all the while trying to break up with their partner .. or at least stop them being an Elvis Impersonator ..
Same Edie character as from the previous scene. Leslie is harassed and almost at her wit's end. The Manager is stressed out and in a panic. Edie is sad and somewhat annoyed that she has to decide between Elvis and her girlfriend ...
10. JAILHOUSE SINGALONG
The Entire Company.
Introduced by a Headmistress-type character, everyone gets to sing-along with the Elvis classic "Jailhouse Rock", encouraging the audience to join in, too. Also some dance involved here doing the iconic moves from the movie as well as some new ones.
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