[NEohioPAL] NE OHIO AREA AUDITIONS FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS

[Michael Dempsey]

*THE LAST FIVE YEARS  *Written by Jason Robert Brown

Directed by Michael Dempsey

Musical Direction by Alex Marr

*
SHOW DATES:  September 14-16 and 21-23*

*
IMPORTANT NOTE:  While performances will occur in Salem, Ohio, actors from
areas such as Cleveland, Akron and Canton, are encouraged to audition, as a
portion of rehearsals can be arranged to occur in your area to minimize the
commute.*

*
*

*PERFORMANCES  at Salem Community Theatre, **Salem, OH*

*
THE SHOW*

*The Last Five Years *(“L5Y”) is a touching two-person show that follows a
man and a woman through the arc of their failed five year relationship. The
show uses a form of storytelling in which Cathy's story is told in reverse
chronological order (beginning the show at the end of the marriage), and
Jamie's is told in chronological order (starting just after the couple have
first met). The characters do not directly interact except for a wedding
song in the middle as their timelines intersect.

Jamie, the man and a writer, moves forward in time from initial infatuation
through love, supporting Cathy’s nascent career, their marriage, his
personal career success, temptation, infidelity, then his ending the
relationship. Cathy, the woman and an actress, moves backwards in time
through pain, suspicion and jealousy, feelings of inadequacy due to her
failure to realize her career, happiness in a new-found marriage, desire to
be her own person, and a very promising beginning of a relationship. Their
time-lines only overlap (and immediately diverge) at the “I do” of their
marriage.  The musical is in a pop/Broadway style with classic influences,
with a gorgeous orchestration featuring piano, cello and violin.

Almost the entire show is sung, and every song is a solo except for a
single duet.  It is a showcase piece for both the man and woman,  demanding
strong acting and powerful vocals. This show is well-loved in musical
theatre because the songs are memorable, powerful, engaging, challenging
and fun for the audience and the cast. The theme is universal and the
scenes are dramatic without being overwrought.


L5Y runs about 90 minutes.

*
*

*CASTING*

*
*

*Jamie:*

Male, mid twenties to early thirties.  Must play a range of ages over 5
years: from the first  promising date to dazzling career and relationship
success into someone who is blinded by their own success and ego.  He
suffers from a lack of understanding of what he needs in a relationship,
leading to infidelity and (un?)intentionally sabotaging the marriage. But
the portrayal must be human and lovable - Jamie is making mistakes and
often fails to understand himself and the consequences of his choices, and
is not being an intentionally bad person. The audience must disapprove of
his actions, yet still love the flawed human character.


*Vocal Range: strong tenor, A2 (a bit more than one octave below middle C)
to Bb4 (above middle C).*

*
*

*Cathy:*

Female, mid twenties to early thirties. Must play a range of ages over 5
years, from an ambitious, fresh-faced girl in a new relationship, to a
woman stunned by a betrayal and a divorce that she is only beginning to
understand. She acts like she is sure of what she wants, but she often
second-guesses herself, and nothing makes her less happy than her own lack
of confidence. Cathy is a difficult acting  ole, with a character arc going
backwards and one of the most heart wrenching and exposed opening  numbers
in musical theatre. The actor must understand Cathy’s role in her failed
relationship as well as the naiveté of her love, and portray this without
the character herself realizing this.


*Vocal Range: mezzo/belter, F3 (below middle C) to D#5 (a bit more than one
octave above middle C.)*

*
*

*AUDITIONS*

Sunday, June 17 & Monday, June 18, 2012 at 7:00 PM
Salem Community Theatre
490 E. State Street, Salem OH 44460

Please bring a prepared song in the style of the show.  An accompanist will
be provided.


Rehearsals will be flexible:  due to the Director's schedule, they may
occur August 1-11, have a one-week hiatus (August 12-18), and then return
August 19-September 13, but due to the two-person, solo number nature of
the show, it is possible that accommodations may be made for conflicts.


For more information, please email Director Michael Dempsey:
demzer at gmail.com.


*ABOUT THE DIRECTOR:*


Michael Dempsey has written, acted and directed in theater, television and
film in New York, Los Angeles, Louisville, Cleveland and other venues
across the country.  As a writer, Michael wrote for network television in
the 90s, most notably CBS’s *Cybill* starring Cybill Shepherd.  His plays
have been produced in New York, Los Angeles, Washington and regionally in
theaters such as Actors Theatre of Louisville.  Recent local directing
efforts include *Into The Woods* at Salem Community Theatre, *Curtains* and
*Macbeth* at the Youngstown Playhouse, *I Am My Own Wife *at Oakland Center
for the Arts, and *Jesus Christ Superstar* at the Players Guild of Canton
and also at Salem Community Theatre.   Dempsey and these last two shows
made #1 on the local top-ten lists for the 2011-2012 season. As an actor,
Ohio appearances include *The Seagull, 1776, *and *Fiddler On The Roof * at
the Beck Center for the Arts, *Fiddler *at Cain Park, *Baby *at True North
Cultural Arts Center (for which he received a Times Newspaper Theatre
Tribute 2010 Outstanding Performance Award) , and *Macbeth* at The
Youngstown Playhouse.   Michael studied at Ohio State University, Actors
Theatre of Louisville and Cornell University.  A member of the Writer’s
Guild of America and the Dramatist's Guild, Michael’s a past recipient of
an Ohio Arts Council Fellowship for playwriting.  Michael's first novel, *
Necropolis*, was released nationally in October by Night Shade Books.


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