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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">November
16, 2017</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><b><span style="font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif";color:black">PLAYERS GUILD THEATRE ANNOUNCES AUDITIONS </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><b><span style="font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif";color:black">FOR MAINSTAGE MUSICAL, RAGTIME!</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif";color:black"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">CANTON,
OH – Players Guild Theatre Producing Artistic Director, Joshua Erichsen, is
pleased to announce that auditions for the Tony-award winning musical, RAGTIME,
will be held on Sunday, December 3 and Monday, December 4, 2017.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Capturing
the American experience at the turn of the 20<sup>th</sup> century, RAGTIME
confronts the contradictions inherent in American reality; experiences of wealth
and poverty, freedom and prejudice, hope and despair, and what it means to live
in America.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">RAGTIME
will be directed by Jon Tisevich, with choreography by Michael Lawrence Akers
and music direction by Steve Parsons.<span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Auditions
will be held at the Players Guild Theatre, located at 1001 Market Ave., N., in
the Cultural Center for the Arts, on Sunday, December 3<sup>rd</sup> from 6:30
– 8:30 PM, and Monday, December 4<sup>th</sup>, 6:00 – 8:00 PM.<span> </span>Dance Callbacks will be held on Tuesday,
December 5<sup>th</sup> and Principal Callbacks will be held on Thursday, December
7<sup>th</sup>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Actors
are asked to please prepare 32 bars of a musical theatre song that best
showcases their vocal ability, and bring the corresponding sheet music in the
appropriate key.<span> </span>An accompanist will be
provided.<span> </span>In addition, they are asked to
bring a current photo or provide a headshot/resume if available.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Diverse and non-traditional
casting will be considered for all roles.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Those
wishing to audition are asked to make an appointment for an audition time slot
by filling out the online audition form at <b><a href="http://www.playersguildtheatre.com/audition">www.playersguildtheatre.com/audition</a></b>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">RAGTIME
will be presented on the Mainstage, and is scheduled to open on Friday, February
16<sup>th</sup> and will run through March 4<sup>th</sup>, with performances on
Fridays & Saturdays @ 8:00 PM and Sundays @ 2:00 PM.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><u><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Character
Breakdown/Roles Available</span></u></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">:
</span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">RAGTIME AUDITIONS; Non-Equity, Limited
PAID Roles Available</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> </span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Coalhouse Walker
Jr</span></i></b><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> - (Male,
African American, late 20s-40s) a leading man of passion, power, presence,
integrity, and charisma; an educated man of nobility and a ferocity that is
discovered when he is confronted with the ugly realities of prejudice in
America. Voice: powerful, rich baritone with strong top notes; low Ab-high A. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Mother</span></i></b><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> - (Female, Caucasian, 30s-50s)
graceful and gracious, poised, beautiful; Longing to burst from the confines of
American upper class. Maintains a proper and dutiful relationship with her
husband and discovers her own desires and passions as the story progresses.
Voice: beautiful soprano with a strong belt (to C#); low G-high F# (optional
High B).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Sarah</span></i></b><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> - (Female, African American,
18-30s) beautiful, passionate, headstrong, innocent, simple, a bit naïve and
shy. Sarah gives birth to Coalhouse’s son. Sarah and Coalhouse share a brief
but passionate relationship.<span> </span>Their
future is cut short when Sarah is killed trying to be an advocate for
Coalhouse’s cause.<span> </span>Voice: must have
controlled mix with belt : low G-high F#.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Tateh</span></i></b><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> - (Male, Caucasian, 30s-50s) a
dynamic performer; a Jewish immigrant and artist; Tateh leaves his old life and
seeks a better one for his daughter; even when it seems he is beaten by
society, his innate strength and humor lift him up; warm, funny, filled with
life and passion; tenacious, a survivor and a very clever man. Voice:
bari-tenor; low A-high F#.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Younger Brother </span></i></b><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">- (Male, Caucasian, late teens
– 30s) idealistic and difficult, he searches for a sense of self; obsessed with
Evelyn Nesbit, he becomes embittered and depressed and soon becomes a young
revolutionary to fight injustice. Voice: strong tenor; low B-high G#.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Father</span></i></b><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> - (Male, Caucasian, 30s-50s) a
wealthy businessman; good, proud, upstanding citizen; represents the
traditional views held by many turn-of-the-century Americans; after his return
from his trip to the Arctic, he feels alienated from his family and his
environment; he is baffled and befuddled by the new world that he has been
blind to. Voice: baritone; low A-high F#.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Evelyn Nesbit</span></i></b><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> - (Female, Any Ethnicity,
20s-40s) Self-aware, confident, secure in her sexuality; strong comedic role;
the iconic symbol of sex and beauty at the turn of the century. Voice: soprano.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Harry Houdini</span></i></b><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> - (Male, Any Ethnicity,
20s-40s) a magician and performer; a sly sense of danger and charisma;
headliner of Vaudeville; an immigrant raised in the Midwest. Voice: baritone.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Young Boy ‘Edgar’</span></i></b><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> - (Male, Caucasian, 8-13)
precocious, intelligent, observant, and curious, he is constantly learning
about the world around him; a prophetic voice--seems to know things before they
happen.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Booker T
Washington</span></i></b><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">
- (Male, African American, 30s-50s) a towering, poised, well-educated African
American leader and orator who fights for reconciliation and unity in the midst
of unsettling racial turmoil in America. Voice: baritone.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Emma Goldman</span></i></b><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> - (Female, Any Ethnicity,
20s-50s) an anarchist and social activist; earthy, warm, ironic, full-voiced; a
rabble-rouser; Voice: Huge Broadway belt to A.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Grandfather</span></i></b><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> - (Male, Caucasian, 50s-70s) a
feisty, stubborn, upper-class old gentleman who holds on to an outdated
ideology ; baritone.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Little Girl</span></i></b><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> - (Female, Any Ethnicity,
7-12) fragile, earnest daughter of Tateh.<span>
</span>Longs for a new life with her father. Haunted by the loss of her
mother.<span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Wille Conklin</span></i></b><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> - (Male, Caucasian, late
20s-40s) Racist volunteer fireman who destroys Coalhouse’s car.<span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Sarah’s Friend</span></i></b><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> - (Female, African American,
late teens-30s) a warm, soulful singer/actress who passionately and ferociously
leads the Harlem Ensemble during Sarah’s funeral.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Henry Ford</span></i></b><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> - (Male, Any Ethnicity,
30s-60s) an inventor; lanky, folksy; A bit full of himself. There’s an edge
underneath the public smile; tenor.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">J P Morgan</span></i></b><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> - (Male, Any Ethnicity,
30s-60s) an incredibly wealthy financier; portly, pompous, blustering;
baritone.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Ensemble</span></i></b><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> - (Males & Females, Any
Ethnicity, late teens-60s) strong vocalists that blend beautifully; strong
actors and dancers needed. Will play multiple roles; domestics, firemen,
coalhouse gang members, Ford workers, policemen, vacationers, protestors,
bathing beauties, reporters, etc.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">The
Players Guild Theatre receives support from these generous partners: Arts In
Stark, The Ohio Arts Council, The Canton Repository and 89.7 WKSU. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">####</span></p>
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