NEWS RELEASE Melanie YC Pepe Artistic Director 330.826.2626<tel:330.826.2626> Fall Auditions Weathervane Playhouse 1301 Weathervane Lane * Akron, Oh 44313 For details, visit www.weathervaneplayhouse.com/audition<http://www.weathervaneplayhouse.com/audition> HAIR September 3 - 20, 2015 Auditions by appointment. www.weathervaneplayhouse.com/audition<http://www.weathervaneplayhouse.com/audition> Monday, July 27, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 28, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Audition Requirements Prepare an up tempo song and a ballad, both with sheet music for the accompanist. Make sure your sheet music is in the correct key. Don't be afraid to sing from the show! Be ready to learn a short dance combination. Be familiar with the show and cast of characters. You will be asked to sing and read from the show. Synopsis Hair tells the story of Vietnam-era youths awkwardly but exuberantly creating their own rite of passage through the confusion around them. Among them are Claude and Berger; a pair of friends battling against Claude's draft notice, and Sheila, who is in love with both of them, but her politically-active lifestyle leaves her little time to act on her feelings. Ultimately, Claude decides that the hippie life isn't for him and goes to Vietnam. With themes of alienation and civil disobedience Hair illustrates the '60s generation's search for meaning through various "be-ins," "love-ins" and protests. Characters BERGER - Male, Caucasian, late teens or 20s, the charismatic tribe leader. Vocal range: High baritone. Sings "Donna" and "Hair." CLAUDE - Male, Caucasian, late teens or 20s, the young soldier going off to war. Vocal range: High baritone/tenor. Sings "Manchester England" and "Where Do I Go." SHEILA - Female, Caucasian, 20s, an intelligent NYU student and social activist. Vocal range: High belt. Sings "Easy to Be Hard" and "Good Morning Sunshine." CRISSY - Female, Caucasian, 20s, innocent, pure. Vocal range: Soprano. Sings "Frank Mills." HUD - Male, African-American, 20s, tribe member. Vocal range: Bass/Baritone. Sings "I'm Black" and "Ain't Got No." DIONNE - Female, African-American, 20s, tribe member. Vocal range: High belt. Sings "Aquarius." WOOF - Male, Caucasian, 20s, tribe member. Vocal range: Tenor. Sings "Sodomy." "TRIBE"/ENSEMBLE: 18 - 30s, all ethnicities, all vocal ranges. Director Gwen Arment, a New York City resident, guest directs at Weathervane! In the New York area, she has directed at the Abingdon Theatre, Theatre 315, The Theatre Arts Center, Ensemble Studio Theatre (associate producer 1995), Broadway Theatre Institute for Musical Mondays Theatre Lab (Artistic Director 2002-2003) and The Century Center. Nationally, she also has directed at the South Jersey Regional Theater; Arundel Barn Playhouse in Maine; Charles Playhouse in Boston; Pennsylvania Stage Company; Mishler Theatre in Altoona, Pennsylvania; and at the Royal Palm Festival Theater in Florida where she received Carbonell nominations for choreography and performing. As a teacher of professional actors, alongside guest faculty instructors from the Royal National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company. In 2004, Gwen co-founded and currently remains the artistic director and producer for Hell's Kitchen Musicals (HKM), a company which develops new works with readings, staged readings and showcases. Most recently, HKM produced the new musical, Peg O' My Heart, for New York City's 2011 Midtown International Theatre Festival. It won the award for best musical. Among the many celebrated artists with whom Gwen has worked are Gower Champion, Peter Gennaro, Donald Saddler, Christopher Hewitt, Bob Herget, Tommy Tune, George Faison, Ron Lagomarsino and Gwen Verdon. ###