How to Prepare for “Curtains” Auditions

How to Prepare for
“Curtains” Auditions
Monday, Oct. 19th
3:00 – 4:00 pm - Learn the music and learn to sing better!
Tuesday, Oct. 20th
3:00 – 4:00 pm - Drama Club Meeting (open to all) –
Learn How to Audition and get help choosing a monologue.
Tuesday, Oct 20th
6:30 – 7:30 pm – Learn the music session
Wednesday, Oct. 21st
3:00 – 4:00 - Learn the music and learn to sing better!
Thursday, Oct. 22nd
Go home and watch all the “YouTube” videos of “Curtains,
the musical”
Friday, Oct. 23rd –
Have fun at Homecoming!
Auditions will be October 26 – 30
There will be after school and evening audition times available.
CURTAINS
MALE CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
Lieutenant Frank Cioffi - late 20’s-40; Local Boston detective who is also a musical theatre aficionado. Aside from being exceptionally good at his job, he has
also aspired to be a musical theatre performer his entire life. He falls in love with Niki. Bari tenor.
Aaron Fox 40’s; the composer of the show-within-the-show. His songwriting partner, Georgia, is also his wife from whom he’s separated. Baritone. Piano
playing not necessary but helpful.
Sidney Bernstein - Late 40’s-mid 60’s; The producer of an out of town flop, along with wife, Carmen. Sidney is tough, self-serving, and untrustworthy. Actor should
have good comic timing.
Christopher Belling Daryl Grady -
35-60; Director (English or maybe German) Very camp. Very funny. Very full of himself. Requires a good comic actor.
30’s; Theatre critic for the local Boston newspaper, he enjoys using the power he has to make or break shows during their out of town tryouts.
Oscar Shapiro 45 & older; The general manager. He is an agreeable if slightly gruff man. He is always looking for any angle to find money. Requires a good
comic actor who sings and holds harmony.
Bobby Pepper -
20’ to early 40’s; The choreographer and lead dancer. He is a strong singer who dances well. Needs to hold harmony.
Female & Male Ensemble
various ages;
All must sing and most should dance.
FEMALE CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
Niki Harris 20’s-early 30’s; Pretty, naïve ingénue. Niki is a chorus girl/understudy in the chorus of the show-within-the-show during its Boston tryout. She
aspires to make it as a performer on Broadway. She meets and falls in love with Dt. Frank Cioffi who is investigating a murder at the theatre. Actress must have
legit Soprano and good comic timing.
Georgia Hendricks - 30’s; Female half of the songwriting team, separated from hubby Aaron Fox. She ends up taking on the leading lady role. She must sing and
dance well. Belt and hold harmony
Carmen Bernstein - 45-65; Brassy Broadway producer. She is a terrific comedic actress who sings well. Belt and hold harmony
Bambi Bernet - Early 20’s-early 30’s; Performer in the chorus and the daughter of Carmen, the lead producer. Hungry to work her way up to leading
performer, many think she was only hired because of her mother. Bambi is an incredible dancer who sings well. Must hold harmony.
Jessica Crenshaw - 30’s-50; Fading Hollywood star. A diva, who has no right to be one, she is a terrible singer and actress who stars in the show-within-a-show and
gets murdered on opening night.
Female & Male Ensemble various ages; All must sing and most should dance.
What You Need to Know to be Prepared for Auditions
Singing Auditions –
Prepare any 32 bars of any song. Something from a Broadway show is usually best, but not necessary. Bring sheet music for accompanist. You will also be asked
to sing a few short warm up exercises to show your range.
If you are interested in the following parts, please be prepared to sing the following songs. They can be found on “youtube.com”. Lyrics can be
downloaded from allmusicals.com, and you can get copies of the music from the Drama bulletin board.
Aaron - I Miss the Music, What Kind of Man
Cioffi – Tough Act to Follow, Coffee Shop Nights, Show People
Carmen - It’s a Business, “Show People”, What Kind of Man
Oscar - What Kind of Man, Show People
Georgia – Thinking of Him, Thataway. In the Same Boat (hold harmony), What Kind of
Man, Show People
Niki –
A Tough Act to Follow, In the Same Boat (hold harmony), Show People
Bambi - In the Same boat (hold harmony)
Sasha – The Man is Dead reprise (with heavy Russian Accent)
Bobby – In the Same Boat (must hold harmony)
Randy - In the Same Boat (must hold harmony)
Harv – In the Same Boat (must hold harmony)
Jessica Crenshaw – Wide Open Spaces (may sing poorly and out of tune at times)
Belling – Show People
Acting Auditions
– Prepare a short monologue from memory (1 - 2 minutes). Search the internet, or attend the Tuesday Drama Club for help in finding a
monologue. The purpose is to show that you can memorize and present a character.
Preparations for Dance Auditions –
Stretch. Watch the videos on YouTube of other productions of Curtains. For the audition, wear clothes that allow you to move and do kicks.
Don’t wear sandals, flip flops, or shoes that grip too much.