Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by James Lapine
Audition Dates: Monday, March 11 and Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Auditions begin at 7:00 p.m. The registration will close at 7:30 p.m.
Performances: May 3-5, 10–12, & 17–19, 2024
Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., Sundays at 2:30 p.m.
Auditions will be held at the Players Guild of Dearborn: 21730 Madison, Dearborn, MI 48124.
You must complete the audition form and conflict calendar found at www.playersguildofdearborn.org before arriving. Please list all actual and possible conflicts.
Director
KIM DONOVAN
Music Director
BETH WONDOWLOWSKI
The story follows a Baker and his wife, who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King’s Festival; and Jack (of beanstalk fame), who wishes his cow would give milk. When the Baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a Witch’s curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse — and along the way encounter a Mysterious Man, nasty step-sisters, a hungry girl in a red cape, a hungry wolf, charming princes, and more. As the tales twist and turn, everyone’s wish is granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results. The characters band together as they realize “no one is alone,” and offer a final moral to the story: “Careful the things you say, children will listen.”
We encourage performers of all races and ethnicities, gender identities, sexualities, abilities, and ages to audition for any role.
The ages listed in the descriptions are the “playing ages” of characters. Actors who fall out of these parameters with respect to their own chronological age may still audition for any role.
All actors must have a strong sense of comedic timing and ensemble.
The Narrator/The Mysterious Man
The Narrator is a storyteller who appears periodically to advance the narrative and speaks directly to the audience.
The Mysterious Man is a strange man who speaks to different characters in the woods. He is a wanderer in the woods, and is full of riddles – and a secret.
The Baker: The “hero” of the story (although his actions are not always heroic), the Baker feels he must “fix” he and his wife’s inability to have children because of the “curse” by the Witch. He is determined, yet insecure. Initially, he tries to pursue his quest without his wife; but he soon realizes he is much better off with her by his side.
The Baker’s Wife: Badly wanting a child, she would go to any length to have one. She is determined to help her husband, and when he sets off into the woods to seek the things that would enable them to remove their “curse” of infertility, her assertiveness and stubbornness eventually helps bring about a change in their relationship. She is smart, practical and secretly romantic.
The Witch: An obsessive and vain woman who has magical powers. She is the Baker’s neighbor and placed a spell on his house. The Witch is Rapunzel’s adoptive mother and tries to shield her from the outside world by trapping her in a tower. Under a harsh exterior, the Witch is insecure and lonely.
Cinderella: A pretty young woman who is mistreated by her stepmother and sisters but determined to improve her life. She is good and kind and her only wish is to go to the Prince’s festival, but once she does go and the Prince pursues her, she is uncertain about how to proceed.
Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf
The Prince is a charming young man who meets and falls in love with Cinderella at the festival. He is more interested in the pursuit than the reality of love and becomes dissatisfied once he weds Cinderella. He thinks his royal birth entitles him to take anything, and anyone, he wants. He is the older brother of Rapunzel’s prince.
The Wolf is a cunning creature who attempts to eat Little Red Riding Hood while dressed up as her grandmother. A hungry creature, the Wolf represents a lot more than just a dangerous animal in the woods.
Little Red Riding Hood: A sassy, spoiled girl, Little Red Riding Hood must journey from youth and innocence into adulthood and responsibility through an adventurous and scary path. She appears innocent but has a darker side
Jack: A simple boy who is best friends with his cow, Milky White. He is cheerful but slow to learn and impulsive.
Jack’s Mother: A poor single mother who worries about her son and lashes out at him when he makes mistakes. She wishes for their family to have a better life and is mainly concerned about not starving.
Rapunzel’s Prince: A man in agony over his desire to wed Rapunzel. Pompous like his brother, he is more interested in the chase and is unsatisfied once they are married. He does try his best to help when Rapunzel starts to lose her grip on reality.
Rapunzel: The beautiful adopted daughter of the witch who is trapped in a remote tower that is accessible only by climbing her long hair. She is naïve and emotional because of her captivity. Even though she escapes the tower to start a new life and learns her true history, she struggles to maintain her sanity after her distressing upbringing.
Cinderella’s Stepmother: A cruel woman who punishes Cinderella by making her work in the kitchen to keep her from going to the royal festival. She wants what is best for herself and her two daughters, but not Cinderella.
Florinda: A vain and smug woman who is mean to her stepsister, Cinderella.
Lucinda: The second of Cinderella’s stepsisters. She behaves just like Florinda and their mother.
Cinderella’s Father: A pushover, he is out-of-touch with his family.
Cinderella’s Mother: Though no longer living, Cinderella’s Mother is still pivotal in granting useful advice and helping fulfill Cinderella’s wish of going to the Prince’s ball.
Ensemble of 4-6:
The ensemble will be part of all the main production numbers, as well as integral components of the show, moving the production from scene to scene. Becoming actual elements of the set, or props as needed.
The Steward: The right-hand man to Cinderella’s prince. He is bureaucratic and full of self-importance.
Milky White: Is actually a prop – however, the puppeteer – using facial expressions only – makes Milky White a true character, a part of the story, and a part of the world. She’s a sad cow who belongs to Jack and is unable to produce milk. She is sold off to the Baker and his wife in exchange for magic beans.
Little Red Riding Hood’s Grandmother: Little Red’s grandmother who lives in the woods, she is feisty and vindictive towards the Wolf.
The Giant’s Wife: While never seen onstage, we hear the voice of the wife of the giant that Jack killed. She is angry and goes on a rampage searching for Jack.
Sleeping Beauty: A cameo appearance in the finale.
Snow White: A cameo appearance in the finale.
Other questions regarding the show or auditions may be sent to: pgdcastinggovernor@gmail.com