• GREAT NECK JUNIOR PLAYERS

    AUDITION INFORMATION - FALL 2022

     

     

    AUDITIONS: Thursday, September 1st in Room 116, after-school at 3:00 pm, by appointment time. 

     

    Callbacks: Friday, September 2nd in the auditorium, after-school at 2:45pm. Callbacks will be OPEN. Anyone can watch the callbacks whether they’re called back for a specific role or not to support their peers!

     

    First rehearsal: After school at 2:45 pm, Tuesday, September 6th.

     

    On your audition form, you will give the director your conflicts. Please go through the rehearsal calendar with your parents. Think of special events, appointments, sports, religious observances, etc. After we learn of your conflicts on your audition form, we’ll create a more detailed rehearsal calendar and go through it at the first read-through rehearsal. Rehearsals will be Mondays thru Fridays, with a few exceptions. All November Rehearsals are MANDATORY.

     

    TECH WEEK: November 7th-17th

     

    Performance Dates: (3 Shows) - Thursday, November 18th @ 7:30 PM, Friday, November 18th @ 7:30 PM, Saturday, November 19th @ 8:00 PM

     Plot Summary 

    Les Misérables is a sung-through musical based on the novel Les Misérables by French poet and novelist Victor Hugo. Premiering in Paris in 1980, it has music by Claude-Michel Schönberg and original French-language lyrics by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel, alongside an English Language libretto with accompanying English-language lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer. The London production has run continuously since October 1985, making it the longest-running musical in the West End and the second longest-running musical in the world after the original Off-Broadway run of The Fantasticks. 

    Set in early 19th-century France, it is the story of Jean Valjean, a French peasant, and his quest for redemption after serving nineteen years in jail for having stolen a loaf of bread for his sister's starving child. Valjean decides to break his parole and start his life anew after a kindly bishop inspires him with a tremendous act of mercy, but he is relentlessly tracked down by a police inspector named Javert. Along the way, Valjean and a slew of characters are swept into a revolutionary period in France, where a group of young idealists makes their last stand at a street barricade. 

     

    Musical Numbers 

    A note about the School Edition of Les Miserables. 

    The School Edition is the only version that is allowed to be performed by high schools. There are not that many differences between the two. Some of the songs have been arranged in different keys to make them more manageable for high school voices. No characters or songs have been eliminated from the show, but some verses have been eliminated or cut down. For this reason, they have renamed some of the songs. In the list below, I have put in parenthesis the names of the songs from the original. 

     

    Act I 

    Prologue (Work Song, What Have I Done) 

    At The End Of The Day

    I Dreamed A Dream 

    The Docks (Lovely Ladies) 

    The Cart Crash (Who Am I) 

    Fantine's Death (The Confrontation) 

    Little Cosette (Castle on a Cloud) 

    The InnKeeper's Song (Master of the House) 

    The Bargain 

    The Beggars (Look Down) 

    The Robbery 

    Stars 

    The ABC Café (Red and Black)

    The People's Song (Do You Hear the People Sing) 

    Rue Plumet (In My Life) 

    A Heart Full Of Love 

    The Attack On Rue Plumet 

    One Day More

     

    Act II 

    Building The Barricade (On My Own) 

    Javert At The Barricade (Little People, A Little Fall of Rain) 

    The First Attack 

    The Night (Drink With Me, Bring Him Home) 

    The Second Attack 

    The Final Battle 

    The Sewers 

    Javert's Suicide (Turning) 

    The Café Song (Empty Chairs at Empty Tables) 

    Marius & Cosette 

    The Wedding 

    Epilogue

    Character Breakdown 

    Principal Lead Roles (Male-Identifying) 

    Jean Valjean: A paroled convict and the protagonist and moral center of the show. Failing to find work with his yellow parole note and redeemed by the Bishop of Digne’s mercy, he tears up the parole note and conceals his identity to live his life as an honest man. He redeems himself repeatedly with selfless acts of generosity and love. He steps in to save Fantine. He adopts Cosette and ultimately gives his blessing to her and Marius, allowing them to marry. He rescues Marius from the barricade. 

     

    Javert: Police Inspector who relentlessly pursues Valjean for breaking parole. He sees the world and its people in shades of black and white and believes that no one—including himself—is capable of change or redemption. He is NOT the villain, but his idea of the law is merciless and unbending. 

     

    Thenardier: An opportunist who has survived by robbing, cheating, stealing, and looking out for himself, above all. Crooked, irreverent, selfish, boorish, vulgar. He plays the “bon vivant” host because it serves him well, and later leads a gang of dangerous thieves. Comic relief along with his wife Madame Thenardier. 

     

    Marius: A young student who is searching for himself and his purpose through his studies and through the revolutionary ideas of his peers. He is a casual friend of Eponine but falls in love with Cosette instantly at a chance meeting. Marius’ experiences at the barricade age and mature him. 

     

    Enjolras: Charismatic leader of the student revolutionaries. He believes that “the people” will join him in the fight to make a better world. Friend to Marius and the ABC students-- who are willing to follow him to the barricades and beyond. 

     

    Principal Lead Roles (Female-Identifying) 

    Fantine: Desperate, haunted, terrified, hopeful, proud, and fiercely protective of Cosette, Fantine is a woman who has been abandoned by her lover and seeks to support herself and her child, first by reputable work and then by selling everything that she has, including her body. As she dies of consumption, she asks Valjean to look after Cosette. Ultimately, she appears as a spirit and escorts the dying Valjean to paradise. 

     

    Eponine: Daughter of the Thenardiers, she has followed in her parent's footsteps to live on the street. Once pampered, now a ragged waif, she has learned to take what she needs and wants from anyone not strong enough to protect it. The only thing she can’t have is the love of Marius. 

     

    Cosette: Fantine’s daughter. She has become beautiful under Valjean’s care. She is lively, personable, curious, and mischievous. She challenges him, behaving with dignity and imagination when seeking information about her past. She falls instantly in love with Marius, changing her world and her priorities. 

     

    Madame Thenardier: Opportunistic wife of Thenardier. She is coarse, greedy, larger than life, and able to improvise in any situation. Scheming, comic, and quick to see an opportunity. 

     

    Children’s Roles (may be high school or middle school students) 

     

    Young Cosette: Fantine’s young daughter. Boards with The Thenardiers. She is mistreated, worked like a drudge, beaten by Madame, and bullied by young Eponine. She is fearful, lonely, and dreams of something better. 

     

    Young Eponine: non-singing/non-speaking. The Thenardiers spoiled pampered daughter bullies young Cosette mercilessly. 

     

    Gavroche: A child of the streets who has made his way with intelligence, honor, and cocky courage that endears him to the student revolutionaries. He sees himself as one of them. 

     

    Featured Ensemble Roles 

    ABC SOCIETY: Students and workers are part of a secret society fighting for freedom. The students are from wealthy families, the workers are a stark contrast. They include: 

    Combeferre: a philosopher and believer in peace. He is gentle, humane, strong, and brave. 

    Feuilly: a worker, self-educated, and an orphan. A Believer in “nationality”. Affectionate, warm, poetic Courfeyrac: a student, He is youthful, passionate, and fearless. 

    Joly: a medical student. Eccentric and lighthearted, although occasionally morbid. His name is from the English “jolly” 

    Prouvaire: a student of social studies. He is kind, soft-spoken, and at the right moments strong and masterful. He is a poet. 

    Lesgles: a student, cheerful, laughing at life but unlucky. Close friends with Joly. 

    Grantaire: a student, the opposite of Enjolras. He believes in nothing. He admires Enjolras but loves to mock him. Witty and often drunk, he is happy being with the group and they put up with him because of his good humor. He keeps a watchful eye on Gavroche and is most heartbroken when Gavroche is killed. 

     

    Thenardier’s Gang of Thieves. They include: 

    Brujon: Physically strong. The body of a bear and a pea-sized brain. a gangster, stupid and evil. 

    Babet: Physically frail, but lean and cunning Claquesous: “He is the night.” tough, dangerous, and secretive Montparnasse: a teenager, handsome and dangerous. Kills with a knife. Possessive of Eponine. 

    The Foreman: The foreman of the factory where Fantine works. He is sleazy and even a bit menacing Bamatabois: The “customer “who taunts Fantine into violence. A wealthy, dissolute young man who thinks of himself as a gentleman. Sadistic and feels he can buy anything-even Fantine. 

    The Pimp: Controls the prostitutes at the dock. Mean, aggressive and abusive. Small solo line in “Lovely Ladies” 

     

    Featured Ensemble Roles:

    Bishop of Digne: Houses Valjean after his release from jail and gives him gifts of silver and absolution. Their act of kindness inspires Valjean to improve himself and escape the label of “criminal”. This role can be changed to a nun so that a female could play the role. 

     

    Factory Girl/Woman 1: Fights with Fantine. Mean, catty, and threatened by Fantine’s beauty. Jealous of the attention that the foreman pays her. 

     

    Old Woman: E to high D. This is the woman who bargains with Fantine for her hair. 

     

    Other ensemble Roles: Chain Gang, Farmers, Laborers, Sailors, Constables, Citizens, Beggars, Waltzers, Innkeeper’s Wife, Whores, Factory Workers, Citizens, Beggars, Wedding Guests, Waltzers.

     

    All cast members will sing in the pit chorus when not on stage.

    Tech Leadership Positions 

    Assistant Director – attends most rehearsals, and works closely with the directors. Often in charge of some rehearsals. 

    Production Stage Manager – attends all rehearsals, in charge of the show once it opens. Calls cues, and manages all backstage activities.

    Assistant Stage Manager(s) – assists PSM in all backstage activities. 

    Prop Supervisor – secures all props for the show, and coordinates prop run crew for the run of the show. 

    Make-Up Designer/Coordinator - will work closely with our cast, in charge of make-up execution during the run of the show, and the makeup crew. 

    Costume Supervisor – oversees the costume crew and is in charge of helping actors manage costumes for the run of the show. 

    House Manager – manages ushers and Front of House staff during the run of the show. 

    Publicity Committee - aides the creation of the program, takes headshots, designs cast shirts, and posters; writes a press release, and coordinates filming and photography during the show.

    Run Crew Positions 

    Stage Crew – responsible for moving set pieces and scenery on and off stage during the run of the show. Expected at all set build days. 

    Prop Crew – responsible for managing all props during the run of the show. 

    Costume/Make-up Crew – assist actors with costumes and make-up during the run of show.

    Audition Tips

      • To memorize or not to memorize? Always a popular question. We do not require the songs to be memorized. That said, the more familiar you are with the material, the more effective your audition will be. 

      • Be as familiar with the play and the characters as is possible. The script/score is available on google classroom. The original cast album is widely available. 

      • Be aware that there are differences between that album and the version we have licensed for performance. 

      • Be confident – even if you have never done this before, walk into the audition as if you own the place.

      • Make bold choices – you need to show us your stuff. These are bigger-than-life characters, don’t just stand and sing. 

      • You will be the only student in the room during your audition. 

      • You will be auditioning for several members of the artistic staff (Mr. Giordano, Dr. Levy, etc). 

      • You will walk into the room and hand us your audition form. 

      • Because of the nature of the show, we may consider female-identifying actors for male-identifying roles depending on the number of people auditioning and to give talented actors more time to shine. Please indicate on your audition form if you are not comfortable with this type of casting. 

      • You should introduce yourself and then sing your song. Do not be surprised if Dr. Levy has you sing some scales as we need to have a clear idea of your vocal range. 

      • You may be nervous. That is a good thing. The key is to channel your nerves into good positive energy. 

      • It is important to remember that the directors want you to be great. 

      • The general audition is to hear your voice and to gauge your ability to act the song. 

     

    Frequently Asked Questions:

    1.     What kind of song do I need to prepare? How much?

    A legit Musical Theatre or any song that shows off your voice! We suggest no pop/rock or opera. It is suggested that you bring sheet music. You may sing from the show. Prepare one verse and one chorus, about 16 measures (no more than 60 seconds). Pick the part of the song that shows off your voice the best and don't forget to act! For audition song ideas:

    2.    Do I need to have a monologue?

    Les Miserables is a sung-through pop-opera musical. In other words, there is no spoken dialogue. Therefore, there is no specific acting/monologue audition for this show. We want to stress the importance of using your song to demonstrate your acting prowess.  

     

    3.     I’m in a sport/other show. How can I do the musical, too?

    While we want you to attend as many rehearsals as possible, we understand that not everyone may be able to attend EVERY rehearsal. We will also do our best to create a rehearsal schedule based on your initial conflict noted on your audition form. Therefore, you may not be called to every rehearsal. It’s the actor’s job to stay on top of the music and blocking. Again, all November Rehearsals are MANDATORY. The rehearsal calendar is live and updated frequently on Google Classroom. Please check it regularly!

     

    4.     What roles need to have the most availability?

    • As Les Misérables: School Edition is a BIG show, it’s very important that if you’re cast in the following roles you have minimal conflicts:

    • Jean Valjean 

    • Javert

    • Thenardier

    • Marius

    • Fantine

    • Eponine

    • Cosette

    • Madame Thenardier

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    5.     What are callbacks?

    Callbacks are for students who are finalists for principal or supporting roles. Callback materials will be given at the auditions. You may sing with other actors who are also being considered for a role. If you don’t get called back, IT DOESN’T MEAN YOU’RE NOT IN THE MUSICAL! It only means that we already know what part you’d be perfect for. There are no cuts. Anyone who auditions will get cast in the musical! For this show, callbacks will be OPEN for any student to watch and support their peers.

     

    6.     Do I have to memorize the audition sides for the callbacks?

    It’s not mandatory, but remember this is a competition! If someone else is called back for the same role, and they have their part memorized, they may perform better. Just do the best you can do.

     

    7.     Can I get feedback on my auditions?

    If you want to discuss your audition with Dr. Levy or Mr. Giordano so you can improve for the future, schedule a time to do so AFTER casting has been announced and you’ve attended the first read-through.

     

    8.     When and where do rehearsals start and end?

    Rehearsals are held in the Choir Room, Drama Room, and/or the Theater. Generally, they start after school at 2:45pm. They go until 5:00 pm (Sept/Oct) and 6:30 pm (Nov). Actors may not be called to attend every rehearsal and are expected to keep track of the rehearsal calendar and announcements. (See attached calendar)

     

    9.    Will there be understudies?

    An understudy is an actor who learns not only their part but also learns another part in the event the original actor is unavailable. While not guaranteed, select roles could be considered for understudies solely at the discretion of the director and producing team.

     

    Please remember, there are no small parts, only small actors! What that means is, please don’t be a “poor sport” and quit the show if you don’t get the part you wanted. It may affect your chances of getting cast in future productions. Everyone will be featured in this show. Take your part and make it the best you can! Sometimes the smaller parts steal the show!

     

    Feel free to see me or email me cgiordano@greatneck.k12.ny.us with any questions or concerns. If you would like to help selecting an audition song, please let us know. 

     

    Break a leg!

     

    Mr. Giordano and Dr. Levy