SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM AUDITIONS

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 A legend of the genre, Stephen Sondheim changed musical theatre forever. Sondheim on Sondheim is an intimate portrait of the beloved composer through his own words and music. Through the use of exclusive interview footage, audiences get an inside look at the personal life and artistic process of Stephen Sondheim. Ranging from the beloved to the obscure, the carefully selected two-dozen songs are interspersed with in-depth video interviews, delving into Sondheim's rarely discussed personal life and his artistic process. 

An information session will be held on September 19 at 7pm. 

This is a great chance to meet the team, hear their ideas and how they work, get some tips on how to have a successful audition and ask lots of questions.

The session will be done in a hybrid format. For those wishing to attend in person the session will be held at the SMT Rehearsal Unit, 51 Estate Drive, Toronto, ON (Markham & 401 area).

For those who wish to join virtually via Zoom please use the following link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81279698136?pwd=dX32Kip6Tf4o5YuxhyeiI7Bxsf8d8F.1  

February 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20 and 21, 2025 at 8pm

February 9, 16 and 22, 2025 at 2pm 

Venue: Scarborough Village Theatre, 3600 Kingston Rd (NE corner of Kingston & Markham)

Friday, October 4, 2024 from 7:00 - 10:00 pm

Saturday, October 5, 2024 from 4:30pm - 8:30pm  

 Friday, October 18, 2024 from 7:00 to 11:00 pm 

SMT’s Unit, The Estate — 51 Estate Drive, Scarborough, ON.

Music

Please prepare TWO Sondheim or Sondheim-esque* songs keeping in mind the following:

1. Songs can be from the show.
2. We will only hear one – the second song should be a 16-32 bar selection as a back-up choice should we want to hear something different.
3. Songs should showcase your vocal range and storytelling ability. Show us who you are!
4. You will receive redirects of your song so please make sure you are really comfortable with it. Your song should be memorized.
5. We may cut off the songs or we may ask you to stop mid-song, give you a re-direct, and ask you to continue.

*Sondheim-esque meaning lyrics by Sondheim or music by a composer with a similar style such as Jason Robert Brown, Adam Guettel, William Finn, etc.

Please help the pianist to help you!

Make sure your sheet music is:

• In the proper key for the pianist
• Hole punched and placed in a binder
• Preferably double sided
• Clearly marked for the accompanist with any cuts or repeats
• Please refrain from taping together sheets of music or bringing single loose sheets of music.
• You can send in your music in to auditions@smt-theatre.com for our pianist to take a look at in advance.

Dance

There will be no Dance Call for these auditions.

Online Form

Once you book an audition you will be sent a link to our online audition form. Please make sure to fill this out as soon as possible. 

As part of the form you will be asked to provide a full list of conflicts. Be as thorough as you can, especially around the winter holidays. If there are changes in conflicts during the audition process, please inform the producers, or bring an updated list to the audition and/or call backs.

The information provided will be used when creating the rehearsal schedule. Adding more or significant conflicts after casting may result in removal from the show.

Should you receive a call-back please assume you will need to be there for the entire session. We will provide a schedule for the session. Once you have been released you are welcome to stay to watch the rest of the call-back. It’s always nice for folks to have an audience that isn’t the panel.

Those called back will be asked to prepare specific musical selections from the show. These will be sent along with callback notifications.

Callback material does not need to be memorized but you should be familiar enough with it that you can connect with any scene partners and  the “audience” in the room.

Please note - though we will try, we may not be able to accommodate all conflicts for call-backs.

To book an audition, contact auditions@smt-theatre.com. Please indicate your preference of audition date/time.

 Casting Notes

Sondheim on Sondheim isn’t a typical show with set characters and storylines. The libretto and song assignments are flexible and our intention is to go with the traditional casting of eight core performers of various genders and ages. Song assignments in our production will primarily be based on voice type and range.

The following physicality codes may come into play for cast members: C, E, K, L

We embrace diverse casting and all roles are open to consideration regardless of background, ethnicity or sexual/gender orientation.

Physicality Codes Legend

C = basic physical contact like shaking hands, arm-in-arm and partner dancing   

D = a dance role   E = embracing    F = fight choreography     K = kissing

L = weight bearing, lifting, or being lifted      SI = staged intimacy