Auditions
Memphis Auditions
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Directed by Pre-Ah Hill
Music Director: Myriah Harkley
Band Director: John Casey Hopson
Choreographer: Jaime Gibbs
Producer: Regina Ruisi
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When:
Friday, September 20 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Masonic Theatre
​514 Hancock St New Bern, NC 28560
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and
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Saturday, September 21 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
West Craven High School Performing Arts Center
2600 Streets Ferry Rd, Vanceboro, NC 28586
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Callbacks are scheduled for Monday, September 23 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
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Please fill out the audition form prior to your audition! Click here for the form.
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What to Prepare:
All roles must prepare a one minute monologue.
Music Preparation:
You must view the music requirements here. Each role requires specific musical requirements.
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Click here for tracks, if required for role.
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Please bring your own device.
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Please come prepared with any potential conflict dates.​
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Character Breakdown:
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Lead Roles:
HUEY CALHOUN, 25-40, vocal range C3-B4, excellent singer in the style of Pop / Rock / R & B, strong mover.
Caucasian male. Charismatic record store salesmen who talks his way into becoming a DJ at an
all white radio station. He falls in love with Felicia, an up and coming black club singer. His
relationship with Felicia, and his attempts to bridge the cultural divide and
get her songs played on the radio are the central points of conflict in segregated Memphis.
FELICIA FARRELL, 20-40, vocal range G3-A5, excellent R&B belter, excellent dancer
African American female. A fiercely gifted singer who falls in love with Huey, despite knowing
a relationship with him in prejudiced Memphis is doomed.
DEL RAY, 30-50, vocal range Bb2-Bb4, excellent singer / strong mover
African American male. Felicia's older brother, and owner of the Beale Street club where she
sings. Realistic, cautious, and protective.
GATOR. 20-40, vocal range F#3-A4, excellent singer / strong mover
African American male. Bartender at Del Ray's club, who hasn't spoken since the age of 5. As
the story progresses he finds his voice.
BOBBY, 20-40, vocal range G3-C5, excellent singer / strong mover
African American male. Janitor at WHDZ radio station, full of personality and heart. Later
becomes a television personality on Huey's tv show.
GLADYS CALHOUN, 40-60, vocal range B3-A5, non dancing role
Caucasian female. Huey's stern, traditionally southern mother who works a blue collar job as a
waitress to support herself and the son she loves, and about whom she perpetually worries.
MR. SIMMONS, 35-50, light singing / non dancing role
Caucasian male. Conservative owner of the radio station where Huey gets his start. A strong
southern businessman who takes a chance on Huey when he sees the money that Huey brings in.
Ensemble Roles:
MR. COLLINS / WHITE DJ / WHITE FATHER / GORDON GRANT / ENSEMBLE, 35-50,
light singing / non dancing role.
Caucasian male. Mr. Collins is Huey's boss at store who strongly opposes him playing “black music” in the record store, despite it's popularity with customers. The White DJ appears in the
opening sequence. The White Father provides a dramatic moment when he slaps his teenage
daughter for listening to so called race music. Gordon Grant is an executive from RCA records
that tries to persuade Felicia to sign with his label.
CLARA / WHITE MOTHER / ENSEMBLE, 35-45, vocal range alto or mezzo soprano / non
dancing role.
Caucasian female. The White Mother appears in the scene where the parents discover their
young daughter listening to “race music”.
BUCK WILEY / MARTIN HOLTON / PHOTOGRAPHER / ENSEMBLE, 35-45, light singing /
non dancing role.
Caucasian male. Buck Wiley is the DJ and host of Boppin with the Blues on WHDZ before Huey
takes his place. Martin Holton is a TV network executive from New York.
PERRY COMO /FRANK DRYER ENSEMBLE, 20-30, excellent singer / strong mover
Caucasian male. An American singer whose popularity in the 1940's-1960's focused largely on
his appeal to the family values of post war middle America. Frank Fryer is the owner of Dryer's
Grocery store, who calls in to the radio station in support of Huey's radio ads, which are making
him huge profits
WAILIN JOE / REVEREND HOBSON / BLACK DJ / ENSEMBLE, 30's-40's, vocal range Eb3-
Gb5, strong mover .
African American male. A stand in for figures in the 1950's, such as Little Richard, and
Screaming Jay Hawkins. Sings “Scratch My Itch” in Act 1
BE BLACK TRIO / ENSEMBLE, 20-30, excellent singers / strong movers
3 African American males. Member of the group that sings the hit song “Everybody Want's to be
Black on a Saturday Night”
SELMA / ENSEMBLE. 20-30, excellent singer / strong mover
African American female. One of Felicia's backup singers from the club
BESSIE / ENSEMBLE. 20-30, excellent singer / strong mover
African American female. One of Felicia's backup singers from the club
LAVERNE / ENSEMBLE. 20-30, excellent singer / strong mover
African American female. One of Felicia's backup singers from the club
ETHEL / DOUBLE DUTCH GIRL / ENSEMBLE. 16-25, excellent singer / dancer
African American female. Ethel is a frequent customer at Del Ray's Club. The Double Dutch girl
appears in the jump rope sequence
TEENAGER / ENSEMBLE, 16-25, excellent singer / dancer
Caucasian female. We follow her track throughout the story, as she finds herself intrigued by
“race music”, and ends up singing a solo in a gospel church choir sequence
DOUBLE DUTCH GIRL / ENSEMBLE, 16-25, excellent singer / dancer
Caucasian teenage girl, who jumps into double Dutch jump rope with ease
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Break a leg!​