LSUA Empty Space Players To Hold Auditions For “The Fantasticks”

Auditions for LSUA Empty Space Players upcoming musical production of The Fantasticks will be held Thursday, September 12, at 6:30 pm, Friday, September 13 at noon, and Saturday, September 14 at 2:00 pm, at the MPAC Black Box Theatre on campus.

The beauty of The Fantasticks is in the sheer simplicity under which it is presented – minimal set, lighting and a cast of 8 people. Orchestrations are also simple, largely for two parts, a piano and a harp. It is an intimate, engaging ensemble show, with a small cast. The score is punctuated by a bountiful series of catchy, memorable songs, including “Try To Remember” and “Soon It’s Gonna Rain”. The Fantasticks was created and written to be performed with emphasis on ‘minimalistic ‘set and lighting. It encourages the audience to fill in the spaces, left intentionally blank, by creating their own imagery and by using their own imagination.

CAST OF CHARACTERS:
The Actor (Henry), an aging, over-the-top thespian (non-singing)
The Boy (Matt), an innocent young man; baritone/ten.(A – high G)
The Boy’s Father (Hucklebee), former navy man, meticulous gardener; baritone (A – high F-sharp)
The Girl (Luisa), a romantic idealist; Soprano (B – high B)
The Girl’s Father (Bellomy), a merchant, also a picky gardener; baritone (A – high F-sharp)
The Man Who Dies (Mortimer), Henry’s goofy sidekick (non-singing)
The Mute, a speechless presence who watches, acts as the wall and so on. Male or female.
The Narrator (El Gallo), a rakish, handsome gallant; baritone (A-flat – high G)

Please prepare at least 16 bars of a music theatre song that will showcase your vocal range and bring the sheet music for our accompanist to play for you.

Those auditioning will read from the script. Those auditioning specifically for the Mute should prepare a short pantomime.

The Fantasticks will open Thursday, November 14, and run through Sunday, November 24, with performances at 7:30 pm, on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and matinees Sundays at 2:30 pm.

Please prepare at least 16 bars of a music theatre song that will showcase your vocal range and bring the sheet music for our accompanist to play for you.

For more information, please contact the director, Robert Harper at harper@lsua.edu or at 318-473-6473.