Sweeney Todd Auditions!

[stephendare]

SWEENEY TODD AUDITIONS
Players By The Sea's production of SWEENEY TODD will open the 2008/2009 season
September 5th thru the 28th

Directed by Lee Hamby
Choreographed by Lee Hamby
Musical Direction by Samuel Clein

rehearsals will begin beginning of July

Auditions for all roles for Stephen Sondheim's SWEENEY TODD will be held on Monday JUNE 16th at 7:00pm
at
Players By the Sea
106 6th Street North
Jax Beach, Fla 32250
904 249 0289
www.playersbythesea.org
www.myspace.com/playersbythesea

please prepare a classic musical theatre song that shows strong musical ability
if there is a specific role that you want then prepare a song from the show or find a song that you can perform as that character. It is very important that we hear the appropriate dialects.

***ALL ROLES AVAILABLE***

MRS. LOVETT female 30's-60's character alto/ belter

SWEENEY TODD male 30's- 50's baritone/ bass with some higher notes

Townspeople, Lords, Ladies, Policemen, Lunatics, etc
males and females ages 18-60's need all vocal parts especially looking for very large operatic/ musical theatre voices that can hold parts extremely well

ANTHONY HOPE male 18- 30 lyric baritone/ tenor

BEGGAR WOMAN female 30- 40's mezzo

JOHANNA female 18- 30 character soprano


JUDGE TURPIN male 40's- 50's bass

PIRELLI male 30's-40's high tenor character actor

THE BEADLE male 20-50 high tenor character actor

TOBIAS RAGG male teen-20's high tenor


PLOT/ SYNOPSIS

Act One

A clock tower chimes in the early morning light. Anthony Hope, a young sailor, and Sweeney Todd enter. They both express their feelings about being back in London ("No Place Like London"). Anthony is genuinely happy to be back in the city, but Todd's response is full of grim irony. Todd is thanking Anthony for saving his life at sea when the two men are accosted by a ragged, crazed Beggar Woman who begs for money and offers them sexual favors. She thinks she recognizes Sweeney, but he fends her off. Anthony assures Sweeney the beggar is not to be feared; she is just one of the legion of beggars roaming the streets of London. Todd, overcome by the ghostly shadows of memory, refuses Anthony's offers of financial assistance and help. Instead, he recounts the tale of "A Barber and His Wife" describing a barber and his beautiful wife who was coveted by a richer, more powerful man of the law. The barber was removed from London so the vicious predator could ensnare the wife. Anthony asked how the story ended and Sweeney says it was too many years ago. No one would know. He leaves Anthony, saying he plans to stay in the vicinity of Fleet Street.

Sweeney finds Mrs. Lovett's Pie Shop and stands outside the building gazing at it. He enters and sees Mrs. Lovett chopping suet and flicking flies off the trays of pies with a dirty rag.

She serves him a meat pie, singing "The Worst Pies in London" to describe her culinary accomplishments. She explains she is just a poor woman alone, trying to make her way in a harsh world. He asks why she doesn't rent the empty room over the shop if she is in need of money. She replies no one wants the room because it is haunted; a handsome barber named Benjamin Barker used to live there before he was transported to Australia.

Mrs. Lovett then recounts the fate of Benjamin Barker's pretty young wife ("Poor Thing"). A Judge and his Beadle both lusted after the woman, although she resisted their advances. Consequently, they had her husband arrested on false charges and transported to Botany Bay, leaving the young woman with a year-old daughter, Johanna. After the husband's departure, they invited her to a party at the Judge's mansion, got her drunk and raped her in the midst of a masked ball. When Sweeney Todd shouts in anguish at this news, Mrs. Lovett realizes he is Benjamin Barker.

Demanding to learn the fate of his family, Barker hears his wife Lucy took arsenic and that Judge Turpin adopted his daughter, Johanna. Saying he survived his fifteen years in exile by dreaming of returning to his wife and daughter, Todd swears to take revenge on the Judge and the Beadle. When Mrs. Lovett asks how he plans to live without money, Todd says it doesn't matter. She brings him his razors which she had hidden away when the Judge came to take Todd's daughter. Todd is mesmerized by the razors, seeing in them the instrument of his revenge. As he sings of his vision of what he and his razors will accomplish together ("My Friends"), Mrs. Lovett sings of her romantic feelings for him. He holds the biggest razor up to the light and proclaims "my right arm is complete again!"

The scene shifts to Judge Turpin's mansion . Johanna, on an upper level of the house, sings to the caged birds of a passing bird seller ("Green Finch and Linnet Bird"). She wonders how they can sing when they, like herself, are captives. Anthony appears on the street, sees Johanna and instantly they fall in love with each other ("Ah, Miss"). Suddenly, the Beggar Woman appears, startling them both. Johanna disappears into the house. The Beggar Woman tells Anthony he is standing in front of Judge Turpin's house and should beware of trespassing. Anthony buys a bird for Johanna. He calls to her and presents the bird ("Johanna"). They stand absorbed with each other, not noticing the approach of Judge Turpin and the Beadle who take the lovers by surprise. The Judge orders Johanna into the house. She leaves the bird behind. The Beadle cautions Anthony to stay away and strangles the bird as a warning.

In St. Dunstan's Marketplace, a painted caravan announces the presence of Signor Adolfo Pirelli (Haircutter-Barber-Dentist to his royal majesty the King of Naples) and his baldness banishing miracle elixir. Todd intends to steal away Pirelli's customers by showing him up as a fraud.

Tobias, Pirelli's simple-minded assistant, beats a tin drum to attract a crowd ("Pirelli's Miracle Elixir"). Although the crowd responds to Tobias's pitch, Todd and Mrs. Lovett begin a slander campaign against the elixir and people demand their money back. Tobias tries to distract them but to no avail. He points out Pirelli who appears and boasts of his own prowess as a barber. Todd challenges Pirelli to a shaving contest. In a competition judged by the Beadle, Todd wins ("The Contest"). Then in a tooth-pulling contest, during which Pirelli attempts to pull a tooth from Tobias, Todd triumphs a second time. The Beadle is very impressed, and gets the address of Todd's shop, promising to appear soon. When the Beadle thinks he recognizes Todd, Mrs. Lovett assures him this is not possible.

After an encounter with the Beggar Woman, Mrs. Lovett climbs the stairs to Todd's quarters where he is waiting eagerly for the Beadle to appear. Mrs. Lovett tells him to be patient ("Wait") as she plans the redecoration of his drab quarters with daisies and other homey touches. When Todd wonders how long it will take to ensnare the judge, she again tells him to relish making the plan.

Anthony appears at Todd's door, having spotted the sign, and tells him of his encounter with Johanna, unaware she is Sweeney's daughter. He asks if he can bring her to Todd's shop for safekeeping after spiriting her out of her father's house that night. Having secured Todd's assistance, he leaves. Mrs. Lovett suggests Sweeney kill Anthony and keep Johanna with him. She promises she will be a splendid mother to Johanna. Pirelli and Tobias appear. Mrs. Lovett takes Tobias downstairs for a meat pie. Pirelli reveals his real identity as a former Irish apprentice to Benjamin Barker. He tries to blackmail Todd by threatening to reveal that Todd is really Barker. They struggle. Todd renders Pirelli unconscious. Todd stuffs him in a chest when Tobias appears. Tobias sits on the chest but doesn't notice Pirelli's hand hanging out of the trunk. Todd persuades the boy to go to the kitchen for more meat pies. Once Tobias has gone, Todd pulls Pirelli out of the chest and slashes his throat. Mrs. Lovett offers the unsuspecting Tobias a glass of gin.

Leaving court, the Judge announces to the Beadle his intention to marry Johanna. At the same time, Anthony is proposing to Johanna ("Kiss Me"). As the Judge continues on his way home, the Beadle delicately suggests Turpin pay more attention to his personal appearance to heighten his appeal to Johanna ("Ladies in Their Sensitivities"). Recalling Sweeney's excellent work, the Beadle suggests to the judge he make a visit to Sweeney's shop. As the Judge plans his personal make-over at Sweeney's hands, Anthony and Johanna sink to the floor in the throes of passion ("Quartet").

At the pie shop, Mrs. Lovett discovers Pirelli's fate. When Todd wants to kill Tobias too, she disagrees. The Judge appears in Todd's shop. Mrs. Lovett goes downstairs to distract Tobias. The Judge confides in Todd about his forthcoming marriage. Todd prepares to slit the judge's throat, but he takes his time, savoring the moment before his anticipated revenge. Together they sing "Pretty Women" with the Judge lusting for Johanna and Sweeney singing ironically of his lost wife. He is about to kill the judge when Anthony rushes in, blurting out the news of his planned elopement. The Judge leaves in a fury, announcing his intention to lock Johanna away, and telling Todd he will not be back.

Enraged at losing the chance to kill the Judge, Sweeney throws Anthony out of the shop, and announces his intention to kill everyone he can to get ready for the inevitable destruction of the Judge ("Epiphany"). Mrs. Lovett reminds him they have to dispose of Pirelli's body. She has an inspiration. They can recycle his victims into meat pies.

They sing victoriously("A Little Priest"); she has found a seemingly inexhaustible supply of fresh meat for her pies and he will get his revenge on the human race.

Act Two

Thanks to her new-found prosperity, Mrs. Lovett has expanded her shop to include an outdoor eating garden. She now wears a fancy gown and Tobias is attired in a waiter's apron. Her shop is mobbed with customers who crave the new pies ("God, That's Good!"). The Beggar Woman lurks around. An elaborate new barber chair is moved into Todd's quarters. Todd and Mrs. Lovett set up a complicated system by which Todd sends his victims down a chute directly into the bake house where there is a grinding machine. Mrs. Lovett runs out of pies. She puts up a "Sold Out" sign. A barbershop customer appears. She takes the sign down.

Anthony searches the streets for Johanna ("Johanna"). At the same time, Todd dreams of his daughter and systematically kills the customers who sit in his chair. The Beggar Woman tries to warn passersby about the strange odors and smoke coming from Mrs. Lovett's bake house. No one responds. In the lunatic asylum where the Judge has placed her, Johanna joins the song, dreaming of the moment when Anthony will free her. When a man enters the shop, with a child (a potential witness), Sweeney is temporarily thwarted in his murderous revenge.

Anthony hears Johanna's voice and discovers she is in the Asylum. He tries to rescue her, but the Beadle stops him and tells the police to bash his head. Anthony escapes.

Mrs. Lovett sits with Todd in the evening and dreams of their future ("By The Sea"). Throughout her fantasy of their married life together at the seashore, Todd is totally unaware of her words. He is lost in his thoughts of the Judge. Anthony appears to report that Turpin has locked Johanna in a madhouse. Todd has the idea to send Anthony into the asylum as a wigmaker, since the asylum owner sells the hair of the inmates to the highest bidder. He gives Anthony a gun and tells him to bring Johanna to the barber shop after the escape. Then Todd writes to Judge Turpin, telling him he can find Johanna and Anthony at the barber shop that evening.

Mrs. Lovett sits with Tobias in the early evening in the eating garden. As she knits him a muffler, they exchange words about their warm feelings for each other. He is devoted to her and promises no one will harm her ("Not While I'm Around"). He suggests something about Sweeney Todd is suspicious. When Mrs. Lovett pulls out Pirelli's purse, he recognizes it. She says Todd gave it to her, which only further feeds Tobias's doubts. She invites Tobias into the bake house where he is usually forbidden to go. He is delighted. Once there, she allows him to grind the meat for pies and he forgets his concerns. She leaves him grinding and locks the door to the bake house.

As she returns upstairs, she finds the Beadle at the harmonium in her parlor. He has come in response to complaints about a foul smell from her chimney. She says she can't take him into the bake house until Mr. Todd comes home. She distracts the Beadle by singing with him ("Parlor Songs"). Todd arrives. He takes the Beadle upstairs for a free shave before his inspection of the ovens. In the bake house, Tobias begins to suspect that the remains of humans are used for the pies just as the Beadle's body comes down the chute. He realizes he is locked in and, whimpering, disappears down the cellar steps.

Mrs. Lovett tells Todd Tobias suspects them. She wants Todd to dispense with Tobias at once, but Todd is focused on extracting his revenge from the Judge.

Anthony comes to save Johanna at the asylum, but when the owner tries to stop him, he cannot bring himself to shoot. Johanna grabs the gun and kills the owner. They escape. The lunatics are freed from the asylum and spill with euphoric excitement into the street ("City on Fire"). Mrs. Lovett and Todd look for Tobias. The Beggar Woman searches for the Beadle.

Anthony and Johanna arrive at the barber shop. She wears a sailor suit. At Anthony's insistence, Johanna stays behind as he leaves to hire a coach for their escape to Plymouth. The Beggar Woman appears. Johanna hides in a trunk. The Beggar Woman surveys the room and being there seems to stimulate something within her. She cradles and begins singing to an imaginary infant.

Todd discovers her. She tries to warn him about Mrs. Lovett and again wonders if she doesn't know him. He turns on her, slits her throat and releases her down the chute. The Judge enters. Sweeney pretends Johanna is safely with Mrs. Lovett and is longing to be reunited with him. Todd convinces the Judge to have a shave to prepare for his meeting with Johanna. The Judge recognizes Sweeney as Benjamin Barker just as the Judge's throat is slit.

Todd starts out of the room to deal with Tobias as Johanna emerges from the trunk. Mistaking her for a sailor because of her disguise, Todd tries to attack her, but she escapes. He runs to the bake house. Mrs. Lovett is screaming "Die! Die! God in heaven-die!!" to the Judge who is hanging on to her skirt. As he dies, she notices the body of the Beggar Woman.

She frantically tries to drag the Beggar Woman to the oven. Todd sees the woman in the light and realizes she is his wife, Lucy. He accuses Mrs. Lovett of deceiving him. She says she never said Lucy died, only that she took poison. She was trying to protect him ("Final Sequence"). She tries to stem his anger and he pretends his forgiveness by waltzing with her. He waltzes her to the oven and shoves her in. Then he cradles the Beggar Woman in his arms. Tobias appears, his hair now completely white from shock. He kills Sweeney with the razor, which has fallen on the floor. Constables, Anthony, and Johanna appear. Tobias has lost his mind; he cannot stop turning the handle on the grinder.

The company sings "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd." They claim to see the Sweeney in each of us. At the end, Sweeney glares at the audience malevolently and he slams the iron door.

[gatorback]

Sweeney Todd is exciting.  I mentioned ST back in Dec., and it is amazing and halarious.  It is a comedy so don't feel bad if you laugh and roll on the floor.  I hate musicals, but this is just shy of brilliant.

[barberofdeville]

Im always a day late and a dollar short. I would have loved to audition:( I even did shaves last halloween in full costume complete with the shite streak). Makes me sad.

[hanjin1]

dang, your more than just a day late