Auditions
Ragtime Auditions
Last seen at DHT in 2003, RAGTIME, with a magnificent score and captivating story, has remained one of our very favorites. The show, hailed by Time Magazine as "a triumph”, is filled with pageantry, emotion and hope, and literally bursts onto the stage.
Set in the volatile melting pot of turn-of-the-century New York, three distinctly American tales are woven together -- that of a stifled upper-class wife, a determined Jewish immigrant and a daring young Harlem musician -- united by their courage, compassion and belief in the promise of the future. Together they confront history's contradictions of wealth and poverty, freedom and prejudice, hope and despair, and what it means to live in America
Audition Dates
Friday, July 28 @ 7:00pm
Sat. July 29 @ 2:00pm
Sun. July 30 @ 2:00pm
Director - John Rampage
Choreographers - John Rampage & Celia Chun
Musical Director - Phil Hidalgo
All auditions for Diamond Head Theatre productions, unless otherwise specified, are held in the DHT Rehearsal Hall. Diamond Head Theatre is located at 520 Makapuu Avenue, across the street from Kapiolani Community College. Parking is available in the theatre’s parking lot located behind the building. The Rehearsal Hall is located at the back of the theatre; enter through the door that says Costume Shop.
Character Breakdown for RAGTIME
Because of the racial theme of RAGTIME, it is our hope and intent to cast all featured and ensemble parts originally designated as being African American with African American actors, singers and dancers. However, actors of all ethnic backgrounds will be considered and are encouraged to audition.
The characters in Ragtime are both fictional and historical. All historical characters also perform in the Ensemble. The total cast number is between 38 and 40 actors.
FICTIONAL CHARACTERS
COALHOUSE WALKER, JR. - This role will be played by Guest Artist, Mr. John Sloan III
SARAH - This role will be played by a Guest Artist from the Mainland.
MOTHER - 25 to 35 yrs. old. Mezzo - Soprano with strong belt. An upper class WASP woman who is married to FATHER She lives in a racially isolated, privileged world. When her husband leaves for a trip to the North Pole, she discovers she has skills and abilities she never realized she possessed.
FATHER - 30 to 50 yrs. old. Baritone. Married to MOTHER, he owns a fireworks company and holds traditional white, upper class views of race and class. When he returns from his adventure to the North Pole he expects everything will be just as he left it.
THE LITTLE BOY (EDGAR) - 7 to 10 yrs. old. Tenor. An earnest boy who has grown up in privilege. Innocent and openhearted to people different from himself.
MOTHER’S YOUNGER BROTHER - 18 to 25 yrs. old. Baritone/Tenor. Lives in the shadow of his brother - in- law, Father, but seeks a greatness of his own. Infatuated with EVELYN NESBIT, he falls in love easily with people and ideas, acting rashly.
TATEH - 30 to 40 yrs. old. Tenor. A Jewish Father fleeing Latvia for a better life. He is devoted to his daughter and works tirelessly to achieve the American dream.
THE LITTLE GIRL - 8 to 12 yrs. old. Soprano. TATEH'S daughter, she arrives in America sick and hungry. Scared of her new home, she adores her father.
GRANDFATHER - 50 to 65 yrs. old. Baritone. A Crotchety old man who lives a life of leisure with FATHER, MOTHER and family.
WILLIE CONKLIN - 25 to 40 yrs. old. Tenor. An Irish American fire chief who is the epitome of racial intolerance. Brash, brazen, offensive and racist.
SARAH’S FRIEND - African American. This role will be played by Ms. Alison L. B. Maldonado.
LITTLE COALHOUSE - 5 to 7 yrs. old. No singing required. African American. COAHOUSE'S young son, he does not appear until the final scene. Very little rehearsal required.
HISTORICAL CHARACTERS
HARRY HOUDINI - 20 to 35 yrs. old. Baritone. A Hungarian Jewish immigrant who became the most internationally celebrated magician of all time. Dance ability a plus.
EVELYN NESBIT - 16 to 26 yrs. old. Mezzo - Soprano. A renowned beauty she was the inspiration for the Gibson Girl. Her sadistic millionaire husband Harry Thaw shot her lover Stanford White in public, creating the first “Crime of the Century." Dance ability a plus.
HENRY FORD - 35 to 50 yrs. old. Tenor. Founder of the Ford Motor Company, he created the first moving automobile assembly line in the world. Energetic, enthusiastic and full of himself.
EMMA GOLDMAN - 37 to 47 yrs. old. Alto. A Jewish Lithuanian immigrant, she’s a staunch anarchist, fighting for the rights of the poor. Passionate and outspoken.
J. P. MORGAN - 60 to 65 yrs. old. Baritone. A shrewd financier, slightly pompous, extremely wealthy. He was known as a robber baron, one who gets richer by dishonest means.
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON - 40 to 50 yrs. old. Baritone. African American. A former slave who rose to become one of the foremost black intellectuals in America. Polished and educated, he’s an advocate for racial justice and equality.
MALE ENSEMBLE SPEAKING/SINGING ROLES INCLUDE - Charles S. Whitman, Admiral Perry, Stanford White, Judge, Harry K. Thaw, Doctor, Conductor, White Attorney, Newsboys, Fireman and Baseball Fans, People of New Rochelle, Immigrants.
FEMALE ENSEMBLE SPEAKING/SINGING ROLES INCLUDE - Houdini’s Mother, Kathleen (Irish maid), Bridget (Irish maid), Mrs. Whitstein, Chorines, Sob Sisters, People of New Rochelle, Immigrants.
AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE AND FEMALE ENSEMBLE SPEAKING/SINGING ROLES INCLUDE - People of Harlem, Mourners, Coalhouse Followers, Singers and Dancers of The Getting Ready Rag.
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
SING: Please prepare an uptempo song or ballad from the traditional or contemporary Broadway repertoire. Bring sheet music in your own key. No transpositions on site, no acapella, karaoke, or tapes will be allowed. An accompanist will be provided.
DANCE: Please bring appropriate dancewear (clothes/shoes).
REHEARSALS: Rehearsals begin immediately following auditions. Rehearsal schedule determined by director.
PERFORMANCES
Ragtime plays September 22 – October 15
Regular performance times are Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 3:00 p.m.* and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 4:00 p.m.
*Saturday 3:00 p.m. matinees are on September 30 and October 7.
Questions?
For further information, please call Diamond Head Theatre at 733-0277 x302.