Side by Side by Sondheim by Stephen Sondheim

Directed by Julia Fraser

Performance Dates ​: 24^th to 28^th June in The QMT Studio

“Side By Side” by Stephen Sondheim, is a collaboration of Stephen Sondheim songs, some he has written himself and some for which he has written the lyrics and collaborated with other composers. The numbers are a mix of well-knownfavourites from Sondheim’s work as well as some more obscure pieces, or songs that didn’t make it into famous shows. I will be directing and vocal coaching the show, with a very skilled pianist alongside.

The show is originally written for 3 singers, 2 female and 1 male, with a narrator guiding the audience throughout the evening. I would like to expand the cast to 6 singers/actors, 4 female and 2 male, with the cast of 6 sharing the narrationbetween them and the entire cast being involved on stage for the duration of the show. The performance will have limitedset and costume and will be accompanied by two pianos, with stylised staging and minimal choreography and will be a truly ensemble piece. All six actors will need to demonstrate that they can ‘put across a song’, telling a story using the musical nuances and clever use of the lyric as well as have the ability to move well on stage.

The 6 singers/actors will include 2 sopranos who also have the skills and techniques to bring out the comedy and intricacies of a character song, 2 mezzo-soprano/altos who can definitely put across a character song and incorporate accents while singing, and two male singers, preferably one high and one low baritone, but either will be acceptable, both needing to portray a large variety of characters, both comedic and highly serious and sensitive. Every actor will need to be comfortable with narration and also will need to demonstrate their ability to sing and perform using comedy timing, as well as showing a vulnerability, a high level of musicality and a depth of emotion when performing appropriate songs.

Auditions will take place on Tuesday 1st and Thursday 3rd April, with pre-audition note bashing sessions on Tuesday 18th and Thursday 20th March, all commencing at 7.30pm.

Music rehearsals and semi staging, will begin on 10th April and then we will be moving into the theatre space on 6th May.

Cast Required:

2 x soprano – age 18+ (Woman 2 & 4)

2 x mezzo-soprano/alto – age 18+ (Woman 1 & 3)

2 x baritone (high or low) – age 18+ (Man 1 & 2)

(Ideally I would like the cast to be a variety of ages)

Audition Songs:

Men: Choose at least one of the following – Marry Me A Little, Remember, Could I Leave You plus the male part in the trio Getting Married Today plus the passage of narration

Woman 1 & 3: Choose at least one of the following: The Boy From……/Send In The Clowns plus the duet A Boy Like That (woman 1) and the trio Getting Married Today (Woman 1) plus the passage of narration

Woman 2 & 4: Choose at least one of the following: Another Hundred People/Losing My Mind plus the duet A Boy Like That (woman 2) and the trio Getting Married Today (Woman 2) plus the passage of narration

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me, I look forward to seeing you there.

Julia Fraser | juliasfraser@gmail.com

Audition Dates

Rehearsals

Tuesdays and Thursdays with extra rehearsals to be arranged with the cast