YOUNG PEOPLES THEATRE – AUDITION PACK
The YOUNG PEOPLES THEATRE of Essex is
delighted to announce their forthcoming
open auditions for the powerfully charged
musical CHESS by Tim Rice, Benny Andersson
and Bjorn Ulvaleus.
Tim Rice is known for being the co author of
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar as well as working
with Disney on such musicals as Beauty & the Beast and with Elton John on Lion King and Aida.
Benny & Bjorn being the two “B”’s of ABBA and responsible for all of the ABBA hits throughout the
world.
YPT are committed to developing and working with young performers. Our creative ethos is to
develop youngsters with or without experience.
We are looking to produce dynamic singers, actors and dancers to play the leading roles and
ensemble members in our exciting forward thinking troupe.
We work with performers up to the age of 25 years old and cast our shows by open auditions; with
leading roles being cast according to ability and look, a mature 15 year old girl has just as much an
opportunity to play one of the leading roles as a 20 year old.
In this production, as well as a mix of seniors aged 14 to 25 years old, we are including juniors
aged to 13 years old too. These will feature in a number of the large competitive and festival
scenes.
THE SHOW
The dynamic score and the original story created by Tim Rice bring together the unlikely backdrop
of international chess with a fiery love triangle, political intrigue and a colorful spectacle of song
and dance in this ground breaking musical which ran for over three years in the West End. CHESS
provides YPT with another great challenge to match past successes like Les Miserables, We Will
Rock You, West Side Story and Notre Dame.
Our Creative team is planning to bring together a cast of young performers and give them an
opportunity to participate in a musical which provides ensemble extravagance and powerfully
packed principal roles. With plenty of ensemble work we are calling for singers and dancers to
bring the show to life.
THE AUDITIONS – 10TH DECEMBER
Please book an audition time by calling 01376 567677 or email
ann@stageability.co.uk
In addition to a mixed ensemble of ages, the following principal roles are to be cast and you are
required to sing songs from the show as detailed overleaf.
YOUNG PEOPLES THEATRE – AUDITION PACK
CHARACTER GENDER AUDITION
Freddie Trumper male tenor lead Pity the Child
Anatoly Sergievsky male baritone lead Anthem & Mountain Duet
Florence female belt lead Heaven Help My Heart & Mountain Duet
(Sing the whole song for the duet)
Ivan Molokov male bass lead Where I want to be (From “What we’ve just
seen…”)
Svetlana female belt supporting I know Him So Well - (Sing the whole song)
Arbiter male baritone supporting One Night in Bangkok
Ensemble & Cameo roles Male and Female all ages *A song of your choosing
*The song you choose needs to be one which best demonstrates your vocal abilities. We prefer a
song from a musical. You will require either the sheet music so our pianist can accompany you or
you may sing to a backing track which you should provide on the day on CD or MP3 Player.
The smaller cameo roles of Walter Decourcey, the Reporters, The Mayor, and the Embassy
Workers, Civil Servants, Diplomats, Villagers, Townspeople and Chess Officials will be cast from
within the Ensemble cast.
22 Ensemble cast members (14 to 25 year olds)
8 Senior Dancers Male and Female (14-25year olds) (A dance and singing audition is
required)
18 Junior cast members (up to the age of 13 years old)
THE REHEARSALS
Chess requires 12 full day Sunday rehearsals and all cast members must be available for the calls
on the dates given below. A more defined schedule will be published shortly with the day being
split into rehearsal blocks 10am till 1pm and 2pm to 6pm.
Essential music rehearsals (15th & 22nd January) will focus on ensemble work at which, all
principals are required for their individual involvement in these numbers.
All principals are required to learn their roles away from rehearsal and be off book for the
flooring rehearsals commencing 29th January.
Sunday 15th January YPT CHESS 10.00 AM - 6.00 PM
Sunday 22nd January YPT CHESS 10.00 AM - 6.00 PM
Sunday 29th January YPT CHESS 10.00 AM - 6.00 PM
Sunday 5th February YPT CHESS 10.00 AM - 6.00 PM
Sunday 12th February YPT CHESS 10.00 AM - 6.00 PM
Sunday 26th February YPT CHESS 10.00 AM - 6.00 PM
Sunday 4th March YPT CHESS 10.00 AM - 6.00 PM
Sunday 18th March YPT CHESS 10.00 AM - 6.00 PM
Sunday 25th March YPT CHESS 10.00 AM - 6.00 PM
Sunday 1st April YPT CHESS 10.00 AM - 6.00 PM
Sunday 8th April YPT CHESS 10.00 am - 6.00 pm
Sunday 15th April YPT CHESS (With Morning band call) 10.00 am - 6.00 pm
Monday 16th April YPT CHESS 6.00 pm - 11.00 pm
Tuesday 17th April CHESS @ TOWNGATE 7.00 pm - 11.00 pm
Wednesday 18th April CHESS @ TOWNGATE Dress Rehearsal 6.00 pm - 11.00 pm
Thursday 19th April CHESS @ TOWNGATE Performance 6.00 pm - 11.00 pm
Friday 20th April CHESS @ TOWNGATE Performance 6.00 pm - 11.00 pm
Saturday 21st April CHESS @ TOWNGATE 2 Performances 6.00 pm - Midnight
YOUNG PEOPLES THEATRE – AUDITION PACK
THE FEES - IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY JOINED Young Peoples Theatre (YPT)
Audition Fee £10 Payable at point of audition
CHESS - ONE SHOW TWO SHOWS (See below) THREE SHOWS (See below)
Subscription Platform £12 £12 £12
Show Fee £100 £200 £300
Rehearsal Shirt £10 £10 £10
Total Due £122 £222 £322
Paid Monthly £40.67 £37 £35.78
st January to March January to June January to September
On 1 of each Month
Or 12 weekly payments of £10.50 at each weekly rehearsal
*Having auditioned for CHESS, if you are successfully cast your membership to YPT will run for the
year 2012 and you may participate in the ensemble of any of the remaining shows of the year
without further audition as well as being able to audition for any of the principal roles in those
shows which are;-
The Madness Musical OUR HOUSE - July ( SENIORS aged 14 to 25 years old only)
Disney’s ALICE IN WONDERLAND - July (JUNIORS aged 8 to 13 years old only)
The Annual Panto JACK AND THE BEANSTALK - December (All ages)