Description:

Metropolis PAC is excited to announce general auditions for the staged concert version of The Music Man, book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson. The Music Man in Concert is a co-production with the Metropolis School of the Performing Arts featuring 30 performers and a full orchestra. The Music Man in Concert creative team: Aaron Mitchell Reese Boseman, Director (he/him), Aaron Kaplan, Music Director (he/him), Tiffany Gates, Education Director/School of Performing Arts (she/her), and Brendan Ragan, Artistic Director (he/him). Seeking Non-Equity adult & youth strong singers/actors. We encourage pre-existing barbershop quartets to audition as a group. All identities, races, and ethnicities are strongly encouraged to audition for all roles. A diverse representation of performers is highly desirable.

Pay: Adult Principal: $715 ($225 rehearsal flat fee + $70 per show performed). Adult Supporting: $620 ($200 rehearsal flat fee + $60 per show performed). Youth Roles: Metropolis School of the Performing Arts Tuition Stipend of $250 (Good for use toward a SOPA group class or tuition for a SOPA production). Internal Understudies: $50 additional rehearsal flat fee. 7 shows total. Travel stipend applications available.

Audition Date and Time: By self-tape audition materials only. Audition submission deadline Friday 10/27, 2023. Callback Dates: Sunday, November 5, 2023 - 7:00-10:30pm; Monday, November 6, 2023 - 5:00-10:30pm.
Audition Location: Online audition submissions. Callback & Performance Location: Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell Street, Arlington Heights, IL 60005

The Music Man in Concert Description:
Presented as a concert and staged reading with a full orchestra, Meredith Willson's six-time Tony Award-winning musical comedy has been entertaining audiences since 1957. The Music Man follows fast-talking traveling salesman, Harold Hill, as he cons the people of River City, Iowa, into buying instruments and uniforms for a band that he vows to organize - despite the fact that he does not know a trombone from a treble clef. His plans to skip towns with the cash are foiled when he falls for Marian, the librarian, who transforms him into a respectable citizen by curtain's fall.

The Music Man in Concert Characters (descriptions provided by MTI):

We acknowledge that many roles we list fall on the gender binary, but invite transgender, gender non-conforming, non-binary performers to read for the roles (cisgender or otherwise) they identify with.

Harold Hill - Our story's unsuspecting protagonist. A con man, traveling under the auspices of a salesman, he eventually falls in love with Marian Paroo. Charismatic and charming. Gender: Male. Vocal range top: F4, Vocal range bottom: Ab2.

Marian Paroo - The stuff town librarian and music teacher. She is an attractive young lady who eventually falls for Harold Hill. Stuck up. Curious. Gender: Female. Vocal range top: A5, Vocal range bottom: G3.

Mayor Shinn - A blustery politician who is all too "self-important." Begrudgingly married to Eulalie, he is skeptical of the town rumor mill. Gender: Male.

Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn - Mayor Shinn's peacock wife. A serial gossiper and snob, she has trouble keeping her opinions to herself. Gender: Female. Vocal range top: D5, Vocal range bottom: D4.

Mrs. Paroo - Cheerful and always plotting. An Irish widow and mother to Marian and Winthrop. Gender: Female. Vocal range top: Bb5, Vocal range bottom: Ab3.

Marcellus Washburn - Harold's chummy old friend and former con man, he now lives in River City and is trying to settle down. Gender: Male. Vocal range top: A4, Vocal range bottom: G2.

Olin Britt - A citizen of River City and the bass of the quartet formed by Harold Hill. Gender: Male. Vocal range top: C4, Vocal range bottom: F2.

Oliver Hix - A baritone in the quartet formed by Hill. Oliver is married to Alma Hix. Gender: Male. Vocal range top: F4, Vocal range bottom: B2.

Ewart Dunlop - A member of the quartet formed by Harold Hill with a tenor voice. Ewart is married to Maude Dunlop. Gender: Male. Vocal range top: F5, Vocal range bottom: F3.

Ethel Toffelmier - A comical "Pick-a-Little Lady," and Marcellus Washburn's girlfriend. Gender: Female.

Alma Hix - A "Pick-a-Little Lady" married to Oliver Hix. Gender: Female.

Maud Dunlop - A "Pick-a-Little Lady" married to Ewart Dunlop. Gender: Female.

Mrs. Squires - A "Pick-a-Little Lady" married to Jacey Squires. Gender: Female.

Charlie Cowell - A traveling salesmen who is on to Harold Hill's schemes. Tirelessly attempts to prove to everyone the true con man behind Harold Hill. Gender: Male.

Jacey Squires - The highest tenor in the quartet. Married to Mrs. Squires. Gender: Male. Vocal range top: C5, Vocal range bottom: C3.

Winthrop Paroo - Marian's baby brother, he is very shy because of a noticeable lisp. Embraces Harold Hill and the marching band. Gender: Male. Age: 8 to 12. Vocal range top: Eb5, Vocal range bottom: C4.

Amaryllis - A slightly bratty piano student of Marion Paroo. Gender: Female. Age: 8 to 12. Vocal range top: E5, Vocal range bottom: C4.

Gracie Shinn - The Mayor's younger daughter. Somewhat of a tomboy and a bit mischievous. Gender: Female. Age: 6 to 10.

Tommy Djilas - A young man from the wrong side of town. He is secretly courting Zaneeta. Gender: Male. Age: Teenager.

Zaneeta Shinn - The Mayor's fresh-faced daughter who is in love with Tommy. Sweet and outgoing. Appears to be daffy at times. Gender: Female. Age: Teenager.

Ensemble - Conductor, Constable Locke, Newspaper Readers, River City Townspeople (including teens & kids), Traveling Salesmen. Gender: Any.