Beatrice Herford’s Vokes Theatre announces auditions for their Fall 2015 production – THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, Book by Craig Lucas, Music and Lyrics by Adam Guettel.

Auditions will be by appointment on Sunday, May 31st from 6-9pm pm and Monday, June 1st from 6-9pm at Vokes Theatre (97 Boston Post Road, Wayland, MA). Please prepare 24-32 bars of a musical theater song that best showcases your range and abilities, that is not from THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA. An accompanist will be provided.
Auditioners should bring a resume and head shot. To schedule an appointment, please call Sarah Rozene-Wolski at (207)653-1456 or email slrozene@gmail.com with your preferred audition date and time. Scripts are available upon request.
Callbacks are scheduled for Tuesday, June 2 at 7:00 pm. Those who receive a callback should wear clothing they are able to move easily in.

Rehearsals will start in late August and will be held 3-4 times per week; Sunday through Thursdays, based on cast availability. Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, October 29th – November 21st at 8:00 pm. Saturday matinees at 2:00 pm on November 7th and 14th.

Play Summary
Italy, the summer of 1953, Clara Johnson, a beautiful, but surprisingly childish young America woman, is on tour of the Tuscan countryside with her mother, Margaret, a middle aged woman married to an American businessman. While sightseeing in Florence, Clara loses her hat in a sudden gust of wind. Perhaps by fate, it lands at the feet of Fabrizio Naccarelli, a handsome Florentine. With the return of her hat, Clara and Fabrizio are swept into a brief and intense romance that is complicated by their cultural differences. Margaret, determined to do what is best for her daughter, attempts to keep the two apart. As the story unfolds, we learn that Margaret’s overly protective nature is really hiding a secret about Clara. Unable to hide the truth about her daughter, Margaret is forced to re-evaluate her hopes, not only for Clara’s future, but for her own as well. Driven by the Neoromantic classical score and lyrics by Adam Guettel, and Craig Lucas’ book based on Elizabeth Spencer’s novella by the same name, THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA reminds us that a chance at love outweighs all the terrible risks that come with it.

Characters
Margaret Johnson – An elegant, self-possessed, practical and attractive American woman. Mid to lat 40’s to late 50’s. Mature Soprano with strong middle voice. Range: low A to high G
Clara Johnson – Margaret’s twenty-six-year-old daughter, young and naïve for her age. Soprano with strong voice in both ends of range. Range: low A to high A.
Fabrizio Naccarelli – A twenty-year-old, good-looking and charming Florentine. Youthful and passionate energy. Lyrical Tenor. Speals Italian, speaks/sings English with Italian accent. Range: low B flat to high A.
Giuseppe Naccarelli – Fabrizio’s slightly older brother. A lady’s man. Very Italian. Speaks Italian. Range: B flat to D.
Franca Naccarelli – Guiseppe’s wife. Very passionate and strong. Unhappy in her marriage. Mezzo Soprano with strong head voice. Speaks Italian, and speaks English with Italian accent. Range: low B flat to high B.
Signor Naccarelli – Fabrizio’s father. Very charming, charismatic and smooth. Loves his family. Speaks Italian, and speaks English with light Italian accent. Range: Low A to D.
Signora Naccarelli – Fabrizio’s mother. Cunning and intelligent. Soprano with strong low range or Mezzo with strong high notes. Speaks Italian, but sings in English, no accent. Range: low C sharp to high B.
Roy Johnson – Margaret’s husband. No singing
Tour Guide – No singing.
Priest – Limited singing. Range: G to D.
Ensemble

Casting Note:  The above age ranges are a suggestion, and not a requirement. Casting will depend on how actors work with each other. While some characters speak and sing in Italian, it is not a requirement that actors are able to speak the language, as the director is fluent and will help with pronunciation and dialect.