Cabaret Auditions at PFW
Book by Joe Masteroff, Based on the play by John Van Druten and Stories by Christopher Isherwood
Music by John Kander, Lyrics by Fred Ebb
This production will be Directed by Dr. Julie Lyn Barber, Music Directed by Holly Knott, and Choreographed by Brittney Coughlin and Dr. Barber.
Performances will take place in Williams Theatre on the Purdue Fort Wayne campus
November 15, 16, 21, 22, 23 at 8pm, and November 17 at 2pm.
Actors will be called a 90 minutes before show time.
Rehearsals will generally be Sundays through Thursdays 6:30-9:30pm beginning September 24th. During Tech Week (beginning Sunday November 10, 2024) we may rehearse until 11:30pm and there may be an additional rehearsal on Friday 11/8. Expect Sunday, 11/10 to be an all-day rehearsal, 10-10 with a break for dinner.
Detailed rehearsal schedule is linked below.
Auditions are open to everyone over 18 years of age. You do not have to be a Purdue Fort Wayne student to participate.
What to Prepare:
1. Prepare a 30-60 second dramatic monologue. Fight for something that’s vitally important to you, or convince someone to do something of utmost importance. Use more than one tactic to pursue your super-high-stakes objective.
2. Prepare one or two assigned cuts below that align with your interests. You may also opt to sing one of the cuts below and bring a 16-bar musical selection of your choice.
CUT 1 Sally, Fraülein Kost, Kit Kat Girls: “Cabaret” mm.118-169.
CUT 2 Fräulein Schneider: “What Would You Do?” mm.41-59
CUT 3 Herr Schultz, M.C.: “It Couldn’t Please Me More” mm.18-34.
CUT 4 Cliff, Ernst, Bobby, Kit Kat Boys: “Tomorrow Belongs to Me” mm.65-81.
An accompanist will be provided to play for you. If you are singing something other than the above cuts, please bring piano/vocal sheet music in the correct key in a 3 ring binder with as few page turns as possible.
Audition Information
Song/Monologue Audition: Tuesday, August 27, signup at the link below.
Time: 5-8pm
Place: Room 113, Williams Theatre, 2101 E. Coliseum Blvd, Fort Wayne (free parking in the lot out front).
- Actors will be seen one at a time. Book a 5 minute audition slot below. An Accompanist will be provided. If you are doing an “own choice” cut please bring sheet music in a 3 ring binder with as few page turns as possible.
Dance Call: Thursday, August 29, you must do the song/monologue audition to do the dance call
Time: 5:30-6:30pm
Place: Room 113, Williams Theatre, 2101 E. Coliseum Blvd, Fort Wayne (free parking in the lot out front).
- Please dress in form fitting dance attire to your comfort level and wear jazz or character shoes.
Callbacks: Tuesday, September 3, 5-8pm. You may be invited to callbacks for further singing and reading from the script with other actors.
Important Links
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
CUT 1 - Sally Bowles, she/her, British
“The toast of Mayfair”, (probably not from Mayfair) a British young woman who wants to feel like she’s extraordinary. Singer at the Kit Kat Club who gets fired/dumped on New Year’s Eve by her lover/club manager. Judi Dench originated this role in the London debut. Other Sallys have included Natasha Richardson, Susan Egan, Brooke Shields and Emma Thompson.
Excellent actor, good singer, good mover
Voice: Belter, strong sustained B4, low note is E3
Solo/Featured Singing: Don’t Tell Mama, Mein Herr, Perfectly Marvelous, Cabaret
CUT 2 - Fräulein Schneider, she/her, older
Grew up in a wealthy household but now scrapes by operating a boarding house, enjoys evenings with local fruit merchant, widower, Herr Schultz, whom she is willing to marry until she isn’t. This role was originated by Lotte Lenya.
Excellent actor, good song seller, minimal partner dancing
Voice: alto/mezzo cabaret, jazz or musical theatre style, low Eb3, high B4
Solo/Featured Singing: So What?, It Couldn’t Please Me More, Married, What Would You Do?
CUT 1 - Fraülein Kost (Fritzie), she/her, German tenant at the boarding house, independent sex worker, diplomat, and Kit Kat club performer. Good singer, good mover
Voice: Mezzo/Soprano, Low: A3 High: D5
Solo/Featured Singing: Tomorrow Belongs To Me
CUT 1 - Lulu, she/herKit Kat “Girl”
Good singer, good mover
Voice: Mezzo/Soprano
Solo/Featured Singing: Two Ladies (High: Eb5 Low: E4)
CUT 1 - Texas, Rosie, Helga, & Frenchie, any combo of she and they pronouns
Kit Kat “Girls”
Decent singers, good movers
No solo singing, lots of ensemble unison singing Low F3, High D5
CUT 4 - Cliff Bradshaw, he/him, American
Closeted gay American novelist in Berlin to write, secretly dating Bobby from the Kit Kat Club, still dependent on his mother, develops a deep friendship with Sally, sees a solution to his drifting in the potential to play the role of father in a straight-passing relationship with Sally and her baby.
Excellent actor, decent singer, no dance
Voice: Baritone or Tenor (Low: F#3 High: Eb4)
Solo/Featured Singing: Perfectly Marvelous, Finale
CUT 3 - Herr Schultz, he/him, older, German
Jewish German friendly neighborhood Fruit Seller, in a relationship with Fräulein Schneider. A sympathetic, sweet comedian who sees the best in almost everyone.
Voice: Tenor or Baritone with a high G, low D3
Solo/Featured Singing: It Couldn’t Please Me More, Married, Married Reprise
Excellent Actor, good singer
CUT 3 - M.C. any combination of she, he, they pronouns.
Queer, Jewish, German artist who uses satire to expose the dangers of a restrictive society and the rise of fascism. Welcomes everyone to be themselves at the Kit Kat Club, child of Herr Schultz. Role originated by Joel Gray. Also played by Alan Cumming, Raúl Esparza, Adam Pascal and John Stamos.
Voice: Tenor or Baritone with high G. Low Db3, High G4
Excellent Singer, excellent actor, great mover
Solo/Featured Singing: Wilkommen, Two Ladies, Money Money, I Don’t Care Much, If You Could See Her, Finale
CUT 4 - Ernst, he/him,
German. Everyone’s best friend, boy-next-door, blonde. Loves being able to help everyone solve their problems. A member of the Nazi party.
Good Actor, decent singer, no dance.
Solo/Featured singing: TOMORROW BELONGS TO ME (Low: C#4 High: D5)
CUT 4 - Bobby, he/him
Kit Kat Club performer who had an affair with Cliff in London and again in Berlin. Lives with Victor.
Good singer, good mover
Voice: Tenor or Baritone with strong Falsetto
Solo/Featured Singing: Two Ladies (Low: E4 High: Gb5)
CUT 4 - Victor, Hans, Herman he/him they/them he/they
Kit Kat Club “Boys”, may be performers in the club
Okay singers, decent movers
No solo or feature singing, opportunities for ensemble singing in unison
CUT 4 - Max, he/him
Part owner of the Kit Kat club. Sometimes lover of Sally Bowles.
CUT 4 - German Officer, Sailors, Bodyguards, he/him
No required singing, no dance
Sings with ensemble in “Tomorrow...”, some lines, probably doubled