#show breakdown

[auditionsuggestions]

Show Breakdowns - Moulin Rouge!

This one should be fun! The tricky thing with MR is that they specifically ask for non-musical theatre songs (Hadestown does this, too). My challenge for myself for this breakdown was trying to stay away from the pop songs already featured in the show. Some of the songs repeat since they can fit a few different characters.

Unfortunately I can't seem to find actual notes for the ranges (but given they changed keys for all of Christian's stuff when they brought in Derek, I don't think it's too important).

Satine

Playing age: Late 20s-Mid 30s

Leading Role. Star Vehicle

Dance Requirement: Strong mover at the very least, ideally a dancer

Range: Mezzo belt (Bottom note is about an F#3)

Sexy and confident on the outside, Satine wants nothing more than to be free of her life in the Moulin Rouge to be a real actress. She's both strong and vulnerable with a decisive pragmatic streak.

Suggested Songs: Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson, Leave by Jojo, A Million Reasons by Lady Gaga, Fighter by Christina Aguilera, Bang Bang by Ariana Grande & Jessie J, ft. Nicki Minaj, Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson, Big Girls Don’t Cry by Fergie, Trouble by P!nk, Who Knew by P!nk, Circus by Britney Spears, Shadows of the Night by Pat Benatar

Christian

Playing age: Mid 20s-Early 30s

Leading Role. Star Vehicle

Dance Requirement: Some dance

Range: Tenor (or Baritenor)

A true idealist, Christian is a bit naive. More or less a male ingenue at the start. He believes love can and will conquer any obstacle and that art is the true meaning of being human. As the newcomer character, he is also the main cipher for the audience.

Suggested Songs: DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love by Usher, Mr. Brightside by The Killers, You Give Love A Bad Name by Bon Jovi, I Write Sins Not Tragedies by Panic! At the Disco, Livin’ La Vida Loca by Ricky Martin, Attention by Charlie Puth, The Other Side by Jason Derulo, Tearin’ Up My Heart by NSYNC

The Duke of Monroth

Playing age: 30s-early 40s

Supporting Role

Dance Requirement: Mover

Range: Tenor w/ a strong lower extension or high Baritone

Darkly charming and seductive, with a violent temper, The Duke is the other third of the iconic love triangle in Moulin Rouge. However, rather than the sniveling man-child of the movie, he's a viable, though dangerous, choice for Satine. He knows what he wants and will not take no for an answer.

Suggested Songs: Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) by the Backstreet Boys, Paralyzer by Finger Eleven, Tonight I’m Lovin’ You by Enrique Iglesias, Bad Guy by Billie Eilish

Santiago

Playing age: 20s-30s

Supporting Role

Dance Requirement: Strong dancer with partnering skills

Range: Baritone with a gruff, scratchy color. Lots of false fold work.

Santiago is the narcoleptic Argentinian, the greatest tango dancer in either Spain or Argentina, and "also the biggest gigolo." Suave, and just a touch silly. He's the choreographer of the show within a show. He and Toulouse take an immediate shine to Christian.

Suggested Songs: Smooth by Santana, Bailando by Enrique Iglesias, Hips Don’t Lie by Shakira, Livin’ La Vida Loca by Ricky Martin, Maneater by Nelly Furtado, Rock Your Body by Justin       Timberlake

Toulouse Lautrec

Playing age: Mid 30s-mid 40s

Supporting Role

Dance Requirement: Some movement

Range: Baritone

The great painter, Toulouse is another of the Bohemians. He grew up with Satine (or at least has known her since before her time at the Moulin Rouge). A little world weary, he still believes in the ideals of Freedom, Beauty, Truth, and Love.

Suggested Songs: 24 Karat Magic by Bruno Mars, Somebody to Love by Queen, The One that Got Away by Katy Perry, A Million Reasons by Lady Gaga, DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love by Usher

Harold Zidler

Playing Age: Mid 40s-mid 50s

Supporting Role

Dance Requirement: Strong Mover

Range: Baritone

The MC/Ring Master of the Moulin Rouge. He is flamboyant and fun, though very morally gray. Everything he does is for the MR and he will do anything to keep it running.

Suggested Songs: Circus by Britney Spears, Mambo No. 5 by Lou Bega, Bang Bang by Ariana Grande & Jessie J, ft. Nicki Minaj, Nothin’ But a Good Time by Poison, Tik Tok by Kesha

Nini Legs-in-the-Air/The Lady Ms

Playing Ages: Mid 20s-Early 40s

Supporting Roles

Dance Requirement: Strong Dancers

Range: Alto, Mezzo, or Soprano

Nini is another dancer at the Moulin Rouge, though jealous of Satine, she's deeply loyal to all the girls. The other Lady M characters include Baby Doll, Arabia, and La Chocolat. These characters also serve as a bit of a Greek Chorus, and ensemble members. These Four: Nini, Baby Doll, Arabia, and La Chocolat sing Lady Marmalade to open the show. Typically Baby Doll is cast with an amab actor though the character is femme presenting and La Chocolat is cast with a Black actor.

Suggested Songs: Bang Bang by Ariana Grande &  Jessie J, ft. Nicki Minaj, Maneater by Nelly Furtado, U + Ur Hand by P!nk, Genie in a Bottle by Christina Aguilera, He Said She Said by Ashely Tisdale, When I Grow Up by the Pussycat Dolls, S&M by Rhianna, I Wanna Be Bad by Willa Ford, Kings and Queens by Ava Max

[weirdwednesdaywithettaarlene]

(Weird Wednesday A Paranormal Podcast Show)

[auditionsuggestions]

Show Breakdowns - In The Heights

I love this musical so much. It's got so much heart and such a good score. I'm expressly trying to avoid mentioning Hamilton here just because it's the most obvious choice for material. Just a note, though I'm sure most of you know: all the characters in this show are Latine/Hispanic except for Benny who is Black (and maybe Graffiti Pete, but he's basically Featured Enesmble and the Ensemble can be any ethnicity)

Below the cut for Length

Usnavi de la Vega

Playing age: 22-26

Leading Role.

Range: A2-A4, Baritenor. Needs strong facility with Rap.

Dance Requirement: Some movement

Usnavi is the narrator and cipher for the audience. He runs the bodega left to him by his parents and knows the neighborhood well. He longs to return to the Dominican Republic and feels stuck like "a street light" in the neighborhood.

Suggested Songs: Moving Too Fast, The Last Five Years; You’re Welcome, Moana; Enjoy the Trip, Bring it On; Delivery, Working

Nina Rosario

Playing age: 19

Leading role.

Range: F3-F5. Mezzo/Soprano Belter

Dance Requirement: Some movement

Nina is gifted kid burnout personified. She was the valedictorian of her highschool and beloved daughter of the barrio. However, once starting university at Stanford she finds herself overwhelmed and unable to balance working 2 jobs (as her scholarship was only partial) and studying. When she returns to New York, she has taken a leave of absence from school and needs to rediscover her ambition.

Suggested Songs: How to Return Home, Tales from the Bad Years; Waiting on a Miracle, Encanto; Say The Word, The Mad Ones; How Far I'll Go, Moana; One Perfect Moment, Bring it On; A Way Back To Then, [title of show]

Abuela Claudia

Playing age: 65

Supporting Lead

Range: Eb3-E5. Mezzo/Alto Belter

Dance Requirement: Some movement optional

Though not anyone's biological grandmother, Abuela Claudia is the matriarch of the barrio. She is the loving and nurturing backbone of the community, but behind all of that is dealing with her own generational trauma.

Suggested Songs: Remember Me, Coco; The Human Heart, Once On This Island; Mama Will Provide, Once On This Island; Snuff Out the Light, (cut from) The Emperor's New Groove

Benny

Playing age: 22-26

Supporting

Range: B2-A4. Baritenor. Needs strong facility with Rap

Dance Requirement: Good mover

A dispatch operator for the Rosario's car service, Benny is Usnavi's best friend and Nina's love interest. He likes to tease about Usnavi's inability to ask Vanessa out, but finds himself unable to ask Nina out as well. He's ambitious and kind-hearted.

Suggested Songs: You’re Welcome, Moana; One Knight, Wonderland; When She Smiles, Lysistrata Jones; I'll Be Here, The Wild Party

Vanessa

Playing age: 19-26

Supporting

Range: F#3-F5. Mezzo/Soprano Belter

Dance Requirement: Dancer

Vanessa works at Daniela's salon, but has dreams of getting out of the barrio. She is Usnavi's love interest and eventually gives him a chance. Vanessa's vibrance hides issues at home (that strongly influence her desire to get out of the neighborhood in the first place)

Suggested Songs: There She Goes/Fame, Fame; Don’t Want to Be Here, Ordinary Days; What Else Can I Do, Encanto; Waiting for Life, Once On This Island

Kevin Rosario

Playing age: 40-50

Supporting

Range: A2-F4, Baritone

Dance Requirement: None/Little

Kevin is Nina's dad. He owns the car service that employs Benny. While he likes Benny fine, he is not initally happy with the idea of Benny and Nina in a romantic relationship (yay for anti-blackness. Seriously, it is a problem--along with colorism--that we Hispanics/Latine need to address as community). He eventually comes around. Also dealing with some serious intergenerational trauma and the pressure of having to do better than one's parents.

Suggested Songs: Endless Night, Lion King; No Other Way,Tarzan, Yurii's Descision, Doctor Zhivago

Camila Rosario

Playing age: 40-50

Supporting

Range: G3-E5. Mezzo

Dance Requirement: Some movement

Nina's mom, Kevin's wife, and co-owner of the car service. Camila is the glue that keeps her family together. She is warm and loving and exceedingly proud of her daughter

Suggested Songs: I’m Done, Rocky; Anybody Have a Map, Dear Evan Hansen; Island, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

Daniela

Playing age: 30-50

Supporting

Range: F3-E5. Mezzo/Alto Belter

Dance Requirement: Mover

Daniela owns the local hair salon. She's fun and a total gossip. She's a great boss who supports her employees and community. Her salon serves as one of the local hubs and is the place to get information on the goings on in the barrio.

Suggested Songs: We’re Not Done, Bring it On; Land of Yesterday, Anastasia; Buenos Aires, Evita

Carla

Playing age: 20-30

Supporting

Range: F3-E5. Mezzo/Alto Belter. Needs facility with patter songs

Dance Requirement: Mover

Carla is Daniela's sidekick and employee. She is a hairdresser and while sweet, not the brightest.

Suggested Songs: Another Hundred People, Company; Nothing Short of Wonderful, Dogfight; The History of Wrong Guys, Kinky Boots

Sonny de la Vega

Playing age: 15

Supporting

Range: D3-B4. A youthful tenor (or maybe a mezzo?Idk what LMM would feel about having a female (or transman) Sonny, but I think it could work) Needs facility with rap.

Dance Requirement: Mover

Sonny is Usnavi's kid cousin who helps out at the bodega. He's got a fire to change the injustices he sees in the world, but little power to do it yet.

Suggested Songs: One Jump Ahead, Aladdin; Proud of Your Boy, Aladdin; Make a Move, Shrek; (MAYBE) Lost in the Wilderness, Children of Eden

Piragüero (Piragua Guy)

Playing age: Any

Supporting

Range: D3-A4. A clear, soaring tenor (could also be played as Piragüera by a mezzo)

Dance Requirement: Mover

Piragüero sells piragua (snow-cones) from a stand that he pushes around the neighborhood. He has a bitter rivalry with Mr. Softee (the ice cream truck), but is otherwise jovial and pleasant.

Suggested Songs: Dos Oruguitas, Encanto; Papi Hears the Ocean, The Band’s Visit; On This Night of a Thousand Stars, Evita; Colombia Mi Encanto, Encanto

The Ensemble has a good amount to do in this show. A lot of dancing and a lot of tight harmonies. Needs strong performers to fill out and bring Washinton Heights to life.

[ettaarlene]

AHS Season 8 Apocalypse Episode 2 Breakdown/Theories