Category: Uncategorised
SMT is a community theatre. This production is non-paying / non-Equity
THE TEAM
Producers: Shannon Cottrell & Sheri Kowalski
Director: Dot Routledge
Musical Director: Miguel Malaco
Choreographers: Janet Flynn & Judy Gibson
Stage Manager: Ndola Hutton
Assistant Directors: Jill McMillan & Justin P. Douglas
Apprentice Stage Manager: Rob Lachance
ABOUT THE SHOW
When an overworked mother and her teenage daughter magically swap bodies, they have just one day to put things right again. Freaky Friday, a new musical based on the celebrated novel by Mary Rodgers and the hit Disney films, is a heartfelt, comedic, and unexpectedly emotional update on an American classic. By spending a day in each other’s shoes, Katherine and Ellie come to appreciate one another’s struggles, learn self-acceptance, and realize the immeasurable love and mutual respect that bond a mother and daughter.
PERFORMANCE DATES and LOCATION
February 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22 and 23, 2024 at 8pm and February 11, 18 and 24, 2024 at 2pm
Additional performances may be added on February 10 (2pm), 14 (8pm), 17 (2pm) and/or 21(8pm). Extra shows being added will be confirmed by January 8th at the latest.
Cast members must be available for ALL performances.
Venue: Scarborough Village Theatre, 3600 Kingston Rd (NE corner of Kingston and Markham)
INFORMATION SESSION
An information session will be held on September 27, 2023 at 7pm.
This is a great chance to meet the team, hear their ideas and how they work, get some tips on how to have a successful audition and ask lots of questions.
The session will be split into two sessions: 7pm – youth information and 7:45pm – everyone
The session will be done in a hybrid format. For those wishing to attend in person the session will be held at the SMT Rehearsal Unit, 51 Estate Drive, Toronto, ON (Markham & 401 area).
For those who wish to join virtually via Zoom please use the following link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83116106758?pwd=MThRNzUreXZoYlBMdFJuODJYcjRPUT09
AUDITION DATES/TIMES
Wednesday, October 11, 2023 from 7:00 – 10:00 pm
Friday, October 13, 2023 from 7:00 – 10:00 pm
Saturday, October 14, 2023 from 1:30pm – 6pm
CALL-BACK DATE/TIME
Sunday, November 5, 2023 from 5:00 to 10:00 pm
AUDITION/CALL-BACK LOCATION
SMT’s Unit, The Estate — 51 Estate Drive, Scarborough, ON. The entrance is not visible from the street but is directly across the street from the entrance to the Holiday Inn.
REHEARSAL DATES
Rehearsals will begin on Sunday, November 19 or Monday, November 20, 2023 and continue:
Sundays 12:00 to 6:00 pm
Mondays and Wednesdays 7:00 to 10:30 pm
Please note there may be rehearsals over the end-of-year holiday period (Christmas/Hanukkah thru New Year). Please be sure to include any conflicts during this time on your audition sheet.
Additional or longer rehearsals will be held once the production has moved to the theatre. Rehearsals at the theatre are as follows (dates/times may be adjusted):
Sitzprobe: Date and time to be announced
Move-in: January 28, 2024 9:00am – 9:00pm
Sound Rehearsal: January 31, 2024 from 6:30 – 11:00 pm
Q2Q Technical Rehearsal: February 4, 2024 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Technical Dress Rehearsal: February 5, 2024 6:30 – 11:00 pm
Dress Rehearsal with Orchestra: February 6, 2024 6:30 – 11:00 pm
Final Dress Rehearsal with Orchestra: February 7, 2024 6:30 – 11:00 pm
Post Show Unit Clean Up: March 3, 2024 – 10:00am – 4:00pm
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
Music
Please prepare TWO songs from pop/rock or Disney musicals in the style of Freaky Friday keeping in mind the following:
- We will only hear one – the second song should be a 16-32 bar selection as a back-up choice should we want to hear something different.
- Songs should showcase your vocal range and storytelling ability. Think about the character that you are auditioning for and the types of songs they sing!
- You will receive redirects of your song so please make sure you are really comfortable with it. Your song should be memorized.
- We may cut off the songs or we may ask you to stop mid-song, give you a re-direct, and ask you to continue.
- Please no songs from Freaky Friday. We’ll hear those on call-back day!
Please help the pianist to help you!
Make sure your sheet music is:
- In the proper key for the pianist
- Hole punched and placed in a binder
- Preferably double sided
- Clearly marked for the accompanist with any cuts or repeats
- Please refrain from taping together sheets of music or bringing single loose sheets of music.
Dance
There will be a dance call held halfway through each audition session. On October 11 and 13 it will be at 8:30pm on October 14th at 3:00pm . You must attend the session on the day of your audition so be prepared to come early or stay later depending on the timing of your audition.
Please wear comfortable clothes and enjoy yourself. That counts as much as whether you get the steps!
Online Form
Once you book an audition you will be sent a link to our online audition form. Please make sure to fill this out as soon as possible. As part of the form you will be asked to provide a full list of conflicts. Be as thorough as you can, especially around the winter holidays. If there are changes in conflicts during the audition process, please inform the producers, or bring an updated list to the audition and/or call backs.
The information provided will be used when creating the rehearsal schedule. Adding more or significant conflicts after casting may result in removal from the show.
CALL-BACK AUDITIONS
Should you receive a call-back please assume you will need to be there for the entire session. We will provide a schedule for the session. Our intention is to start the session with children/youths. Once you have been released you are welcome to stay to watch the rest of the call-back. It’s always nice for folks to have an audience that isn’t the panel.
Those called back will be asked to prepare specific scenes and musical selections from the show. These will be sent along with callback notifications and will also be available for preview online ahead of time.
Callback material does not need to be memorized but you should be familiar enough with it that you can participate and connect with your scene partners and the panel.
Please note – though we will try, we may not be able to accommodate all conflicts for call-backs.
MEMBERSHIP
Please note that if cast you will be required to become a member of Scarborough Music Theatre.
There is a nominal fee which is offset by great benefits including complimentary tickets and half price ticket deals!
PARTICIPATION COMMITMENT
Participation in a theatre production requires a tremendous time commitment so please carefully consider whether you are willing and able to make the commitment. The number of other commitments you have should help you determine if you have the time to be in this production.
The production commitment for Freaky Friday will be November 19, 2023 to February 24, 2024. If you are cast in this show you must be available for all rehearsals unless a conflict was stated on your audition form prior to casting as well as all performances. At the time of the audition there will be an opportunity to state conflict dates. Please be thorough. Conflicts for technical rehearsals at the theatre and performance dates are not allowed.
Before we move into the theatre, rehearsals will be Monday and Wednesday evenings and Sunday afternoons. Once we move into the theatre there will be additional and longer/later rehearsals added. Please see a full list further on in this document.
All performers in the show will be given a rehearsal schedule at the first rehearsal. Cast will only be required to attend rehearsal if they are indicated on the schedule.
Please note it is a lot of work to reschedule a rehearsal because of last minute conflicts. Conflicts added after the time of auditions may result in removal from the show or numbers in the show.
BOOKING AN AUDITION
To book an audition, contact auditions@smt-theatre.com. Please indicate your preference of audition date/time and role(s) you are interested in auditioning for.
CASTING INFORMATION
Physicality Codes Legend
C = basic physical contact like shaking hands, arm-in-arm and partner dancing D = a dance role
E = embracing F = fight choreography K = kissing
L = weight bearing, lifting, or being lifted SI = staged intimacy
Casting Notes
Please note that age ranges given in the descriptions indicate perceived appearance on stage as opposed to the actor’s chronological age. These are just guidelines. We are open to diverse casting and all roles are open to consideration regardless of background, ethnicity or sexual/gender orientation.
Roles Available
The Family
Ellie
Ellie is smart, funny, messy and still grieving the loss of her father.
Age: 15-20 Gender: Female Physicality Codes: C, E
Vocal range top: E5 Vocal range bottom: Gb3
Katherine
Ellie’s mother and a caterer; decisive, lovely, punctual and exasperated by her daughter
Age: 40-55 Gender: Female Physicality Codes: C, E, K
Vocal range top: E5 Vocal range bottom: F3
Mike
Katherine’s fiancée; confident, charming, kind
Age: 30-60 Gender: Male Physicality Codes: C, E, K
Vocal range top: G4 Vocal range bottom: A2
Fletcher
Ellie’s little brother; eccentric and naïve; he’s into magic and obsessed with his puppets Angry Bob and Caspian
Age: 8-12 Gender: Male Physicality Codes: C, E
Vocal range top: G4 Vocal range bottom: Bb3
The Teens
Adam
The List master- a paragon of adorable cool and Ellie’s crush.
Age: 15 to 20 Gender: Male Physicality Codes: C, E
Vocal range top: Bb4 Vocal range bottom: Eb3
Savannah
The villain; brilliant, aggressive, a winner
Age: 15-20 Gender: Female Physicality Codes: C
Vocal range top: Db5 Vocal range bottom: B3
Gretchen
Ellie’s best friend; intense, emotional, lacks confidence
Age: 15-20 Gender: Female Physicality Codes: C
Vocal range top: D5 Vocal range bottom: F3
Hannah
Ellie’s best friend; hacker-geek, nerd girl
Age: 15-20 Gender: Female Physicality Codes: C
Vocal range top: D5 Vocal range bottom: F3
Wells
Ellie’s friend; dorky but not meek, best friends with Parker
Age: 15-20 Gender: Any Physicality Codes: C
Vocal range top: A4 Vocal range bottom: E3
Parker / Louis
Ellie’s friend, best friends with Wells and kind cool / wedding magazine photographer
Age: 18-25 Gender: Male Physicality Codes: C
Vocal range top: A4 Vocal range bottom: A2
Other Teens
Includes Laurel and Savannah’s minions as well as other ensemble roles
Age: 15-25 Gender: Any Physicality Codes: C
The Adults
Torrey / Adam’s Mom
Katherine’s assistant; a high-strung perfectionist who feels underappreciated.
Age: 35-55 Gender: Female Physicality Codes: C
Vocal range top: A5 Vocal range bottom: C#3
Danielle / Ms. Meyers / Officer Sitz / Savannah’s Mom
Danielle – Weddings Magazine journalist- polished, grimly cheerful
Ms. Meyers – gym teacher who is extremely intense and tough
Officer Sitz – police officer who has never received sensitivity training
Age: 35-55 Gender: Female Physicality Codes: C
Vocal range top: F5 Vocal range bottom: Ab3
Grandma Helene / Mrs Luckenbill / Mrs Time / Gretchen’s Mom / The Magic
Grandma Helene – Katherine’s mother- fiercely opinionated and caring
Mrs. Luckenbill – English teacher- empathetic / antique shop proprietor
Mrs. Time – apathetic, doesn’t much like teenagers.
The Magic – The person playing these roles will be the personification of the hourglass magic!
Age: 45-65 Gender: Female Physicality Codes: C
Vocal range top: D5 Vocal range bottom: C#3
Grandpa Gordon / Mr. Blumen / Senor O’Brien / Well’s Dad / Parker’s Dad
Grandpa Gordon – Katherine’s father- grumpy, stubborn, old school
Mr. Blumen – Biology teacher- a cynical lifer
Senor O’Brien – Spanish teacher, pugnacious
Age: 45-65 Gender: Male Physicality Codes: C
Vocal range top: Ab4 Vocal range bottom: B2
Dr. Ehrin / Pastor Bruno / Officer Kowalski
Dr. Ehrin – School counsellor- test obsessed, overworked
Pastor Bruno – cheerful, loves weddings
Officer Kowalski – police officer who has never received sensitivity training
Age: 25-55 Gender: Male Physicality Codes: C
Vocal range top: Gb4 Vocal range bottom: C#3