AUDITIONS - In The Heights
PRODUCTION TEAM
Producers Kylie Green and Jen Frith
Music Director, Vocal Rosanne Hosking
Music Director, Orchestra Martin Cheney
Choreographer Carla Papa-Centofanti
Latin Dance Choreographer Josh Angeles
AUDITIONS ‘IN THE HEIGHTS’
Where: The Nest 57a Price Ave, Lower Mitcham
Audition location 'The Nest'
AUDITIONS
Each auditionee must book both a dance and a vocal audition even if your strength is one or the other
AGE
14-25 years
Friday 10th May
Dance audition
The dance audition will consist of two styles of dance. The first part of the audition will be salsa both individual and partnering salsa, followed by commercial jazz, which will also incorporate Latin and hip hop style.
Wear comfortable clothing and note the time frame that you are required to be at your audition.
We are looking for a group of very strong dancers to dance some of the harder Latin partner styles. If you don’t consider yourself a singer at all you will still need to give the vocal audition a go. This won’t impede your chances of being considered as a dancer. The same goes for singers who don’t consider themselves dancers.
Saturday 11th May
Vocal audition
Vocal auditions are individual. You will come back in after your individual vocal audition with a small group to sing the harmony component of the audition. (see vocal audition requirements.)
Sunday 12th May
Call backs for lead roles
At the call back you will read dialogue and explore characters. Some roles will require further singing.
Latin dancers, ensemble and a number of lead roles will not be called back on Sunday. If you do not receive a call back it does not mean that you have not been cast in the show.
WHAT TO BRING
Your completed audition form, water bottle, jazz shoes/light-weight sneakers
CHARACTERS
USNAVI DE LA VEGA, owner of De La Vega Bodega
NINA ROSARIO, a freshman at Stanford University
KEVIN ROSARIO, Nina’s father, owner of Rosario’s Car Service
CAMILA ROSARIO, Nina’s mother, co-owner of Rosario’s
BENNY, employee of Rosario’s
VANESSA, works at the salon
SONNY, Usnavi’s cousin
ABUELA CLAUDIA, raised Usnavi, though not his blood grandmother
DANIELA, owner of Daniela’s Salon
CARLA, works at the salon
GRAFFITI PETE, an artist
PIRAGÜERO (PIRAGUA GUY), scrapes piraguas from his block of ice
ENSEMBLE, 25-30 Men and Women of Washington Heights
LATIN DANCE GROUP, Small group of advanced dancers
PERFORMANCE DATES
September 13,14,15 & September 20,21,22 at the Arts Theatre, Angus Street, Adelaide
PRODUCTION FEE
$540.00, this includes an In The Heights hoodie
REHEARSAL VENUE
The Nest, 57A Price Ave, Lower Mitcham
REHEARSAL DATES
May 19th – September 12th. Rehearsals will be Friday and Saturday nights, Sunday day time. Most ensemble work will be on Sundays however you will also be required some Fridays and Saturdays. The rehearsal schedule will be very detailed and not all cast will be required at all calls. We can work around a schedule that has conflicts, but you must be clear about those conflicts at the time of your audition. There can be no conflicts in tech week, September 9th-12th (evenings).
STORY SUMMARY
Over the course of the Tony award-winning musical, In the Heights, we encounter the many colourful residents of Washington Heights – a New York City neighbourhood on the brink of change, Usnavi, a first- generation Dominican-American corner bodega owner, and his friends and family are dealing with the pressures of rising rents and closing neighbourhood businesses. As one family struggles to figure out how to pay for an Ivy League tuition for their brilliant and hard-working daughter, a young woman is trying to put a down payment on a new apartment, and Usnavi himself is trying to get back to the Dominican Republic to reconnect with his roots after the death of his parents. In Washington Heights, community is everything and we see how each of these individuals struggle to survive and how these same individuals come together as a community to mourn their losses and rejoice in their triumphs. Over the course of the show, we see the hard-working residents of Washington Heights grapple with love, identity and racism, all while the prospect of a winning lottery ticket hangs in the air, potentially changing the livelihoods of the people and the community forever. This revolutionary musical combines Latin rhythms and dance with hip-hop lyrics to tell a captivating story about what it means to chase your dreams as you cling to your roots, and to celebrate the community from which you grew.
ROLES
While many roles are described as Latino/Latina and it is our intention to reach out to this community in Adelaide, we are realistic about the restrictions of our location and youth age performers. We therefore encourage all ethnicities to audition. Our intention is to cast interesting, diverse and passionate performers of the Adelaide theatre community. Performers of all backgrounds who have stories of their own. We would like to see more than just great singers and dancers. Bring your strength, your vulnerability, your history, your sass, your humour.
CHARACTERS
USNAVI DE LA VEGA
Youthful, awkward, sincere Dominican owner of a convenience store. Urban, articulate, funny, harbours a crush on the local salon beauty. Not a “cool stud.” Narrator.
SINGS, RAPS VERY WELL, DANCES
SONNY
Young, smart-alecky, wise and dry young cousin to Usnavi. Tough and smart Dominican, has big plans for himself and his neighbourhood. Great comedy chops.
SINGS UPPER RANGE, RAPS VERY WELL, DANCES
NINA ROSARIO
Fresh, smart college student. Brave and strong Puerto Rican girl, but has to tell her parents that she quit school months ago. Emotional and conflicted, but still the “star” of the neighbourhood. Demanding role, lots of singing.
VERY STRONG SINGER, DANCES, STRONG ACTRESS
VANESSA
Sexy, hardened, stylist at the local salon. Has a troubled home life, wishes to get out and into something better. Tired of all the whistles and catcalls, looking for a true love. Ethnic, but definitely American.
STRONG BELT SINGER, STRONG DANCER
BENNY
Strong, smart, masculine worker at the Rosario Taxi dispatch. Very ambitious, urban, and full of big dreams. Handsome, bright, and harbours a crush on the “boss’s daughter.”
VERY STRONG SINGER, GOOD DANCER, STRONG ACTOR/RAPPER
ABUELA CLAUDIA
(Stage age 50-60) Sweet, caring, and supportive Cuban matriarch of the neighborhood. Takes care of all the young people, and regularly plays the lottery. A wise character with strength, passion, and a long memory. A powerful actress, singer and story-teller.
STRONG SINGER, STRONG ACTRESS
KEVIN ROSARIO
(Stage age 40-50)Puerto Rican born father to Nina. Owns and runs a taxi dispatch with his wife, Camila. Traditional, hard-working Latin father, over-protective, loving, but also has a temper.
STRONG SINGER, STRONG ACTOR
CAMILA ROSARIO
(Stage age 40-50) The smart, caring “business” half of the Rosarios. She takes care of the bills and business, but usually holds her tongue in the presence of her husband. Dynamic Puerto Rican woman, with a powerful voice and presence that gets unleashed when she’s had “ENOUGH”!!!
STRONG SINGER, STRONG ACTRESS
DANIELA
Sassy Puerto Rican owner of the local hair and nail salon. Loves to gossip, has a tough exterior, but enjoys being “The Boss.” Her salon rent keeps going up, so, sadly she is moving to the Bronx. Great comedy chops and timing. Think Miranda Priestly meets Sofia Vergara.
VERY STRONG SINGER, STRONG COMIC ACTRESS
CARLA
Bubbly, funny, side-kick to Daniela. Very sweet and religious. Supportive friend to the salon trio. Good at playing “dizzy or bird-brained.”
STRONG SINGER, GOOD AT COMEDY
GRAFFITI PETE
Young, urban, slick graffiti artist of the neighbourhood. Slightly shady, but with a good heart. He doesn’t see his “art” as a bad thing, wants to make a difference while making a living. Need an excellent hip-hop or break dancer.
VERY STRONG DANCER, RAPS WELL
PIRAGUA GUY
The town-crier. Sells shaved ice from a cart, has a soaring tenor voice, reflects on how the people in the neighbourhood “keep scraping by.” Charismatic and important role.
SINGS VERY WELL, DANCE SOME
MEN AND WOMEN OF WASHINGTON HEIGHTS
Interesting and diverse members of the community. As important as any of the principal characters, these people have stories of their own. We would like to see more than just great singers and dancers. Bring your strength, your vulnerability, your history, your sass, your humour and your love and pride from your ancestors. Challenging part singing and modern dance moves.
STRONG SINGERS/HIP-HOP and LATIN MOVES/ACRO TRICKS
LATIN DANCE GROUP
A very strong group of male and female dancers who will perform more complicated Latin style dance. You will be taught this style if you are cast in this dance group.
GENERAL VOCAL AUDITION INFORMATION
Please use the tracks provided in the Dropbox folder to learn the following song excerpts.
Two tracks are provided for each excerpt*, one with piano and melodyand another with piano only. The piano only track will be used in the audition, so please ensure you have practised with this track prior to the audition.
* We have provided a guide vocal from the original soundtrack for the 96,000 Rap instead of a guide piano track.
FEMALE AUDITION SONGS
In the Heights
Please learn both the ‘Girl High’ and ‘Girl Low’ harmony line in the Dropbox folder. You are welcome to select your most vocally comfortable line to sing in the audition, but be ready to sing the other line if requested by the panel.
In the Heights, I flip the lights and start my day
There are fights, and endless debts, and bills to pay
In the Heights! I can’t survive without café
Cuz’ tonight seems like a million years away!
En Washington
YouTube link to original (starts at 1.53): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0BVfBwVqFo&list=PLn0Zn1caShZWlW5JwG0ULhWjEa2hFN6m6&index=1
It Won’t Be Long Now
The boys around the way holler at me when I’m walking down the street.
Their machismo pride doesn’t break my stride –
It’s a compliment, so they say.
The boys around the way holler at me ev’ry day, but I don’t mind, oh no.
If I’m in the mood, it will not be with some dude who is whistling ‘cause he has nothing to say,
Or who’s honking at me from his Chevrolet!
One day, I’m hoppin’ in a limousine and I’m driving away!
It won’t be long now!
YouTube link to original (starts at .49): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9S9OXaiBqc&list=PLn0Zn1caShZWlW5JwG0ULhWjEa2hFN6m6&index=4
MALE AUDITION SONGS
In the Heights
Please learn both the ‘Boy High’ and ‘Boy Low’ harmony line in the Dropbox folder. You are welcome to select your most vocally comfortable line to sing in the audition, but be ready to sing the other line if requested by the panel.
In the Heights, I flip the lights and start my day
There are fights, and endless debts, and bills to pay
In the Heights! I can’t survive without café
Cuz’ tonight seems like a million years away!
En Washington
YouTube link to original (starts at 1.53): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0BVfBwVqFo&list=PLn0Zn1caShZWlW5JwG0ULhWjEa2hFN6m6&index=1
96,000 (Rap)
Yo, I’m just sayin’
It’s silly when we get into these crazy hypotheticals.
You really want some bread?
Then go ahead, create a set of goals, and cross them off the list as you pursue em’
And with those ninety-six, I know precisely what I’m doin’.
What ‘m I doin’? What ‘m I doin’?
It takes most of that cash just to save my ass from financial ruin!
Sonny can keep the coffee brewin’, and I’ll spend a few on you,
‘Cause the only room with a view’s a room with you in it!
And I could give Abuela Claudia the rest of it.
Just fly me down to Puerto Plata, I’ll make the best of it!
You really love this bus’ness? Tough, Merry Christmas.
You’re now the youngest tycoon in Washington Hiznits!
YouTube link to original (starts at 2.10):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zz3STktlBnc&list=PLn0Zn1caShZWlW5JwG0ULhWjEa2hFN6m6&index=7
When the Sun Goes Down
And when you’re gone, you know that I’ll be waiting when you’re gone.
We’ll be working hard, but if we should drift apart,
Let me take this moment just to say,
You are gonna change the world some day.
And I’ll think of you ev’ry night at the same time.
YouTube link to original (starts at 1.24):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kctVSNlhisg&list=PLn0Zn1caShZWlW5JwG0ULhWjEa2hFN6m6&index=22