Olympic Theatre Arts is seeking a magnificent seven for its next production set in the American west frontier.
OTA hosts open auditions for “Quilters” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11, as well as over the weekend (Dec. 14-15, specific date/time to be announced), in the main OTA auditorium, 414 N. Sequim Ave.
Performances of the show run Feb. 21-March 8, with Richard Stephens directing.
The cast is comprised of seven women and the age range is wide open from late teen to mature adult.
“Quilters” is a musical with script by Molly Newman and Barbara Damashek, with Damashek providing lyrics and music. It follows the lives of American pioneer women based on the book “The Quilters: Women and Domestic Art” by Patricia Cooper and Norma Bradley Allen.
In the American West, a pioneer woman named Sarah faces frontier life together with her six “daughters.” Rather than a straightforward story line, the musical is presented as a series of short tales and tableaux, each matched with musical numbers. Each “patch” presents an aspect of frontier life or womanhood: girlhood, marriage, childbirth, spinsterhood, twisters, fire, illness and death.
About the auditions
Auditioners will be given a basic packet with details about the show and rehearsal dates as well as asked about scheduling conflicts, etc.
The show is not a demanding one, OTA officials say; it is a show about real women, not about “pretty voices.” There is some dancing,much of it akin to contra dancing or square dancing.
“Our intent is to showcase the strength and tenacity of pioneer women who helped settle the west and honor the women who came and settled the Sequim prairie,” show organizers say.
Auditioners will be asked to sing something with expression which ideally shows off range and singing voice; it can be a church hymn, chorus from a pop song, a musical theater song or the like. Auditioners may bring sheet music, and can sing a capella or be provided an accompanyist (pianist).
Auditioners will then be asked to do a cold reading from the show — either a monologue or a scene with another acting partner.
Copies of the script are available in the office of Olympic Theatre Arts. For more about the show or auditions, email the director at dramarex@gmail.com.
Instrumentation
In addition to the cast, OTA is seeking a small acoustic band to play the music for our show and is looking for musicians including: piano/keyboard, bass, strings, violin, bass, harp, piccolo freaka, flute, concertina, hammered dulcimer, guitar, mandolin, tenor banjo, spoons, harmonica (in D), penny whistle/flute, twanger, octave mandolin and Irish tenor drum.
Those interested are asked to contact the OTA office at 360-683-7326.
