Broadway in Akron

Our first episode is live! We are reviewing Waitress, seen at E.J. Thomas Hall at the University of Akron as apart of the Broadway in Akron series. Listen now on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0BZ2z9DBImDWu7P7IFIaMf

***PAID MUSICAL THEATER WORK*** Greetings! This is an official invitation to audition for the brand new “Annie Mann The Musical,” for its premier performance weekend of December 17th and 18th In Massillon, Ohio at the Stark Legacy Project Stage. Annie Mann The Musical is a lively show of mostly music (limited book). The production looks deeply into the heart of a little girl whose destiny finds her in a place where everything depends on her making the right decision and having the nerve to do what needs to be done. With seven major characters, this brand new production will thrill audiences and move them to examine who they are, especially when things get tough! ***ANNIE MANN CHARACTERS ***THE VOICE OF GOD Vocal Range A2-D4 (Male Age 50+) AUDITION SONG: “My Imagination” ADDITIONAL SONGS: “Annie Mann”, “Us Begins With U” There are those who think they know the voice of God. This Voice, throughout the production is preceded by the sound of wind, bamboo wind chimes and a distant thunder. It also appears personified as an older gentleman or even as an authoritative, rumbling voice with smoke and lights. As the show opens, he is the affable Jimmy Durante (tribute) daring the audience to “open up your hearts my friends, before it’s too late!” He also appears as Jimmy tribute at a fire barrel, at the bus stop of Annie Mann’s dreams, where as a hobo, he sings with other hobos that he “ tried My church but they said Your problem was sin! Try any man!” He deeply loves Annie Mann and Avery Mann, too. ***ANNIE MANN Vocal Range A3-E5 (Female Age 12) AUDITION SONG: “The Ballad Of Annie Mann” ADDITIONAL SONGS: “For Any Man To Have A Dream”, “Simply Dissipate”, “I’m Not That Girl Anymore”, “I Love You On The Planet”, “I Want You To Be There” Annie is a little girl who goes to work with her Dad at the local theatre, where he’s the scene painter. She goes with him because her mom died in the war a couple of years ago and now that she has tuberculosis, she has to be with her dad all the time. Dressed in tatters and as she sleeps in a pile of curtains and dreams that she could be in the theatre some day. But her dad Avery Mann, is over-protective and won’t let her do anything because “She’s sick! She might die!” Additionally, the theatre owner doesn’t like Annie and her Dad and he would never give her a chance. So she sleeps so she can dream and be a star in the play! For her dreams to ever come true, it would take a miracle...or two. Annie Mann’s Mother, Erliza Mann, has died after volunteering for service and being shipped off to war. Annie Mann’s father Avery Mann, blames himself for his wife’s death and is perpetually in a state of self absorbed guilt and so, emotionally sterilized. Annie Mann’s plan is to “believe her way” into a dreamworld where she can visit the dreams of AVERY MANN. She plans to deliver the message to her father, in his dreams, by invading them on a secret mission. This message is destined to awaken Avery Mann. She is opposed by her Counselor, Dr. Sigmund who hypnotizes her in (In the REAL world) in order to be in her dreams, as well and to sabotage her “silly plan.” Fortunately, Annie does receive help from the young Angel Filius, who is here on a mission to earn his wings. In the dreams of Annie Mann, a colorful world of characters emerge that are destined to speak to the dreams of AVERY MANN. ***AVERY MANN Vocal Range A2-G4 (Male Age 33) AUDITION SONG: “When You Go To War” ADDITIONAL SONGS: “The Living Room” “I Love The Rain / I Hate The Rain”, “Two Hearts”, “Painter’s Lullaby”, “Every Soldier”, “The Awakening”, “Ordinary Man”, “I Believe” Avery is trying to raise his sick daughter who has tuberculosis. His wife died some time ago and along with her, his passion for life. But he has obligations, so he soldiers on. All hope seems lost for him as he plods along seeking only to fulfil his obligations to the theater that he works for, so he can raise and protect his daughter, Annie. Avery, the Scene Painter dreams of better days but dares not to believe any of this will ever come his way again. And as he discovers that the theater is being closed, he is as lost and silently desperate as ever. AVERY MANN, the father of ANNIE MANN is, every man. As a painter of paintings, Avery Mann has been paralyzed in his creative tracks because he is depressed and absorbed with guilt, blaming himself for the death of his wife, Erliza. It was Avery who encouraged her to “...go out and save the world!” She volunteered and though he wanted to stop her as she left, he did not. She died in battle trying to help wounded soldiers. Now he’s raising a girl who is “dying” and the darkness of self engrossed guilt, overshadows his ability to love and express himself in art or to even love and appreciate his daughter, Annie Mann. Much less, to allow her to fulfill her dreams. If he only knew! Avery Mann is missing the beauty of nature and complains about the rain, constantly. Avery’s dreams are filled with violence and strife. Almost every night, in his dreams, he finds himself on a great battlefield where he struggles against enemies he cannot see… even those who commissioned him seem to be against him. Avery Mann is caught in a cycle of pain that he covers with a strong exterior front. He cannot hear the truth because of what he thinks he already knows. Even his girlfriend, Christina, who desperately wants in, cannot reach him and his tender, expressive, compassionate side. If he doesn’t wake up soon, she’ll be gone forever! In order to reach AVERY MANN, it would take a miracle...or two. ***CHRISTINA (MANN) Vocal Range A3-E5 (Female Age 27) AUDITION SONGS: “Feel Your Pain” & “Christina Mann” “1+1=3” ADDITIONAL SONGS: “I Love The Rain / I Hate The Rain”, “Two Hearts”, “Flower”, “HBO Means Helpa Brother Out”, “Life Sucking Gig” While awake, Christina waits for Avery Mann to forgive himself and learn to love again. She has known him long enough to know that he loves her but that he cannot (has not) let go of his ridiculous self engrossed guilt. She would do anything for Avery Mann. When she sleeps, she becomes Chris DeJesus, the soldier. Formerly the leader of the POP Band (Patriots of Peace), she was conscripted into the war with her band as a set up, to be killed.The real plan is for DeJesus to die for Avery Mann and save him from his miserable existence! ***THE JANITOR Vocal Range A2-A#4 (Black/Gender Fluid Male) Age 25-40) AUDITION SONGS: “Fly” & “Asleep on the Job” ADDITIONAL SONGS: “Here Lies Erliza Mann”, “The Living Room”, “My Dear Friend Alfred”, “Annie Mann”, “Us Begins With U” Of course The Janitor is a minority! “Can’t get a real part, always being typecast!” And right! But makes it work. In fact, there are a few things about Annie Mann and Avery Mann that she/he would be happy to tell the audience about. As a janitor and therefore, totally out of sight, she/he sees things that the rest of us miss. Yet, unable to be ignored, her/his delivery of this story is a gripping account of what she/he thinks that Annie the little girl must be dreaming about. The dreams of Annie Mann! As a raconteur, she/he is skilled and colorful. As a human being, she/he rises above the status quo and delivers wisdom and perspective. As a player in the production, she/he is the storyteller between the audience and the production. ***FILIUS Vocal Range A3-D4 (Male Age 18) AUDITION SONG: “Another Life Sucking Gig” ADDITIONAL SONGS: “New Day & Voice Of God”, “Child Of God”, “I Love You On The Planet”, “I Want You To Be There”, “Fly”, “You Were Made To Love”, “I Believe”, “Row Your Boat” The Angel is a young teen in Heaven. He frolics with his companions (C3 C4 C5 C6) and sleeps way too late (they live in eternity) but he wants to earn his wings someday. As an angel, he is fond of music and is conspicuously cool, yet quiet and understated. A grin is almost on his lips, always. Filius is bound to earth to fulfill a mission from the Voice of God. He can only be seen by true believers. Otherwise, he can only be seen in the dreams of any and every man. He finds that he is there to help Annie Mann understand her true identity and to transport her to the dreams of Avery Mann and even to speak to him, on her behalf. With music as his brush and life’s truth as his colors, he paints a beautiful and colorful expression of Annie Mann’s message to Avery Mann against a canvas backdrop of imagination. ***DR. SIGMUND Vocal Range G3-E4 (Male Age 60) AUDITION SONG: “Simply Dissipate ~ I’ll See You In Your Dreams” ADDITIONAL SONGS: “Annie Mann’s Asleep”, “Us Begins With U” Representing the Offices of IPECAC, his mission as a counselor is clear: To psychologically compel his “patients” by whatever means, to becomes focused on their bitter reality and the limitations they have to live with. A solid dose of Reali-T. He has counselled Avery for at least two years and considers Avery Mann to be his best patient. Avery can now even block out art and nature and even...love. According to Dr. Sigmund, “Zeez vill only interefeah vis his treatment.” He has even hypnotized Annie Mann so that he can be there in her dreams to thwart her ridiculous and silly plan to save her father.. A portly man, Dr. Sigmund appears in her dreams as a Field General who ultimately rides into the dreams of Avery Mann in his ridiculously small Armored Tank. When he launches the final gr***de on the battlefield, to kill Avery Mann, he laughs maniacally. It is he who truly requires counselling. To audition, send us your name, contact information (textable number), age, a head shot and a description of your experience in theater and or music and choice of character to [email protected]. We will send you an audition pack with two songs and lyrics, a recording of the songs with a vocal demo and instrumental only, for you to sing to. We will ask you to learn the songs and to record them with your phone and send that back to us. (you can look at the words during recording if you wish) We will look at the responses we get and choose personnel from this process. Afterward, you will be invited to come into the studio for a live session, interview and final selection. We look forward to hearing your audition! Best regards, David McDougald Executive Producer / Co-Composer Annie Mann The Musical CGA Productions Group