Director: Danielle Harley-Scott Music Director: Ruslan Odintsov Choreographer: Diana Portes
Auditions 7 pm: August 21st and 22nd Callbacks(by invitation): August 24th
Where: Grand Theatre, 405 S. Main Street, Williamstown, NJ 08094
Rehearsals: Sundays 6:00pm-10:00pm, Mondays 7:00pm-10:00pm, Thursdays 7:00pm-10:00pm
Show Dates: Nov. 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, Dec. 1, 2 and 3
Summary:
Memphis is set in the places where rock and roll was born in the 1950s: the seedy nightclubs, radio stations and recording studios of the musically-rich Tennessee city. With an original score, it tells the fictional story of DJ Huey Calhoun, a good ole' local boy with a passion for R&B music and Felicia Farrell, an up-and-coming black singer that he meets one fateful night on Beale Street. Despite the objections of their loved ones (Huey's close-minded mama and Felicia's cautious brother, a club owner), they embark on a dangerous affair. As their careers rise, the relationship is challenged by personal ambition and the pressures of an outside world unable to accept their love.
Character Descriptions:
HUEY CALHOUN, 25-35, vocal range C3-B4, excellent singer in the style of Pop / Rock / R & B, strong mover Charismatic record store salesmen who talks his way into becoming a DJ at an all white radio station. He falls in love with Felicia, an up and coming black club singer. His relationship with Felicia, and his attempts to bridge the cultural divide and get her songs played on the radio are the central points of conflict in segregated Memphis
GLADYS CALHOUN, 40-60, vocal range B3-A5, non dancing role
Huey's stern, traditionally southern mother who works a blue collar job as a waitress to support herself and the son she loves, and about whom she perpetually worries
MR. SIMMONS, 35-50, light singing / non dancing role
Conservative owner of the radio station where Huey gets his start. A strong southern businessman who takes a chance on Huey when he sees the money that Huey brings in
MR. COLLINS / WHITE DJ / WHITE FATHER / GORDON GRANT / ENSEMBLE, 35-50, light singing / non dancing role Mr. Collins is Huey's boss at store who strongly opposes him playing “black music” in the record store, despite it's popularity with customers. The White DJ appears in the opening sequence. The White Father provides a dramatic moment when he slaps his teenage daughter for listening to so called race music. Gordon Grant is an executive from RCA records that tries to persuade Felicia to sign with his label.
CLARA / WHITE MOTHER / ENSEMBLE, 35-45, vocal range alto or mezzo soprano / non dancing role
Clara is a co-worker of Huey's at the record store who is nervous about crossing the line into selling “race records,” but who ultimately gets caught up in the emotional nature of the music. The White Mother appears in the scene where the parents discover their young daughter listening to “race music”
BUCK WILEY / MARTIN HOLTON / PHOTOGRAPHER / ENSEMBLE, 35-45, light singing / non dancing role
Buck Wiley is the DJ and host of Boppin with the Blues on WHDZ before Huey takes his place. Martin Holton is a TV network executive from New York
TEENAGER / ENSEMBLE, 18-25, excellent singer / dancer
We follow her track throughout the story, as she finds herself intrigued by “race music”, and ends up singing a solo in a gospel church choir sequence
DOUBLE DUTCH GIRL / ENSEMBLE, 18-25, excellent singer / dancer Caucasian teenage girl, who jumps into double dutch jump rope with ease
PERRY COMO / ENSEMBLE, 20-30, excellent singer / dancer
An American singer whose popularity in the 1940's-1960's focused largely on his appeal to the family values of post war middle America
FRANK DRYER / ENSEMBLE, 20-30, excellent singer / dancer
Owner of Dryer's Grocery store, who calls in to the radio station in support of Huey's radio ads, which are making him huge profits
FELICIA FARRELL, 20-30, vocal range G3-A5, excellent R&B belter, excellent dancer
A fiercely gifted singer who falls in love with Huey, despite knowing a relationship with him in prejudiced Memphis is doomed
DEL RAY, 30-40, vocal range Bb2-Bb4,
excellent singer / strong mover
Felicia's older brother, and owner of the Beale Street club where she sings. Realistic, cautious, and protective
GATOR. 20-40, vocal range F#3-A4, excellent singer / strong mover
Bartender at Del Ray's club, who hasn't spoken since the age of 5. As the story progresses he finds his voice
BOBBY, 20-40, vocal range G3-C5, excellent singer / strong mover
Janitor at WHDZ radio station, full of personality and heart. Later becomes a television personality on Huey's tv show
WAILIN JOE / REVEREND HOBSON / BLACK DJ / ENSEMBLE, 30's-40's, vocal range Eb3-Gb5, excellent dancer
A stand in for figures in the 1950's, such as Little Richard, and Screaming Jay Hawkins. Sings “Scratch My Itch” in Act 1
BE BLACK TRIO / ENSEMBLE, 20-30, excellent singer / dancer
Member of the group that sings the hit song “Everybody Want's to be Black on a Saturday Night”
BE BLACK TRIO / ENSEMBLE, 20-30, excellent singer / dancer
Member of the group that sings the hit song “Everybody Want's to be Black on a Saturday Night”
BE BLACK TRIO / ENSEMBLE, 20-30, excellent singer / dancer
Member of the group that sings the hit song “Everybody Want's to be Black on a Saturday Night”
SELMA / ENSEMBLE. 20-30, excellent singer / dancer One of Felicia's backup singers from the club
BESSIE / ENSEMBLE. 20-30, excellent singer / dancer One of Felicia's backup singers from the club
LAVERNE / ENSEMBLE. 20-30, excellent singer / dancer One of Felicia's backup singers from the club
ETHEL / DOUBLE DUTCH GIRL / ENSEMBLE. 18-25, excellent singer / dancer
Ethel is a frequent customer at Del Ray's Club. The Double Dutch girl appears in the jump rope sequence
