Audition notice

An Asbury Park Theater Company Production

Director: Anthony D’Amato (Remember Jones)

Production Supervisor: William Whitefield

Musical Director: Jason Cohen

Producers: Bob Angelini & William Whitefield

General Information

Asbury Park Theater Company (APTCo), William Whitefield, Producing Artistic Director, Bob Angelini, Managing Director, announces auditions for MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, the show that will continue this professional theater company’s inaugural season after a successful sold-out run of Green Day’s AMERICAN IDIOT this summer. The show will be presented at Jersey Shore Arts Center located in Neptune, NJ right where Neptune, Ocean Grove and Asbury Park all come together, just a two minute walk from the business district of Cookman Avenue in Asbury Park.

APTCo seeks actor/singer/musicians for the four leads (Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash) who have done the show before and who are ideally somewhat local to Asbury Park. However, housing may be provided if needed, but only for these four roles. The other four roles (Sam, Dyanne and 2 musicians) are open to anyone, but will be cast from the local area as housing will not be provided for these four roles. Pay stipends range from $500.00 up to $2000.00. Non-Union.

Production Description

Synopsis: On December 4, 1956, an auspicious twist of fate brought together Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley at Sun Records’ storefront studio in Memphis, TN. The man who made it happen was the “Father of Rock’n’Roll,” Sam Phillips, who discovered them all. The four legends-to-be united for the only time in their careers for an impromptu recording session that has come to be known as one of the greatest rock jam sessions of all time.

Rehearsals:

First full company rehearsal will be on Sat Nov 12 from 10am to 6pm (this will be a day trip to a location on the Jersey Shore to be determined- approx. 75 min drive from NYC or less). Local actors may have additional rehearsal(s) prior to this date. Subsequent rehearsals will begin Fri Nov 18 and will continue through Wed Nov 24. These days will be OFF: Thurs Nov 25, Fri Nov 26 and Sat Nov 27. Rehearsals will resume on Sun Nov 28 and continue until the show opens on Friday Dec 2. A brush-up rehearsal may be called the week of Dec 5th.

Performances:

Friday Dec 2 at 8pm

Saturday Dec 3 at 8pm

Sunday Dec 4 at 3pm

No shows Mon-Thurs Dec 5-8

Friday Dec 9 at 8pm

Saturday Dec 10 at 3pm and 8pm

First Audition

Please submit a video of a song along with a pic and resume as soon as possible. If auditioning for one of the four male leads, please sing from the show and play your instrument while singing. If auditioning for Dyanne, please sing one song in the style of the show that shows off your range and acting abilities. It is fine to sing from the show but not mandatory. If auditioning for Sam, please send an acting reel or download side for Sam on APTCo website (www.asburyparktheatercompany.org/auditions), and self-tape this monologue as Sam does not sing. If auditioning for one of the two musicians (drummer or slap bassist), please send video of you performing. Attach pic/res in an email to auditions@asburyparktheatercompany.org and in subject please put your full name and role you are interested in. In body of the email, please paste your resume, pic and a link to your video (using a platform of your choice such as YouTube, Vimeo, Dropbox, Google Drive, etc). Please send link that will take us right to your video (MP4) without having to be granted access or having to sign in to these platforms.

Second Audition

For those who are asked to do so, a live in-person or zoom callback will be arranged. You will likely be asked to sing again and read sides from the show that will be given to you in advance.

Character Breakdown

ELVIS: Lead, Male, 20-30

actor/singer/guitar player to portray Elvis in his 20s at the beginning of his career; must be familiar with his music and able to play guitar; should sound and look somewhat like Elvis without being an “impersonator”; please sing an Elvis Presley song and accompany yourself on the guitar; in the production, Elvis sings: “Memories Are Made Of This,” “That’s All Right,” “Long Tall Sally,” “Peace In The Valley,” “Party,” and “Hound Dog.”

JERRY LEE LEWIS: Lead, Male, 20-35

actor/singer/pianist; he was rock & roll’s legendary piano prodigy and celebrated “Last Man Standing”; must be a superb piano player, able to play like Jerry Lee Lewis; fun, energetic; comic skills a plus; prepare a Jerry Lee Lewis song and accompany yourself on the piano; in the production, Jerry Lee Lewis sings “Real Wild Child,” “Great Balls Of Fire,” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.”

CARL PERKINS: Lead, Male, 20-30

actor/singer/guitar player (lead guitar); he was the American pioneer of rockabilly music and best known for his song “Blue Suede Shoes”; must be an excellent lead guitarist; prepare a Carl Perkins or Elvis Presley song and accompany yourself on the guitar; in the production, Carl Perkins sings “Matchbox,” “Who Do You Love?,” “My Babe,” and “See You Later, Alligator.”

JOHNNY CASH: Lead, Male, 20-30

actor/singer/guitar player to portray Johnny cash at the dawn of his epic career; must be familiar with his music and able to play guitar; tall; should sound and look somewhat like Johnny without being an “impersonator”; prepare a Johnny Cash and accompany yourself on the guitar; in the production, Johnny Cash sings “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Sixteen Tons,” “I Walk The Line,” and “Riders In The Sky.”

SAM PHILLIPS: Lead, Male, 25-40

excellent actor; “Father of Rock’n’Roll” and founder of Sun Records who discovered Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and many others including Roy Orbison and B.B. King; a towering and charismatic figure in American music; for the first audition, please send an acting reel in as outlined above or prepare sides from the show (CLICK HERE FOR SIDES).

DYANNE: Lead, Female, 18-30

excellent actor and singer; she was an aspiring singer and Elvis’s girlfriend; attractive; great singer with a wide range; sings solos and back-up throughout the show; sings “Fever” in her alto range and covers the high soprano part of “Riders In The Sky” (Johnny Cash song); for the auditions, prepare a song from the era or sing one of her songs in the show; in the production, Dyanne sings “Fever” and “I Hear You Knockin’.”

DRUMMER: Supporting, Male, 18-45

should have swing/jazz chops and be familiar with country music too.

ROCKABILLY SLAP BASS PLAYER: Supporting, Male, 18-50

sort of specialized; has to play upright rockabilly slap bass; spin the bass, tricks, etc.

You have questions? We have answers. Just email us at auditions@AsburyParkTheaterCompany.org and we will try to help you.