Auditions: The Secret Garden

Auditions for OSU Lyric and OSU Theatre’s Winter 2020 production of The Secret Garden will be held November 18th and November 19th at 6:00 pm with callbacks on November 19th and (if necessary) 20th on the Withycombe Main Stage in Withycombe Hall (2901 SW Campus Way, Corvallis OR).

The Secret Garden is a musical based on the 1911 English children’s novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett with book by Marsha Norman and music by Lucy Simon. Set in 1906, young Mary Lennox is sent to live with her uncle following the death of her parents at the hands of a cholera outbreak in India. She discovers a forbidden secret garden, makes fast friends, uncovers the shrouded past of her family, and learns the power of love and rejuvenation and how it can combat the life-draining consequences of neglect.

The preliminary audition will consist of a singing audition. Please prepare 16-32 bars of music in the style of the show. An accompanist will be provided. Auditions are open to all. Please bring your schedules with any possible conflicts to the audition.

Callback auditions will consist of cold reads from the script in addition to prepared musical selections from the show. If called back, the musical preparation component will be assigned following vocal auditions.

Please sign up for a 30 minute time slot for your vocal audition at the following URL:

https://tinyurl.com/osusecretgarden

Expect to stay past your scheduled time slot for potential call-back assignments. Additional callbacks (if necessary) will be Wednesday November 20th at 6:00 pm.

There will be a cast read-through December 6 at 6:00 pm. Regular rehearsals will begin Sunday, January 5th and will be scheduled Sundays 12:00-6:00 and Monday through Thursday 6:00-10:00 pm. In addition, there will be occasional music rehearsals, as needed, held in Community Hall throughout Winter term on Tues/Thurs from 2-5 pm.

Tech rehearsal will be February 22 starting at noon with tech and dress rehearsals February 23-27. Performances are scheduled February 28-29 and March 6-7 at 7:30 pm and March 1 and 8 at 2:00 pm. There will be a possible pick-up rehearsal on March 5. Everyone in the cast MUST be available for all Sunday and evening rehearsals starting January 5th, tech/dress rehearsals, performances, and strike. Tues/Thurs Music rehearsals in Community Hall will be scheduled based on actor availability.

Actors who wish only to be considered for the non-singing roles of Mrs. Medlock and Mrs. Winthrop may present a 1-2 minute monologue in lieu of a vocal audition.

Roles/Role Size/Voice Type

1 Mary Lennox (Female Lead) - Soprano

2 Archibald Craven (Male Lead) - Baritenor/Tenor

3 Dr. Neville Craven (Male Supporting) - Baritone

4 Martha Sowerby (Female Supporting) - Mezzo-Soprano

5 Dickon Sowerby (Male Supporting) - Tenor

6 Lily Craven (Female Supporting) - Soprano

7 Colin Craven (Male/Supporting) - Soprano/Treble (may be cast female)

8 Ben Weatherstaff (Male Featured) - Baritone/Tenor

9 Mrs. Winthrop (Female Featured) - Spoken

10 Mrs. Medlock (Female Featured) - Spoken

11 Rose Lennox (Female Featured/Ensemble) - Soprano

12 Captain Albert Lennox (Male Featured/Ensemble) - Tenor

13 Alice (Female Ensemble) - Soprano

14 Lieutenant Wright (Male Ensemble) - Tenor

15 Lieutenant Shaw (Male Ensemble) - Baritone

16 Major Holmes (Male Ensemble) - Tenor

17 Major Shelly (Male Ensemble) - Tenor

18 Mrs. Claire Holmes (Female Ensemble) - Mezzo-Soprano

19 Mrs. Shelly (Female Ensemble) - Mezzo-Soprano

20 Fakir (Male Ensemble) - Tenor - Character is of Indian Ethnicity

21 Ayah (Female Ensemble) - Soprano/Mezzo-Soprano - Character is of Indian Ethnicity

Questions can be directed to eversola@oregonstate.edu