THE MTM PLAYERS | AUDITIONS

Audition Notice for Rodgers & Hammerstein’s SOUTH PACIFIC

Music by RICHARD RODGERS Lyrics by OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II

Book by OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II and JOSHUA LOGAN

Adapted from the Pulitzer Prize winning novel “Tales of the South Pacific” by James A. Michener

SOUTH PACIFIC is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of

The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization. www.concordtheatricals.com

NOTE: ALL APPLICATIONS/AUDITION SIDES/MUSIC AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD DIRECTELY FROM THE SIGN-UP SITE AFTER THE DESCRIPTION. SOME LINKS ALSO PROVIDED IN THE DESCRIPTION AS WELL.

THE MTM PLAYERS

DIRECTOR: Rob Michael Lasky

MUSICAL DIRECTOR: Joe Nappi

CHOREOGRAPHER: Emily O’Sullivan

The MTM Players and Kelsey Theatre are committed to advancing an environment of diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism.  We aim to foster an inclusive environment for people of all races, genders, religions, sexual orientations, creeds, socio-economic statuses, nationalities, and abilities.

ABOUT THE SHOW:

In an island paradise during the Second World War, two Americans – a wide-eyed nurse and a promising young lieutenant – discover love and confront their own prejudices.

PERFORMANCE DATES:

TWO WEEKENDS – EIGHT PERFORMANCES

Friday, October 10 & 17, 2025 at 8pm

Saturday, October 11 & 18, 2025 at 2pm & 8pm

Sunday, October 12 & 19, 2025 at 2pm

AUDITION DATES & TIMES:

• Saturday, June 21, 2025 (1pm-6pm) – Lead & Singing roles/Children auditions – No dance auditions – Invites for Sunday dance auditions will be provided NOTE: IF YOU ARE SEEKING ENSEMBLE-ONLY, PLEASE SIGN-UP SUNDAY OR MONDAY. WE WILL NOT BE HOLDING SATURDAY DANCE AUDITIONS AT THIS TIME. IF YOU WISH TO AUDITION FOR A LEAD ROLE OR ENSEMBLE, YOU MAY BE ASKED TO RETURN SUNDAY OR MONDAY.
• Sunday, June 22, 2025 (6pm-10pm) – Dance/Ensemble auditions by invite or sign-up.
• Monday, June 23, 2025 (7pm-9:30pm) – All characters – song/dance/children
• Callbacks by invitation-only – Tuesday, June 24, 2025 (7pm)

Auditions will be held on the Mercer County Community College West Windsor Campus. Check the Kelsey Theatre sign board for a room location on the day of your audition and emails may be sent out the week preceding the audition dates.

MCCC is located at 1200 Old Trenton Rd, West Windsor NJ 08550

APPOINTMENTS AND QUESTIONS:

YOU MUST SIGN-UP FOR AN AUDITION SLOT AT:

http://www.tinyurl.com/MTMSouthPacificAuditions

Walk-ins welcome, but we will see those with appointments first. Prepare to wait.

You can contact the director at: director@mtmplayers.org with any questions.

PREPARE:

Please be familiar with the show.

• 16-32 bars of a song in the style of the show – upbeat or ballad depending on the role. Songs from the show are allowed and encouraged if you are seeking a specific role. Sheet music for specific characters and audio samples provided in “Related File” section following the notice at the sign-up site.  Any Rodgers and Hammerstein song is encouraged as well for those not seeking a specific role or for the ensemble.
• Please bring clearly marked sheet music WITH accompaniment unless your are using one of the music selections provided below – No “a cappella” or pre-recorded music allowed. There will be an audition pianist provided.

• Unless specifically noted, be prepared to move: wear comfortable clothes for the dance call and bring appropriate soft shoes (sneakers, etc.) – NOTE: No dance auditions will be held on Saturday, June 21^st.
• The role of LIAT is a non-singing role and has a few lines and must be able to move and will be expected for a dance audition. No reading or monologue needed, but should prepare a song. Her few lines are spoken in French.
• Photo & Resume (if none available, we may take your photo and an application will be provided.) You can download the application and conflict calendar to bring here: http://www.mtmplayers.org/sp/spauditionpacket.pdf
• There are three non-singing speaking only male roles: CAPT. BRACKETT, CMDR. HARBISON & LT. BUZZ ADAMS. Sides will be provided for these three roles. See character descriptions for more details.
• The roles of NGANA & JEROME(MONIQUE) are middle-school aged children of AAPI-descent and sing one song, “Dites Moi”. We will provide music samples for this song so children interested can prepare. You will sing this song for the audition. We will seek a boy and a girl or two girls. Please email the director at director@mtmplayers.org after signing up to receive the music for your audition. Note: they only speak and sing in French. Any minor should be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
• For the principal roles of EMILE, NELLIE, CABLE, BILLIS, & BLOODY MARY: you will be required to sing a song from the character. Except for NELLIE & BILLIS, no dance audition needed unless you want to also be considered for ensemble.
• All other roles of NURSES/FRENCH WOMEN and SAILORS/SEABEES/MARINES must prepare a song as previously mentioned and for a dance audition. All supporting speaking roles will be cast from this pool of auditioners and you may be asked to do a cold reading from the script.
• Certain sides and music are available for download at the sign-up site and at this link: http://www.mtmplayers.org/sp/spauditionsides.pdf
• Be prepared to stay for the entire process which may be 30-60 minutes.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: ALL PERFORMERS ARE EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE ON SUNDAY, SEPT. 28^TH FROM 1PM UNTIL LATE (with a dinner-break).  DUE TO A DARK WEEKEND PRIOR TO OUR OPENING, LOAD-IN WILL BE ON THIS DATE.  WE WILL HAVE TWO WEEKS OF TECH ON STAGE DURING THIS TIME FROM SEPT. 28^TH – OCT. 9^TH.  WE WILL NOT BE REHEARSING EVERY DAY FROM SEPT. 28^TH-OCT 4^TH – WE WILL SCHEDULE REHEARSALS DUE TO PRE-DETERMINED CAST CONFLICTS. ALL PERFORMERS ARE REQUIRED TO BE AVAILABLE FOR THE FINAL WEEK OF TECH OCT. 5^TH-9^TH. PLEASE CHECK YOUR CONFLICTS FOR THIS PERIOD AND BE AS ACCURATE AS POSSIBLE WHEN SIGNING UP.

REHEARSALS:

Rehearsals will begin shortly after auditions and will be light (1 or 2 per week except for certain characters) during end of June and July.  We will focus mostly on learning the music during this time.  We will move to 3 rehearsals per week during mid-August as we lead up to tech weeks at the end of September. Please make sure you list your conflicts on your provided application conflict calendar as accurately as possible. We do not like non-emergency surprise conflicts.

SEEKING:

Roles are open to performers of all races, sexual orientations, body types, ages and abilities except where certain ethnicities are need for specific roles.  Certain roles are marked Tonkinese or Polynesian. In addition to the two children’s roles, we encourage older minors to audition as well – with parental permission.  We are striving to cast a diverse cast for this production. All are welcome!

All roles are Non-Equity, unpaid

CHARACTER INFORMATION

PLEASE PAY CAREFUL ATTENTION TO THE CHARACTER’S DESCRIPTIONS AND THE NOTED EXPECTATIONS (i.e. – speaking-only, dance-only, etc.)

• ENSIGN NELLIE FORBUSH – A nurse from Arkansas – light Southern accent. Must be comfortable with on stage intimacy with EMILE [Soprano, Ingénue Lead, A♭4-C6, Adult 20s-Mid30s] – AUDITION: DIALOGUE, SINGING, DANCE
• EMILE DE BECQUE – An expatriate French plantation owner – French accent – some lines in French. Must be comfortable with on stage intimacy with NELLIE. [Operatic Baritone/Bass, Belt, Lead, A2-E4, Adult Late 30s – Mid 50s..older than Nellie] – AUDITION: MONOLOGUE, SINGING
• BLOODY MARY – A Tonkinese native (AAPI), expert at trading with the military [Mezzo, Belt, G4-C6, Adult Mid-30s+] AUDITION: MONOLOGUE, SINGING
• LT. JOSEPH CABLE, USMC – A marine assigned for an important mission. Serious, young & mission-oriented. Must be comfortable with a short intimacy scene with LIAT. [Tenor, Ingénue Lead, D3-G4, Adult Early-Mid 20s] – AUDITION: DIALOGUE, SINGING
• LUTHER BILLIS – A sailor. High comedic chops. Animated, Brooklyn-accent a plus! Swindler-type. Rambunctious individual who doesn’t respect authority and is always in trouble with his superiors. Has a not-so-secret crush on NELLIE. Should be comfortable to be shirtless on stage. [Baritone, G2-D4, Adult, Age non-specific] – AUDITION: DIALOGUE, SINGING, DANCE
• NGANA & JEROME(MONIQUE) – Emile’s half-Polynesian children. Either a brother and sister or two sisters. Seeking AAPI children. Speaks and sings in French. [Children Soprano/Tenor range, D5-C6 (D4-C5) Children, adolescent or middle-school-aged] – AUDITION: SINGING “Dites Moi” provided in the audition packet
• LIAT – BLOODY MARY’S daughter. Limited French-dialogue. Tonkinese – Seeking AAPI actress. Must be comfortable with a short intimacy scene with LT. CABLE. May double as an ISLANDER [Non-singing role for LIAT, however will be singing with ensemble, Young Ingénue, Late teens] – AUDITION: DANCE/SINGING
• HENRY – Emile’s native servant. Role to be doubled as a sailor. Seeking AAPI actor. Speaks French. [Age non-specific. Can double as a sailor.] – AUDITION: SINGING, DANCE for both HENRY & A SAILOR.
• CAPT. GEORGE BRACKETT, USN – The highest-ranking officer. Brash, authoritative, confident. [Non-singing, Adult 50s+] – AUDITION: DIALOGUE/MONOLOGUE PROVIDED
• CMDR. WILLIAM HARBISON, USN – The second highest-ranking officer. Authoritative, confident. [Non-singing, Adult Mid 30s+] – AUDITION: DIALOGUE/MONOLOGUE PROVIDED
• LT. BUZZ ADAMS, USN – Navy flier.  [Non-singing, Adult Mid 20s+] – AUDITION: MONOLOGUE PROVIDED
• ENSEMBLE – large singing, dancing ensemble consisting of NURSES, ISLANDERS, OFFICERS, SAILORS, MARINES, SEABEES and SOLDIERS. Seeking diverse individuals – all welcome. Various speaking roles listed below to be chosen from the ENSEMBLE. [Age-ranges vary & non-specific-late teens and up. Soprano-range: C4-G6, Alto-range: C4-D6, Tenor-range: D3-A4, Baritone/Bass-range: D3-D4, One bass sailor to hit F#2-D4] – AUDITION: SINGING, DANCE (some may be asked to cold-read from the script for specific speaking roles)

ENSEMBLE SPEAKING ROLES AVAILBLE: STEWPOT, THE PROFESSOR, QUALE, RADIO OPERATOR, SHORE PATROLMAN, NURSE DINAH, NURSE JANET, LEAD NURSE.