Showing posts with label Peter Stopschinski. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Peter Stopschinski. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Auditions in Austin and Wimberley for You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, September 7 and 8, 2013

Wimberley Players TXThe Wimberley Players announce open auditions for You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (1999 revised version) September 7 at the Austin Waldorf School , 8702 S View Rd (click for map; click 'Read more' below for additional driving directions) and September 8 at the Wimberley Players' theatre , 450 Old Kyle Rd, Wimberley(click for map). 

Based on the comic strip "Peanuts" by Charles M. Schulz with book, music, and lyrics by Clark Gessner, the show will be directed and choreographed by Jim Lindsay with music directed and conducted by Peter Stopschinski.

You're A Good Man Charlie Brown Wimberley Players TXWe seek to cast 4 men and 2 women for various leading roles, plus 2 ensemble female roles. All will be 18 or older. All roles are open and ethnic diversity is encouraged. All performers will need to act and sing well, have strong harmonizing skills, and dance in musical theatre style with some beginning tap/soft shoe skills. No pay or honoraria is offered. Named roles are those of Charlie Brown, Sally Brown, Linus Van Pelt, Lucy Van Pelt, Snoopy and Shroeder (click 'Read more' for character descriptions and vocal requirements). Candidates can access any number of scenes from the show on www.youtube.com, some from the most recent Broadway production and many meritable university and local revivals.

For preliminary auditions all actors should prepare one up-tempo song and one ballad to showcase range, vocal strength and, preferably, the joy, fun, and childlike spirit that the show exhibits. You may be asked to sing both songs in their entirety or a cut. Please prepare for both scenarios. An accompanist will be provided. Bring a recent headshot and resume or be prepared to have a photo taken upon your arrival if you do not have a headshot. Actors may choose to sing a song from the show but this is not a requirement.
Auditions will also consist of a 1-2 minute monologue from a play or musical of the actor's choosing. Monologues in the style of the show encouraged --i.e., humor, childlike sentiment, and simple joy may be themes illustrated in the actor's monologue. You may access various pieces from the show as audition material. You may perform your audition segments in any order you desire. Please come to auditions prepared to provide your most transparent understanding of your rehearsal conflicts for the following dates: September 22 (initial reading); October 6-November 13 (rehearsals); November 14-December 8 (Friday, Saturday performances at 7:30; Sundays at 2:30)
Call backs All actors who are called back will complete the following (in this order):
- one dance combination, which will be taught at the time of call backs, in groups
- one harmonizing exercise which will be taught at the time of call backs
- one monologue or scene, and/ or song, indicated below. Actors can prepare if they so choose, though it is recommended.

Call backs (vocal cuts available at auditions)
- All actors for Charlie Brown will prepare "The Kite" if called back.
- All actors for Sally will be asked to sing "My Philosophy" cut if called back for this role.
-All actors for Snoopy will be asked to sing "Suppertime" cut if called back.
- If auditioning for Schroeder, please prepare vocal cut from "Beethoven Day."
- If called back for Linus, please prepare vocal cut from "My Blanket and Me."
- Actors called back for Lucy will prepare vocal cut from "Schroeder."
- All actors auditioning for roles may also be asked to prepare a cold reading of a selection from the script, TBD.
- Actresses auditioning for the 2 female ensemble roles will not need to prepare a separate cut. Your call back will determine your eligibility and will be based on harmonizing, dance, general acting, conflicts, and look.
All performers will be expected to dance in musical theatre style including some soft shoe as "My Blanket and Me" will include an all cast dance break. If you have tap experience, you will be asked to indicate that on your audition form.

Audition and Callback Dates: venue for the September 7 auditions has changed: these will take place at the performing arts center of the Austin Waldorf School, 8700 South View Rd., 78737 (click for map) from 10 AM- 1 PM. September 8 auditions will take place at Wimberley Playhouse Theatre, 450 Old Kyle Road, Wimberley, TX from 7-9 PM. Call backs will take place together at the theatre on September 8 from 9-10:30 PM. We will do our best to complete the entire call back by this time. That said, we may extend, but this is not expected.
After a first read- and sing-through, actors will have 3 weeks off to learn parts, music, and harmonies, which will be accessible via drop box. The production team has a goal of conducting 50% of rehearsals in an Austin location (TBD), 50% at Wimberley playhouse, depending upon how we cast, manage conflicts, etc.

To schedule an audition appointment, please call the theatre at 512.632.7638 or email your request at adam@adamwitko.com. Do not send head shots and resumes via email. This contact information is for audition requests only. All scheduled appointments will be accommodated as closely to their scheduled time as possible. Walk-ins will be accommodated as we are able.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Upcoming: I've Never Been So Happy (full version), Rude Mechanicals at the Off Center, April 21 - May 7

Found on-line at AustinOnStage.com:


The Rude Mechanicals

presentRude Mechanicals I Can't Believe I'm So Happy (image: Bret Brookshire)


I've Never Been So Happy (full version)

April 21 - May 7, Thursdays - Saturdays at 8 p.m.

Matinee performance on Sunday, May 1

at the Off Center, 2211-A Hidalgo Street (click for map)

Tickets are $15 to $25, and the Saturday, May 7th, special closing night performance will feature a post-show concert by entertainment group CHABLIS - voted "Best Local Show 2010" in the Austin Chronicle Critics Poll.

For tickets and more information, visit www.RudeMechs.com.

After two workshop productions at The Off Center in 2008 and 2009 - plus residencies with The Orchard Project and The Musical Theatre Initiative at The University of Texas - The Rude Mechanicals will stage the world premiere of their fulllength western operetta I've Never Been So Happy April 21st through May 7th at The Off Center.

Read more at AustinLiveTheatre.com . . . .

Thursday, September 17, 2009

I've Never Been So Happy, Rude Mechanicals at the Off Center, September 10 - 20





It's clever. It's mythic. It's melodic. It's multimedia.


It's the Rude Mechanicals still-in-workshop production of I've Never Been So Happy with book and lyrics by Kirk Lynn and music by Peter Stopchinsky, who also sings the part of the mountain lion.

But it's short and it's incomplete. By design, it will leave you wanting more.

The Rude Mechanicals have made for themselves an enviable place in the bubbling world of Austin's young non-Equity original-works theatres.

The Rudes are highly creative. They've done 22 original productions since inventing themselves in 1995, building a reputation, a following and support. They are not a high-volume theatre company, despite their six co-producing artistic directors, 28 company members, 88 business partners and an impressive array of individual supporters.

They've survived and triumphed by learning networking and grantsmanship. The Rudes succeeded in getting grant funding for this Western operetta fable from the National Endowment for the Arts, both directly and as part of the subsequent anti-recession stimulus package. The show is part of the NEA's new play development project, coordinated by the Arena Stage in Washington DC. Last December they did a workshop production in Austin of the early scenes of the play. They've worked parts of it further at the Orchard Project in the Catskills and last June with the UT Department of Theatre and Dance.

Read more at AustinLiveTheatre.com . . . .


Saturday, August 22, 2009

Upcoming: I've Never Been So Happy, Rude Mechanicals at the Off Center, September 10 - 20


Update: Click for ALT review, September 16


UPDATE: Pre-opening piece by Javier Sanchez at the Daily Texan, September 10

Found on-line:


I've Never Been So Happy

a work in progress production
by the Rude Mechanicals
book and lyrics by Kirk Lynn
music and lyrics by Peter Stopschinski
curated and directed by Thomas Graves and Lana Lesley
September 10 - 20, at the Off Center

Tickets on sale now!

Rude Mechs is proud to present this work-in-progress presentation of our new western operetta performance experiment. We're making musical theatre for a new breed of Texan, and offering up a western adventure that will ply you with soothing adult elixirs, teach you how to use a lasso to capture your love, and then join you on their authentic Texas dance floor as you boot scoot to the greatest music in the West.

I've Never Been So Happy, with music and lyrics by Austin Experimental Punk Grand Wizard Peter Stopschinski (Brown Whornet, Golden Hornet Project), and book and lyrics by Austin Experimental Theatre Mascot Kirk Lynn, fluctuates freely between high art and Hee-Haw, treating both with respect.

The music pits a Grand Ole Opry style West against an El Topo style West. The writing butts lyric poetry up against bar jokes with finesse. The evening challenges what it means to "go to the theater" in 2009.

Read more at AustinLiveTheatre.com . . . .


Monday, July 27, 2009

Upcoming: Classical Crossover with A Clockwork Orange, PKW Productions, Alamo Lake Creek, August 2


Received directly:

PKWproductions Brings Back Their Most Uniquely Powerful and Disturbing Combination of Music and Film with A Clockwork Orange

PKWproductions director P. Kellach Waddle and a host of Austin's finest classical musicians will present once again an extraordinary classical event with two live chamber concerts to accompany Stanley Kubrick’s controversial cult classic A Clockwork Orange as the “Music and a Movie” series continues on Sunday, August 2 at 8 p.m. at the Alamo Drafthouse Lake Creek.

Second only to this series' flagship event, Amadeus, PKWproductions has received more demand to repeat this event than any other in the series' nearly 4-year history since PKWproductions’ first "Music and A Movie" presentation of A Clockwork Orange in November 2008 met with a near-sold out audience.

Since the film’s teenage miscreant Alex DeLarge is famous for drinking drugged milk and listening to Beethoven, the entire program is dedicated to the iconic German composer. The pre-movie concert's theme is "Obscure Beethoven" with a presentation of three of Beethoven's lesser known works and in a special intermission concert, three of Austin's most prominent composers (P. Kellach Waddle, Graham Reynolds and Peter Stopchinski) will present three brand new pieces on themes of Beethoven.

Read more at AustinLiveTheatre.com . . . .

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Upcoming: I've Never Been So Happy, Rude Mechs and UT Students at UT, June 13



Click for 30-minute audio program on workshopping of I've Never Been So Happy, from John Aielli's KUT program "Aielli Unleashed," posted on June 10.

John Aielli's comment: The very big cast, well, a good number of them, came in and did a feature with musical/dramatic excerpts from the show. it’s still being worked on. The music is by the wonderfully talented Peter Stopschinsky of brown whornet fame. The selections you’ll hear show the variety of styles represented. Don’t try to pigeonhole this one. the show is being presented ON THE STAGE (as in the audience will be on the stage too) of the B. Iden Payne theatre this Saturday, July 13. The show is to be presented again this fall at the off center.

I'VE NEVER BEEN SO HAPPY

Saturday, June 13, 2009 B. Iden Payne Theatre, UT Austin

4:00 p.m.

Created by the Rude Mechs

Books/Lyrics by Kirk Lynn Music/Lyrics by Peter Stopschinski Directed/Curated by Thomas Graves & Lana Lesley Music Directed by Lyn Koenning Projection Design by Noel Gaulin & Erin Meyer

Production Team Marlane Barnes…Ensemble Jenny Connell…Ensemble Julia Cory, Cello Christina Gutierrez…Dramaturg/Ensemble Julia Gytri…Ensemble Amy Harris, Violin Hannah Kenah…Ensemble Jena Kirmse…Ensemble Lisa Kobdish…Ensemble Lyn Koenning…Piano Denise Martel…Production Manager Jared Oberholtzer…Stage Manager Herb Steiner…Pedal Steel Guitar Peter Stopschinski…Electronics Christina Underwood, Bass Cody Williams…Stage Manager Leah Zeger…String Section Leader

Click to read Jenny Connel's account of the Rude Mechs' workshopping and playwriting styles, posted June 11 on her blog Playwright's Notebook