The Audition Process
When you audition, you are rated in three areas: singing, acting, and dancing.
On Audition Day, boys will arrive for auditions at 3:45pm. Girls will arrive for auditions at 5:00pm.
When you come in to audition, enter through the main lobby, and then come around through the music hallway where you will check in with one of our stage crew managers.
When you come on stage, you need to be fully prepared. Here's what you'll do:
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DANCE AUDITION - Everyone in your group (boys or girls) will dance together at the same time, running through the dance routine 3 or 4 times. You'll then all exit to the music wing. The rest of the audition proces will be done individually.
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INDIVIDUAL AUDITION - You'll be called in one at a time. Select a primary role from the list below. This is not the only character that you could be selected to play; it's the one that you think best represents your ability. When you're called in, you will perform the monologue and song of your selected character. You'll also perform the assigned measures from the song "Olim." (Males will sing Measures 4-11. Females will sing Measures 11-18.)
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Be sure that you have your parts memorized. Your ability to remember lines is part of the process. Also, be prepared to perform ANY of the roles that are listed here. You may be asked to perform another character if necessary.
Once you've done your individual audition, you may leave. Parts will be announced by the end of that week.
MALE ONLY ROLES
All males who are auditioning must sing Measures 4-11 from the song "Olim"
Quasimodo
Description:
The bell-ringer of Notre Dame Cathedral, has a curved spine which affects his posture and gait. A life ringing the enormous bells has given him great physical strength but has also caused a partial deafness. Quasimodo’s non-normative face frightens people. Curious and intelligent, Quasimodo speaks freely and confidently with his gargoyle and statue friends in the bell tower, but he becomes unsure and withdrawn in the presence of his master and uncle, Frollo. A lack of social interaction due to his lifelong seclusion in the bell tower can cause nervousness and shyness around other humans – including Esmerelda, who captivates him. Quasimodo’s uneasiness around his uncle can manifest, at times, in a halting speech pattern; this should not be seen as a sign of a lack of intelligence, but merely a result of his isolation.
Quasimodo's Monologue:
(Quasimodo jumps up and rings the bells, speaking to them)
"Marie! You’re in very good voice today! Jacqueline, we need to fix your clapper! Go on, Gabrielle! Pour your flood of sound into the square! It’s a holiday! Sing! My bells, sing till you all quite out of breath!"
Quasimodo's Song:
Made of Stone = Measures 116 - end
Dom Claude Frollo
Description:
Archdeacon of Notre Dame. Righteous man with a strong sense of obligation to his brother Jehan and his nephew Quasimodo. Very strict devotion to the church that supersedes all else. Frollo possesses a strong and imposing presence and commands attention and obedience whenever he is present. He is deeply ashamed of his physical attraction to Esmerelda. He attempts to control his desire by persecuting her and the Romani people (“Gypsies”), whom he deems thieving, unclean, and unworthy of the Church’s protection.
Frollo's Monologue:
Congregants. We gather her, in this vast symphony of stone, on the morning of the Feast of Fools. Our streets will soon be filled with those unsavory elements – criminals, foreigners, and Gypsies – who have infested our city and are on this one day free to roam without being subject to arrest. Beware the temptations of those less devout than we. We must fight the urge to indulge ourselves, for remember, we are all born sinners…
Frollo's Song:
Hellfire = pickups into Measure 45-61
Phoebus de Martin
Description:
Dashing new captain of the Cathedral Guard. Conflicted between following his duty – including Frollo’s prejudiced instructions – and doing what’s right, he struggles with the trauma he experienced in four years of intense battle on the war front. Charming and arrogant, Phoebus focuses on enjoying life’s pleasures before quickly falling for Esmeralda and ultimately defying Frollo. Bari-tenor comfortable with hitting Gs and As with control.
Phoebus's Monologue:
Phoebus: Look, it's my job to protect this cathedral.
Esmeralda: From dirty Gypsies like me?
Phoebus: You said it, I didn't. But I do have my orders to follow.
Esmeralda: And if there's one thing a good soldier knows, it's how to follow orders.
Phoebus: Who said anything about my being a good soldier?
Esmeralda: Are you saying you're not?
Phoebus: I'm saying I have a job to do. It's much better than the one it got me out of.
Esmeralda: Burying your comrades in unmarked graves? You can look me in the eye you know. We don't cast spells.
Phoebus: I know that. Where are you from anyway?
Esmeralda: You're asking a Gypsy? All I know is I've come from nothing just like you.
Phoebus's Song:
Rest and Recreation = Measures 3-25
Rest and Recreation: Sheet Music
FEMALE ONLY ROLES
All females who are auditioning must sing Measures 11-18 from the song "Olim"
Esmeralda
Description:
A free-spirited woman, who has lived her life as a member of the Romani people. She uses her talent as a dancer to support herself. Independent and strong-willed, she speaks her mind and stands up for what she believes in, including fair treatment of Roma and the
sequestered Quasimodo. Esmeralda falls for the charming Phoebus despite her better judgment and staunchly refuses to give herself up to Frollo though doing so would save her life.
Esmeralda's Monologue:
"Your Grace…. There must be some charity inside you. If you’ve helped that boy, then surely you can extend that kindness to others almost as unfortunate? How you would wish others to treat you, could you not treat them?"
Esmeralda's Song:
God Help the Outcasts = Measures 63-End
God Help the Outcasts: Sheet Music
Florika
Description:
A gypsy and Quasimodo's mother who had been in a relationship with Jehan Frollo, brother to Claude Frollo.
Florika's Monologue (Use Congregant's Monologue):
"For Quasimodo, the Cathedral was not only his home, but his universe.
It was peopled with figures of marble ---
With kings and saints ---
Monsters and demons.
The saints blessed him.
And the monsters protected him."
Florika's Song:
Finale Ultimo = Measures 44-67
MALE OR FEMALE ROLES
All males who are auditioning must sing Measures 4-11 from the song "Olim"
All females who are auditioning must sing Measures 11-18 from the song "Olim"
Clopin (Male, Female, or Female playing Male)
Description:
King or Queen of the Roma, is a clever and agile entertainer and the Romani leader. Clopin knows how to work the crowd on Topsy Turvy Day. Clopin is acutely aware of the prejudice against Roma and their resulting precarious position in Paris. Clopin is fiercely
protective of Esmeralda and the other Roma, and so shrewdly runs the Court of Miracles as a tight ship.
Acting Audition:
Clopin: I’m sorry, but soldiers aren’t welcome here.
Phoebus: Relax. I’m just looking for a little rest and recreation. For my young friend Frederic as well.
Clopin: Well, I’m sure we can arrange that.
Phoebus: Actually, I’m looking for someone in particular.
Clopin: And why doesn’t that surprise me? But I’m afraid she’s already spoken for.
Song:
Topsy Turvy - Measures 68-97
St. Aphrodisius (Male, Female, or Female playing Male)
Description:
A statue that comes to life, encourages Quasimodo to take action to help Esmeralda.
Aphrodisius's Monologue (Use Congregant's Monologue):
"For Quasimodo, the Cathedral was not only his home, but his universe.
It was peopled with figures of marble ---
With kings and saints ---
Monsters and demons.
The saints blessed him.
And the monsters protected him."
Aphrodisius's Song:
Flight into Egypt = Measures 5-32
Flight into Egypt: Sheet Music
Congregants (Male or Female)
Description:
Gender-flexible storytellers. These cast of characters narrate the story throughout the show. In story theater style, each performer in the show begins as a Congregant before taking on the characteristics of their assigned characters which can include principal characters, Gargoyles, Statues, Revelers, Soldiers, Roma (“Gypsies”), etc. (Note: Some Ensemble members may also play some of these characters.)
Congregant's Monologue:
"For Quasimodo, the Cathedral was not only his home, but his universe.
It was peopled with figures of marble ---
With kings and saints ---
Monsters and demons.
The saints blessed him.
And the monsters protected him."
Congregant's Song:
Choose any song from any of the characters above.
DANCE ROUTINE
This is the song that you will dance to in the audition. The segment begins at 1:00 and ends at 1:35.
This is a video recording of what the dance routine should look like for your audition. There's a view from the front and the back.