Come From Away

Auditions are July 12 & 13 @ 7:00pm   Doors open at 6:30pm.
ACTORS
120 Abraham Dr.
Ames, IA  50010
6 men, 6 women - ages 20-70

General Notes: 
-This is a physically and mentally demanding show. While there is no intense dancing, the show moves briskly for 90 minutes straight with no intermission and all cast members will be required to move chairs and tables quickly to help shift scenes. In addition, cast members will be on stage for a majority of the show with not a lot of down time, so all actors involved will need to be up for this challenge. 
-This is very much an ensemble show where every cast member plays a crucial and important role. While certain parts have more solos than others, all have at least a few measures of singing on their own. Therefore, all actors involved will need to be confident and strong performers who are comfortable singing by themselves. 
-Certain roles will require kissing, swearing, or other actions/situations that may be uncomfortable for some actors. We have done our best to note these in the individual character descriptions below. If you have any concerns, please mention that on your form at auditions. 
-Usually, we don’t worry about accents in shows.  Because everyone plays multiple characters and there are little or no costume changes, accents are going to be very important.  The “Newfie” accent is used throughout the show, and so we will get the cast on board with that accent as soon as we can.  There are a couple of instances where an actor plays three different characters on one page.  So, the accent is important.  Even if a track does not identify as either a passenger or a “Newfie,” everyone will have parts that play both, so be aware that the accents will be required. 
-The cast is handling things constantly, so we are going to set the expectation of getting off book as soon as we start blocking.
-We are not going to use microphones.  ACTORS cannot put everyone on a microphone, and this is a small theater.  So, you need to project.  

Individual Character Descriptions and Requirements for Come From Away: 
Track 1:  Diane, Crystal, Brenda 
+Woman, 40s-60s 
+Solo Vocal Range: A3 up to C#5.  
+Warm, natural, contemporary Soprano with a strong mix up to E in ensemble parts. 
+Prominently featured in: “Costume Party”, “Stop the World” 
+Diane: A traditional divorcee from Texas, who is terrified that her son may have been flying in the time of the attacks.  When she finds out that he is safe, she’s given a new lease on life and discovers a wilder, more carefree side of herself.  Diane kisses Nick—more than once, with a level of passion.  Diane has a Texan accent. 
+Crystal and Brenda: Minor characters who are local Newfoundlanders. 

Track 2 : Hannah, Margie, Mickey 
+Woman, 40s-60s 
+Solo Vocal Range: A3 up to D5 
+Contemporary Soprano with a strong pop belt and mix up to E in ensemble parts. 
+Prominently featured in: “Costume Party”, “I Am Here” 
+This track is typically played by a Black woman. 
+Hannah: Mother of a Firefighter in Manhattan.  She is in despair over not knowing whether her son is okay. While waiting for news, she is comforted by Beulah. Hannah has a New York accent. 
+Margie and Mickey: Minor characters who are local Newfoundlanders.
+This track briefly portrays a “party girl” who “flashes” people from the airplane during the song “Wherever We Are”, in which she opens her shirt and shows her bra. 
+This track briefly portrays a Muslim American and an African passenger. 

Track 3:  Janice, Britney, Flight Attendant
+Woman, 20s-30s 
+Vocal Range: Contemporary Soprano with a strong pop belt and mix up to E in ensemble parts. 
+Janice: An eager new local TV reporter, Janice is thrown into the deep end on her first day of work.  Initially naïve about the world, she must face the pain and confusion around her. 
+Britney: Minor character who is a local Newfoundlander. 
+Flight Attendant: A young flight attendant working with Captain Beverley Bass who must manage the various passengers wanting to know what’s happening. 
+This track briefly portrays a “party girl” who “flashes” people from the airplane during the song “Wherever We Are”, in which she opens her shirt and shows her bra. 
+This track also provides animal noises off-stage to represent the pets stuck on the plane, including a “meow”. 

Track 4:  Beulah, Delores 
+Woman, 40s-60s 
+Vocal Range: Mezzo with a belt up to B4 
+Beulah: The Head of the Gandar Legion, Beulah heads up the organization of volunteers who are supporting the plane people. She forms a strong bond with Hannah over having a firefighter son and prays with her at the Catholic church. 
+Delores: A loud and claustrophobic passenger who sings the Celine Dion Titanic song while drunk —for a laugh. 

Track 5:  Bonnie, Martha 
+Women, 30s-50s
+Vocal Range: Mezzo with a belt up to B4 
+Bonnie: A no-nonsense mother of three, Bonnie is the head of the local SPCA.  When she discovers animals are trapped on the planes, she stops at nothing to ensure their safety—but in frustration, she often lashes out at those around her. 
+Martha: Minor character who is a local Newfoundlander. 

Track 6:  Beverley, Annette 
+Women, 40s-50s 
+Solo Vocal Range:  G3 up to C#5 
+Strong mezzo with an easy mixed or belted C#, up to E in ensemble parts. 
+Prominently Featured in: “Me and the Sky”, “Somewhere in the Middle of Nowhere” 
+Beverley:  The first female captain for American Airlines, Beverley Bass has always loved flying, when her world suddenly changes. 
+Annette: A school teacher at Gander Academy with an active fantasy life. She helps Beulah organize volunteers. 

Track 7:  Oz, Joey, Mr. Michaels, Terry, Matty, Rabbi 
+ Man, 30s-50s 
+Solo Vocal Range: B2 up to G4 
+Strong Contemporary Tenor up to G, falsetto A in ensemble during “Prayer”. 
+Prominently Featured in: “Wherever We Are” (“Meanwhile on our Plane…”), Rabbi in “Prayer” 
+Oz: The quirky constable in the two-person Gander police force.  When the town’s population suddenly doubles, Oz helps out in unexpected ways.  Says FUCK. 
+Mr. Michaels, Terry, and Matty: Minor characters who are local Newfoundlanders. 
+Joey: Sings about how he and his fellow passengers dealt with being stuck in an airplane for hours. 
+Rabbi: Helps makes kosher food for and comforts other Jewish passengers. 

Track 8: Kevin T, Garth, President Bush 
+ Man, 30s-40s 
+ Solo Vocal Range: A2-G4
+ Strong Contemporary Tenor up to G. 
+ Prominently Featured in: “Costume Party”, “Prayer” 
+ Kevin T: The head of an environmental energy company in Los Angeles.  Kevin was on vacation with his boyfriend (and secretary, also named Kevin), when they were stranded in Gander.  Inspired by the town’s generosity, Kevin creates the Pay It Forward Foundation. Kevin tries to make the most of his time in Gander, much to the annoyment of his boyfriend. 
+ Garth: Head of the local bus driver’s union who is firm on negotiations. Garth helps transport passengers to shelters. 
+President Bush: Has a brief monologue towards the end of “Wherever We Are”. We need an impersonator at some level. 

Track 9:  Kevin J, Dwight, Ali 
+Man, 30s-40s 
+Solo Vocal Range: A2-E4 
+Tenor or Baritenor, up to a G in ensemble parts. 
+ Prominently Featured in: “Costume Party” 
+ Kevin J: Kevin T’s boyfriend and secretary. Sarcastic and unhappy, he wants to leave as soon as possible. Gets annoyed with his boyfriend for trying to “blend in with the locals”. Kevin currently lives in Los Angles but is originally from New York. Says FUCK. 
+Dwight: A local Newfoundlander who works at the airport. 
+Ali:  An Egyptian man traveling to America who experiences isolation and Islamophobia but finds connection with Beulah.  He has an extremely humiliating experience when required to undergo a strip search in front of Beverley— this isn’t actually shown on stage, but we need to feel his reaction.  He must have a Middle-Eastern accent.

Track 10:  Bob, Muhumuza, Captain Bristol 
+ Man, 20s-40s 
+ Vocal Range: Baritone, with a strong D4. Gets up to F#4 in an ensemble part, but this could be taken down an octave if necessary. 
+This track is typically played by a Black man. 
+ Bob: A hardened New Yorker, Bob is suspicious of where he’s landed, fearing that it is WW3. He is worried that someone is going to steal his wallet—but eventually ends up losing his New York jadedness.  Bob has a New York accent. 
+ Muhumuza:  An African passenger that does not speak English and so does not understand what’s happening around him.  We need to figure out his accent, but he can’t sound like Bob! 
+ Captain Bristol: A handsome airplane pilot who draws the attention of Annette. 

Track 11:  Claude, Derm, Brenda’s brother, Eddie, Texan Passenger 
+Man, 40s-60s 
+Solo Vocal Range: B2-G4 
+Gruff, natural sounding Baritone with a strong high G. The G is at the very end of “Screech In” and could be taken down an octave if necessary.
+Prominently Featured in: “Welcome to the Rock”, “Screech In” 
+Claude: The gregarious and well-liked Mayor of Gander, Newfoundland. Clause loves his work, the townspeople, and his daily traditions, but he’s never had to deal with a crisis of this magnitude. 
+ Derm: The mayor of Appleton, Newfoundland who houses Bob and loves Irish Whiskey. 
+ Brenda’s Brother: Minor Character who is a local Newfoundlander. 
+ Eddie: A Jewish man living in Gander who prays with the visiting Rabbi during “Prayer”. 
+Texan Passenger: A loud and brash passenger who is suspicious of Ali for being a Muslim. 

Track 12 :  Nick, Doug 
+ Man, 50s-60s 
+ Solo Vocal Range: B2-D4 
+ Warm, natural Baritone or Baritenor with an easy E and strong pop sensibility. 
+ Prominently featured in: “Stop the World” 
+ Nick:  An English oil engineer who is focused on his work.  Nick’s life is turned upside down when he falls for Diane. Nick kisses Diane—more than once, with a level of passion. Nick has an English accent.
+ Doug: Air Traffic controller married to Bonnie who tries to help his wife and the animals.