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Upper School Productions for 2016-17 Announced

Dear Theater Students and Families,
 
I am very excited to announce the Upper School productions for the 2016-17 school year. Auditions for the fall comedy production of “Pride and Prejudice” will take place during the first or second week of school. Exact dates will be determined and shared shortly. Auditions for the spring musical “Smile” will take place in December, with details to be announced.
 
Remember to do your research and prepare your audition material in advance. A solid 1-3 minute monologue should take a MINIMUM of 10 to 30 hours to properly prepare. See details below.
 
Sincerely,
Mr. Doyle
Performing Arts Department Chair
 
 
Pride and Prejudice
Full Length Play, Comedy
5m, 11f
 
Audition expectations:
Comic Monologue from a published play. MEMORIZED 1-3 minutes in length
Show a character and tell that character’s story
Cold Readings from the play to be determined by the director.
 
Performance Dates: November 10, 11 and 12, 2016 in RSPA Panther Hall
 
Plot summary: Set in England during the approximate time of early 1800, five daughters of the Bennet family must be married off. Was ever a mother as put upon as Mrs. Bennet? Jane falls deeply in love with the wealthy Mr. Bingley, and it looks as if a romance is possible between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. But Mr. Darcy is a very proud young man and he is shocked by mama's vulgar matchmaking! He not only leaves for London, but also manages to take Mr. Bingley with him. Jane is heartbroken. Finally, Mr. Darcy returns to propose to Elizabeth. She promptly refuses and berates him for taking Mr. Bingley away and hurting Jane. The attraction between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy eventually triumphs over the pride of one and the prejudice of the other. One int. set. Three acts. Production notes are available in the script containing discussion of characterization and notes on staging. Approximate running time: 2 hours, 25 minutes.
 
 
 
Smile 
Full Length Musical, Comedy
6m, 10f, 2boy(s)
 
Audition expectations:
16-32 bars from a Broadway musical. MEMORIZED! Show your range and a character. Tell a story with the music. Cold Readings from the play to be determined by the director.
Research the show at this site: http://www.samuelfrench.com/p/1730/smile-ashman 
 
Performance Dates: March 9, 10 and 11, 2017 in RSPA Panther Hall
 
Plot summary: This touching and satiric musical by the creators of Little Shop of Horrors, A Chorus Line and They're Playing Our Song, follows the intrigue and exploits onstage and behind-the-scenes as Santa Rosa, California plays host to the Young American Miss Pageant.
 
Cast:
 
The Grownups
BRENDA FREELANDER - A third runner up in the nationals, 18 years ago, now she runs her local pageant. A study in surface perfection and just-below-the-surface neurosis, Brenda is an ex-prom queen who lost a contest once and will never stop trying to make up for it. Underneath her smiling and poised fluff, Brenda is made of steel. 
BIG BOB FREELANDER - Her husband and head judge of the pageant. The town's favorite son, he owns a local RV dealership and his every free moment is devoted to some form of community service. He’s the Henry Fonda type: brave, clean, reverent and means it. A sincere and unashamed flag-waver whose flag is this pageant. 
DALE WILSON-SHEARS - National Chairman of the Young American Miss Foundation. A large, impressive, self-satisfied corporate leader with the suspicious charm of a television evangelist. He's in the charity business, but he's in the business, make no mistake. 
TED FARLEY - The pageant emcee. He ought to do game shows, or run for president. A big old silly, but a professional. 
TOMMMY FRENCH - The choreographer. He's a professional, but he's cynical, tough minded, and practical. 
CAROL - Doubles as MOTHER in Prologue 
WOMAN #1 - Robin's Mother, Louise, Woman Judge
TONY - Doubles as a parent in Prologue and a Judge
MAN #1 - Photographer, Ed, Daddy, Musical Director, Janitor, Judge
 
The Girls
ROBIN - Dark, sensitive, smart. She is attractive without trying to be, honest, down-to-earth, and questioning by nature. She senses that she doesn't quite belong here. 
DORIA - Blonde, Southern, and obsessed. She needs badly to win something...anything. Perhaps to make up for the things that are missing in her real life: friends, self-respect, family. 
SANDRA-KAY - Redhead. Pretty but not too pretty, smart but not too smart, talented but not too talented. The type that usually wins. 
MARIA - Mexican-American. She tries harder. She has to. 
SHAWN - A bit of a Valley Girl. Spoiled, gorgeous, competitive, and prejudiced. 
VALERIE - Shawn's confidant 
KATE - Doubles in Act II as JOANIE MARSHALL, last year's winner 
And nine other girls in the pageant of varying shapes and sizes
 
The Kids
LITTLE BOB - Son of Big Bob, 11 years old. He has all of his dad's charm and none of his integrity. 
FREDDY - Little Bob's nerdy sidekick.
 
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Ranney School

235 Hope Road
Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Tel. 732.542.4777
Our mission is to know and value every child, nurturing intellectual curiosity and confidence, and inspiring students to lead honorably, think creatively, and contribute meaningfully to society. 

We envision Ranney School as a nurturing learning community, in which families, faculty, alumni, and all of Ranney’s constituents collaborate to know and value every child, foster individual talents, sustain powerful connections between children and adults, and graduate resilient, globally-minded citizens.