Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story Audition Notice

Artisan Center Theater (NON EQUITY) announces auditions for

Buddy

The Buddy Holly Story

A musical by Alan Janes

Directed by Renee Norris

Assistant Directed by Rose Ivie

Music Direction by Thomas Bartke

Choreography by Autumn Robinson

Performed at Artisan Center Theater at 444 East Pipeline Road, Hurst, Texas

AUDITION INFORMATION

Your song can be any song written and/or performed by that artist or from the era.

Dialects welcomed. Please prepare one of the readings below.

Live AUDITIONS April 15th 7-10PM

CALL BACKS: (If needed) April 16th starting at 7PM.

Video AUDITIONS

Sign up on TheaterForms and send video of the song and your reading to auditions@artisanct.com now through April 1st. Please slate your name and state the roles for us to consider as well as instruments you play. Perform your song followed by the accompanying monologue. We are hoping to cast principal roles earlier, through video auditions.

Buddy Holly: guitar
Tommy Allsup: rhythm electric guitar
Joe B. Mauldin: Double Bass
Jerry Allison: drums
J.P. Richardson- no instrument
Ritchie Valens: guitar
Hi-Pockets Duncan: must play an instrument or sing harmony well
Vi Petty: Keyboard
Maria Elena Santiago-Holly: Puerto Rican dialect/no instrument
Senora Provi Garcia Spanish English with a pronounced Puerto Rican dialect/ no instrument
Murray Deutsch - no instrument

Apollo Theatre musicians, The Hayriders and Clear Lake Musicians: Play any instrument for 1 minute- no singing required. Stipend available.

Singers: Backup singer- please add do-wop movement to your singing audition. Use “Performer” Monologue.

LOCATION: Auditions will be at Artisan’s Studio A at 444 East Pipeline Road, Hurst, Texas 76053.

REHEARSAL DATES: There may be a few rehearsals for solo artists and musicians starting by April 2nd. These will be arranged to work with the performer’s schedule. Rehearsals will begin on Tuesday, April 23rd for our full company. We will rehearse Mondays, Tuesday, Thursday, and Fridays from 7PM-10PM and Saturdays from 2:30PM-5:00PM. We will add in Wednesday during production week. Not everyone will be called to each rehearsal.

PRODUCTION DATES: The production runs June 7th-June 29th. It will likely be a single cast show with performances on Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30PM and Saturdays at 3PM and 7:30PM

ABOUT THE SHOW: The Man – The Legend – The Music - On February 3rd, 1959, the man who changed the face of popular music tragically died in a plane crash, aged 22. BUDDY – The Buddy Holly Story tells the story of the three years in which he became the world’s top recording artist with a show that features over 20 of Buddy Holly’s greatest hits including “Peggy Sue”, “That’ll Be The Day”, “Oh Boy”,”Not Fade Away”, “Everyday”, “Rave On”, “Maybe Baby”, “Raining In My Heart”, Ritchie Valens’ “La Bamba”, and the Big Bopper’s “Chantilly Lace”. The incredible legacy of the young man with glasses, whose musical career spanned an all-too-brief period during the golden days of rock ‘n’ roll, continues to live on in BUDDY. It is the “ULTIMATE FEEL GOOD MUSICAL”.

ROLES AVAILABLE:

Buddy Holly: (Lead – 20’s – 30’s) tall, must play guitar, sing, and act with a rock and roll feel; singer songwriter and star from Lubbock, Texas, intelligent and charismatic, must possess serious star potential and have the desire to live as a rock ‘n’ roll superstar every night; must sing either “That’ll Be The Day”, “Everyday”, or “Oh, Boy” and accompany yourself on a guitar; need to be familiar with all three songs

Tommy Alsopp: (Lead – 20’s – 30’s) tall, rhythm electric guitarist with pop/rock experience who sometimes worked with Buddy as the ‘fourth Cricket’; at audition sing either “That’ll Be The Day”, “ Everyday”, or “Oh, Boy” and accompany yourself on a guitar; need to be familiar with all three songs

Joe B. Mauldin: (Lead – 20’s – 30’s) serious character with musical ability from Lubbock, Texas; must be able to sing, act, and play the Double Bass; at audition sing either “That’ll Be The Day’, Everyday” or “Oh, Boy”, or a similar rock ‘n’ roll number

Jerry Allison: (Lead – 20-30’s) good looking, must be able to play the drums and bring own sticks, must have cheek humor and ability to act and sing; from Lubbock, Texas; at audition sing either “That’ll Be The Day’, Everyday” or “Oh, Boy”, or a similar rock ‘n’ roll number

J.P. Richardson ‘The Big Bopper’ (30ish) songwriter/singer, best known for “Chantilly Lace”; an exuberant performer with excellent pop singing ability and comedic timing to re-create this famous song; may also play additional minor characters

Ritchie Valens (Hispanic ethnicity, 20ish) a guitarist/singer most well-known for the hit song “La Bamba”; energetic and charismatic, he was an exciting performer; ability to play the guitar a plus; may also play additional minor characters

Hi Pockets Duncan (50ish) disc jockey in Lubbock, Texas who advises Buddy; serves as a narrator between some segments of the story; must play an instrument or sing harmony well

Vi Petty (Caucasian - 30’s-40’s) possess a boogie woogie, jazz, or pop music singing style; is the wife of record producer, Norm Petty. Keyboard ability a plus

Maria Elena Santiago-Holly (Puerto Rican – 20’s-30’s) Attractive and strong-willed; must have an excellent ear for the Puerto Rican dialect and sing harmonies well; met and married Buddy following a whirlwind one-day romance

Senora Provi Garcia (Puerto Rican – 40’s-50’s) speaks in Spanish English with a pronounced Puerto Rican dialect; is Maria Elena’s aunt

Murray Deutsch (Caucasian – 40’-50’s) a producer in New York, at the studio where the Crickets record; preference is for a musician to also play in the Hayriders and/or Clear Lake bands

Apollo Theatre musicians and singers, The Hayriders and Clear Lake Musicians

Singers

ABOUT THE THEATER:

Artisan Center Theater produces nine big Broadway style musicals in their 195-seat theater-in-the-round. Artisan also stages three additional special event productions, two plays and one musical revue, on the new 150-seat thrust stage located on Second Stage. Also on Second Stage, Artisan Children's Theater produces seven children's shows each year where children perform for children. As part of their mission to create opportunities to experience uplifting family-friendly theater, Artisan offers a complete program of theatrical education, dance and performing arts classes throughout the year. Opening in 2003 and now serving more than 90,000 patrons each year, Artisan Center Theater is located at 444 E Pipeline Rd. in Hurst, Texas. The theater is closed on Sunday. For more information on Artisan visit www.ArtisanCT.com.