Mon, 04/09/2018 - 7:15pm

BELFAST — Midcoast Actors' Studio will be holding auditions for its summer musical, Cabaret. Auditions will be Saturday, April 21 and 28, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Troy Howard Middle School, 173 Lincolnville Ave. in Belfast. MAS is looking for actors, singers and/or dancers for this full scale production to be performed at the Crosby Center in Belfast August 3-12.

Set in 1931 Berlin as the Nazis are rising to power, it focuses on the nightlife at the seedy Kit Kat Klub, and revolves around young American writer Cliff Bradshaw and his relationship with English cabaret performer Sally Bowles.

A sub-plot involves the doomed romance between German boarding house owner Fräulein Schneider and her elderly suitor Herr Schultz, a Jewish fruit vendor. Overseeing the action is the Master of Ceremonies at the Kit Kat Klub. The club serves as a metaphor for ominous political developments in late Weimar Germany. Music and lyrics are by John Kander and Fred Ebb, with a book by Joe Masteroff. Famous songs include Willkommen, Maybe This Time, Tomorrow Belongs to Me, and the title track.

Cabaret will be directed by Suzanne Ramczyk, recently-retired Professor of Performance in Theatre Arts at Bridgewater State University and director of over 60 academic and professional shows. Jenny Cobuzzi is the choreographer. Music direction is by John Gelsinger. Pit orchestra direction and accompanist is Ruth Gelsinger. Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script, a simple dance audition, and singing. Please prepare 16 bars from a song, preferably a musical.

Roles available include:

CLIFF: A young American writer who has come to Berlin to write his novel and becomes involved with Sally Bowles. (smart, romantic, and loves a good time) He is the male romantic lead. Sings solo (in a duet with Sally) and with the ensemble.

HERR SCHULTZ: An elderly Jewish fruit shop owner who falls in love with (and proposes to) Fraulein Schneider. He is fun, sentimental, very likeable, and naïve about the rise of the Nazis. Sings two songs (solo within duets) and with the
ensemble.

BOBBIE AND VICTOR: “Kit Kat Boys:” singer/dancers in the club; 4-7 song & dance numbers; sing with the ensemble. (supposed to be twins) If possible, we will cast two more “Kit Kat Boys,” Hans and Herman.

MAX: Owner of the Kit Kat Club. He is strong, domineering and can be abusive. Sings with the ensemble.

ERNST LUDWIG: A young German man, who befriends Cliff. Seems the perfect gentleman, charming and very likeable. A Nazi. Has a short solo and sings with the ensemble.

2 SAILORS: “Clients” of Fraulein Kost. Sing with the ensemble.

Young Boy (Nazi Youth) to sing one song

FRAULEIN SCHNEIDER: An elderly woman who owns/runs the boarding house where Cliff, Sally and Fraulein Kost live. She is strong, caring, a good business woman, and extremely likable. Sings two solos and two duets and sings with the ensemble.

FRAULEIN KOST: A prostitute who rents a room in Fraulein Schneider’s Boarding House. Gregarious, outspoken and likeable. Sings a solo and with the ensemble.

ROSIE, LULU, FRENCHIE, TEXAS ( and hopefully FRITZIE AND HELGA): “Kit Kat Girls,” singer/dancers in the club. Five to seven songs; dance numbers; sing with the ensemble. These women are very outgoing, audacious, sexy and career cabaret performers. They are hardened by the vicissitudes of life. We are looking to cast women of all ages.

Plus more ensemble members.

For more information, call 370-7592 or email midcoastactors@gmail.com Midcoast Actors' Studio is a 501c3 non profit organization.