Auditions for MVT's Hawaii Premiere of ALLEGIANCE
The Hawaii Premiere of
ALLEGIANCE
by Marc Acito, Jay Kuo and Lorenzo Thione
Performance Run Commitment: March 28 – April 7, 2019
Performance venue: Hawaii Theatre
When: Monday, September 17, 7pm
Tuesday, September 18, 7pm
Where: Manoa Valley Theatre
Guest Director
Paul Mitri
Guest Musical Director
Kip Wilborn
Guest Choreographer
Christine Yasunaga
About
One family’s extraordinary experience suffering the wrongful imprisonment of Japanese Americans during World War II creates familial turmoil in a troubling time of a nation at war. Young Sam Kimura enlists in the army to prove his family's loyalty, while his sister, Kei, joins the draft resisters fighting for the rights of their people. Their divisiveness threatens to tear them apart forever. But as long-lost memories are relived and a new perspective is gained, Sam finds that it is never too late to forgive and experience the redemptive power of love.
The story was inspired by the true-life experiences of George Takei (Ensign Sulu in the original 'Star Trek' television show) who was interned in a detainment camp at the age of 5 with his family.
Allegiance was presented on Broadway in the 2015-16 Season. It enjoyed a limited run revival in Los Angeles in 2018.
Auditions
Allegiance is a musical drama which is performed by a cast of 9 men and 6 women. Some performers play multiple roles.
Initial onsite auditions will consist of singing and dancing. Selective readings may be held at initial auditions if time permits, or may be held at later callbacks.
For singing, please prepare a song which shows your voice in its best light.
For Kei: high belt with ability to switch easily to head voice.
Young Sammy and Frankie: tenor with easy top to A4.
Tatsuo: strong baritone.
Hannah: Soprano
Band Singer: easy F4
Ojii Chan- to C4
For dance, you will be taught a combination from the show. Please wear appropriate clothing and shoes for movement and dance.
It is strongly encouraged that you read, listen to, and be familiar with the show. Perusals are available to study onsite at Manoa Valley Theatre during regular business office hours.
Video audition for performers not in Hawaii for the onsite auditions will be accepted according to the following:
1. Audition recording to include the previously specified singing and dancing requirements
2. For dance, please demonstrate a double pirouette to the right and to the left, which
can be either a ballet or jazz pirouette.
3. Must be received by MVT no later than September 14, 2018
4. Auditionee must state whether or not a member of AEA
5. Video format should be MP4, YouTube link, or DVD by mail
This production by Manoa Valley Theatre will be a professional, non-union show.
The following roles are in the show. All roles are available.
ASIAN MALE - SAM KIMURA - elderly, a WWII hero. Also plays OJII-CHAN, his grandfather.
ASIAN FEMALE - KEI KIMURA - 20s-30s, Sam's sister
ASIAN MALE - SAMMY KIMURA - 20s-30s, the young memory of Sam
ASIAN MALE - TATSUO KIMURA - 50s, a farmer, father to Sammy and Kei, son of Ojii-San
ASIAN MALE - MIKE MASAOKA - 30s-40s, National Secretary of the Japanese American Citizens League
ASIAN MALE - FRANKIE SUZUKI - 20s-30s, an activist
CAUCASIAN FEMALE - HANNAH CAMPBELL - 20s-30s, an Army nurse
ASIAN MALE - DR. HIDEO TANAKA, an Issei doctor
ASIAN MALE - BEN MASAOKA, brother of MIKE
ASIAN MALE - JOHNNY GOTO
ASIAN FEMALE - MRS. NATSUMI TANAKA, a picture-bride wife
ASIAN MALE - MR. MASATO MARUYAMA, an Issei farmer
ASIAN FEMALE - MRS. KAORI MARUYAMA, his picture-bride wife; SANSEI WOMAN
ASIAN MALE - TOM MARUYAMA, their college-age son
ASIAN FEMALE - PEGGY MARUYAMA, their college-age daughter
ASIAN FEMALE - NAN GOTO, his Nisei wife
CAUCASIAN MALE - PRIVATE EVANS; Recruiting Officer; MP
Additional doubling will be assigned after casting.
Production Schedule
Rehearsals:
January 28 – March 27, 2019
Performance run commitment:
March 28 - April 7 (maximum 14 performances)
Up to 14 performances will be held over the 11-day run,
including up to 4 double-performance days
Evening curtains are at 7pm; Saturday and Sunday matinees
are at 2pm
All performances will be held at Hawaii Theatre.
Rehearsals will be held at `Iolani School, 563 Kamoku Street, and other spaces as required. The rehearsal schedule will generally be Mondays through Fridays from 6:30 to 9:30 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays as necessary. A unique schedule will be crafted once casting and actor availability is known for possible rehearsal outside of the above hours. Cast members will receive an honorarium for participation in this production. This honorarium is not an offer of employment.
Please note: MVT will be aspiring to Broadway artistic standards for this production, and seeks performers who will make the commitment to that goal. Rehearsal attendance and home study are very important.
About The Directors
Paul Mitri (Guest Director) has worked on more than 175 productions as an actor, director, playwright, fight choreographer, dance choreographer, videographer and producer. He is the Head of Acting and a Professor of Theatre at UHM’s Department of Theatre and Dance, and recently served as chair of the department. He is also artistic director of ATWS Theatre Company, and received multiple Po‘okela awards for acting and directing. His past MVT directing includes Duck Hunter Shoots Angel,The Elephant Man, RENT, Spring Awakening and The Full Monty.
Kip Wilborn (Guest Musical Director) has appeared as a leading tenor with opera companies and symphonies around the world, and has also enjoyed success in both film and Musical Theatre. He previously directed MVT’s production of Closer Than Ever and musical directed its It Shoulda Been You and Boys On Broadway. Kip performed lead roles in the Hal Prince productions of Showboat and Phantom of the Opera. In Honolulu, he appeared as Jean Valjean in the PTW production of Les Misérables, in the title role in HOT’s production of I Pagliacci, the title role in Chaminade University’s Sweeney Todd, and Don José in HOT’s Carmen, among others.
Christine Yasunaga (Guest Choreographer) has danced on Broadway in the Original Cast of The Lion King, The King & I, the pre-Broadway production of Flower Drum Song and Radio City Music Hall’s Spring Spectacular. She has a B.A. in Dance from UCLA and is currently choreographing the newest Waikiki show, “Waikiki’s Rockin’ (Guest Choreographer) has danced on Broadway in the Original Cast of The Lion King, The King & I, the pre-Broadway production of Flower Drum Song and Radio City Music Hall’s Spring Spectacular. She has a B.A. in Dance from UCLA and is currently choreographing the newest Waikiki show, “Waikiki’s Rockin’ Reception”, as well as “The Dukes of Surf”. She has received six Po’okela Awards for her choreography at DHT.
Scripts are available for perusal on premises at the Manoa Valley Theatre business office, 2833 East Manoa Road, between 9:30 am and 5:00 pm, Mondays through Fridays.
For more information, please contact MVT at 988-6131 or businessoffice@manoavalleytheatre.com.
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