Chess the Musical Audition Announcement
AMERICAN COAST THEATER COMPANY
SEEKING VIRTUAL SUBMISSIONS FOR:
CHESS THE MUSICAL
A lightly staged Rock Opera Concert
By Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus of the pop group ABBA, lyrics by Tim Rice
Rehearsal Dates: May 6 – June 5, 2024 at the Lyceum Theater in Costa Mesa.
Performance Dates: June 6 – 16. There is some pay for principles.
VIDEO SUBMISSION:
Please submit an upbeat rock opera song with proper belt or mixed vocal in respective range. Looking for rock tenors, baritones, basses, and soprano 1 & 2. All roles available. Songs from CHESS are encouraged. Physicalize the character with emotional truth/depth. Video auditions should be submitted to SKBerkompas@gmail.com with subject CHESS Submission. Include headshot/resume.
Deadline: Submit an unlisted U-Tube channel link in the email by January 3.
IN-PERSON CALLBACK:
A group callback will be held in-person on January 9 from 6pm – 9pm, by invitation. Callbacks will include more singing from the show; sides, and possibly a prepared dramatic monologue. Sides will be provided to those in advance by January 5 via email.
DESCRIPTION:
CHESS is set in the 1980s during the Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. It is a story about the romantic triangle between two players in a World Chess Championship, one Russian and one American, and the Hungarian-born American woman who manages one and falls in love with the other.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:
FLORENCE – strong belt voice (to E). 20s-30s. Born in Hungary, has been brought up in America. She is clever, theatrical, touching, vivacious, volatile.
FREDDIE – rock Tenor (to C). late 20s-30s. An American chess champion. A cross between Bobby Fisher and John McEnroe. Arrogant and temperamental, but a genius; his chess playing is revolutionary. Artistry, obsessiveness, and danger.
ANATOLY – Baritone (to G sharp). 30s-early 40s. A Russian chess champion. Unexpectedly charming. Doesn’t seem like a romantic hero at first but becomes one. Intelligent, feeling, passionate.
MOLOKOV – Bass (down to F sharp). 40s-50s. Not a fake, comic, stage Russian. Intellectually formidable. Seemingly a father figure to Florence. Anatoly’s chess “second”. An actor who sings well.
SVETLANA – strong belt Soprano 2 voice. 30s. Anatoly’s wife. Domestic, wholesome, homey. A dramatic contrast to Florence. Not a contemporary cosmopolitan woman.
WALTER – Bass-Baritone (down to G sharp). 50s. A marketing agent. Seemingly respectable, substantial, trustworthy. An actor who sings well.
ARBITER – rock high Baritone (up to A). 30s-40s. International businessman. Smooth, but with a quick temper.
MALE & FEMALE ENSEMBLE: Need 15 strong singers who can act.
All genders, races, ethnicities, ages, and abilities are encouraged to submit.