The Studio Company returns in Autumn 2017 with their production of Stephen Sondheim’s acclaimed musical ‘Sweeney Todd’. Previous productions include ‘Urinetown’, ‘Into The Woods’ and ‘Company, all of which saw sold-out houses and rave reviews!
This exciting Musical Theatre performance group rehearses and performs small-scale musicals in unique and quirky London studio theatre spaces with live musicians to a paying audience. With rehearsals on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday evenings over two months The Studio Company aims to produce excellent Musical Theatre shows for a discerning audience.
With a whole week’s run of performances this process will be intense and rewarding, whilst still fitting around your normal working life.
Every cast member must audition for their place in each show, all cast members will have heavily featured roles.
You will work with a Director, a Musical Director and a Choreographer, all with extensive experience of professional Theatre, to produce a show of excellent quality.
WHO CAN JOIN?
The Studio Company is by audition only, and auditions will be held to form a new company for each specific production rather than for an ongoing group.
The group is aimed at performers with previous experience, who are able to act and sing to a high standard. Dance ability is not the primary focus but musicality and script work are very important as rehearsals will be fast paced and intensive. The result will be a show of professional quality.
AUDITIONS
The cost of a first round audition slot is £5, should you be successful in being asked to the recall workshop this second round will be free of charge.
FIRST ROUND:
You can book and pay for your audition slot here >>
You will be given an hour’s slot and within that hour you will sing your audition song for our creative team. Auditions will not be performed in front of the other auditionees.
All potential members will need to prepare two songs; one song written by Stephen Sondheim, and another contrasting Musical Theatre or light opera piece of your choice. One song should showcase range and tone and the other should be a patter/character piece.
You may use material from this show should you wish to, these songs are to be performed for the Director and musical Director; please bring your own printed taped or filed sheet music for our pianist.
RECALL WORKSHOP:
Auditionees who are successful in being asked to our workshop recall round will be notified by email within 24 hours of the first round auditions. All auditionees must be able to attend the workshop in order to be eligible for the production as we need to see all performers act and sing with other potential cast members.
Material for the recalls will be sent out a week in advance to give people time to learn the scenes and songs we would like to hear.
This workshop round is free of charge to the invited participants.
THE SHOW
Sweeney Todd’ is one of Stephen Sondheim’s best loved musicals, it has been produced all over the world in many different incarnations and in 2008 was made into a film by Director Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall and Sacha Baron-Cohen.
Sondheim wrote the music and lyrics and the book is by Hugh Wheeler with whom he also wrote ‘A Little Night Music’.
With an ensemble of eight and nine leading roles there is plenty for performers to get their teeth into. Our production will feature our ensemble throughout the piece as they inhabit our atmospheric performance space, creating the world of Sweeney Todd for our audience.
THE PERFORMANCE
The performance will take place in ‘The Ditch’ in Shoreditch Town Hall. This unique performance space is a converted Victorian basement, with all the character and individuality that implies. A flexible performance space, it allows us to take a different approach to Musical Theatre staging and venture away from traditional ‘end on’ theatre. More than that, the space couldn't be any more appropriate than it is for this particular show, set in dingy Victorian London.
The show will be fully staged with costume and lighting. We will perform with live music provided by our Musical Director.
SCHEDULE FOR ‘Sweeney Todd’ AUTUMN 2017
AUDITIONS:
First Round Auditions: Sunday 11 June
Recall Audition Workshop: 21 and 22 July
REHEARSALS:
Rehearsals will take place each week on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights 7-9:30pm for eight weeks from Wednesday 4th October – Sunday 26th November
Wednesdays – The Union Theatre 7pm -9:30pm
Fridays – The Arts Theatre 7pm – 9:30pm
Sundays – City Academy Office – 6pm – 8:30pm
Cast will not be required for every single rehearsal, as we will schedule the actors for the specific scenes and songs that need work rather than full company each night.
STUDIO PRODUCTION WEEK:
Performers must be available for all of the dates below to be eligible for this production.
All day tech and dress rehearsal: Tuesday 28th November
Evening Performances: 29th, 30th November, 1st, 2nd, 3rd December
Matinees: 2nd and 3rd December
SUBSCRIPTION
The whole 9-week process will cost lead performers £695
Our small ensemble will pay the reduced rate of £600
