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Auditions for OSU Lyric and OSU Theatre’s Winter 2022 production of the musical Chesswill be held November 7th and November 8th with scheduled callbacks on November 9-10 on the Withycombe Main Stage in Withycombe Hall (2901 SW Campus Way, Corvallis OR). 

 

With music by ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus (yes . . . that ABBA) and lyrics by Ulvaeus and Tim Rice, Chess is a story of competition and love set against the backdrop of the Cold War tensions of the late 1970s and early 80s. This richly textured pop musical ran successfully on London’s West End for three years and features great songs including “I Know Him So Well,” “Anthem,” and “Someone Else’s Story.” 

 

The preliminary audition will consist of a singing audition. Please prepare 16-32 bars of music from a contemporary musical theatre piece. An accompanist will be provided. Bring your own sheet music. Auditions are open to all.  

 

Callback auditions will consist of cold reads from the script in addition to prepared musical selections from the show. If called back, the musical preparation component will be assigned following vocal auditions. 

 

There will be a cast read-through and meeting November 20th at 6:00 pm. Regular staging rehearsals will begin January 3 and be held Monday through Thursday 6:00-10:00 pm and Sundays 12:00-6:00 pm. Vocal rehearsals will be on campus Tuesday and Thursday 4:00-7:00 pm through Opera Workshop until the week before runs. Tech week will begin Saturday, February 26 at noon with dress rehearsals running February 27-March 2. Performance dates are March 3-5 and 11-12 at 7:30 pm and March 13 at 2:00 pm. All cast members must be present for all rehearsals the week prior to tech, tech/dress week, performances, a possible pick-up rehearsal March 10, and a strike following the closing performance. Please bring your schedules with any possible conflicts to the audition. 

 

Available Roles: 

Florence: Strong belt voice (to E) Mid-thirties. Clever, theatrical, vivacious 

Freddie: Rock tenor (to C). Mid-thirties. American chess champion, a cross between Bobby Fischer and John McEnroe. Arrogant and temperamental genius. 

Anatoly: Baritone (to G sharp). Early 40s, Russian chess champion. Intelligent, passionate, and feeling. 

Molokov: Bass (down to F sharp). Older Russian, formidable. Like a father figure to Florence.  

Svetlana: Strong belt voice. Late 30s, Anatoly’s wife. Domestic, traditional, not cosmopolitan like Florence. 

Walter: Bass-baritone (down to G sharp). A seemingly respectable marketing agent. 

Arbiter: Rock high baritone (up to A) Smooth international businessman with a quick temper. 

Gregor: Svetlana’s father, baritone, (low A to high G) 

Ensemble: Casting 8 performers to sing and play multiple roles 

 

For more informationplease contact Nick Larson at nicholas.larson@oregonstate.edu 

 

 

 

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