7-12 Workshop Registration

And there is still time to get in on the 13-19 age group as well. Steven Meeker is an incredible actor and director. Don’t miss out on a chance to learn from him in a small group setting, working towards the production of a show at the same time. Register today!

13-19 Workshop Registration

Registration has been opened to those 18 and 19 now.

Tickets are just $9 online and $10 at the door. Use coupon code MVP online to save an additional $1.

Love Letters follows the lives of Melissa Gardner and Andrew Makepeace III, childhood friends who went their separate ways but continued to share confidences via the US Postal Service. Enjoy a very special evening as we present this often funny, touchingly romantic show that Time Magazine called “one of the best American plays of the decade.”

On June 15, the show will be performed by Jim and Amy Stoner. The 2pm show on June 16 will feature Ira Mowery and Tammy Souhrada, followed by Aaron Paulley and Jennifer Casner at the 6pm performance.  Come on out, support Knox County’s oldest community theatre organization and enjoy the great food and drink of Sips.

All shows also feature a performance of “What?”, a hilarious short written and directed by Tammy Souhrada.

The content of Love Letters is rated PG-13 (some language and adult themes).

This fast-paced Sondheim classic examines some of our most popular fairy tales in funny, thought-provoking and sometimes touching ways. Into the Woods is experiencing a cultural resurgence, with revivals in 2010 in Great Britain and 2012 in New York City, as well as an upcoming movie adaptation being penned by Sondheim and produced by Disney. Into the Woods is a fun, witty show that has pleased audiences around the world since its debut in 1986.

The production team consists of Aaron Paulley as Director, Virginia Cameron as Music Director and Michelle Betz as Choreographer. Internationally-acclaimed artist Stephen Chipps joins us as Consulting Art Director and Puppet Designer. We are also in search of a Stage Manager and Assistant Director.

Audition Information

Audition dates are Friday, August 2 from 6pm to 8pm and Saturday, August 3 from 9am to 4pm. Callbacks will be held on Sunday, August 4 at 1pm.

The ensemble will consist of 20-22 actors and actresses, 2-6 puppeteers and a stage crew of 4-6. Those interested in auditioning must sign up for an audition time online by CLICKING HERE. Your actual start time may vary depending on number of auditions. We are using the online audition signups to stagger when people arrive, and also to make it so that you don’t have to stay for the complete audition time.

Auditions and callbacks will be held at ThePlace@TheWoodward, located at 111 South Main Street, Mount Vernon, Ohio.

Again, online audition signups: CLICK HERE.

Each person auditioning will spend about 15 minutes in a reading audition and 15 minutes in a singing audition. Please prepare for the music audition by bringing 32 bars from an upbeat show tune or ballad. If you want accompaniment, bring your own sheet music in the key you want to sing. You may sing a song from Into the Woods if you want, especially if you are auditioning for a specific role.

An accompanist will be provided. Most roles will also take part in a 10-15 minute dance audition as well, in small groups. All roles involve some choreographed movement.

Those selected for callbacks will be contacted by phone no later than 9:00 P.M. on August 3.

Production Crew, Puppeteers and More…

Also needed are people to help with set construction, costume design, stage crew and puppeteers. Yes, puppets. Not Muppet-type puppets, but intricate walkabout puppets. So if you’re the quiet-type and don’t want any lines, but don’t mind being on stage and using your whole body to perform, being a puppeteer in this show is for you. Contact the director for more information, or just signup.

Sign up for those positions here: COSTUMES, SET BUILDERS, PUPPETEERS, STAGE CREW. If sign-ups are full or you have any questions, please email the director Aaron Paulley at apaulley@mtvplayers.org.

We are also in need of space in which to build the set before we can move it into the Memorial. The set will a large structure that will remain in place during the entirety of the show, therefore we are ideally looking for a space in which we can build the set and practice with it. If you or someone you know has space which we can use from August through October, please contact Aaron Paulley at apaulley@mtvplayers.org or (740) 263-0755 (cell).

Find Your Voice!

The Mount Vernon Players is Knox County’s oldest community theatre organization. Into the Woods is the kickoff show for our 2013-2014 season, which will be our 50th year in Knox County. Become a part of our storied history and Find Your Voice! with the Mount Vernon Players!

Character Information

(Character ages listed are guidelines only. If you’re not that age, but you want a part, convince us.)

Please note that we are casting this show for age 16+ except for the role of the NARRATOR, which will be portrayed by a boy age 8-12.

CINDERELLA: A young, earnest maiden who is constantly mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters. Longs to go to a ball. (Supporting Lead)
Female, 16-30 years old
Range: Soprano, G3 – G5

CINDERELLA’S MOTHER: Deceased with her soul guarding and aiding her daughter from a tree. This part will be played doubled or tripled from the cast and/or portrayed by a puppeteer. (Supporting)
Female, 30+ years old
Range: Soprano, D – F4

CINDERELLA’S FATHER: Complacent man married to Cinderella’s evil stepmother. (Supporting)
Male, 30+ years old
Range: Baritone, G – G4, sings with chorus mostly

CINDERELLA’S PRINCE: Vain and gorgeous, he is a disloyal lover who is currently searching for the next new, exciting thing. (Supporting)
Male, 18-40 years old
Range: Baritone, B2 – F4

CINDERELLA’S STEPMOTHER: The mean-spirited, demanding stepmother of Cinderella. (Supporting)
Female, 40-50 years old
Range: Mezzo, A3 – F#5

FLORINDA and LUCINDA: Cinderella’s stepsisters who are black of heart. They follow in their mother’s footsteps of abusing Cinderella. (Supporting)
Female, 16-35 years old
Range: Mezzo, C4 – Ab5

GIANT: Voiceover. The Giant’s wife is an angry and vengeful ‘monster.’ She is seeking restitution for her loss. May be cast from current company. (Cameo)
Female, 35-60 years old
Speaking Role

JACK: The fearless Giant killer who is ‘almost a man.’ He is adventurous, naive, energetic, and bright-eyed. (Supporting Lead)
Male, 16-30 years old
Range: Tenor, B2 – G4

JACK’S MOTHER: Browbeating and weary, Jack’s protective mother who is independent, bold, and strong-willed. (Supporting)
Female, 50-65 years old
Range: Soprano, Bb3 – Gb5

LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD: A spoiled young girl who is strong-willed, quick-witted, fearless, yet youthful and naive. (Supporting Lead)
Female, 16-22 years old
Range: Mezzo, Bb3 – F5

MYSTERIOUS MAN: A mischievous vagrant and nosy meddler. He is a good-natured protector and observer. (Supporting)
Male, 30-65 years old
Range: Baritone, G2 – Eb4

NARRATOR: An imaginative and playful schoolboy torn by a less-than-perfect home life. (Supporting Lead)
Male, 8-12 years old
Range: Baritone, G2 – E4

RAPUNZEL: A loopy-but-lovely maiden who is sheltered by the Witch and terribly lonely. She yearns to experience the world. (Supporting)
Female, 18-30 years old
Range: Soprano, B3 – A5

RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE: Just as vain and gorgeous as his Prince brother, he is always chasing the newest, most exciting endeavor. (Supporting)
Male, 25-40 years old
Range: Baritone, C#3 – E4

THE BAKER: A harried and insecure baker who is simple and loving, yet protective of his family. He wants his wife to be happy and is willing to do anything to ensure her happiness but refuses to let others fight his battles. Will need to be able to do very basic dance moves with his wife. (Lead)
Male, 25-45 years old
Range: Baritone, Ab2 – G4

THE BAKER’S WIFE: Determined and bright woman who wishes to be a mother. She leads a simple, yet satisfying life and is very low-maintenance yet proactive in her endeavors. Will need to be able to do very basic dance moves with her husband. (Lead)
Female, 25-45 years old
Range: Mezzo, F3 – G5

THE WITCH: Sarcastic, ugly-then-gorgeous, obsessive protector of Rapunzel who is straightforward and aggressive. (Lead)
Female, 30-55 years old
Range: Mezzo, F3 – G5

WOLF: Hungry and insatiable hunter who takes advantage of the weak by misleading and captivating his prey. (Supporting)
Male, 25-35 years old
Range: Baritone, Bb2 – Gb4

STEWARD: Pompous, snippy, bootlicking servant to Cinderella’s Prince. (Supporting)
Male, 25-45 years old
Range: Baritone, sings with chorus

LITTLE RED’S GRANDMOTHER: A rather blood-thirsty old lady. (Cameo)
Female
Range: Mezzo – only sings with chorus

SNOW WHITE and SLEEPING BEAUTY: The popular characters make a cameo appearance. (Cameo)
Female
Range: Mezzo – only sings with chorus

The Mount Vernon Players will be offering a Summer Jr. Theatre Workshop, to be held at ThePlace@TheWoodward, Tuesday nights, from June 18 through August 13. Two age groups, 7-12 and 13-17, will focus on several aspects of live theatre, each culminating in a special one-night showcase performance at the historic Knox County Memorial Theatre on Saturday, August 18 at 6pm.

Registration is just $65 for the entire nine-week program and includes two tickets to the end-of-workshop showcase at the Memorial.

Content & Instructors

Ages 7-12

Instructors: Aaron & Hannah Paulley.

Combined, Aaron & Hannah have more than 30 years of experience working with and teaching kids. From short skits to full-length plays and musicals, they have been leading children’s groups in churches and communities for the entirety of their adult lives (and many years before that, too!).

This workshop will focus on theatrical basics, creating characters and bringing them to life, reacting to other actors, and more. Over the course of the workshop, the students will work with each other to create their own skits and monologues and will present  them at the end-of-workshop Showcase at the Knox County Memorial Theatre on Saturday, August 17. Each workshop registration includes two tickets to the showcase. Additional tickets may be purchased here.

Ages 13-17

Instructor: Steven Meeker, Jr.

Steven Meeker Jr. is an actor, director, mime, writer, dancer, and producer who is a BFA Acting major at Otterbein University. He has been a part of more than 40 productions and is well-known for his all-youth productions including The Laramie Project, Rebel Without a Cause, Ah, Willderness! and this summer, The Crucible. He is very excited for this opportunity to help young artists discover what they love about theatre!

 Click Here to Register

You can also buy tickets by calling
1-888-71-TICKETS (84253)
from 9 A.M. to 9 P.M. EST.

Click Here to Register

The Mount Vernon Players will present A.R. Gurney’s Pulitzer Prize-nominated Love Letters at WineStein in Mount Vernon, Ohio, for five performances in May and June. A different set of actors will bring the two-person play to life each afternoon and evening.

Featuring the talents of JENNIFER CASNER, DOUGLAS GUSTAFSON, DANA KEMMER, DOROTHY MICHALSKI, IRA MOWERY, AARON PAULLEY, TAMMY SOUHRADA, AMY STONER, JIM STONER and CARL YOUNG.

Love Letters revolves around the correspondence of Melissa Gardner and Andrew Makepeace Ladd III. It follows the two characters through their nearly 50-year bittersweet relationship that began in the second grade. Time Magazine called Love Letters ”one of the four or five best American plays of all time.”

The show is directed by Aaron Paulley, a theatre veteran of more than 25 years, primarily in Cambridge, Ohio. Love Letters marks Aaron’s directorial debut with the Mount Vernon Players.

Performance dates are as follows, and will be presented at WineStein in Mount Vernon, Ohio:

Sunday, May 12, 2:00 P.M.
Sunday, May 12, 6:00 P.M.

Saturday, June 15, 2:00 P.M.
Sunday, June 16, 2:00 P.M.
Sunday, June 16, 6:00 P.M.

Sunday, May 12 is Mother’s Day and Sunday, June 16 is Father’s Day.

Tickets are $10 and a limited menu will be available at WineStein.

For ticket information, visit www.mountvernontickets.com or call (740) 233-1616.

LOVE LETTERS is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York.

The talented actresses lending their abilities to the eccentric role of Melissa Gardner are: Jennifer Casner, Dana Kemmer, Dorothy Michalski, Tammy Souhrada and Amy Stoner.

Likewise, the actors bringing Andrew Makepeace Ladd III to life are: Douglas Gustafson, Ira Mowery, Aaron Paulley, Jim Stoner and Carl Young.

A different set of actors will portray the roles of Melissa and Andrew  for each performance.

Performance dates:

Sunday, May 12, 2:00 P.M.
Sunday, May 12, 6:00 P.M.

Saturday, June 15, 2:00 P.M.
Sunday, June 16, 2:00 P.M.
Sunday, June 16, 6:00 P.M.

Tickets are just $10.