Mary Poppins
AUDITION INFORMATION
Mary Poppins has delighted, entertained and enchanted generations of readers, movie audiences and theatregoers.
CLOC Musical Theatre takes great pleasure “in the most delightful way” of adding to your appreciation and love of
the magical nanny with her umbrella and bag of tricks, with the return to Melbourne of the musical adaptation of
this timeless tale.
This spectacular production includes all of the best loved songs from the film including Chim Chim Cher-Ee, A
Spoonful of Sugar, Jolly Holiday, Step in Time, Feed the Birds, Let’s Go Fly a Kite and Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,
as well as new classics like Practically Perfect and Anything Can Happen.
You know the words, the music and the story – add breathtaking dance numbers, astonishing stagecraft, a little bit
of magic and a whole lot of imagination, that all blend perfectly to make this musical soar high above the rest. If you
would like to be part of something special, please come along and audition for this beautiful production. We will be
looking for disciplined performers - people prepared to come on the journey and take on the challenges it will
present. A favourite line in the show perfectly prepares us all –
“Stretch your mind beyond fantastic, dreams are made of strong elastic”.
See you there!
The Production Team
Please note that ‘character ages’ are indicative but not necessarily prescriptive
LEADING AND SUPPORTING ROLES
Mary Poppins (Female) : Jane and Michael’s new nanny. A dazzling personality and a force to be reckoned with. Full
of hope even when things look bleak.
Character age: Mid 20s
Vocal Range: Mezzo Soprano with strong top register
Bert (Male) : Bert is a one-man-band, a sidewalk artist, a chimney sweep, a kite salesman and above all, a friend to
Mary Poppins and Jane and Michael Banks. Charming and charismatic. Song and dance man. Cockney accent.
Character age: Mid 30s
Vocal Range: Baritone to G
George Banks (Male) : A bank manager and father to Jane and Michael. Tries to be a good provider but often forgets
how to be a good father.
Character age: early to mid 40s
Vocal Range: Baritone
Winifred Banks (Female) : A former actress, she tries very hard to live up to her husband’s expectations. A loving but
distracted mother to Jane and Michael.
Character age: Mid 30s
Vocal Range: Mezzo Soprano
Mrs Brill (Female) : The Banks’ cook. She rules the kitchen at No. 17 Cherry Tree Lane.
An intimidating exterior masks the warmth underneath.
Character age: 40s to 50s
Vocal Range: Alto
Robertson Ay (Male) : The Bank’s bootman. Clumsy but good hearted. Has trouble following instructions.
Character age: Early 20s
Vocal Range: Tenor
Birdwoman (Female) : Sits in front of St Paul’s Cathedral everyday selling bags of crumbs for the pigeons.
Character age: 40s to 50s
Vocal Range: Alto
Jane Banks (Female) : The Bank’s daughter. Misbehaves to get attention. Exuberant but wilful.
Character age: Looks 11 years
Michael Banks (Male) : The Bank’s son. Misbehaves to get attention.
Character age: Looks 9 years
ENSEMBLE
Mary Poppins features a large ensemble of singers and dancers and includes big Broadway style production numbers
covering a range of specialised and unique choreography.
Male (12) and female (10) ensemble will play people walking in the street, in the park, statues, bank clerks, shop
customers, toys, kite flyers, chimney sweeps as well as:
Policeman/Mr Punch/Ens (Male) : Local policeman
Admiral Boom/Bank Chairman/Ens (Male) : The Bank’s friendly neighbour. Eccentric. An Edwardian stuffed-shirt
Character age: 40s to 50s
Vocal Range: Baritone
Park Keeper/Ens (Male) : Watches over park. A stickler for the rules.
Character age: 30s to 40s
Vocal Range: Tenor
Neleus/Ens (Male) : A statue in the park. Neleus has lost his father, Poseidon, god of the ocean.
Strong dancer (some classical training)
Character age: 20s
Vocal Range: Tenor
Von Hussler/Ens (Male) : Bank Clerk
Northbrook/Ens (Male) : Bank Clerk
Valentine/Ens (Male) : Male doll, bigger than life
William/Ens (Female) : Enormous life-like toy
Katie Nanna/Annie/Ens (Female) : The last in a long line of nannies for the Bank’s children. Katie Nanna can’t stand
any more of their pranks and leaves.
Miss Lark/Ens (Female) : A neighbour on Cherry Tree Lane. Snobby and treats her dog Willoughby like a child.
Character age: 30s
Vocal Range: Mezzo Soprano
Miss Andrew/Miss Smythe/Queen Victoria/Ens (Female) : When Mary Poppins disappears, Mr Banks calls on Miss
Smythe (their old nanny). She is cruel and demanding.
Character age: 40s to 50s
Vocal Range: Soprano with alto belt
Mrs Corry/Ens (Female) : Mysterious and very old. Mrs Corry runs the ‘Talking Shop’ where people buy
conversations and gingerbread. She knew George Banks when he was a boy.
Character age: Indeterminate
Vocal Range: Soprano
Fannie/Ens (Female) : Mrs Corrie’s daughter
Glamorous Doll/Ens (Female) : Life-like toy
CHILDREN:
• The roles of Jane & Michael Banks will be double cast and may be required for call backs.
• Three other children will be cast as child ensemble: gender and age to be determined at the discretion of the
audition panel. These children will not be required for call backs.
• All children being considered for a role or child ensemble will be required to attend a movement audition by
invitation on Monday November 10 between 7.30pm – 8.00pm.
• All children auditioning need to be aged between 8 and 12 years at the time of the audition.
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AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
Audition Forms can be downloaded from CLOC’s website (www.cloc.org.au) for you to complete before arrival if
you wish.
Arrive early enough to fill in the appropriate forms and talk through your song with the audition pianist.
Prepare one song in the style of the show. Remember that as time is limited, you may not complete the song,
so choose an appropriate starting point.
Bring sheet music in the key in which you wish to sing (no taped music or requests to transpose). Please make
sure the music pages are bound or stuck together –NO LOOSE PAGES PLEASE.
Prepare a 45 - 60 second monologue with appropriate accent to highlight your ability to portray a character.
You may also be asked to read extracts from the script.
Bring a current photograph of yourself (non returnable) and a performance resumé.
Be available for the Dance/Movement Call on Monday November 10 (evening). All auditionees should be
prepared to attend a vocal/dialogue audition as well as a dance/movement audition. You will be notified on the
evening of Sunday November 9 if you are required to attend the Dance/Movement audition and at what time.
All roles and ensemble will be required to attend the Dance/Movement audition by invitation.
Please wear appropriate and comfortable clothes and shoes (preferably jazz shoes for movement) and be
warmed up before commencing the Dance/Movement Audition.
Be available for Call Backs on Wednesday November 12 (evening). Not all roles may be called back. Call
Backs will be for voice/dialogue, not dance/movement, and ensemble will not be called back. You will be
advised on Monday night (after the Dance/Movement auditions) if you are required for Call Backs and at what
time. You will be emailed music to learn and will be expected to present at performance standard with music
down at the Call Backs. Headshots and measurement for costumes for adults will also be taken at the Call
Backs.
Final casting will take place on Wednesday night after the Call Backs, and all auditionees who have attended
the Call Backs will be contacted that night, whether successful or not. Other auditionees will be contacted by
mail so everyone who has auditioned should know the outcome of their audition by Friday November 14.
Please note that casting is not absolutely final until after the Call Backs.
Minimum age for auditionees: 16 plus at the time of auditions, except for children, where minimum age is 8.
Children must be aged between 8 and 12 years at the time of the audition.
Rehearsals are on Sunday afternoon (2pm-6pm), Monday and Wednesday evenings (7.30pm-10.30pm).
Note following dates:
* Measure for Costumes:
* First Rehearsal:
* Costume Try On:
* Photo Shoot:
* Rehearsal Weekends:
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Costume Call:
Sitzprobe with orch:
Bump-In:
Bump-Out:
Saturday Nov 22, 2014, 1.00pm – 2.00pm
Sunday February 1 2015, 2.00pm (full company)
Sunday March 1, 10.00am-1.00pm (before rehearsal)
Sunday March 22, 9.30am-1.00pm
Saturday February 28 and Sunday March 1 (all day)
Saturday March 28 and Sunday March 29 (all day)
Saturday April 25 (Anzac Day) and Sunday April 26 (all day)
Saturday May 2 and Sunday May 3 (all day)
Monday May 4, 7.30pm–10.30pm
Thursday May 7, 7.30pm-10.30pm
Sunday May 10 (all day) (Mother’s Day)
Saturday May 30 (immediately following the final performance)
Performance Dates (2015): Venue – National Theatre, cnr Barkly and Carlisle Sts, St Kilda
Sun May 10
Mon May 11
Tues May 12
Wed May 13
Thurs May 14
Fri May 15
Sat May 16
Sun May 17
Bump In (Mother’s Day)
Tech run/cast/crew/piano
Full Dress/Orchestra
Full Dress/Orchestra
Full Dress/Orchestra
Show 8pm (Opening)
Show 8pm
Show 2pm (Matinee)
Thurs May 21
Fri May 22
Sat May 23
Sat May 23
Sun May 24
Wed May 27
Thurs May 28
Fri May 29
Sat May 30
Show 8pm
Show 8pm
Show 2pm (Matinee)
Show 8pm
Show 2pm (Matinee)
Show 8pm
Show 8pm
Show 8pm
Show 8pm (then Bump Out)
AUDITION BOOKINGS: from Saturday October 25, 9am PHONE: 1300 362 547
AUDITION DATES: Vocal: Saturday November 8 (afternoon)
Sunday November 9 (all day)
Dance/Movement: Monday November 10 (evening)
Call Backs: Wednesday November 12 (evening)