C A S T 

Westmont Junior High School Spring 2018

https://wjhmusical.weebly.com/

Musical Handbook - and - 

Cast Audition Packet 

Cast Directions 

For people who want to PERFORM ON STAGE in the musical. WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?

Before auditions . . .

1. Read the following handbook with your parent(s)/guardian and fill out the applica�on.

2. Turn the applica�on in to Mr. Troyer no later than 12:00pm Friday, Dec. 22 .

3. Talk to Mr. Troyer to sign up for an audition . You must have a completed applica�on in order to sign up for an audi�on �me.

4. Prepare your audi�on materials.

5. Audi�on - Have fun and do your best ;)

After auditions . . .

6. Look for the official cast list, which will be posted ONLINE on the musical website. The cast list will be posted the night of Friday, January 12.

7. If selected to be a member of the cast or chorus, prac�ce and memorize your lines. If you are not selected to perform, you may choose to be involved in the backstage crew.

8. A�end all rehearsals. It is your responsibility to attend all of your rehearsals. If you must be

absent for an excused reason, it is your responsibility to meet with a friend and learn the

material that you missed before the next rehearsal. If you miss too many rehearsals, parts may

be reassigned by the directors.

9. Perform -- Friday April 13 th and Saturday April 14 th .

 

A Letter From the Directors  Dear Students and Parents,

We are very excited to announce that the 2017-2018 musical will be The Lion King Jr. ! This musical is sure to be a high-energy, challenging, and ul�mately rewarding experience for everyone involved!

Disney's The Lion King has cap�vated the imagina�on of audiences around the world and now you have the opportunity to be a part of this one-of-a-kind musical in our school! The African savannah comes to life on our stage with Simba, Rafiki and an unforge�able cast of characters as they journey from Pride Rock to the jungle and back again in this inspiring, coming-of-age tale.

The Lion King Jr. is filled with a wide variety of characters and music styles, and we believe it is well suited to be performed at the junior high level. Some characters have large and demanding roles which require a large commitment to rehearsal and memoriza�on. Others characters require less. As you read through this packet, learn about the characters, and fill out the audi�on form, we encourage you to think carefully about the coming semester and the level of commitment you can devote to this musical. Your upfront communica�on about poten�al scheduling conflicts will help ensure a successful show.

Musicals are highly rewarding experiences that require a great deal of work and commitment from everyone involved. Students -- this is YOUR show. Make it the best it can be! Parents -- it takes a

small army to put on these productions, and we will rely on the volunteer efforts of at least one parent

per family to help share the workload. Thank you in advance for your help and support!

The WJH musical website will be our primary means of communica�on. Please bookmark this page and check it o�en. The address is: h�p://wjhmusical.weebly.com/

Musicals require a lot of work, energy and effort, but it is an experience you will never forget! Please feel free to let us know if you have any ques�ons or concerns. Thank you, and let’s “break a leg!”

Sincerely,

Zach Troyer Peggy Ciupinski Megan Malloy Kim Healy

Director Tech Director Assistant Director Assistant Director ztroyer@cusd201.org pciupinski @cusd201.org mmalloy@cusd201.org khealy@cusd201.org 

General Cast Information  PARTICIPATION FEE There is a required $37.00 district par�cipa�on fee for all members of the cast and crew. This fee is due

Monday, January 22 . Please pay by check, and make the check out to “CUSD 201.” MUSICAL T-SHIRT All cast and crew are required to have a musical t-shirt. Orders for the t-shirt will be placed through the school and pricing informa�on will be available a�er audi�ons are completed. COMMUNICATION - https://wjhmusical.weebly.com/

All informa�on about the musical can be found on the WJH musical website, including the rehearsal calendar and the cast list. The directors will also send out emails for important informa�on. Please check the website

often . AUDITIONS, CALLBACKS, ROLES, AND CASTING All actors will be asked to par�cipate in an audi�on. Informa�on about the audi�on is included in this packet. Audi�ons are used both as a learning tool for the students and as a means for the directors to cast the various roles within the show. Some addi�onal audi�on �me may be required - this extra audi�on is called a callback audi�on. Some students may be asked to come to callbacks on Friday, January 12. The list of callback students will be posted a�er the Tuesday general audi�ons. The final cast list will be posted on WJH Musical website

the evening of Friday, January 12. The website address is https://wjhmusical.weebly.com/ BEHAVIOR AND GRADE POLICIES Students are expected to follow the Panther Path and all school rules during all rehearsals and performances. Students are also expected to maintain good grades throughout their par�cipa�on in the musical. Students who struggle to maintain appropriate behavior or grades may have their role in the musical reduced, reassigned, or discon�nued. REHEARSAL SCHEDULING Please list all of your conflicts - standing conflicts (each week) and long-term conflicts (vaca�ons, etc.) - on your audi�on sheet. This is the only way we can put together a rehearsal schedule for the students. All conflicts approved by the directors at the �me of audi�ons will be considered excused absences. Illness and/or injury are also considered excused. Please make every effort to report absences to the director before the rehearsal �me. A quick e-mail helps the directors adjust the schedule to accommodate absences. Long term illnesses or injuries may require some modifica�ons to a student’s role. All rehearsal schedules will be posted on the musical calendar, which can be found on the musical website. SCHEDULING CONFLICTS WITH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES Many WJHS students par�cipate in school-sponsored sports or other ac�vi�es, and the directors are aware that there may be scheduling conflicts. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate scheduling conflicts

between the directors and other teachers/coaches! The directors will do their best to work out compromises

with the students. This only applies to other school-sponsored ac�vi�es. Please note that absences MAY NOT

OCCUR for ANY reason (with the excep�on of an emergency) during tech week (April 9-13) or the preceding

week (April 3-6).

REHEARSAL ATTENDANCE A rehearsal calendar will be developed which best balances the needs of all families and students involved. Therefore, students must be in attendance on days they are called to rehearse. Absences are difficult on everyone and nega�vely impact that day’s rehearsal. If your child will be absent from a rehearsal, it is

important that you email the directors . Thank you! ● Excused Absences : absences are considered “excused” if a student is excused from regular a�endance

at school. Please see the WJHS student handbook for more informa�on. ● Unexcused Absences : absences are considered “unexcused” if they do not meet established WJHS

policy OR if the absence is not communicated to the directors. Students who have unexcused absences will meet with the directors and their role in the musical may be reduced, reassigned, or discon�nued.

COSTUMES Ms. Malloy will be designing our costumes for The Lion King Jr. Costume needs will vary from student to student based on each student’s character. Individual students may be asked to provide their costume in part or in whole. Ms. Malloy will send out informa�on a�er rehearsals to begin outlining the specific items needed for each student. Informa�on regarding hair and makeup will be communicated before our tech week. MEMORIZATION Memorizing your lines is one of the major responsibili�es of all actors. We’re in this together! Actors who struggle with lines make it difficult for the en�re cast to rehearse. The due date for memorizing all lines is Monday, March 12. All cast members, regardless of the size of their role, are expected to be “off-book” by the due date. Actors who are not ac�vely working on memoriza�on by the due date will be asked to meet with the directors to discuss the con�nua�on of their role. FUNDRAISING Fundraising is o�en a part of many co-curricular or extracurricular ac�vi�es. All students in the cast and crew of The Lion King Jr. will have the opportunity to support the produc�on through Playbill adver�sing sales or family “shout outs.” STUDENT PICK-UP Our rehearsal calendar will provide start- and end-�mes for all rehearsals. Rehearsals are typically scheduled to end at either 4:15pm or 5:15pm so that students can ride the ac�vity bus home. If a rehearsal is scheduled to end at another �me, please make sure each student has a ride home and is picked up promptly. Thank you! PARENT VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS It takes a small army to make these produc�ons happen! That’s where our parents come in. We ask that at least one parent from each family volunteer in some capacity so that we share the workload. If you have a special area of exper�se that you would like to offer help with, we would love to hear from you! We will be covering more informa�on on our volunteer jobs at the parent mee�ng.

PARENT MEETING We will be holding a cast and crew parent mee�ng on Monday, January 22 from 7:00-7:30. We strongly

encourage parents to attend . This is a great opportunity to meet the directors, find out more details about the produc�on process, and ask any ques�ons regarding the show. IMPORTANT DATES All dates on the rehearsal calendar are important and required for cast/crew called for each par�cular rehearsal. Rehearsal calendars will be created throughout the rehearsal process, but will be provided to families in a �mely manner. Here are a few dates highlighted for your convenience (this list is not exhaus�ve): December 22 Friday Audition Form Due / Deadline for Audition Sign Ups

January 9 Tuesday Vocal and Acting Auditions - after school - REQUIRED

January 10 Wednesday Dance Audition Clinic - 7:30 am - REQUIRED

January 11 Thursday Dance Auditions - after school - REQUIRED

January 12 Friday Final Auditions / Callbacks - after school

January 12 Friday Cast List Posted (in the evening)

January 16 Tuesday First Rehearsal - ALL CAST/CREW REQUIRED

January 22 Monday District Participation Fee and T-Shirt money due

January 22 Monday Parent Meeting - Parents strongly encouraged to attend!

April 9 Monday Tech Week - ALL CAST/CREW REQUIRED - 3:15-7:30. NO ABSENCES! April 10 Tuesday Tech Week - ALL CAST/CREW REQUIRED - 3:15-7:30. NO ABSENCES! April 11 Wednesday Tech Week - ALL CAST/CREW REQUIRED - 2:15-7:30. NO ABSENCES! April 12 Thursday Tech Week - ALL CAST/CREW REQUIRED - 3:15-7:30. NO ABSENCES!

April 13 Friday 7:00p Performance - 5:00p CALL TIME FOR CAST/CREW April 14 Saturday 2:00p Performance - 12:00p CALL TIME FOR CAST/CREW

Show Synopsis (from MTI)

RAFIKI gathers the ANIMALS of the Pridelands to welcome the newborn cub of King MUFASA and Queen SARABI ( Circle of Life with Nants' Ingonyama ). The king's jealous brother SCAR , no longer heir to the throne, skips the ceremony, upse�ng Mufasa. Time passes ( Grasslands Chant ) and YOUNG SIMBA grows into a curious young lion. Mufasa explains the circle of life and that Young Simba will one day be king of the Pridelands. Young Simba shares this news with Scar, who encourages his nephew to visit the forbidden Elephant Graveyard. Young Simba finds his best friend YOUNG NALA hun�ng with SARAFINA and the LIONESSES ( The Lioness Hunt ) and invites her on his adventure. Once they ditch their overbearing babysi�er ZAZU ( I Just Can't Wait to Be King ), the cubs encounter the ravenous SHENZI , BANZAI , and ED in the graveyard. Mufasa arrives and pummels the hyenas then takes the cubs home. Scar emerges from the darkness to recruit the HYENAS in his murderous plan to become king ( Be Prepared ). Back in the Pridelands, Mufasa reprimands Young Simba then shares the guidance of their ancestors, up among the stars ( They Live in

You ).

Enac�ng his plan, Scar leaves Young Simba alone in the gorge and signals the hyenas to scare a herd of wildebeest ( The Stampede ). Scar alerts Mufasa, who leaps into the stampede to save his son. Mufasa rescues Young Simba, but Scar pushes his brother back into the gorge, where he is trampled. Scar blames Young Simba for the king's death and tells him to run away and never return. As Sarabi, Young Nala, Rafiki, and the lionesses mourn the loss of Mufasa and Young Simba ( The Mourning ), Scar assumes the throne, uni�ng lions and hyenas under his dark reign. Lost in the desert, Young Simba meets TIMON and PUMBAA , who take him to their "worry-free" jungle home ( Hakuna Matata ).

Under Scar's reign, the Pridelands are nearly destroyed. Now grown, NALA decides to leave and seek help ( Shadowland ). To her delight, she finds SIMBA alive in the jungle ( Can You Feel the Love Tonight ). Nala urges him to take his righ�ul place as king, but s�ll ashamed, Simba refuses. Rafiki appears and helps Simba remember his father ( He Lives in You ). With newfound courage, Simba agrees to return to the Pridelands. Timon and Pumbaa distract the hyenas ( Luau Hawaiian Treat ) while Nala rallies the lionesses. Simba confronts his uncle, the truth of Mufasa's murder is revealed, and Scar runs away, pursued by angry hyenas. With peace restored in the Pridelands, Simba takes his place as king and the circle of life con�nues ( Finale ).

Brief Character Descriptions 

* * * Listed in order of appearance * * * Rafiki is a wise mandrill who acts as healer of the Pridelands and guides Simba on his journey home. She is an omniscient character, evincing an air of mystery. Rafiki has significant solos in "Circle of Life" and "He Lives in You," and leads the African chants throughout the show. She should be played by a strong actor able to improvise and be crea�ve. A main character - preferably played by a girl. Large time commitment. The Ensemble plays various inhabitants of the Pridelands, such as giraffes, elephants, antelopes, wildebeest, and other creatures. There are several moments to showcase individual dancers in "The Lioness Hunt" and "I Just Can't Wait to Be King." Supporting characters - played by boys and girls. Medium-to-small time commitment.

Mufasa is the strong, honorable, and wise lion who leads the Pridelands. Mufasa should command respect onstage and also show tenderness with his son, Simba. Played by an actor who can convincingly portray a king. A main character - played by a boy. Large time commitment. Sarabi is a featured lioness, Mufasa's mate, and Simba's mother. Sarabi has a few key speaking lines for an actor who can deliver the care and command of a queen. A supporting character - played by a girl. Medium time commitment.

Zazu is the anxious yet loyal assistant to Mufasa who is always busy trying to do his duty. Zazu's lyrics are spoken rather than sung. A main character - played by a boy or a girl. Large time commitment.

Scar is the antagonist of the show, overcome with jealousy of his brother, Mufasa, and nephew, Simba. Coldhearted and wickedly intelligent, he will stop at nothing to become king of the Pridelands. Played by an actor who can bring out this villain's dark side while handling Scar’s sarcas�c sense of humor. A main character - played by a boy. Large time commitment.

Young Simba , the protagonist of the story, is an adventurous and endearing cub who can't wait to be king of the Pridelands. Simba is playful, energe�c, and naive, but a�er his father Mufasa's death, Simba struggles with shame and his des�ny. A main character - played by a boy. Large time commitment.

Simba grows from a cub to lion in "Hakuna Matata." Older Simba has more complex moments as he reunites with Nala, mourns his father, and returns to confront Scar, so Simba needs to be played by a more mature actor. A main character - played by a boy. Large time commitment. The Lionesses are the fierce hunters of the Pridelands and featured in "The Lioness Hunt," "The Mourning," and "Shadowland." These actors should be strong singers and dancers, as the material can be challenging. Supporting characters - played by girls. Large-to-medium time commitment.

Young Nala is a courageous lion and Young Simba's best friend. She is not afraid to speak her mind and should be played by a strong actor capable of portraying this confident cub. A main character - played by a girl. Large time commitment.

Nala grows from a cub to a lioness before she confronts Scar, so Nala needs to be played by a more mature actor. A main character - played by a girl. Large time commitment.

Sarafina is a featured lioness and Nala's mother. A supporting character - played by a girl. Medium time commitment. Banzai is a slick yet childish hyena who works for Scar. He would be the leader of the group if hyenas weren't so lazy. Needs to be played by an outgoing and confident actor who can portray nas�ness and gruffness. A supporting character - played by a boy or a girl. Large time commitment. Shenzi is one of Scar's hyenas who plot to take over the Pridelands. She is the sassy one of the trio and is always looking out for herself. With Banzai and Ed, she should be able to laugh loudly and long, as well as be menacing to Young Simba and Young Nala. A supporting character - played by a boy or a girl. Large time commitment.

Ed is the third member of Scar's trio of lackeys. He has a loud, cackling laugh that is his only form of communica�on. Ed should be played by an actor who can laugh unabashedly and communicate through physicality and facial expressions rather than words. This role can be played by a boy or girl. A supporting character - played by a boy or a girl. Large time commitment.

The Hyenas are Scar's army, helping carry out his evil plot to take over the Pridelands. Hyenas are mangy, mindless creatures who sing in "Be Prepared." Supporting characters - played by boys or girls. Medium time commitment.

Timon is an outcast meerkat who lives in the jungle with Pumbaa. He is afraid of his own shadow, but pretends to be the confident, relaxed leader of the duo. Timon is one of the funniest characters in the show and should be played by a charisma�c actor who understands comic �ming. A main character - played by a boy or a girl. Large time commitment. Pumbaa is a kindhearted, sensi�ve warthog who enjoys his simple life of grubs and relaxa�on. Pumbaa should be played by an actor who can portray this loveable and loyal friend to Timon and Simba with deadpan humor. A main character - played by a boy or a girl. Large time commitment.

Audition Information 

All audi�on materials will be posted online at the WJH musical website. Here is what you can find on the website:

● Audi�on Sides (scripts) for each character ● Audi�on Song for each character ● Recordings of each song that will help you learn the song ● The accompaniment track that you will sing along with during audi�ons

INSTRUCTIONS 1. The musical website address is: wjhmusical.weebly.com

2. All of the audi�on materials will be on the “Audi�on Central” page . 3. Find the character you would most like to audi�on for, and prepare the materials! 4. If there is a password on the website, it will be: panthers

The website has all of the materials you need for a great audition! If you want to feel really

confident about your audition, have some practice auditions with your friends.

AUDITION PROCEDURES Here’s a brief overview of what audi�ons will be like:

1. You will introduce yourself to the directors and announce which role(s) you’re audi�oning for. 2. You will perform the Audi�on Sides (lines) for your character. Bring a friend to perform the

lines with you. Your friend will leave once you are done performing your lines. 3. You will sing your Song Excerpt with the Accompaniment Track (you can prac�ce with this track

on the website). 4. That’s it -- you’re done! Congratula�ons!

A Note About Auditions . . .   

A successful high school theater director wrote the following paragraph. We think it offers great encouragement to all students who audi�on, and we hope you can take these words to heart.

I want to clear up one last thing. In an audi�on, directors are looking for what you do RIGHT, rather than what you do WRONG. (Which is why if you mess up your words in your song . . . keep singing!) Mistakes are expected, so try not to focus on them. Instead, show us what you are capable of. Edmund W. Golaski once said “While the actor’s ego may crave the largest role, ge�ng a role that’s the right fit is probably more conducive to happiness during the produc�on period. I would argue that it’s in your best interest to be yourself, show off what you do well, and trust that the directors will put you where you can shine.” I like that. --Erik Ball

 

Audition Form

Complete this form to the best of you knowledge and give to Mr. Troyer by Friday, Dec. 22 .

Student Name ______________________________________________________________________________________ Age ______________ Grade ______________ Preferred Voice Part ________________________________ Roles I am especially interested in ______________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ If you are not selected for a specific role within the cast would you accept another position (such as an ensemble

member or backstage crew member)?

Please explain ______________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Previous Team Experience : List any experience you have working on a team or with groups of people (for example, sports teams, clubs, student council, etc.). __________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Previous Music Experience : List any experience you have in a music ensemble or as an actor/performer (for example, choir, band, community ensemble, past musicals and/or ac�ng experience). __________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Possible Conflicts : Please list and explain any conflicts you might have with a�er-school rehearsals (for example, school ac�vi�es, school sports, clubs, youth group, family vaca�ons, etc.). It is important that you are as thorough as possible

in this section!

__________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________

Is there anything else you would like the directors to know about before your audition?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________

STUDENT CONTRACT By audi�oning for this musical, you are agreeing that you will:

● Prac�ce and memorize your lines/songs by Monday, March 12 ● Prac�ce and memorize your blocking/choreography by Monday, March 19 ● A�end ALL rehearsals you are called for ● Do all you homework for school and maintain good grades ● Par�cipate in a helpful, produc�ve, and PROFESSIONAL manner while following the Panther Path ● A�end ALL TECH WEEK REHEARSALS without excep�on! ● Perform at BOTH of our performances: Friday, April 13 and Saturday, April 14 ● Perform your part to the best of your ability - There are NO small parts!!!

By signing below, I indicate that I have thoroughly read through this handbook with a parent/guardian and agree to uphold all

policies and expectations as explained herein.

Student Signature _____________________________________________________ Date ________________________________

PARENT/GUARDIAN INFORMATION Parent/Guardian Name (primary contact)__________________________________________________________________________ Primary Contact Phone ___________________________ Primary Contact Email _________________________________________ Parent/Guardian Name (secondary contact - leave blank if same as above) _______________________________________________ Secondary Contact Phone _________________________ Secondary Contact Email _______________________________________

PARENT/GUARDIAN CONTRACT Thank you for your support -- the show couldn’t happen without it!!!

By signing this applica�on, you are agreeing to the following: ● You provide consent for your son/daughter to audi�on for this musical, and, if cast, to a�end ALL required rehearsals/events ● You have thoroughly read and understand all sections of this handbook and application

● One parent per family commits to volunteering in some capacity (for example, helping with costumes, set planning and construc�on, set decora�on, prop collec�on or crea�on, or administra�ve, rehearsal, or technical assistance, etc.). More informa�on will be presented at the Parent Mee�ng on Monday, January 22 at 7:00 pm.

Parent/Guardian Signature __________________________________________________ Date ________________________