Pageant, the musical
by City Theatre Company
Feb. 28 - Feb. 29 (2016)
An all-time musical favorite returns to Austin! This howlingly hysterical show is a send-up of beauty pageants everywhere as six contestants compete for the glittering tiara and the title of Miss Glamouresse. With swimsuit, talent, and evening gown competitions – the show includes both the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat for Miss Deep South, Miss West Coast, Miss Great Plains, Miss Bible Belt, Miss Industrial Northeast and Miss Texas. And, of course, unlike beauty pageants you've seen before, the female contestants are all played by men. AND
the audience gets to select the winner each night. Let the beauty begin!
Produced by The City Theatre Company and directed by CTC guest director Jim Lindsay.
We seek to cast 7 men for various leading roles. The characters are women (not drag queens) played by men, expect for one. They are over the top in almost every way but rooted in a strange, personal sense of their own reality. Skills in broad comedy required.All roles are open and ethnic diversity is encouraged. All performers will need to act and sing well, have strong comic timing, and dance in musical theatre style, unless otherwise noted. Actors seeking roles as contestant will need to be proficient dancing in at least 2” heels.
Auditions are February 28 - 29, 2016 at The City Theatre 3823 Airport Blvd. Suite D Austin, TX 78722 -
Sunday, February 28th 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. and Monday, February 29th 6:00 - 9 p.m.
Please contact for an audition time. Appointments will be one-hour time slots. Callbacks March 6th, 2:00 – 4:00 pm.
Show dates are May 27 – June 19.
Please bring headshot and resume. Have an up-tempo song prepared in the style of the show. Scenes will be performed and be prepared to dance (in heels). Sides will be available on the website prior to the audition. An accompanist will be available. Casting all roles including the pageant emcee.
512-524-2870 or info@citytheatreaustin.org for an audition time.
Roles (age ranges are 18 and over):
MISS BIBLE BELT, RUTH ANN RUTH - Believes that she, plus God, equals a majority in any situation. She sees even the cheesiest part of the Glamouresse Beauty Regimen as part of His Plan. This gives her a unshakably righteous attitude, but she also has the manic cheerfulness of the newly saved. Big belter voice. Perhaps strongest singer in the cast who performs the Act One Finale. Talent Spot: Singing and playing handbells
MISS DEEP SOUTH, LAURINDA SUMMERFORD - The Southerner in the show; even though others may have fabulous hair, only she knows how to work it. At the same time she is The Lady. She has a very narrow and ritualized sense of "femininity," which is frequently outraged by the other contestants' behavior and attitudes. She is exceedingly funny in her passive aggressive Southern attitude. Talent spot: Singing and ventriloquism.
MISS GREAT PLAINS, BONNIE LOUISE CUTLETT - Utterly sincere in her belief in the values promoted by Glamouesse, though some of them seem quite exotic to her. She is honored to represent the great heartland of this nation and to show what honest country folk can do. In the present contest she is agape and aglow. Not necessarily the "prettiest" contestant. Talent Spot: Dramatic Poetry Interpretation.
MISS INDUSTRIAL NORTHEAST, CONSUELA MANUELA RAFAELLA LOPEZ - Included among he regional winners mostly due to Glamouresse's belated sense that the times they are a-changin' and the Northeast's notable lack of interest in the contest. She is feisty, Her talent has been culled from watching the variety show "Sabado Gigante" on Spanish television. Talent Spot: Roller skating while playing the accordion.
MISS TEXAS, KITTY-BOB AMES - The Professional of the group. With her father's money and a shrewd selection of contests, she has never lost a competition. Her skills may not be outstanding by themselves, but her attitude says "Winner" all the way. Talent spot: A big musical theatre, tap, and comedy number. Tap skills required, but this number may not be done in tap shoes.
MISS WEST COAST, KARMA QUINN - Like Miss Great Plains, is sweet-natured, but Karma is a lot less focused. She has tried to parlay her vagueness and I'll-try-anything-once attitude into a comprehensive mystical spirituality but it hasn't jelled. This pageant is the most structured event of her entire life. Actor should have dance skills. Talent spot: Modern/Interpretive dance.
FRANKIE CAVALIER - Our genial host, is certainly that. Frankie is a third or fourth-tier celebrity who is known to the audience where the pageant is being performed, perhaps as a weekend weather-report reader or a spokesman for a used car dealership. Think Martin Short meets Bert Parks meets Regis Philbin, meets Rip Torn. Strong singer who moves well.
Perusal script is available. Contact info@citytheatreaustin.org.
Notes for preliminary auditions (Open Feb 28 12 PM-2 PM and Feb 29 6 PM-9 PM, 2016):
Location: City Theatre, 3823 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78722 Prepare one up-tempo song in its entirety, preferably one that showcases a comic element of your abilities. Song should also showcase your range, vocal strength. Bring one head shot and theatre resume. Clearly indicate any other talents where you are extremely proficient (e.g.: juggling, roller skating, gymnastics/splits, twirling). You may wish to have alternative vocal selections prepared, but we expect to hear only one.
We will also teach one dance combination and have readings from the script, provided on site.
Please come to auditions prepared to provide your most transparent understanding of your rehearsal conflicts for the following dates:
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Tentative: March 7, 2016, evening (initial reading) 7-10PM
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April 18-May 26. Generally, Tues-Friday 7-10PM and Saturdays 2-6PM and Sunday 1-5PM.
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May 27-June 19 (Thursdays-Saturdays 8PM and Sundays at 5:30PM)
All performers will be expected to dance in march, musical theatre, pageant style.
Call backs (if needed and by invitation only) will take place at City Theatre on Saturday March 5, 2016 from 2:30-4:30PM.
Instructions for call backs will be sent in invitation.
After a first read and sing through, actors will have several weeks off to learn parts, music, and harmonies, which will be accessible via drop box.
Rehearsals will take place in differing locations: City theatre and at least one other location on Austin’s East side, location TBD.
