Pegasus Theatre announces auditions for The Cuban and the Redhead, a new musical with book, music and lyrics by Robert Bartley & Danny Whitman. Robert Bartley will direct the production. Auditions will be conducted in the Choir room at the First United Lutheran Church in Dallas at 6202 E. Mockingbird Ln.
Bartley and Whitman live in New York City and have had new works produced at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, off Broadway, the New York Theatre Festival and on tour, and published by Samuel French. The Cuban and the Redhead has been included in the Los Angeles Festival of New American Musicals, the National Alliance for Musical Theatre Festival in New York City, the New Works Festival at the Village Theatre in Seattle. This will be the first full production of the show. As a director, Bartley recently helmed two recent off-Broadway productions, which received across-the-board rave reviews, Bedbugs! The Musical and Character Man, nominated for a Drama Desk Award and Outer Critics Circle Award, plus in the DFW area, Xanadu at the WaterTower Theatre and Frequency of Death for Pegasus Theatre. Bartley and Whitman, created, produce and direct the annual Broadway Backwards, which has played 12 editions in Broadway theatres featuring hundreds of performers including Jessie Mueller, Whoopi Goldberg, Neil Patrick Harris, Cynthia Erivo, Josh Groban, Jenn Colella, Tony Yazbeck, Kathleen Turner and Betty Buckley. Bartley has performed on and off Broadway, in national tours, at Carnegie Hall, Goodspeed Musicals and dozens of the most prestigious regional theatres and in feature films including The Producers and Enhanted.
The authors are excited by the opportunity to develop the show in the Dallas-Forth Worth area prior to pursuing a Broadway production in New York City.
PERFORMANCES: At the Charles W. Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts in Richardson, Texas. Run dates are September 14, 2018 through September 30, 2018 with presentations at 8pm on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and 3pm as well on Saturdays and Sundays. Rehearsals will begin August 06, 2018. UPDATE: Rehearsals will begin August 3, 2018.
SYNOPSIS:
Escaping the bloodshed of Cuba, a young boy sets sail on a turbulent journey that leads him all the way to Hollywood and into the arms of a fiery, redheaded movie star named Lucille Ball.
The Cuban and the Redhead, Desi and Lucy, put their egos and dreams of stardom on the line in a gamble to save one thing-their marriage-risking it all on an untested and floundering new medium called television. The Cuban and the Redhead follows in the footsteps of Gypsy, Jersey Boys, Dreamgirls and Funny Girl honoring famous icons. This musical features an original score with sounds from 1940s big band to hot Latin rhythms.
AUDITION INFO: Prepare a short song that shows voice and acting, but most of all, that you are comfortable singing. Classic musical theatre or standards are ideal. Please have a second song if needed. (Bring sheet music–accompanist will be provided.)
Union and non-union actors will be considered for Lucy, Desi and Carole. All other roles will be cast non-union.
Lucy, Caucasian, high belt/mix. Character ages from 22 to 40. Driven, strong, yet vulnerable, great comic, beauty. Closed emotionally until Desi opens her up to loving him and herself.
Desi, Latino, high baritone/tenor. Character ages from 18 to 36. Charming, sexy, youthful leading man. Spanish-speaking and guitar skills a plus but not necessary. Wants to be noticed and seen in this new country for who he can be.
Carole Lombard, 30s, belt mix. Caucasian, sexy, worldly, profane, strong and brassy. She is as at home being a glamourous femme fatale as she is being “one of the boys.” Lucy’s idol. Desperate for someone to know and love the real her.
Junior, slick Americanized immigrant, 1940s street-smart hepcat. Open to all ethnicities. Desi‘s best friend and manager, 2nd male lead. Ages from 20 to 38. Raised on the hard streets of poverty-ridden side of Miami. Sees Desi as his ticket out.
Lolita, Desi‘s mother, 30s to 50s. Latina actress. Educated, upper class, faces great struggles in this new country. Manipulative and desperate for her son’s success. Bring short song, but mostly non-singing role.
Barbara Pepper, Cherub-faced, tough talking beauty with a heart of gold. Chorine friend of Lucy’s from Goldwyn studios. Ages from young 20s to 40s. Will do some ensemble work as well.
30s-60s comic character actors to play roles such as Sam Goldwyn, Busby Berkeley, Harry Ackerman.
30s-50s comic character actress to play character roles. Will sing and dance in the ensemble.
20s-40s ensemble men and women, seeking excellent singers and dancers for ensemble. They will also play featured speaking roles.
CALLBACKS: Will be held the evenings of April 30, May 1 & 2.
To Sign Up for auditions: