AUDITIONS: Ballad of the Merry Folx

Name: AUDITIONS: Ballad of the Merry Folx
Start: 2025-04-26T10:00:00-07:00
End: 2025-04-29T21:00:00-07:00
Location: Odd Fellows Samaritan Lodge #2

Schedule

Sat, 26 Apr, 2025 at 10:00 am to Tue, 29 Apr, 2025 at 09:00 pm

UTC-07:00

Location

Odd Fellows Samaritan Lodge #2 | Milwaukie, OR

VOLUNTEER POSITIONS ONLY. NO PAY. PLEASE READ FULL AUDITION NOTICE.
AUDITIONS FOR "Ballad of the Merry Folx” a folk-punk Robin Hood Musical
Produced by Torchsong Theater Company
Libretto: Aric Clark
Original music: Aric Clark and Ken Bussell
Director: Aric Clark
Inspired by Robin Hood stories from the Child Ballads
ABOUT THE SHOW:
A story of resilience and the power of community, this energetic reimagining of Robin Hood for our times follows a young professional Marian, recently moved to the rapidly gentrifying neighborhood of New Nottingham, only to get embroiled in the conflict between her unhoused neighbors, the landlords, and the Sheriff. Laugh, cheer, and sing along with Robin and the Merry Folx as they hatch an audacious plan to steal a life of dignity for all.
AUDITIONS DATES:
Saturday April 26th from 10am-3pm
Tuesday April 29th from 6pm-9pm
WHERE: Samaritan Odd Fellows Lodge 10282 SE Main St, Milwaukie, OR 97222.
ABOUT THE COMPANY:
We create unique and innovative original rock musicals and cabarets in the Portland area : www.torchsongentertainment.com.
WHAT TO PREPARE:
-> A verse and chorus of a song that best showcases your talent. Bring an extra verse and chorus of a contrasting song just in case we'd like to hear more. Please bring a karaoke track (This can be from Youtube) on a smartphone, laptop, iPad, or iPod. We will have a hookup to speakers at the venue. If you have a fancy new phone without a headphone jack, bring your dongle. No acapella singing. You must have a track to sing with.
-> We will have you read “sides” (AKA excerpts) from the script. You can request to read for any part and we may have you read for specific parts we think you’d be suitable for.
-> A short and simple dance combo. 1 week prior to the auditions we will send a youtube link to learn a short 8 bar combo that you’ll perform for us at your audition. Relax and have fun! We just want to see how you move. Lack of dance experience is not a deal breaker.
-> Auditions will be done in pairs by signing up for a 20 minute audition slot
HOW TO REQUEST AN AUDITION SLOT:
Email Aric at [email protected] with a headshot and resume and your preferred audition times. DO NOT bring a physical headshot and resume. We want to save trees and your money/ time. Please arrive 10 minutes before your audition to check in. If you can’t audition in person you may submit an audition video. Email for more details on how to submit a video.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:
Passionate, dedicated, hard working people who want to bring the joy of theater to the PDX area. Your attitude, work ethic, and passion for our company and projects is MUCH more important to us than raw talent. Although we WILL be looking for dynamic and exciting vocalists/actors. And yes, ALL roles are singing and dancing roles in some capacity. We are also looking for tech super stars who'd like to help on the backstage side of things.
CASTING:
We are all about non-traditional casting. Even if a role says "female" or "male" or has a particular age range assigned to it, you may still be considered for the role if you are a great fit! The best part about doing original work is that we can fit the role to the performer instead of vice versa.
ACTOR REQUIREMENTS:
Actors will be required to provide their own make-up, undergarments (like tights), and some street clothes and things from their own closet. Most other costuming and wigs will be provided. Actors will be required to assist with some set up/ tear down of the space between shows and dress/techs, and with the final “strike” at the end of the run.
REHEARSALS:
We will rehearse on Sunday and Monday evenings for June and July and then start to add other nights per week as we get closer to the show opening. We expect actors to come prepared and do work on their own to polish their lines and choreo.
CONFLICTS:
Not all actors will be required at every rehearsal. A detailed rehearsal schedule will be released shortly after casting. Please have all your conflicts ready for approval at auditions and keep it to 3 or fewer.
REHEARSAL/ SHOW SCHEDULE:
-> All rehearsals at Samaritan Odd Fellows Lodge in Milwaukie unless otherwise noted
Sat 5/31 10a-2p First Reading and meet Cast & Crew at CASA Clark
Sun 6/1 5-9p
Mon 6/2 6-9p
Sun 6/8 5-9p
Mon 6/9 6-9p
Sun 6/15 5-9p
Mon 6/16 6-9p
Sun 6/22 5-9p
Mon 6/23 6-9p
Sun 6/29 5-9p
Mon 6/30 6-9p
Sun 7/6 5-9p
Mon 7/7 6-9p
Sun 7/13 5-9p
Mon 7/14 6-9p
Sat 7/19 10a-2p - Special Music Rehearsal with Band
Sun 7/20 5-9p
Mon 7/21 6-9p
Sun 7/27 5-9p
Mon 7/28 6-9p
Sun 8/3 5-9p
Mon 8/4 6-9p
MANDATORY DRESS/TECHS
Fri 8/8 6-11p lights & sound cue to cue (with mics/ band)
Saturday 8/9 10a-3p (full dress/tech - all called)
Sunday 8/10 4p-9p (full dress/tech - all called)
Monday 8/11 6p-10p (full dress/tech - all called)
Tuesday 8/12 6p-10p (full dress/tech - all called)
Wednesday 8/13 6p-10p (TBD – possibly a preview showing)
SHOWS
Friday 8/15 at 8pm (all called at 6:15pm)
Saturday 8/16 at 2pm (all called at 12:15pm - special matinee event)
Saturday 8/16 at 8pm (all called at 6:30pm)
Sunday 8/17 at 6pm (all called at 4:30pm)
Friday 8/22 at 8pm (all called at 6:15pm)
Saturday 8/23 at 8pm (all called at 6:30pm)
Sunday 8/24 at 6pm (all called at 4:30pm)
Friday 8/29 at 8pm (all called at 6:15pm)
Saturday 8/30 at 8pm (all called at 6:30pm)
Sunday 8/31 at 6pm (all called at 4:30pm)
ROLES AVAILABLE:
->Robin (female, person of color, 20s or 30s) A mysterious anarchist activist, and leader of the Merry Folx
->Leslie (female, white, 30s) Marian’s friend since college. A little more responsible and cautious than Marian. She works for Baron Property Group, and ends up acting as a mole for the Sheriff
->Little John (male, any race, 30s-50s) Robin’s right-hand. A military vet and enforcer among the Merry Folx
->Much (trans male, any race, teens or early 20s) The youngest of the Merry Folx. A clever scavenger
->Alain & Dale (any gender or race, 20s-40s) livestreamers who hang around the Merry Folx to record interactions with the cops
->Tuck (male, any race, 40s-60s) rowdy, uncouth preacher who hangs with the Merry Folx
->Sheriff (male, any race, 30s-60s) a right bastard of a cop
->Norman Baron (male, any race, 40s-60s) wealthy real estate developer building condos called The Greenwood
->Bishop Hereford (any gender, white, 30s-60s) a priest who disapproves of the Merry Folx’ rude and disruptive behavior
->Guy Gisborne (male, white, 20s-30s) Loudest Chud, leader of the Freedom Knights a fascist militia
->Chorus members variously portraying - neighbors, NIMBYS, Sheriff’s deputies, chuds, and Merry Folx
The part of Marian has been cast.