WEST SIDE STORY
CASTING CALL

WHO?

You! META’s mission is to provide quality theatre opportunities for youth in Skagit, Whatcom, Island, Snohomish and King Counties (or anyone else who can reach us). These roles range in age from from 12 to 22, with a few important parts for “post-graduate students.” We like to assign those parts to actors who can best help us fulfill our mission.

WHAT?

West Side Story is the classic Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim/Jerome Robbins collaboration adapting William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet to modern times and moving it from fair Verona to Hell’s Kitchen, battleground of The Gangs of New York. The star-crossed lovers are Tony and Maria, he the founder of the Jets, she the sister of the leader of their sworn enemies, the Sharks. Here are the characters . . .

The Jets

  • Riff, the leader (B flat 2 to G 4)

  • Tony, his best friend (B flat 2 to B flat 4)

  • Diesel Riff's lieutenant (Baritone/Bass)

  • Action (Tenor) , A-Rab (Baritone), Baby John (Tenor), Big Deal, Gee-Tar, Mouthpiece, Snowboy, Tiger and Anybodys

The Jet Girls

  • Velma (Riff's girlfriend), Graziella (Diesel's girlfriend), Minnie, Clarice and Pauline

The Sharks

  • Bernardo, the leader (B flat 3 to C 6)

  • Chino, his best friend

  • Pepe, second-in-command

  • Indio, Luis, Anxious, Nibbles, Juano, Toro and Moose (mixture of baritone and tenor)

The Shark Girls

  • Maria, Bernardo's sister (B flat 3 to C 6)

  • Anita, Bernardo's girlfriend (F 3 to D 5)

  • Rosalia, Consuelo, Teresita, Francisca, Estella and Marguerita (mixture of alto and soprano)

The Adults

  • Doc, owner of the local drugstore/soda shop.

  • Schrank, racist local police lieutenant.

  • Krupke, neighborhood cop and Schrank's right hand man.

  • Glad Hand, well meaning social worker in charge of the dance.

  • Madam Lucia, owner of the neighborhood bridal shop.

WHERE & WHEN?

AUDITIONS

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Parish Hall - 415 S 18th St, Mount Vernon

Open Call - Tuesday, November 20th, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Open Call - Wednesday, November 21st, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Call Backs - Saturday, November 24th, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

PERFORMANCES

The Lincoln Theater - 712 S 1st St, Mt Vernon, WA 98273

  1. Friday, February 8th, 7:30

  2. Saturday February 9th, 7:30

  3. Sunday, February 10th, 2:00

  4. Thursday, February 14th, 7:30

  5. Friday, February 15th, 7:30

  6. Saturday, February 16th, 7:30

  7. Sunday, February 17th, 2:00

  8. Thursday, February 21st, 7:30

  9. Friday, February 22nd, 7:30

  10. Saturday, February 23rd, 7:30

HOW?

We audition in three one-hour slots. The first 50 minutes will be devoted to singing and performance, and the last 10 minutes will be given to movement in group.

  • Come prepared to sing the standard verse, chorus, verse of any song of your choice.

  • Prepare and perform a one-minute monologue.

  • Be dressed and ready to move.

WHY?

META stands for Multicultural Education Theatre Arts and we chose this show because:

  • West Side Story is widely recognized as a work of cultural significance.

  • West Side Story as a follow up on our success last year with Stand and Deliver.

  • West Side Story is a spanking good show, one of the all-time greats.

The dancing and songs are outstanding, and Director Joe Bowen (Fiddler on the Roof, Cabaret, Pan: The Musical, and Romeo and Juliet: The Musical) has assembled a first rate stable of professional talent for musical direction and choreography. So there you have it: multicultural, educational, and fun. If you’re going to audition for one show this year, that show should be West Side Story.

West Side Story opened on Broadway in 1957. It won multiple Tony Awards then and in multiple revivals through the years. In 1961 it was adapted into a film which swept the Oscars and ranks among AFI’s Top 100 Films. One big reason for all of the accolades is . . .

The Music

West Side Story’s exciting, sophisticated score by Leonard Bernstein is considered by many as Broadway's finest with songs that have since become a part of the nation's musical heritage.

Act 1

Act 2