Theatre--Auditions (Musical Theatre)

Audiitions for IPAL's summer production of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast, Jr." will be Saturday, April 30th(from 1 to 4) and Monday, May 2nd (from 6 to 8).

There have been many questions about the auditions for Beauty and the Beast, Jr., specifically concerning the musical requirements. All people auditioning will be asked to sing something, even if it just "Happy Birthday" or the National Anthem. We need to have an idea how well you can sing, plus we need to know what your musical range is. Many songs like "Be Our Guest", "Belle," "Gaston" and "The Mob Song", have solo lines for a chorus member to sing, as well as four-part harmonies which we wish to utilize. If someone does not wish to sing during the actual run of the play, that is fine because there are numerous non-singing parts and people can pantomime their singing.

For particular parts, here are just a few suggestions.

For the part of Belle, people auditioning should sing any Disney heroine song. There really isn't a particular solo in Beauty and the Beast, Jr. for Belle, so my suggestion is Ariele's song "Part of Your World: from The Little Mermaid, or Pocahontas's song "Colors of the Wind" from Pocahantas. Any Disney heroine song is appropriate.

For the parts of the Beast, Lumiere or Cogsworth, people auditioning should sing "Be Our Guest," though not the entire song. The Beast has no "solo" of his own, but does have to sing a portion of a song during the play.

For the part of Gaston or LeFou, people auditioning should sing "Gaston," though not the entire song.

For the part of Mrs. Potts or the Wardrobe, people auditioning should sing "Beauty and the Beast."

For chorus, people can sing anything from the play or "Happy Birthday," or something they are comfortable singing. There are numerous musical parts for townspersons in the song "Belle" and "The Mob Song."

Anyone auditioning for the parts just mentioned do not need to bring sheet music. We already have the sheet music and will be using the accompanying CD for auditions. If you're singing something not from Beauty and the Beast Jr. (like the other Disney heroine songs) you may either bring sheet music or sing acappella.

On the day of auditions, it would be helpful for all people auditioning to bring a head-shot. We will have a camera ready to take such a shot, but it would help tremendously to have one ready.

All auditions will begin in the front lobby of the Essanee Theatre (126 Iberia Street in New Iberia) where you will be given a number and asked to fill out an audition form. From there, you will be called into the main theatre for your audition. For convenience, we will be taking auditions on a first-come basis. Once we have heard your audition, there is no reason to stay at the theatre, as the lobby area may fill up quickly. We thank you in advance for your cooperation on this matter.


 If it is absolutely impossible for you to make either of the audition dates, please contact me (Vincent P. Barras) as soon as you can by email at vpbarras@aisp.net because I know there are always circumstances beyond our control. If you contact me using my cell (337-519-0685), please remember that I am a public school teacher and may not contact you until school is over. Notifications of the assigned roles will be sent via email within a few days of the last auditions.