Auditions for Camelot will be held Monday and Tuesday, April 11 and 12, at 7:30 p.m. at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre. The play will be presented on the CircleStage of the CTC for 10 performances June 17-July 9. Scott Dunlap directs; Tim Hinck is music director.
Camelot – a romantic musical about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table – premiered on Broadway in December 1960. A month later, a President was sworn into office. The two became so associated that John F. Kennedy’s presidential term came to be referred to as the “Camelot Era.” Director Scott Dunlap gives the treasured Lerner and Loewe classic new life as it is reimagined in the early 1960s period re-popularized by television’s MadMen.
The Story
Guinevere, King Arthur's lovely wife, encourages Arthur to establish the Knights of the Round Table. As the Knights grow in fame, Lancelot becomes the most celebrated of all of them, and rumors begin to circulate about an affair between Lancelot and Guinevere. Can Camelot be the idealistic place of Arthur's dreams? The memorable score includes “If Ever I Would Leave You,” “What Do the Simple Folk Do?” and the title song, “Camelot.”
About the audition, from the director:
For the audition, you should at least be familiar with the story and the historical characters that will be re-imagined from Arthurian legend. There are lots of YouTube videos you can watch – clips from the musical and historical events or movies that are mentioned in the character breakdown which follows.
For this audition, actors should come with an open mind and willingness to participate in what will essentially be a new work. The show will not look like any “Camelot” before it. If a classical version of the musical is more your taste, this production probably won’t live up to your expectations. If creating something different and interesting, like our recent re-interpretations of such classics as “The Taming of the Shrew,” “Mr. and Mrs. M,” or “The Crucible” is something that would intrigue you, this is exactly what we are looking for.
The roles and their development will be based on who auditions and their abilities, so the characterizations might change, once the role is cast.
The role of Tom, the only role for children in the show, will be a scheduled audition. Boys interested in auditioning should not come to the open audition. Please contact Scott Dunlap at scott@theatrecentre.com to set up an audition.
Rehearsal Schedule
The rehearsal schedule could potentially be Sunday through Friday from 7:30-10:30 p.m. – this is the schedule for Arthur, Lancelot and Guinevere. The final rehearsal schedule, however, will be based on the conflicts given by the actors at the time of the audition. Any conflicts not shared with the production team at that time will mean that the actor will forfeit their role. Please arrive before 7:30 p.m. if possible in order to fill in a calendar listing all your conflicts between now and July 9.
Character Breakdown for Camelot
(8+ Males, 1 Boy/3+ Females)
Men:
Arthur (Male, early 40’s. Sings: low A to high E flat) “The once and future king”, ruler of Camelot. He served as a simple squire until he managed to pull King Pendragon’s sword out of the stone and became King. He desires to rule fairly and create a land where justice and honor are held in high esteem. Arthur is wise, generous, compassionate, and boyish – rather unsure of himself, yet an inspiration to others. (Our production sees him as a young and vibrant leader like John F. Kennedy or even akin to Don Draper on MadMen)
Lancelot (Male, late 20’s to early 30’s. Sings: low A to high B) An abundantly self-assured knight from France and a skilled warrior, Lancelot comes to be a Knight of the Round Table. He is extremely pious and not particularly well liked by anyone except Arthur. He is a passionate disciple of Arthur and his Round Table. Lancelot is “the greatest knight in the world,” whose only weakness is his love for Guinevere. ((In this production, he is seen as French movie star, Alain Delon or perhaps like Don Draper’s rival Ted Chaough in the MadMen TV series.)
Mordred (Male, early 20’s. Sings: low C to high D) A truly evil young man who was “sired” by Arthur when the king was young and naïve. He is a thoroughly and fascinatingly unlikable fellow. His mother is Queen Morgause, who bewitched Arthur when he was younger. Mordred has come to the Round Table to stir up trouble. (In this production, he is perhaps like Lee Harvey Oswald or even like Pete Campbell on MadMen.)
Merlyn (Male, over 50) The famous wizard who teaches Arthur almost all he needs to know. He wants Arthur to be ambitious and pursue the dream of a chivalrous kingdom. (This is a great “non-singing” role that could go many ways in casting, he could be a wise Morgan Freeman type or perhaps like Bert Cooper from MadMen)
Pelinore (Male, over 50) One of Arthur’s closest friends. He stumbled upon Camelot one day while in search of a dragon and decided to stay in Arthur’s court and join the Knights of the Round Table. Pelinore is very eccentric and dedicated to Arthur. He is a wonderfully funny and stuffily “British” old knight – provides the most consistent comic relief in the play. (This is a great “non-singing” role that could go many ways in casting, could be Truman Capote or like MadMen’s Roger Sterling.)
Dinadan, Lionel and Sagramore (Males, early 20’s to early 40’s) Three Knights of the Round Table. Dinadan is devoted to Guinevere and doesn’t care for Lancelot, his friends Lionel and Sagramore are eager to assist Dinadan in ridding the kingdom of their new nuisance. (Similar to JFK Cabinet or possibly Harry Crane, Lane Pryce, Ken Cosgrove, Stan Rizzo or Michael Ginsberg, the coworkers on MadMen.)
Tom of Warwick (Boy, 10 years old or so) This is a non-singing role and actor should be prepared for some long nights, as the role doesn’t appear until the final scene. Rehearsals will be later in the process and based on the actor’s schedule. He is a small young boy who wants to join King Arthur’s army. (See him as Bobby Draper from MadMen or John F. Kennedy Jr.)
Women:
Guinevere (Female, low B flat to high A) Queen of Camelot. A young, spirited woman who is quite caught up in chivalry and the exciting possibilities of a promising life. At first she did not want to marry Arthur, but when she met him and saw the beauty of Camelot, she fell in love. She is devoted to Arthur and supports his causes. She is very much thrown by the arrival of Lancelot – the start of the famous “love triangle.” (In this production, she is seen as first lady, Jackie Kennedy or like Don Draper’s second wife, Megan, on MadMen.)
Nimue (Female, low C sharp to high F sharp) A nymph intent on bewitching Merlyn, she lures Merlyn away with her hauntingly beautiful singing. (In this production, she might be one of the office secretaries from MadMen like Peggy Olsen or Joan Holloway.)
Morgan Le Fey (Female) A powerful female figure in the Arthurian legends, she represents control, sorcery, and manipulation. She is the half-sister of Arthur and aunt of Mordred. She uses sorcery to thwart Arthur and his allies, and to direct his enemies. She inhabits the forest and is a gourmand with a weakness (her sweet tooth) and a capacity for mischief plus a “hidden” strength – she is invisible. (In this production, this truly bizarre character might be drawn from Jackie Kennedy’s cousin Edith Bouvier Beale known as “Little Edie,” or her mother, “Big Edie,” as they are portrayed in documentary “Grey Gardens.”)
Chorus of Men and Women:
Up to six men, four women – Knights and Citizens of Camelot. One male soloist (low B to high B)
The Chattanooga Theatre Centre is at 400 River St. next to Coolidge Park on the city’s NorthShore. For more information, call the CTC Box Office at 267-8534 (Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.).