Mark Eckstein broke into theater in the 4th grade, when he took the role of The Narrator in his summer camp’s production of Oliver! His first directing gig was High Notes and Fast Words: A Gilbert and Sullivan Sampler, for WCBS Players in Warsaw, NY. Other directorial credits include: The Mikado; Brigadoon; Your Lucky Strike Hit Parade; The Odd Couple (female version); A Night of Comedic One-Acts (reader’s theater); and Physical Therapy, which won an award for Best Short Production from the Theatre Association of New York State. His first stage appearance with Aurora Players was in 2007’s production of Oliver! (with a bigger part than 4th grade). He is a past member of the Aurora Players’ Board of Directors. Currently, he serves on AP’s Volunteer Committee and is the Front of House Coordinator for all productions.
Callbacks on April 2nd.
Auditions will be held at Aurora Players’ Roycroft Pavilion Theater, 166 South Grove Street. Call backs will be on April 2, if needed. The show opens on Friday, June 6 and will run for three weekends through Sunday, June 22. Note: rehearsals begin April 14.
SYNOPSIS:
Set in 1934, this play, a winner of three Tony Awards, is a fast-paced farce filled with mistaken identities, slamming doors and unexpected, comic catastrophes. The play follows Saunders, the general manager of the Cleveland Grand Opera Company, as he prepares to welcome the world’s most renowned Italian opera tenor, Tito Merelli, known as ”Il Stupendo” by his fans, for a one-night performance in the starring role of Pagliacci. When Tito arrives late and accidentally takes a double dose of tranquilizers, Saunders and his assistant Max mistakenly believe he’s dead! To save the show, Saunders convinces Max to impersonate Tito. Max succeeds, but a whirlwind of chaos ensues when Tito wakes up and dons the same costume. The result is two identical tenors and two women in lingerie, each thinking she’s with Il Stupendo.
CHARACTERS AND DESCRIPTIONS:
SAUNDERS (50+)
General Manager of the Cleveland Grand Opera Company.
MAGGIE SAUNDERS (mid-20s)
Daughter of Saunders, and Max’s girlfriend.
MAX (late 20s)
Assistant to Saunders. Need to be able to sing tenor.
TITO MERELLI (30+)
A world-famous Italian tenor, known also to his fans as “Il Stupendo.” Need to be able to sing tenor.
MARIA MERELLI (30+)
Tito’s wife.
BELLHOP (any age)
A bellhop.
DIANA (30+)
Prima donna soprano of the Cleveland Grand Opera Company.
JULIA (50+)
Chairman of the Opera Guild.
Questions? Write to info@auroraplayers.org or leave a message with our box office: 716-687-6727. Aurora Players welcomes all auditioners, including new or seasoned actors.
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