Pygmalion

Audition Dates: 

Sep 2 @ 7 – 9 pm
Sep 4 @ 7 – 9 pm

Callback Dates (if needed):

Sep 5 @ 7:00 pm or Sep 6th @ 10:00am

Show Dates: 

2/20, 21, 26, 27, & 28 @ 8 pm and 2/22, 28 @ 2 pm

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4AA8AF2EA4FAC70-57582563-pygmalion

A young and impoverished Cockney girl (Eliza Dolittle) encounters a great teacher of dialects (Henry Higgins).  Higgins makes an excellent living coaching working class clients on their accents so they can pass for upper class.  When Liza approaches him for lessons, Higgins is amused and makes a bet with his compatriot (Colonel Pickering) that in “Six-months – in three if she has a good ear and a quick tongue – I’ll take her anywhere and pass her off as anything”.  This production of Shaw’s classic tale (the inspiration for “My Fair Lady) will be set in 1968, probing class distinctions in a time of intense social upheaval in Britain. With recovery from the devastation of World War 2 complete, and the National Service (the draft) abolished in 1960 a newly affluent working class was breaking down barriers in neighborhoods just blocks from Liza’s tiny flat.

Audition information

NOTE: Due to the large number of characters, limitations may need to be placed on the number of characters an actor can read for. All roles are unpaid

Accents: I will be asking actors to do accents for the auditions.  Here are some resources to get started

Learn the Cockney accent with Jason Statham

Posh British English | How to do a Perfect RP Accent!

HOW TO DO A BRITISH ACCENT CONVINCINGLY (2) FOR AMERICAN ACTORS (Acting Coach NYC)

Smaller Roles: In addition to the roles below, there are also a wide variety of smaller characters to be cast.  These roles will be less of a time commitment, but still involve  a good deal of stage time with scripted and adlibbed lines and some audience interaction.

Character Information

NOTE: The role of Henry Higgins has been cast.  Please consider reading for Col. Pickering or Mr. Doolittle (both great roles) instead.

Colonel Pickering – (Male, 50+) A gentlemanly, well-traveled man of the world.  His intelligence and passion for phonetics nearly matches Henry’s, but he’s far more charming and sensitive to the needs of others.   Delighted to find a playmate that’s at last his equal, he nonetheless has a firm moral compass and doesn’t hesitate to keep Henry in check.

Eliza Dolittle – (Female, 20’s) An ambitious and brilliant child of the streets, she is no wandering waif to be toyed with.  She’s desperate to prove to herself and others that she’s better than her upbringing and her surroundings.  She takes the few pounds sterling tossed to her by Higgins and seizes what for her is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Mrs. Pearce – (Female 40+) Mr. Higgins’ housekeeper and general caretaker.  She manages the household (and Henry) as though they were her own.  Keeping things running properly is very important to her, so she shows the appropriate deference, but she’s well aware that she’s caring for a man-child and that Henry would be utterly lost if she were to leave him.  Because of this, there’s a gentle command to her presence.

Alfred Dolittle – (Male, 50+) Eliza’s father.  Like Eliza, he’s highly intelligent (if uneducated) but unlike her, he has no intention of improving himself and is proud to be one of the “undeserving poor”.   He’s very eloquent and a gifted scammer.

Mrs. Higgins – (Female, 50+) Henry’s mother (or Aunt if more age appropriate) a lady of tremendous elegance and dignity, continuously exasperated with Henry.  Like Mrs. Pearce and Col.  Pickering, she tries to keep Henry safe from himself, but she has an active and successful social life that she doesn’t want wrecked and – as a family member – is less awestruck by Henry’s skills than others are.

Mrs. Eynsford-Hill – (Female, 40+ , please look at the side for Mrs. Higgins) Well born, she and her children have fallen on hard times financially, she is desperately trying to maintain social appearances to see her children well placed.

Freddy Eynsford-Hill – (Male, 20’s) A friendly, sweet and bright young man.  He’s not terribly ambitious or assertive but very romantic.  He falls madly in love with Eliza.

Clara Eynsford-Hill – (Female, 20’s, please look at the side for Liza) A modern young woman, desperate to fit in despite her constrained circumstances.  Her financial insecurities can make her a bit desperate to stake out her place in the social pecking order (much like Eliza) but she’s bright and pleasant.

If you have any questions, please contact director Gwen Armstrong Barker: gwenarmstrongbarker@gmail.com

Before the Audition

• Download CSP Audition Form before you show up!
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  * Copies will be available at the audition if you can not print at home.
• Please review the CSP Code of Conduct
  CSP Code of Conduct ensures that we not only have fun but that all feel welcome and that it is a safe environment for all. The purpose is to define accepted/acceptable behaviors, to promote high standards of practice and to establish a framework for professional behaviors and responsibilities.