The Heights Players will hold open auditions for all roles for the classic musical, Fiorello!, on March 8th and 9th at 7:00 p.m.  Callbacks will take place on Wednesday, March 10th at 7:00 p.m.  If necessary, additional call backs will take place on Saturday, March 13th.

The production is being directed by Thomas N. Tyler with Julianne Merrill as musical director and Aurora Dreger as choreographer.  Production dates are May 14th through 30th. Performances are Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday matinees.  Be aware that the last weekend of performances is Memorial Day weekend. For those of you not familiar with the show, Fiorello! debuted on Broadway in 1959.  It won the Tony, Pulitzer Prize and Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical. Tom Bosley rose to stardom with his portrayal of the title role and also won a Tony for his performance.

The audition will consist of singing from the score (you will be taught sixteen bars; prior preparation is not necessary, since it is difficult to obtain copies of the score ), reading from the script (monologues) and a dance combination suitable to your abilities (i.e. dancers will be taught a more difficult routine). Tappers should bring shoes (not all dancers have to tap).

Audition monologues follow this introductory material. Any questions should be answered from this information on the website.  Please do not e-mail requesting special auditions, appointments, etc.  They will not be answered. Past musicals have received over 100 e-mails requesting information.  We do not have the manpower or time to accommodate this. The detailed information on this website explains everything. (Download the tentative rehearsal schedule).

Needed for the production is a large cast of singers, dancers, children and character actors of all ages. You do not need to be a triple threat to be cast in this show.

Character Descriptions:

Fiorello H. LaGuardia - the legendary mayor of New York - character baritone a la Henry Higgins / Harold Hill.  Minimal movement.  As the real LaGuardia was not tall, height is of utmost importance in the casting of this role. Fiorello is a dynamic, charming, caring, forceful, loveable character who strives to follow his heart in his ideals and beliefs, both personal and political.  The role requires an actor who can sell a song. Fiorello sings three songs - "Unfair" (with the female ensemble), "The Name's LaGuardia" (with the full chorus and a reprise of the latter, done as a soliloquy.

Marie Fischer - Fiorello's devoted secretary - secretly in love with him and eventually becomes his second wife - Mezzo.  Minimal movement.  Marie sings three numbers - "On The Side Of The Angels", "Marie's Law" and "The Very Next Man" as well as singing in several of the ensemble numbers

Morris Cohen - Overworked office manager - "seen it all" - sticks by Fiorello through thick and thin -Character baritone. Minimal movement - Sings "On The Side Of The Angels", "Marie's Law" as well as in several ensemble numbers.

Neil - Idealistic, energetic law clerk - baritone.  Minimal movement.  Sings "On The Side Of The Angels" as well as in several ensemble numbers.

Thea Almerigatti - Leader of the garment workers - A model who becomes LaGuardia's first wife - Thea must be attractive, charming and a strong actress. Minimal movement. Fiorello is greatly affected by her death in Act Two - Strong, powerful soprano. Sings "Till Tomorrow" and "When Did I Fall In Love".

Dora - Comedienne - garment worker - friend of Marie and Thea - falls in love and marries Floyd. Mezzo, movement ability helpful. Sings "I Love A Cop" and its reprise and is involved in most ensemble numbers.

Floyd McDuff - Comic policeman, who becomes corrupted by and part of the Tammany Political Machine - baritone - minimal movement - Sings part of "I Love A Cop Reprise"

Ben Marino - Political boss - Character baritone - some movement - sings "Politics And Poker", "A Little Tin Box" and "The Bum Won"

Mitzi Travers ‑ Broadway star - "Merman Style" Belt - Sings the splashy "Gentleman Jimmy"  - Vocal ability is of the utmost importance - Movement ability helpful, but not necessary

The Political Hacks (Tom, Ed, Tony, Louis, Sam, Kibitzer) - Ben's six poker playing cronies - demanding vocal roles - all voice types needed - harmony and counterpoint skills helpful - All have solo singing - Some movement - These are probably the most memorable and fun characters in the show - Three blockbuster numbers - "Politics And Poker", "A Little Tin Box" and "The Bum Won" as well as ensemble work

Senator - Washington elder statesman - Fiorello's opposition to the Draft Act - speaking role

Florence - Fiorello's office switchboard operator - speaking role

Nina - Friend of Dora and Thea - Garment Worker - Featured Ensemble role

Sophie, Bella, Lena, And Other Garment Workers  - Featured Ensemble roles

Four Chorus Cuties (Betty, Ethel, Ginger, Texas) - Mitzi's back up girls - Bimbos - Speaking roles - Part of Tap Ensemble

Mrs. Pomerantz - Pushy client of Fiorello - Singing role ("On The Side Of The Angels" and Ensemble)

Mr. And Mrs. Lopez, Mr. And Mrs. Zappatella - LaGuardia's immigrant clients - singing roles ("On The Side Of The Angels" and Ensemble)

Politician, Commissioner O'Ryan, Judge Joseph F. Carter - Corrupt members of the Tammany machine - speaking roles

Frankie Scarpini - Tough Gangster - speaking role

"Newsies" - Five kids with well projecting speaking voices - Can be male or female

Other Character Roles (will possibly double in more than one and/or as members of the ensemble)

• Miss Chadwick  (Maid)

• Washington Secretary

• Two Radio Announcers

• Two Reporters

• Miss Frantic

• Miss Derby

• Miss Fedora

• Two Flappers

• Seedy Man

• Three Hecklers

• Tough Man

Ensemble - Singers, Dancers, Kids - Not everyone has to dance - Dancers, however, will be used to their abilities - There are a number of possibilities for featured dancers - Dance numbers include standard musical comedy styles and tap (not all dancers have to tap). There are several solo singing roles in the ensemble.  Ensemble members appear as New Yorkers, Garment Workers, Soldiers, Newsreel Characters, Neighborhood kids, etc.

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AUDITION MONOLOGUES

Fiorello - Friends, I want each and every one of you to take a long deep breath!  Like this!  You know what that smell is?  Tammany!  They've been stinking up this district long enough.  It's time to get the garbage off the doorsteps and I've got the shovel to do it with. Your vote!  Put that pencil cross next to the name of Fiorello H. LaGuardia! L-A-G-U-A-R-D-I-A!

Morris - Shirley, how can I tell you when to put the roast in?  No, Shirley, only God and Mr. LaGuardia know when I'll be there and neither one tells me until the last minute. I would ask him, but he hasn't come in yet.  What a man, is right.

Neil - I'm going to ask you to vote for Fiorello H. LaGuardia.  I want you to consider  not only the issues, but the man.  I know this man and he is just great - that's what I'm telling you - he's just great.  If you knew him as I do, you'd realize what a great thing it would be to have such a great man represent you in Congress.

Ben - Yes, Major, you've been right and you've done a hell of a lot of things that nobody thought you could, but once in a while you used to listen to some of us dumb bastards make a suggestion.  You're going to lose, Major.  Why? Because you can't play ball - not for one minute.  We all know about your war record.  We all know how incorruptible you are.  You don't have to prove it so many times a day. You had to throw the Italian vote out the window to prove you're a fearless leader.  You're not trying to win an election. You're just hoping that some day they'll put your statue up in Central Park.

Floyd - They've been talkin' about LaGuardia over to the Wigwam. How come they let that little squirt walk off with the Fourteenth District right from under their noses?  And I give my opinion: "Overconfidence", I says.  And one of the very important guys there, he says to me "Floyd McDuff, you're only walkin' a beat now, but mark my words," he says. "And maybe you'll even go higher," he says.  And you know what else says?  He says - with a kind of a wink, you know, - he says "You may not be the smartest guy on the force, but you're loyal".  And you know what I says to him?  I says "Thank you, Judge".

Senator - Congressman, I've often wanted to have a chance to exchange ideas with you.  And I do hope such an opportunity develops before long.  Right now I am here on a matter which concerns both of us. I've been told that you're planning to make a speech. You've been very active in things in Washington and that's as it should be.  But as you undoubtedly know, there's an unwritten law, a piece of cherished etiquette I might say, that a freshman member doesn't speak on the floor of the House during his first term.

Zapatella - Look, I no wanna go to jail.  My daughter she come home it's after eleven o'clock.  She's out with a bad boy.  I say - don't go again or I hit.  She go again.  I hit.  She call a policeman.  He give me this summons.

Marie - If a person loves something - or somebody - as much as you love this city, Mr. LaGuardia, it's not easy to stand by and watch, without saying a word or lifting a finger. You say they turned their backs and didn't want you.  That's not true.  They just weren't looking.  They were making too much money.  They were having too much fun. But things are different now.  The fun is over.  People are starving. They'll listen now.  You say you're tired. You're not tired, just scared. You're afraid they'll turn their backs again. That's what's wrong. You're scared you'll lose a second time.

Thea - I'm a working girl.  I model for the Nifty Shirtwaist Company.  And I see that some of you are working people too.  The girls in that factory were working twelve hours a day for four dollars a week. They were promised a living wage.  They didn't get it.  They struck.  Who would help us?  Nobody.  Until one man, one man who hates injustice and tyranny of any type, took up our cause and got us our rights.  And that's why I'm for him.  And here he is to talk to you himself - Fiorello H. LaGuardia.

Dora - Mr. LaGuardia, they've arrested our leader.  We've been on strike for six weeks and our money's about gone, and they arrested her, and the most awful part is it's for soliciting!  But she wasn't, just picketing.  And Mr. Schirmer, the owner, promised us if we'd work through the busy season we'd get a living wage, and then he broke his word.  Honest, Mr. LaGuardia, they treated us just terrible.

Mrs. Pomerantz - Forty years I'm saving my Lenny should be a doctor. I know sometimes the law doesn't move as fast as we'd like.  The best, naturally, this I know you'll do, like always.  You'll get Mr. Noonan into court, I know. But when?  Maybe the law for once you'll have to give a little shake.  I'm patient, but the clock? Please do me a favor, don't get sick till Lenny graduates.  From then on, the rest of your life, you should live to be a hundred and twenty, a doctor's bill you'll never have to pay.

Newsies - Extra!  Extra!  Read all about it!  The war is over!  The boys are coming home!