Oliver
AUDITION INFORMATION
AUDITION DATES:
January 18, 2025 @ 3:00 – Children & Teens Only (Ages approximately 8 – 18)
Oliver Twist
Artful Dodger
Bet
Charley Bates
Fagin’s Gang
January 19 & 20, 2025 @ 6:30 – Adults and Call Backs
LOCATION: Actors Guild of Parkersburg Rehearsal Hall
724 Market Street, Parkersburg, WV 26101
(Enter through the black door on Market Street and go up the stairs to the top floor)
NOTE: Auditions will consist of reading, singing, and dancing from the script and score. Specific scenes and songs will be posted here prior to audition dates. Please check back.
PERFORMANCE DATES:
Friday, April 25 @ 8:00 pm
Saturday, April 26 @ 8:00 pm
Sunday, April 27 @ 2:30 pm
Friday, May 2 @ 8:00 pm
Saturday, May 3@ 8:00 pm
Sunday, May 4 @ 6:00 pm
Friday, May 9 @ 8:00 pm
Saturday, May 10 @ 8:00 pm
Sunday, May 11 @ 2:30 pm
PRODUCTION STAFF:
David Rexroad – Director ([email protected])
Marsha Mueller – Assistant Director
Marsha Parsons – Musical Director
Morgan Fernow – Choreographer
Terri Borrelli – Production Assistant
Meryl Walker – Costumer
Nathan Arnold – Technical Director
Michele McClung – Stage Manager
Sabrina Dye - Lighting Designer
Nicholas Rake - Sound
Charlie Matthews – Advisor
OVERVIEW:
Oliver Twist, a lonely, starving orphan boy in an 1830’s London workhouse, dares to ask for more gruel. He is apprehended by the greedy caretakers of the workhouse and taken away to be sold on the streets. He is bought as an apprentice to an undertaker who makes him sleep with the coffins. Oliver runs away and by chance runs into another boy about his age named the Artful Dodger. Dodger invites Oliver to meet his friends and live with them with their mentor Fagin. Fagin is really a criminal fence who trains homeless boys and sends them out to pick a pocket or two. The next day he meets Nancy, an older member of the gang who becomes Oliver’s protector, and, after many adventures, Oliver finally finds some love in his life.
Oliver! is a mix of Charles Dickens and English Music Hall. With Oliver’s search for some happiness and goodness in the world around him, we get to meet an assortment of despicable characters along the way. There is much fun in this musical, but also a dark side underneath. Fagin turns out to be a surprisingly lovable villain. Songs such as “Food, Glorious Food”, “Consider Yourself”, “I’d Do Anything”, and “As Long as He Needs Me” have all become standards over the years. It opened in London in 1960 and ran for 2,618 performances, a record at that time. The Broadway production followed in 1963 and was a huge hit, garnering 10 Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical. The 1968 movie version won 6 Academy Awards including Best Picture.
PRINCIPAL ROLES:
Oliver Twist (8-12; Vocal Range: Top: E5, Bottom: A3) A lonely orphan boy about 11 years old. He is intelligent and kind, but not afraid to stand up for himself when the situation calls for it.
Fagin (40-70; Vocal Range: Top: G4, Bottom: C3) A charismatic rogue who trains children to be pickpockets. He is a conniving reprobate with considerable charm.
The Artful Dodger (14-18; Vocal Range: Top: E5, Bottom: B2) The cleverest of Fagin’s gang. He is charming, upbeat and charismatic. He is the first person to show Oliver kindness.
Nancy (20-30; Vocal Range: Top: E5, Bottom: G3) An adventurous young woman with a heart of gold. Unfortunately, she is the girlfriend of villainous Bill Sikes and is treated badly.
Bill Sikes (30-45; Vocal Range: Top: D4, Bottom: B2) The villain. He is mean, selfish, and ruthless. He bullies everyone around him, especially Nancy.
Mr. Bumble (35-60; Vocal Range: Top F4: E5, Bottom: Bb2) He runs the workhouse where Oliver starts his adventures. He is cold, cruel, and doesn’t care a bit about the boys in the workhouse.
Widow Corney (35-55; Vocal Range: Top: Eb5, Bottom: B3) She runs the workhouse with Mr. Bumble. She is cold and calculating and only cares that the work gets done.
Bet (14-18; Vocal Range: Top: D5, Bottom: A3) A friend of Nancy’s who shares her spirited nature and sense of adventure. She has a kind heart but has fallen upon hard times.
Mr. Brownlow (55-70) A sweet man who takes Oliver in, even after Oliver has picked his pocket. He is a man of wealth and breeding.
Mr. Sowerberry (45-60; Vocal Range: Top: Bb3, Bottom: F4) The undertaker who purchases Oliver from Mr. Bumble. He is callous and doesn’t treat Oliver much better than Bumble.
Mrs. Sowerberry (45-60) She, like her husband, does not care for Oliver’s well-being and only wants him to work. She gives him scraps left for the dog to eat.
Charlotte (18-25) She works for the Sowerberry’s and treats Oliver only slightly better.
Noah Claypole (18-15) He, too, works for the Sowerberrys. He is a mean, nasty person who insults Oliver’s mother on purpose to upset him.
Dr. Grimwig (30-50) The doctor who treats Oliver. He is intelligent but a bit pessimistic.
Mrs. Bedwin (45-60) Vocal Range: Top: B4, Bottom: C4) Mr. Brownlow’s kindhearted housekeeper.
Old Sally (50-70) The nurse at Oliver’s birth and now a pauper. She plays a vital role in Oliver’s identity.
Charley Bates (10-18) Vocal Range: Top: B4, Bottom: G4} One of Fagin’s gang. He is a great admirer of the Artful Dodger and an accomplished pick pocket.
ENSEMBLE:
Fagin’s Gang (Boys & Girls, 10-16)
Men (17-60+, All Ranges)
Women (17-60+, All Ranges)
(Age ranges listed are the character’s age not necessarily the actor’s age)
January 18, 2025 @ 3:00 – Children & Teens Only (Ages approximately 8 – 18)
Oliver Twist
Artful Dodger
Bet
Charley Bates
Fagin’s Gang
January 19 & 20, 2025 @ 6:30 – Adults and Call Backs
LOCATION: Actors Guild of Parkersburg Rehearsal Hall
724 Market Street, Parkersburg, WV 26101
(Enter through the black door on Market Street and go up the stairs to the top floor)
NOTE: Auditions will consist of reading, singing, and dancing from the script and score. Specific scenes and songs will be posted here prior to audition dates. Please check back.
PERFORMANCE DATES:
Friday, April 25 @ 8:00 pm
Saturday, April 26 @ 8:00 pm
Sunday, April 27 @ 2:30 pm
Friday, May 2 @ 8:00 pm
Saturday, May 3@ 8:00 pm
Sunday, May 4 @ 6:00 pm
Friday, May 9 @ 8:00 pm
Saturday, May 10 @ 8:00 pm
Sunday, May 11 @ 2:30 pm
PRODUCTION STAFF:
David Rexroad – Director ([email protected])
Marsha Mueller – Assistant Director
Marsha Parsons – Musical Director
Morgan Fernow – Choreographer
Terri Borrelli – Production Assistant
Meryl Walker – Costumer
Nathan Arnold – Technical Director
Michele McClung – Stage Manager
Sabrina Dye - Lighting Designer
Nicholas Rake - Sound
Charlie Matthews – Advisor
OVERVIEW:
Oliver Twist, a lonely, starving orphan boy in an 1830’s London workhouse, dares to ask for more gruel. He is apprehended by the greedy caretakers of the workhouse and taken away to be sold on the streets. He is bought as an apprentice to an undertaker who makes him sleep with the coffins. Oliver runs away and by chance runs into another boy about his age named the Artful Dodger. Dodger invites Oliver to meet his friends and live with them with their mentor Fagin. Fagin is really a criminal fence who trains homeless boys and sends them out to pick a pocket or two. The next day he meets Nancy, an older member of the gang who becomes Oliver’s protector, and, after many adventures, Oliver finally finds some love in his life.
Oliver! is a mix of Charles Dickens and English Music Hall. With Oliver’s search for some happiness and goodness in the world around him, we get to meet an assortment of despicable characters along the way. There is much fun in this musical, but also a dark side underneath. Fagin turns out to be a surprisingly lovable villain. Songs such as “Food, Glorious Food”, “Consider Yourself”, “I’d Do Anything”, and “As Long as He Needs Me” have all become standards over the years. It opened in London in 1960 and ran for 2,618 performances, a record at that time. The Broadway production followed in 1963 and was a huge hit, garnering 10 Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical. The 1968 movie version won 6 Academy Awards including Best Picture.
PRINCIPAL ROLES:
Oliver Twist (8-12; Vocal Range: Top: E5, Bottom: A3) A lonely orphan boy about 11 years old. He is intelligent and kind, but not afraid to stand up for himself when the situation calls for it.
Fagin (40-70; Vocal Range: Top: G4, Bottom: C3) A charismatic rogue who trains children to be pickpockets. He is a conniving reprobate with considerable charm.
The Artful Dodger (14-18; Vocal Range: Top: E5, Bottom: B2) The cleverest of Fagin’s gang. He is charming, upbeat and charismatic. He is the first person to show Oliver kindness.
Nancy (20-30; Vocal Range: Top: E5, Bottom: G3) An adventurous young woman with a heart of gold. Unfortunately, she is the girlfriend of villainous Bill Sikes and is treated badly.
Bill Sikes (30-45; Vocal Range: Top: D4, Bottom: B2) The villain. He is mean, selfish, and ruthless. He bullies everyone around him, especially Nancy.
Mr. Bumble (35-60; Vocal Range: Top F4: E5, Bottom: Bb2) He runs the workhouse where Oliver starts his adventures. He is cold, cruel, and doesn’t care a bit about the boys in the workhouse.
Widow Corney (35-55; Vocal Range: Top: Eb5, Bottom: B3) She runs the workhouse with Mr. Bumble. She is cold and calculating and only cares that the work gets done.
Bet (14-18; Vocal Range: Top: D5, Bottom: A3) A friend of Nancy’s who shares her spirited nature and sense of adventure. She has a kind heart but has fallen upon hard times.
Mr. Brownlow (55-70) A sweet man who takes Oliver in, even after Oliver has picked his pocket. He is a man of wealth and breeding.
Mr. Sowerberry (45-60; Vocal Range: Top: Bb3, Bottom: F4) The undertaker who purchases Oliver from Mr. Bumble. He is callous and doesn’t treat Oliver much better than Bumble.
Mrs. Sowerberry (45-60) She, like her husband, does not care for Oliver’s well-being and only wants him to work. She gives him scraps left for the dog to eat.
Charlotte (18-25) She works for the Sowerberry’s and treats Oliver only slightly better.
Noah Claypole (18-15) He, too, works for the Sowerberrys. He is a mean, nasty person who insults Oliver’s mother on purpose to upset him.
Dr. Grimwig (30-50) The doctor who treats Oliver. He is intelligent but a bit pessimistic.
Mrs. Bedwin (45-60) Vocal Range: Top: B4, Bottom: C4) Mr. Brownlow’s kindhearted housekeeper.
Old Sally (50-70) The nurse at Oliver’s birth and now a pauper. She plays a vital role in Oliver’s identity.
Charley Bates (10-18) Vocal Range: Top: B4, Bottom: G4} One of Fagin’s gang. He is a great admirer of the Artful Dodger and an accomplished pick pocket.
ENSEMBLE:
Fagin’s Gang (Boys & Girls, 10-16)
Men (17-60+, All Ranges)
Women (17-60+, All Ranges)
(Age ranges listed are the character’s age not necessarily the actor’s age)