Close to Average (Not the Official Title) Auditions

We are ecstatic to announce our audition dates for this fall’s production of Close to Average [NOT THE OFFICIAL TITLE]. While we aren’t able to announce the official title until July 2024, we know IT’S GONNA BE GOOD. We can’t imagine THERE’S A WORLD where YOU DON’T KNOW this amazing musical as it was nominated for 11 Tony Awards and won Best Original Score, Best Orchestrations, and Best Leading Actress in a Musical (Alice Ripley) in 2009.

To cast A LIGHT IN THE DARK, we have included a synopsis below. You may read it and feel like this show is PERFECT FOR YOU. MAYBE you can figure out exactly what it is.

When: Auditions will be held on May 7 & 8 starting at 6:00pm. Call backs (by invitation only) will be on May 10 at 6:30pm.

Where: Exit 7 Theater located at 37 Chestnut Street, Ludlow, MA. (Please use our main entrance.) Do NOT park in the Housing Authority lot. Parking is available on the corner lot of Winsor and Chestnut Street, HealthSouth lot on Chestnut Street, and on-street parking, also on Chestnut Street.

Performance Dates: September 13-29, 2024 (Thursday: Understudy Night, Fridays/Saturdays 8pm, Sundays 2pm)

Rehearsals:

Read Thru - tentatively scheduled for June 16

Rehearsals will take place from July 1-September 5 on Sunday (5:30-9:30pm), Tuesday and Wednesday (6:30-9:30pm) evenings. Those cast in the production may not be called for every rehearsal.

Tech Week: September 8-11

Production Team:

Director: Michael Borges

Assistant Director: Taylor Raucher

Music Director: Daniel Monte

Choreographer: Eddie Zitka

Assistant Choreographer: Lyndsey Raucher

Producers: Christina Climo, Rebecca Meek, and Eleanor Tynan

Stage Manager: TBD

Costumer: TBD

Lighting Design: Paul Charette

Brief Synopsis:

Close to Average [NOT THE OFFICIAL TITLE] is a contemporary family drama, about a woman’s struggle with mental illness, and the effects of her illness on her family. We follow an average suburban family made of a mother, father, son, daughter, her boyfriend, and a doctor. The Mother’s battle with Bipolar Disorder has affected everyone in her life, and has nearly torn her family apart on several occasions. With subject matter rendered achingly recognizable and a dynamic, energetic pop-rock score, this is a show that enables a small group of actors to showcase powerhouse vocals while exploring pressing contemporary issues of trauma, loss, mental health treatment, and the meaning of family.

Audition Requirements:

Auditions will only consist of vocals, broken up into four individual hour-long segments organized by character. More information is below. You must be 16 years of age or older by the first rehearsal (July 1) WITH WRITTEN CONSENT FROM A PARENT/GUARDIAN to audition. Parent or legal guardian MUST accompany the minor child and sign a consent form the night of the auditions.

All roles are open. There are no precast roles. The Exit 7 Players shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.
Each individual should plan to attend one of the audition nights (not both). Please bring a theatrical resume, headshot (professional or selfies are fine), and filled out audition form. These can also be completed upon your arrival if necessary. There will also be a PDF version available in the Google Drive with the audition materials.
The time slots will be as followed:

Tuesday
6:00pm - Son / Boyfriend
7:00pm - Father / Doctor
8:00pm - Daughter
9:00pm - Mother

Wednesday
6:00pm - Mother
7:00pm - Daughter
8:00pm - Father / Doctor
9:00pm - Son / Boyfriend
Those auditioning for the Boyfriend will prepare the Son’s song for audition nights. The Doctor is open to any gender, but they will have to be able to sing all of the Doctor’s songs in their original key and octave. Those auditioning for the Doctor will prepare the Father’s song for audition nights.

Your selection does not need to be memorized and sheet music is encouraged. A pianist will accompany you for your audition. No a cappella auditions please. Songs and practice karaoke tracks can be found in the Google Drive.
If you cannot attend the audition nights for whatever reason, please contact us at: goodmangabriel24@gmail.com and we may be able to arrange an alternative.
Though we would like to cast everyone, it is not possible. Individuals cast will be based on the decision of the production team.
Everyone will be notified whether they are cast or not by a member of the production team.
Callbacks are by invitation only. Not receiving a callback does not mean you will not still be considered for a role.
This show is rated PG13.

Audition Songs by Character (selections):

Mother - “I Miss the Mountains”
Father / Doctor - “Just Another Day”
Son / Boyfriend - “I’m Alive”
Daughter - “Everything Else”

Character Descriptions:

Mother: Age: Late 30s - Early 40s | Vocal Range: Mezzo Soprano | Gender: Female

Arguably the crux of the story, the Mother is the primary focus when it comes to the topic of mental health. This role is not only vocally demanding but mentally demanding as well; asking for the actor to portray the sadness and grief involved with losing a child, as well as addressing the topic of Suicidal Ideation which is not explicitly shown but discussed and later represented with bandages upon the wrists.

Father: Age: Late 30s - Early 40s | Vocal Range: Bari-Tenor | Gender: Male

The tired suburban Dad, this character is a loyal and loving man who is sincerely doing his best to keep his house together. He immensely loves his wife and daughter but the role of the “anchor” for everyone in the house has truly taken quite the toll on his own mental health.

Son: Age: 18 | Vocal Range: Tenor | Gender: Male

The perfect stranger who knows you too well, the Son is the Mother and Father’s eldest son who passed at 18 months causing the Mother to create a figment of who he could have been. The Son is the manifestation of the Mother’s Bipolar Disorder. He’s almost like an evil presence; haunting the Mother and convincing her that he’s a good spirit through his charisma and charm, but in reality he only inflicts harm and persuades her to make unhealthy choices for herself.

Daughter: Age: 16-17 | Vocal Range: Mezzo Soprano | Gender: Female

Though a genius, the Mother would describe her daughter as a “freak” who is very socially awkward and terrified of becoming her. The Daughter desperately wants to be “Free.” Free of her mother’s antics, free of her father’s distance, free of living in the shadow of a brother who’s not even there.

Boyfriend: Age: 17 | Vocal Range: Tenor | Gender: Male

A “Pretentious” stoner who is super environmentally conscious. Just think that classic stoner in high school, drug rug and all. He’s very wholesome and thoughtful. The Boyfriend is intended to be reflective of the Father, like the next generation of hopeless romantics. He loves the Daughter and doesn’t care if she’s not perfect; he just wants to show her how much she means to him.

Doctor: Age: Late 30s - Early 40s | Vocal Range: Bari-Tenor | Gender: Non-Specific

This is a double character role. The first Doctor is in one of the first numbers acting as the Mother’s Psychopharmacologist who is there to seemingly just medicate the Mother until she’s numb and feels nothing. The “problem” with the US medical system.

The other Doctor, on the other hand, is the opposite - the light at the end of the tunnel. Arguably a “rockstar” in the psychology field. They truly care for the Mother and want her to get better. They wish for her to be able to put the manifestation of her son in the past.

*Ethnicity not specified for any of these characters.*

[Age is not in regards to actor’s real age, but what they have to be able to present as. Same as Gender.]

We hope to see you there!!