Auditions and Submissions

I MARRIED WYATT EARP
Book by Sheilah Rae and Thomas Edward West
Lyrics by Sheilah Rae
Music by Michele Brourman
Suggested in part by the book “I Married Wyatt Earp” by Glenn G. Boyer

Directed by Cara Reichel
Choreography by Joe Barros
Produced by Prospect Theater Company & New York Theatre Barn
Casting Director: Robin Carus

AEA Seasonal Showcase
AEA Stipend: $1400
Non-AEA Stipend: $500
Rehearsals start on or about April 18, 2011
Performances are May 20 – June 12, 2011 at 59E59 Theaters, Theatre B
59 East 59^th Street, NYC

Prospect Theater Company and New York Theatre Barn are proud to present the New York premiere of I MARRIED WYATT EARP, a new musical that tells the story of Josephine Marcus Earp, the third wife of legendary frontiersman Wyatt Earp, and the pioneer women of Tombstone, Arizona.  This original, all-female show re-interprets the events leading to the infamous “Shootout at the OK Corral.”  The piece weaves together two settings: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, 1944, and TOMBSTONE, ARIZONA, 1879-1881.  Both time periods co-exist in the play, with the older versions of Josie Earp and Allie Earp remaining on stage throughout the production, both observing and interacting with their younger selves.

Actors are asked to prepare two contrasting 32-bar selections which best represent their vocal ability, and may be asked to prepare a short selection from the show.

EPA will be on Tues., March 1 from 10a – 6pm, at Studios 353, 353 West 48th Street, 2nd Floor.  Auditions by appointment on March 2 & 3, 5:30 – 9:30pm.  To request an appointment, please email headshot & resume to earpcasting@gmail.com.

CHARACTERS

NOTE:  Because of the eclectic nature of this score, the cast of eleven women all should be able to sing with “country or pop” influenced song stylings.  However, all roles require ability to tap into strong legit singing technique as well.

 
JOSEPHINE MARCUS EARP (“JOSIE”) Character is 81 years old (role may be played by any actress who can play this age – and the other characters mentioned in this description – believably).   Fiery, solid, elegant mezzo / belt (Low F - high C1).  Haunted by the past, she is by turns charming, sophisticated, imperious and irascible.  As Wyatt Earp’s widow, she has campaigned to reform his image and create the popular myth of Wyatt that persists to this day, asserting her place as Wyatt’s one true wife.  Throughout the play, Josie steps in and out of other roles as she digs through her past, including her own mother, SOPHIE MARCUS, the conservative German-Jewish wife of a successful San Francisco businessman, who has a trace of an accent; also the voices of Wyatt Earp and John Behan.

 
ALLIE EARP (“ALLIE”) Character is 90 years old (role may be played by any actress who can play this age believably).  Country mezzo / belt (Low F – high C1).  The widow of Virgil Earp, she is tough, sly, and fiercely intelligent.  Long widowed, she has always felt that her husband Virgil should have held the exalted position in history accorded to Wyatt.

 
JOSEPHINE SARAH MARCUS (“YOUNG JOSIE”).  Character is 18, but may be played by an actress in her 20’s.  Passionate and exciting mix / soprano belt.  (Low g - high D1, to possible high C2).  Charismatic, well-educated, headstrong, gutsy, German-Jewish girl from a good family.  A rebel at heart, she is desperate to escape her upper-class San Francisco home for the freedom and adventure of the frontier.  Her fine manners, good breeding and innate sexuality cause the Earp women to resent her almost on sight.

 
“YOUNG ALLIE” EARP. 27.  Strong, aggressive-edge mezzo belt.  (Low f - high C1).  Solid pioneer woman, earthy, clever, controlling, ambitious, stubborn.  Leader of the Earp women, she cares deeply about keeping her family together, protecting their stake in the world, and building a better future.

 
MATTIE EARP.  30’s. Mezzo with strong mid range.  Vulnerability and fragility in her sound.  (Low g - high D1).  Wyatt Earp’s common-law wife.  Addicted to the opium-based drug laudanum. Manic-depressive and unpredictable, yet sympathetic.

 
BESS EARP. Late 30’s – 40’s.  Higher belt, with an ethereal quality.  Role requires strong musicianship (Low g - high F1).  Wife of James Earp.  An expert Tarot card reader.  Overwhelmed by her headstrong daughter, she relies on her sister-in-law Allie for help.  Motherly, possibly a bit psychic.  May double as PENELOPE, a member of Pauline Rackham’s theatrical troupe.

 
HATTIE EARP.  Must read age 16; seeking actress 18+.  Lighter teen-age soprano sound, with strong belt and legit head voice range.  (Low g - high E1, with a high B-flat).  Daughter of Bess Earp.  Stubborn and impressionable.  Naïve.  A little boy crazy, she can’t wait to grow up.  May double as PENELOPE, a member of Pauline Rackham’s theatrical troupe.

 
KATE HARONEY.  Late 30’s or early 40’s.  Strong mezzo/belt. (Low g - high C1).  Doc Holliday’s mistress and a professional gambler.  A realist: blunt, pragmatic, jaded, and a bit cynical.  She has a strong sense of her own sexuality, and a faded elegance suggesting her purported descent from Hungarian royalty.  Speaks with a Hungarian accent.

 
PAULINE RACKHAM.  40s.  Very legit (British accent).  Heavy dramatic soprano.  (Low a - high f).  An English-born theatrical impresario and the director of the “Pinafore on Wheels” troupe, an all-female Gilbert & Sullivan touring company.  A savvy producer who makes her own rules in the world, she dresses like a British gentleman. 

 
CORA.  20’s.  Mezzo-Soprano.  A member of Pauline’s troupe.  Jealous of Josie’s quick advancement in the troupe, she sleeps with Tombstone sheriff John Behan (Josie’s first love) to spite Josie.  Strong dance ability required.

 
MAUDE.  20’s, a member of Pauline’s troupe.  Strong legit soprano to high A.  Cora’s partner in crime.  Strong dance ability required

Submissions


NEW YORK THEATRE BARN is always looking for promising new work to develop, nurture and produce as well as artists who strive to challenge the form and the way we develop new work. If you would like to submit a script or an idea for an event proposal, please see the instructions below.

Please include:
• a brief description and plot summary of the piece
• character breakdown
• 30 page script sample (the pages should be consecutive)

New York Theatre Barn will follow-up with you once we have received your materials and will contact you further if we wish to review the full script or would like to request a demo (for musical projects).

Please email inquiries to the Producing Artistic Director, Joe Barros: JBarros@nytheatrebarn.org

If you are interested in submitting your work to our monthly series NYTB at The Duplex, a monthly platform for emerging writers and performers, contact Executive Producers Karen Marshall (KMarshall@NYTheatreBarn.org) and Laura Brandel (LBrandel@NYTheatreBarn.org).

New York Theatre Barn thanks you for your interest.