Auditions - YANK! - A WWII Love Story

Posted by District Theatre ; Posted on 
Performing - DEADLINE :  
Auditions - YANK! - A WWII Love Story

   

The District Theater (Formerly Theatre on the Square) seeks men with great voices and who move well for the Indianapolis premiere of the musical "Yank!" - A WWII Love Story", Book and Lyrics by David Zellnik, Music by Joseph Zellnik. "Yank!" will be directed by Tim Spradlin.

If you have questions please email Tim at hightenor@aol.com. Audition times will be set up for this fall. They are just trying to  get a head start on answering questions and arranging auditions.

Yank will open March 1st, 2019 and run for four weeks Thursday through Sunday.

Synopsis:
YANK!, originally produced off-Broadway in 2010, is a love song to Hollywood's "it takes one of every kind" platoon flicks and to 1940s Broadway. Suffused with songs (swing, big band, boogie-woogie), it explores what stories get told in wartime, and how WWII became the great catalyst in bringing gay men and women together. It's the story of Stu, a scared Midwestern kid who gets drafted in 1943, and who spends Basic Training wrestling with fears of whether he "has what it takes" to make it in the Army. But unlike most guys, Stu also falls in love with a fellow Private, Mitch. When Stu strikes a friendship with Artie, an unapologetically gay reporter for Yank Magazine, Artie shows Stu a glimpse of the gay world that thrived just beneath the surface of the US Army in the 1940s. We also see the consequences of being fond out and how brutal the treatment was to officers who would not out other officers. This show brings to light the short distance we have come to beating homophobic activity in the military. It also shows how close we have come in recent years to returning to just this kind of treatment. The battle continues. In spite of the dark nature of the story please be aware that there is also lots of comedy. South pacific was a musical about war time and racism but still there was drama mixed with lots of humorous moments. That can also be found in Yank.

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN: YANK! The WWII Musical NOTE: All actors must move well and be able to sing in harmony.

All Actors are paid a stipend.

Parts not listed have been filled.

  • STU- early 20s, Bari-Tenor. Boy next door who grows from scared kid to out gay man who is willing to fight for what he believes. Demanding lead role that requires strong singing and acting; rarely leaves stage.
  • MITCH- 20-30s, Baritone. Classic Leading Man with strong, legit singing voice. The soldier that everyone looks up to. He eventually becomes Stu’s lover.
    • *** Stu and Mitch must be comfortable kissing on stage. NOTE there is no sex or gratuitous activity at all, just passionate kissing.
  • TENNESSEE- 20s, Bari-Tenor. Southern guy with capability of violence.
  • ROTELLI- 20s. Baritone. Comedic fellow and immigrant soldier from Sicily.
  • COHEN- 20+. Bari-Tenor. Scrappy and sweet Jewish guy who wants to kill Nazis. He doubles in other roles.
  • SARGE/SCARLETT- 30 +Baritone. Plays both a tough army sergeant who runs boot camp and an effeminate army typist. Must dance.
  • MELANIE- 30+. Tenor. An effeminate typist. Also doubles in other rolls. Must dance.
  • INDIA- 30+. Tenor. Another effeminate typist. Also doubles in other rolls. Must dance.

NOTE: In previous productions there has been nudity. This production will NOT have it.

Here is a preview from the London company of Yank.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JacXVWoOIbI&feature=share