My Man Godfrey
a new musical
Book by Rupert Holmes
Music and Lyrics by Mark Hollman
Directed by Matt August
My Man Godfrey, a classic American screwball comedy film from 1936, has been adapted into a musical of the same name by two-time Tony Award winner Rupert Holmes (Mystery of Edwin Drood), and Tony-Winner Mark Hollman (Urinetown). The Noorda Center for the Performing Arts at UVU is delighted to host a workshop for the musical this July.
Matt August, head of the UVU Theatre Department’s directing program, will lead the workshop. Mr. August has directed on Broadway as well as led “Godfrey” through two commercial workshops in NYC. UVU Theatre and The Noorda will present My Man Godfrey as a full production in the ’22-’23 Season.
We are seeking to cast UVU students, faculty, and professionals. If cast, attendance will be required from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, starting July 19th and ending the 30th. The workshop will culminate with public readings on July 29th at 7:30 p.m. and July 30th at 2 p.m. All activities will take place at The Noorda Center on UVU campus.
Cast members will be paid or offered academic credit where appropriate. We strongly recommend all those who audition be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 so we may ensure the sustainability of the workshop and the health of participants as well as limit the need for masks and social distancing.
Actors will be cast in multiple roles and required to work with a dialect coach to master various contemporary American (NYC) and foreign dialects, which will denote each character’s economic status and origin. We seek actors of all backgrounds, orientations, nationalities, religions, and levels of disability.
Audition Process
Please prepare at least 32 bars of a “Golden Age” musical (Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Rogers and Hart, etc) with accompaniment. Files should be saved as .MP4, .MOV, or .WMV and submitted in the following file name format: LastName_video, LastName_resume, etc.
Upload initial video submissions with headshots and resumes HERE. Auditions are due Tuesday, June 22 at 6 p.m. (MST)
Callbacks
Actors who receive callbacks will perform a second audition in person and by appointment at The Noorda on Saturday, June 26th between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sides and song selections will be distributed beforehand.
Roles Available
Godfrey (“Smith/Park”) …dashing, noble male with dry wit and determination; mid-thirties to forties; strong singing—Bb2 to F4 (or A4)
Irene (Bullock)…warm, smartly simple, funny, the original “madcap” heiress, dizzy but not ditzy;
twenties-thirties; strong singing—B3 to F5
Cornelia (Bullock)…Irene’s slightly older, sophisticated sister; attractive, sharp-edged pistol; strong singing—Ab3 to Ab5
Mr. Bullock (“Alexander”) ….bluff, robust, perhaps stout self-made millionaire; rough edges; fifties-early sixties; acting-singing—C3 to Eb4
Angelica (Mrs. Bullock) …wife to Mr. Bullock, mother to Irene and Cornelia, full of grand airs of the Margaret Dumont school, a bit of a ditz; fifties; acting-singing (á la Judy Kaye)—B3 to E5
Molly…tart-tongued but very likeable Irish maid, á la Thelma Ritter; early forties; singing required—Bb3 to F5
Carlo (Cecci)…a charming, dapper, Italian gigolo wooing Mrs. Bullock; sings with and without accent; late twenties-thirties; strong singing—Bb2 to Bb4
Trevor, Marquis of Exeter…weedy but well-intended British blueblood; would probably also play Oscar
Oscar…late thirties-early forties; singing required—B2 to G4
Tommy Beecham…Boston gentry and friend to Godfrey; will probably end up with Cornelia
Roles within Ensemble (all should sing well)
Mike (a forgotten man) …tough working class guy, down on his luck; strong ensemble singing
Bill (another forgotten man) …older than Mike; strong ensemble singing
Ted (another forgotten man) …strong ensemble singing
Faithful George…reliable, well-bred suitor to Cornelia; probably our Godfrey cover
Oscar (of the Waldorf) …character singing; fey Waldorf hotel official of the Pangborn
school; is probably also Trevor and our Carlos cover
Clarice Beecham…sweet little rich girl, twittery, easily shocked, has a crush on Godfrey; twenties
ingenue; almost certainly our Irene cover
Cameo Character Roles within ensemble
Process Server (Maxie)…hardboiled character role; one scene
Hobo (in Central Park) …older acting role; probably played by a forgotten man such as Bill
House Detective…another hardboiled character role; could be played by Mike, Bill, or another forgotten
man
Brown…ensemble role; one scene; probably our cover for Mr. Bullock and other older men
Glenda/Cynthia…female ensemble; twenties-thirties; almost certainly our Cornelia cover
The Duchess of Exeter (non-speaking), The Cook (Mrs. Bromley): Angelica/Molly cover
Young Male Socialite
Mailman
Hansom Cab Driver
Cop (Dennis)
Ferry Boat Announcer (voice-over)
Ensemble Groups
The Forgotten Men
The 400 (in NYC and Newport scenes)
English Nobility
Nightclub Performers
