Auditions

A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder

Book and Lyrics by Robert L. Freedman
Music and Lyrics by Stven Lutvak
Based on a novel by Roy Horniman

Directed by Brianna Galligan
Music Directed by Paige Rammelkamp

Performances - October 20-29, 2023, Fridays & Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 2pm
Gaithersburg Arts Barn, 311 Kent Square Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20878

Live Auditions - Sunday, July 30th & Tuesday, August 1st; 7:30-10pm
Virtual Submissions - Due Sunday, July 30th at 11:59pm
(See audition form for instructions on submitting video audition)

Callbacks (by invitation only) - Wednesday, August 2nd; 7:30-10pm

Live auditions and callbacks to be held at:
Luxmanor Elementary School
6201 Tilden Lane
Rockville, MD 20852

*If submitting a video audition, please choose " Please add me to the waiting list..." instead of an audition time.*

What to Prepare For Auditions

Anyone auditioning for the D'Ysquith family - please prepare a verse and a chorus of a duet or ensemble number showing multiple characters in standard high British dialect.

All other roles, please prepare 32 bars of a classical musical theatre or operetta song preferably comedic with dialect.

A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder will be performed with piano accompaniment.

Roles

Monty Navarro - Monty learns his mother was a disinherited member of the D’Ysquith royal family and he is ninth in line for the Earldom of Highhurst. He then proceeds to make plans to murder each of his family members and secure his place as Earl. Monty must be charismatic and cunning enough to ingratiate himself with both the audience and his prospective victims. He is a leading man, and often, the straight man, in the show. Monty should also have excellent physical comedy skills to adequately play along with the D’Ysquiths in their various incarnations. Charming and handsome, Monty is not upper class but has no trouble blending in with high society. Gender: Male. Age: 20s to 30s. Vocal range top: Bb5. Vocal range bottom: Bb3

The D’Ysquith Family - The principal conceit of Gentleman’s Guide is that one actor plays all members of the D’Ysquith family. As such the actor portraying the D’Ysquiths must have a tremendous and transformational acting ability. All D’Ysquith family members are farces of British high society in the early 20th century. Actor should have strong physical comedic skills and accent ability to help establish and differentiate multiple characters. Must have stamina to carry the different characters throughout the show and make extraordinarily quick costume changes. Strong singing isn’t paramount but must be able to carry a tune and hold their part in two-part harmony.

Age: 30s to 50s. Vocal range top: G#4. Vocal range bottom: F#2/Bb3

Sibella Hallward - The girl Monty loves. A beautiful and flirtatious social climber, Sibella has true affection for Monty but also true affection for social status. Sibella is smart, funny and stylish and, as far as relationships are concerned, she wants to have her cake and eat it too.

Gender: Female. Age: 20s to 30s. Vocal range top: Gb5. Vocal range bottom: F#3

Phoebe D’Ysquith - Monty’s cousin. Phoebe was raised high class with idealistic fantasies of love. As beautiful as Sibella, Phoebe foils Sibella in her interest in love over status, and a desire to find the true virtue in people. Though she is smart and earnest, she can also be naive. Must be an excellent singer with a legit, possibly operatic sound. A true soprano.

Gender: Female. Age: 20s to 30s. Vocal range top: high sustained C#6 with an optional Eb. Vocal range bottom: G#3

Miss Shingle - Monty's unexpected visitor. Sneaky and mysterious, Miss Shingle has an obvious sense of justice. She comes to tell Monty the secret of his D’Ysquith lineage with a pivotal song in Act 1 that sets up the story of the show. Actress should be a supreme and interesting character actress with a vocal style to match.

Gender: Female. Age: 40s to 60s. Vocal range top: E5. Vocal range bottom: Eb3

The Ensemble - A group of strong and dynamic musical theatre performers who all play multiple featured roles. These actors will play 40+ roles including: Lady Eugenia, Miss Barley, Tom Copley, Detective Pinckney, The Magistrate, various clerks, newsboys, ancestors, maids, actors and many others. All Ensemble members are expected to be comfortable with some movement. Expected to work with the directing team to create dynamic characters.

Age: 16 to 99. Ensemble Vocal Ranges: Soprano (coloratura) Ab4 Bb6. Mezzo Bb4 G5. Alto Gb3 Gb5. Tenor Ab3 B5.
Baritone Ab3 G#4. Bass C2 G#4. Please note: All of these roles will cover others.

Rehearsals

Rehearsal dates/times will be subject to cast availability and will be announced once casting is confirmed.

Location TBA - Rockville, Bethesda MD area.

Our health and safety protocols have changed - As of August 2023, masking will be optional for cast and crew members during rehearsals and performances. Vaccination records will not be required to be shown to participate with VLOC.
*this policy is subject to change as local guidance continues to update.

Plot Synopsis

On the night of his mother’s funeral, middle-class Englishman Monty Navarro learns an incredible secret: he is the “son of the daughter of the grandson of nephew of the second Earl of Highhurst.” In other words, Monty Navarro is an aristocrat -- if he can only find a way to prevent the eight earls preceding him from inheriting the earldom first. Buoyed along by love for two different women, the stunning and self-centered Sibella and the pious and witty Phoebe, Monty takes on his mission. As for the D’Ysquith family? One actor plays each ill-fated member, from the flamboyant country squire to the terrible actress to the aging war hero. In the witt, and ceaselessly entertaining A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, the audience is treated to Edwardian style, classic farce, and stunning operatic singing. Gentleman’s Guide combines the best of the past with a contemporary sensibility and humor that earned it the 2014 Tony Award for Best Musical.

Standard Information and Disclosures

All roles are open and unpaid.
As of the 2023/24 season - masking will be optional for cast and crew members during rehearsals and performances.
As of the 2023/24 season - Covid-19 vaccination records will no longer be required to be shown to participate in a VLOC production.

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