archy & mehitabel
Book by Joe Darion & Mel Brooks
Music by George Kleinsinger
Lyrics by Joe Darion
Based on the stories of Don Marquis
Produced on Broadway as Shinbone Alley
Producer/Director: Jayson Borenstein
We're celebrating Mel Brooks' 100th birthday by bringing one of his long overlooked musicals to Philly Fringe!
SYNOPSIS
In a deserted office, a cockroach dives headfirst onto the keys of a typewriter, pouring out the ruminations of his soul. It's archy (he's too small to hold down the shift key), poet, philosopher, moralist and futile worshipper of mehitabel, the alley cat. This bizarre, highly original musical takes us into the streets of the big city as archy tries hopelessly to bring the toujours gai mehitabel off the back fence and into a respectable home as a housecat
REHEARSALS
12 rehearsals between August 31 and September 18:
All rehearsals will be in the evening between 6pm-10pm at the Philadelphia Ethical Society, 1906 Rittenhouse Square.
No rehearsal on Labor Day weekend (September 4-7) or Rosh Hashanah (September 11-13).
An additional rehearsal will be held during the day on September 19 from 12pm-5pm prior to the performance that will begin at 7:30pm.
PERFORMANCE
One performance on September 19 at 7:30pm at the Ethical Society Auditorium, 1906 Rittenhouse Square.
SEEKING
ALL ROLES require excellent comedic timing. No dancing will be required for any role, but seeking performers who move well and can handle some physical comedy.
ARCHY, Male, Any Ethnicity. Baritone (G2-F4). The cockroach with a soul. Often worrisome to the point of pessimism. Must follow his calling to write. Acts as a sort of protective, father-figure to Mehitabel out of his love for her.
MEHITABEL, Female, Any Ethnicity. Mezzo/Alto (G3-E5). The Queen of Shinbone Alley. A free soul who loves life, she is tough and short tempered. Boy crazy but secretly longs to find that one special companion. Must be an excellent character actress who can bring her own unique personality to this role previously played by Carol Channing, Eartha Kitt, and Tammy Grimes.
BIG BILL, Male, Any Ethnicity. Baritone (B2-E4). Tough. Mean. Brave. The one-eyed terror of Shinbone Alley who falls in love with Mehitabel and then leaves her when she is pregnant.
TYRONE T. TATTERSALL, Male, Any Ethnicity. Baritone (A2-F4). The Actor Cat and ham extraordinaire. A “true” artist who thinks the tradition of theatre and art is dying. Snobbish, pompous, and easily annoyed.
NEWSPAPERMAN, Male, Any Ethnicity. Non-Singing. The narrator of the story and Archy's boss at the newspaper.
MEHITABEL’S FRIENDS/LADYBUGS/HUMANS, Female, Any Ethnicity. Soprano/Mezzo/Alto. Three dynamic women who play Mehitabel’s friends, ladybugs “of the evening”, and the humans in Mehitabel’s new home. Seeking excellent vocalists who can hold harmonies, at times a cappella.
archy & meihtabel is powered by Producer Hub.
Please submit your resume, headshot, and a 32-64 bar cut of a song in the style of the show to THIS Google Form. Submissions due by Sunday, June 28 at 11:59pm
Those auditioning for the role of the Newspaperman are asked to submit the provided monologue on the form in lieu of a song.
Callbacks will be invite-only and on an as-needed basis.
Please direct any questions to Jayson Borenstein, [email protected].
Google Form link: https://forms.gle/onuLkzrmF6WkLSQS6
