The casting auditions were, as expected, as difficult as they come. Some people walked into their parts, others were difficult to cast because of fierce competition. We really could have quite easily given lead roles to far more people than we did, but obviously the show only comes with so many parts, and it's all about who was right for what role. I'm actually really excited though, I think we've cast it well and I can't wait to get going on the show!
Heading up the principle cast list is Jasmine Stokes as Annie. Jasmine's audition was well rehearsed and she matched an excellent vocal performance with some strong acting. Annie was one of the more difficult roles to cast, as there were two or three others who delivered a strong audition, but ultimatley Jasmine was deemed most suited to this particular part. Jasmine has never had a principle role with Spotlight before. She was inserted into particular songs in Grease and was primarily a chorus member, and was a Hot Box Girl in Guys And Dolls.
Callum Bateman will be playing Oliver Warbucks. Callum is one of our new members this year, and we are over the moon with the amount of talent we have had come to join us for this show. Warbucks was, like Annie, quite difficult to cast because there were others who delivered strong auditions, but again Callum was chosen for proving himself to be well suited to the part.
Sophie Mance was cast as Miss Hannigan. Sophie's transition from quiet chorus member to all-singing all-dancing principle powerhouse is now sealed. Since being quiet, shy and fading herself into the background in Grease, Sophie then caught our eye with an impressive voice when we were looking for people to be in our one-off project, "Cell Block Tango" from Chicago. She then auditioned for the role of Miss Adelaide in Guys And Dolls and we were all open-mouthed with shock at how much talent she had kept hidden from us! This year, having proven that it really is always the quiet ones, Sophie's newfound confidence walked her into the role of Hannigan. Other auditionees provided outstanding acting, but Sophie was the one who most matched that with a similarly outstanding singing audition.
Grace Farrell will be played by Rebecca Owen. Rebecca, or Bex, was cast as Sandy on the same day she joined Spotlight, establishing herself immediatley as one of our most talented members. In Guys And Dolls she followed this up with a well-perfected supporting role in Guys And Dolls, bringing a sense of comedy to her part that wasn't included in the script. She now returns to a main role for Annie. Only three people auditioned for Grace, and all three were excellent. Ultimatley it was Bex who best fitted the bill.
Tara Nicholson was one of the three Grace auditionees, but we asked her to read in for the role of Lily St Regis, and she seemed to be a natural fit. Tara was a Hot Box Girl in Guys And Dolls and will this year get her very first taste of a principle role. The character's partner in crime, Rooster Hannigan, will be played by newcomer Harrison Burley, who is already regarded as one of Spotlight's most polished performers. He was the Rooster auditionee who was most able to deliever a "big" performance, in addition to the strong acting and vocals that the others bought.
Those who wanted to audition for one of the six orphans at the orphanage did so in a group, so we could see who was able to not only deliver technically, but also to play it as part of a group, as one unit as opposed to individuals. We selected Jasmine Farrant as Pepper, the attitude-ridden orphan; Rebecca Roydhouse as July, the quiet orphan with her fair chunk of singing; Amber Holt as Duffy; Antonia Hunter - a strong auditionee for Annie - as Kate; Darcy Kitchener as crybaby Tessie; and finally Zoe Gray, another strong contender for Annie, as the adorable youngster Molly.
On Monday the twelve principles will be meeting up in Wallington for a read-through... last time we went to Wallington it was fun because it was just a pure quest trying to get there in the dead of night in a small, quite spooky village! Should be cool, I'm looking forward to it.... bring it onnn.
Heading up the principle cast list is Jasmine Stokes as Annie. Jasmine's audition was well rehearsed and she matched an excellent vocal performance with some strong acting. Annie was one of the more difficult roles to cast, as there were two or three others who delivered a strong audition, but ultimatley Jasmine was deemed most suited to this particular part. Jasmine has never had a principle role with Spotlight before. She was inserted into particular songs in Grease and was primarily a chorus member, and was a Hot Box Girl in Guys And Dolls.Callum Bateman will be playing Oliver Warbucks. Callum is one of our new members this year, and we are over the moon with the amount of talent we have had come to join us for this show. Warbucks was, like Annie, quite difficult to cast because there were others who delivered strong auditions, but again Callum was chosen for proving himself to be well suited to the part.
Sophie Mance was cast as Miss Hannigan. Sophie's transition from quiet chorus member to all-singing all-dancing principle powerhouse is now sealed. Since being quiet, shy and fading herself into the background in Grease, Sophie then caught our eye with an impressive voice when we were looking for people to be in our one-off project, "Cell Block Tango" from Chicago. She then auditioned for the role of Miss Adelaide in Guys And Dolls and we were all open-mouthed with shock at how much talent she had kept hidden from us! This year, having proven that it really is always the quiet ones, Sophie's newfound confidence walked her into the role of Hannigan. Other auditionees provided outstanding acting, but Sophie was the one who most matched that with a similarly outstanding singing audition.
Grace Farrell will be played by Rebecca Owen. Rebecca, or Bex, was cast as Sandy on the same day she joined Spotlight, establishing herself immediatley as one of our most talented members. In Guys And Dolls she followed this up with a well-perfected supporting role in Guys And Dolls, bringing a sense of comedy to her part that wasn't included in the script. She now returns to a main role for Annie. Only three people auditioned for Grace, and all three were excellent. Ultimatley it was Bex who best fitted the bill.Tara Nicholson was one of the three Grace auditionees, but we asked her to read in for the role of Lily St Regis, and she seemed to be a natural fit. Tara was a Hot Box Girl in Guys And Dolls and will this year get her very first taste of a principle role. The character's partner in crime, Rooster Hannigan, will be played by newcomer Harrison Burley, who is already regarded as one of Spotlight's most polished performers. He was the Rooster auditionee who was most able to deliever a "big" performance, in addition to the strong acting and vocals that the others bought.
Those who wanted to audition for one of the six orphans at the orphanage did so in a group, so we could see who was able to not only deliver technically, but also to play it as part of a group, as one unit as opposed to individuals. We selected Jasmine Farrant as Pepper, the attitude-ridden orphan; Rebecca Roydhouse as July, the quiet orphan with her fair chunk of singing; Amber Holt as Duffy; Antonia Hunter - a strong auditionee for Annie - as Kate; Darcy Kitchener as crybaby Tessie; and finally Zoe Gray, another strong contender for Annie, as the adorable youngster Molly.
On Monday the twelve principles will be meeting up in Wallington for a read-through... last time we went to Wallington it was fun because it was just a pure quest trying to get there in the dead of night in a small, quite spooky village! Should be cool, I'm looking forward to it.... bring it onnn.
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