Much Ado About Nothing
2025-02-13 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-02-14 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-02-15 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-02-16 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | The Historic Mishler Theatre, 1208 12th Ave, Altoona, PA, 16601, United States
Much Ado About Nothing
by William Shakespeare
February 13, 14, 15 at 7:30 PM
February 16 at 2 PM

Directed by Tom Liszka

Love is in the air as two of Shakespeare’s most tumultuous couples— Beatrice and Benedick, and Claudio and Hero—volley hilarious quips and damning accusations back and forth. For Beatrice and Benedick, wit is a full-contact sport, and each is happy to throw some elbows. But wethinks they doth protest too much. Sometimes a stubborn soul needs that proverbial kick in the pantaloons to get out of their own way.

Will the truth win in this mischievous game of love? Romance, wit, false accusations, mistaken identities, and a cunning villain fuel this beloved classic with a central couple that set the standard for today’s rom coms.

Tickets on sale now through the Mishler Theatre Box Office – 814-944-9434

Mary Poppins AUDITIONS
2025-02-23 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-02-24 18:00 - 21:00 | ACT Rehearsal Hall, 1213 12th St, Altoona, PA, 16601, United States
AUDITIONS FOR
Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s
Mary Poppins
A Musical based on the stories of P.L. Travers
and the Walt Disney Film
Original Music and Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman
Book by Julian Fellowes
New songs and Additional Music and Lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe
Co-Created by Cameron Mackintosh
Open Auditions Sunday, February 23 at 6:00pm & Monday, February 24 at 6:00 p.m.
Show Dates: May 1, 2, & 3 @ 7:30 pm, May 3 & 4 @ 2 pm
(5 performances)
Directed by Tara E. Enedy
Open auditions for Altoona Community Theatre’s production of “Mary Poppins” will be held Sunday and Monday, February 23 and 24, beginning 6:00 p.m. in the Altoona Community Theatre Rehearsal Hall, 1213 12th Street, Downtown Altoona. Auditionees need only attend one night of auditions unless asked to attend callbacks. All audition times are for all ages appropriate for the show.
Everyone should be prepared with 16 to 32 bars of a broadway song that showcases their ability. No unaccompanied singing will be permitted. An accompanist will be provided. Please bring paper copies of your sheet music in the appropriate key.
A song will be taught to those without a prepared number.
Everyone will participate in a general movement audition. No special dance clothing is required, just clothes and shoes that are comfortable to move in. Please bring dance or character shoes to change into, if you have them available. During the movement audition you will have the opportunity to demonstrate advanced dancing skills if you would like to be considered for a full dancing and singing ensemble role, Bert, or Mary Poppins.

DANCE ONLY audition for those not interested in singing:
Sunday February 23 at 4pm
This DANCE ONLY session is a special dance ensemble audition for those only interested in dancing in “Step in Time”, “Jolly Holiday”, or “Supercali..” This dance ensemble will include advanced tapping and dance skills, but not necessarily singing. Only attend this dance audition if you do not want to sing.
If you are unable to attend this date for a dance audition, please call ACT Office at 814-943-4357 to discuss attending on Wednesday February 26 instead. This alternative time is by invitation or prior arrangement only.
Attend the general auditions on Sunday or Monday at 6 pm if you would like to be considered for “full ensemble” roles that include singing. Auditionees will be given a chance to demonstrate advanced dancing skills during the movement portion of the general auditions.

About the show:

This uplifting and energetic musical is sure to delight all ages. Bert, a chimney sweep, introduces us to the troubled Banks family in 1910 London. Young Jane and Michael have sent many a nanny packing before Mary Poppins appears at their doorstep. The family finds that she is the answer to their prayers, but in the most peculiar way.

Mary Poppins takes the children on many magical and memorable adventures, but Jane and Michael aren’t the only ones upon whom she has a profound effect. Songs include “A Spoonful of Sugar,” “Chim Chim Cher-ee,” “Step in Time,” and “Let’s Go Fly a Kite.”

Available Roles & Vocal Range:
Age ranges are a suggestion, please audition for any role you would like to be considered for. Listed by order of appearance.
Bert: The narrator of the story, is a good friend to Mary Poppins. An everyman, Bert has many occupations, including hurdy-gurdy player, sidewalk artist and chimney sweep. Bert watches over the children as well as the goings on in Cherry Tree Lane. He has charm, speaks with a Cockney accent and is a song-and-dance man.
Gender: male
Age: 25 to 45
Vocal range top: F#4
Vocal range bottom: B2
Must have dance abilities and not be afraid of heights.
George Banks: The father to Jane and Michael Banks, is a banker to the very fiber of his being. Demanding “precision and order” in his household, he is a pipe-and-slippers man who doesn’t have much to do with his children and believes that he had the perfect upbringing by his nanny, the cruel Miss Andrew. His emotional armor, however, conceals a sensitive soul. A baritone, George may speak-sing as necessary.
Gender: male
Age: 30 to 60
Vocal range top: Eb4
Vocal range bottom: Bb2
Winifred Banks: George’s wife and Jane and Michael’s mother. A former actress, she is loving and distracted homemaker who is busy trying to live up to her husband’s desire to only associate with “the best people” as well as be the model wife and mother. She suffers from the conflicting feelings that she’s not up to the job of “being Mrs. Banks,” yet, she is, and more. She has great warmth and simplicity to her tone.
Gender: female
Age: 30 to 60
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: A3
Jane: The high-spirited daughter of Mr. and Mr. Banks, is bright and precocious but can be willful and inclined to snobbishness.
Gender: female
Age: 10 to 12
Vocal range top: F#5
Vocal range bottom: A3
Michael: The cute and cheeky son of Mr. and Mrs. Banks. Excitable and naughty, he adores his father and tries to be like him. Both he and Jane misbehave in order to get the attention of their parents.
Gender: male
Age: 8 to 10
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: A3
Katie Nanna:Jane and Michael’s nanny at the beginning of the show. Overwhelmed and upset, she has absolutely had her fill of the Banks children.
Gender: female
Age: 30 to 60
Policeman: A neighborhood fixture who is respected by and observant of households on his beat.
Gender: male
Age: 30 to Any
Miss Lark: The haughty next-door neighbor of the Banks family who treats her dog, Willoughby, as if her were child.
Gender: female
Age: 30 to Any
Admiral Boom: A retired Royal Navy man and neighbor of the Banks family. A physically large man with a loud and booming voice, he speaks in Navy jargon and has a soft spot for his neighbor, Miss Lark. Can be any vocal range as needed. If Admiral Bloom doubles as the Banks Chairman, he can be a baritone.
Gender: male
Age: 50 to 75
Mrs. Brill: The housekeeper and cook for the Banks family. Overworked and harassed, she’s always complaining that the house is understaffed. Her intimidating exterior is a cover for the warmth underneath. Mrs. Brill doesn’t have a high opinion of nannies in general and Mary Poppins in particular. She does not have to be a strong singer.
Gender: female
Age: 40-60
Vocal range top: D#5
Vocal range bottom: F#3
Robertson Ay: The houseboy to the Banks family. Lazy, sleepy and grumbling, he never gets things right and believes himself to be useless. He doesn’t do a lot of singing, but his “Spoonful” solo can be a fun surprise.
Gender: male
Age: 20 to 40
Vocal range top: G#4
Vocal range bottom: F3
Mary Poppins: Jane and Michael Banks’s new nanny. She is extraordinary and strange, neat and tidy, delightfully vain yet particular, and sometimes a little frightening but always exciting. She is practically perfect in every way and always means what she says. A mezzo soprano with strong top notes, she should be able to move well. She can have a more traditional soprano sound, but precision and diction is the key.
Gender: female
Age: 20 to 40
Vocal range top: C6
Vocal range bottom: Gb3
Must have some dance ability and not be afraid of heights.
Park Keeper: Uniformed and officious, he makes sure no one breaks park regulations. His life is defined by rules, but he secretly hankers after his childhood.
Gender: male
Age: Any
Neleus: The statue of a young boy posed with a dolphin in the park. Neleus was separated from his father, Poseidon, and misses him very much. A small and lonely being, he is very happy to befriend Jane and Michael. This will be a featured dance role.
Gender: male
Age: 14 to 21
Queen Victoria: A statue in the park.
Gender: female
Age: Any
Bank Chairman: The head of the bank where Mr. Banks is employed, is an Edwardian stuffed-shirt. He can speak/sing his lines if necessary.
Gender: male
Age: 50 to Any
Vocal range top: D4
Vocal range bottom: C3
Miss Smythe: The Bank Chairman’s humorless secretary.
Gender: female
Age: Any
Ensemble: Annie, Fannie, Valentine, Teddy Bear, Mr. Punch, Doll, Chimney Sweeps, Toys, Parkgoers.
Von Hussler: A businessman seeking a loan from the bank for a shady business deal. He speaks with a German accent.
Gender: male
Age: Any
John Northbrook: An honest business man seeking a loan to build a factory for his community. He speaks with an accent from Northern England.
Gender: male
Age: Any
Bird Woman: Covered in a patchwork of old shawls, and her pockets are stuffed with bags of crumbs for the birds. She tries to sell her crumbs for the birds. She tries to sell her crumbs to passersby, who ignore her as if she doesn’t exist. Sings “Feed the Birds.” There can be a gruff, folksy quality to her voice that reflects the hardness of her life.
Gender: female
Age: 30 to Any
Vocal range top: C5
Vocal range bottom: Gb3
Mrs. Corry: Owns a magical gingerbread shop. She is a mysterious woman of great age who speaks with a Caribbean accent (or any accent that would make her seem exotic).
Gender: female
Age: 30 to Any
Miss Andrew: George’s overbearing and scary nanny. With her bottle of nasty-tasting brimstone and treacle to keep naughty children in line, she is a bully who only knows one way of doing things – her way. A soprano with an alto belt, there can be some heaviness to her voice along with range.
Gender: female
Age: 40 to Any
Vocal range top: F5
Vocal range bottom: Gb3
