Zorro! The Panto!
Audition and volunteers information pack.
© The South Devon Players theatre company, c/o Chestnut Heights Community Centre, 1-3 Poplar
Close, Brixham TQ5 0SA. http://southdevonplayers.weebly.com TEL 07855 090589
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Introduction
This is a pack designed for those wishing to audition for the theatre production of Zorro! The
Panto.
NOTES:
1) If you cannot/ do not wish to commit to the rehearsal and show schedule, please do
not audition as it wastes everyone’s time including your own.
2) It is expected that you attend the majority of rehearsals, and if an unforeseen
circumstance occurs that you need to miss a rehearsal, please notify the director as
quickly as possible. Failure to do so may result in your role being re-cast.
3) A high standard of professional behaviour is required at all times.
Contents
Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 2
Contents ................................................................................................................................................... 2
About the show ........................................................................................................................................ 3
Synopsis ................................................................................................................................................... 3
About the South Devon Players ............................................................................................................... 4
The creative team ..................................................................................................................................... 4
Audition dates and process ...................................................................................................................... 5
Casting roles............................................................................................................................................. 5
Non-performance involvement ................................................................................................................ 7
Rehearsal details ...................................................................................................................................... 7
Notes on weapons .................................................................................................................................... 7
Good practice requirements for all involved ........................................................................................... 8
Photography ............................................................................................................................................. 8
Notes for child performers and their parents/ guardians .......................................................................... 8
Performance dates .................................................................................................................................... 9
Audition form......................................................................................................................................... 10
© The South Devon Players theatre company, c/o Chestnut Heights Community Centre, 1-3 Poplar
Close, Brixham TQ5 0SA. http://southdevonplayers.weebly.com TEL 07855 090589
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About the show
This is a lively panto, with a difference, combining traditional pantomime with the glamour of
(family friendly) Vegas shows, based around the legend of Zorro.
Synopsis
The hapless but handsome Diego De La Vega, is a bored and rebellious schoolteacher, and
is a known forgetful daydreamer. He is hated by Capistrano, a local crime-lord, who has just
been stung in his turn for most of his fortune.
Capistrano has heard legends of Aztec gold, which is still rumoured to be in the area and
believes that if he can just find the hoard, that will solve his problems, and make him the
richest man in Mexico, while the Aztecs are led in turn by their witch doctor Quetzalcoatl, who
remains very suspicious of all visitors, and ensures that his people keep to themselves.
Meanwhile, Diego is admired from afar by two ladies, the plain and ordinary Elena, and the
sultry Luciana. He notices neither of them, although Luciana has plans up her sleeve to
ensnare Diego, while allying herself with Capistrano, to steal the Aztec gold, and then take it
for herself.
With music, dance, singing, and acting, the story is told of how Diego the daydreamer
develops his alter-ego of Zorro, defends the people subjugated by Capistrano, and helps
Quetzalcoatl defend the Aztec secrets.
About the South Devon Players
The South Devon Players theatre company are an award-winning, completely non-profit
community/ amateur theatre company founded in 2005, based in Brixham and featured on
BBC 1 national television in January 2013. We mainly specialise in shows about local history,
but sometimes expand to wider historical events (as in the case of this production) as well.
We are family friendly, lively and welcoming to all who wish to be involved in theatre at any
level. In the past, members have gone on to perform in major feature films, and train at
RADA. Our membership ranges from age 10 to 65, and from professional performers to
complete beginners, all of whom work as part of a team to create new exciting shows which
are then brought to our local community.
We tend to not be open to child members (those under the age of 16) except in special
cases, however there are a limited number of child roles within this production.
The creative team
Zorro! The Panto. will be directed by one of the theatre company’s founders; Miss Laura J,
who as well as being a professional performer and model in her own right, also holds a
Masters degree in teaching performing arts, as well as degrees in film production, and
photography –
© The South Devon Players theatre company, c/o Chestnut Heights Community Centre, 1-3 Poplar
Close, Brixham TQ5 0SA. http://southdevonplayers.weebly.com TEL 07855 090589
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Audition dates and process
The audition date is Sunday September 14th, at Chestnut Heights Community Centre, 1-3
Poplar Close, Brixham, TQ5 0SA, the doors are open from 12pm, and the auditions will begin
at 1pm promptly. We expect to be finished by between 4.30pm, but this is flexible depending
on attending numbers.
There is no charge whatsoever to audition.
The audition process consists of a discussion about the project, answering any questions etc,
and then group readings of the show script (supplied at the event). The audition panel will
then discuss the casting roles for around half an hour, and will announce the roles the same
evening (if you want to wait) or via email within two days if you have needed to leave.
It is imperative that you make sure you are able to attend the weekly rehearsals and that you
are available for the show dates, prior to auditioning.
Keeping a diary with you is recommended.
If you are aged under 16, and auditioning, please make sure that you attend with a parent or
legal guardian (please see the chapter heading for child actors).
Please be aware of the fact that this show will contain special effects including strobe
lighting, smoke machines and ultraviolet light.
Casting roles
As with pantomime, although the principal characterisations are certain genders, they are
often played by someone of the opposite gender. If someone gets a role but we deem that
extra singing lessons or extra dance lessons are required, you will be expected to attend
arranged lessons, once a week, extra to the rehearsal schedule.
Please note the audition songs – which we will require at least two verses of, to be sung at
auditions for relevant characters.
Diego De La Vega (Zorro / lead male), a handsome but hapless daydreamer. Must be able
to sing, learn dance routines and act. The character appears as Diego, rather hapless and
forgetful, but as Zorro has to appear as this swashbuckling masked hero.
Auditions require two verses from one of the following songs: Born Free, Walk like an
Egyptian
Capistrano (Main male baddie) Pompous and aggressive, enjoys being evil, the “best
swordsman in the land” but underneath that exterior, actually rather ineffectual (the opposite
of Diego), very proud of being a direct descendant of the conquistadors.
Auditions require two verses from one of the following songs: Princes of the Universe, When
I'm Evil
© The South Devon Players theatre company, c/o Chestnut Heights Community Centre, 1-3 Poplar
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Quetzalcoatl The Aztec witch doctor, who also acts as the village chief. Fierce but listens
to reason, is very wary of non-Aztecs, and especially Capistrano. Quetzalcoatl is this pantos
answer to “The good fairy”
Auditions require two verses from one of the following songs: ooo eee ooo ahh ahh ting tang
walla walla bing bang, or Born Free,
Elena Lead female #1, she is quiet, polite, and a daydreamer too, and admires Diego from
afar, but of course Diego is too wrapped up in his own daydreams to notice her.
Auditions require two verses from one of the following songs: I Who Have Nothing, Where
Have All The Cowboys Gone, Leader of the Pack
Luciana Lead female #2, also the shows “evil witch”. She plans on using her magical arts to
get the two things she wants most, Diego, and the Aztec gold, and she doesnt mind using
Capistrano along the way.
Auditions require two verses from one of the following songs: Diamonds Are Forever.
Goldfinger When I'm Evil
“Harvey” Loud brash Texan trucker, paid by Capistrano to come with his friends to fight
Diego, but is he actually going to take sides? He has his own agenda. MUST be able to do a
loud and broad American accent.
Auditions require two verses from one of the following songs: Convoy , Livin La Vida Loca
Big Bertha Capistrano's mother, (the panto dame), who has two desires – to be a fashion
model, and to see her son pull himself together. She is unaware of his bad behaviour and
genuinely believes that no-one can be as hapless or airy-fairy as Diego, so he must be up to
something – so she will help her son defeat Diego, at least for a while.
Auditions require two verses from one of the following songs: This Is The Army Mr Jones, or
Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini
“Maestro” a friend of Diego, who runs the local bar. Also acts as the show MC.
Other roles (requiring fewer lines and ensemble singing / movement)
Chorus: Must be happy singing and dancing in a team. The chorus will be separated into
adults and juniors for some scenes. Some chorus members will have a few lines as well and
smaller named characters. Will be combined with the villagers, Aztec tribespeople, tourists,
and American visitors. To audition, please bring a couple of verses of a song of your choice.
Showgirls: Technically the chorus leads, but treated as separate for the purposes of the
casting because showgirls will be asked to wear showgirl costumes (covering but skimpier
than other costumes), Must be confident to lead off scenes as required and perform separate
from the main group. Must be over 16 due to the skimpier showgirl costumes.
To audition, please bring a couple of verses of a song of your choice and a short dance
routine.
© The South Devon Players theatre company, c/o Chestnut Heights Community Centre, 1-3 Poplar
Close, Brixham TQ5 0SA. http://southdevonplayers.weebly.com TEL 07855 090589
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Non-performance involvement
We are looking for people who may not be so interested in performing, as in helping in other
roles, we are looking for stage hands/ set builders, to help with the stage sets, and front of
house helpers, to welcome audience to shows, serve refreshments in the interval etc.
Non-performing helpers cannot be involved in more acting than as extras in crowd scenes.
Rehearsal details
Rehearsals will take place every Wednesday evening 7 – 9.30pm, and Sunday afternoon
1pm- 4.30pm onwards at Chestnut Heights Community Centre, where the auditions were
held.
Child actors may depart with their parent/ guardian as soon as they have completed their
scenes and received any feedback from the director.
Please attend with your script, and a pen (for making notes) and a diary.
Use of phones in rehearsals (unless for emergencies), or other distraction of those
performing, is not permitted.
If you are likely to be late, or if you are having to miss a rehearsal due to work or illness,
please text Laura, the director, on 07855 090589 to let the team know.
As a non-profit group, we each contribute £1 per rehearsal to the community centre hire.
There is no other cost or membership fee.
Notes on weapons
This show does involve scenes depicting the use of weapons. The weapons in use are “cap”
guns made to look realistic, and foam & latex “LARP” bladed weapons.
Please note that these are legal for theatrical use, and cannot be used as actual weapons.
They are, however, expensive, and all on loan from friends of the group. They are, therefore,
not to be handled except at designated points in rehearsal, and a committee member, or a
designated “armourer” will be in charge of the weaponry.
Good practice requirements for all involved
- We have a full “members rules” document on our website, accessible via the “about us”
page. While all of its points are common sense, we do ask that you review the rules.
- Please do not take weaponry outside the building or fool about with it other than as
directed. These items “look” real, and could be mistaken for the real thing by a passing
member of the public.
- Please do not leave coats/ scripts/ bags laying about on the floor where people can fall over
them.
- Please keep language appropriate for all ages as children will be in attendance.
- Please maintain a professional, friendly attitude at all times. Keep rehearsal spaces and
performance venues clean and tidy; be polite to fellow performers, backstage staff and the
© The South Devon Players theatre company, c/o Chestnut Heights Community Centre, 1-3 Poplar
Close, Brixham TQ5 0SA. http://southdevonplayers.weebly.com TEL 07855 090589
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public, at all times. If a difficulty arises, please locate the director or a South Devon Players
committee officer to help.
Photography
A publicity cast photoshoot will be arranged at the convenience of the majority of cast, and
venue, on location within Torbay during June. These photos will be the primary publicity
images for the show, and you may also use your images for your own acting/ performance
portfolios as required as long as credit is give to the South Devon Players for the image.
We reserve the right to use any photographs, and video recordings of shows and rehearsals,
as publicity, as we require, and retain the copyright on such images.
Photographs may be taken of rehearsals, and at shows, (shows will also be fully filmed for
public viewing online) by committee members (other members need to ask permission to
photograph rehearsals and shows). Selected images will also be used for publicity (in the
press, online etc). While we make all our photos available to members, and require members
of the public to check with us first before photographing events, please be aware that at
events like carnivals, members of the public will be photographing the group which is
something that we have no control over.
Notes for child performers and their parents/ guardians
In this show, we have three child roles. This is unusual for our group, and please note the
following.
A parent or legal guardian must attend all rehearsals and performances with their child/ren,
accompanying them to, at, and from all rehearsals and performances.
Parents and guardians will be asked to complete two forms, one giving their child permission
to appear in the show, and one giving permission for their child to appear in show publicity
images.
Children are expected to behave in a calm manner, not disrupt others, and to be able to
perform as part of a serious, and large, show.
Performance dates
In addition to performance dates, we would like as many cast as possible to attend a themed
entry in Paignton Carnival, on the afternoon of the last Wednesday of July, and some
requested publicity events at weekends.
Performances will take place around Torbay (Brixham, Paignton, Torquay), in January 2015
© The South Devon Players theatre company, c/o Chestnut Heights Community Centre, 1-3 Poplar
Close, Brixham TQ5 0SA. http://southdevonplayers.weebly.com TEL 07855 090589
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Audition form
Please fill this out and bring to auditions. This remains confidential and is only seen by the director,
and casting panel. Contacts are only used to contact you about theatre group show news/updates
Name
Stage name if preferred:
Age (if under 18)
Postal address
Email address
Phone number
Please list any roles you would especially like to be considered for, or write “any”.
Role preferences; would you prefer a larger or smaller role, and do you have any other
preferences?
(Please note we cannot guarantee that you will get exactly the kind of role you are looking
for, but the casting panel will do their best to take your preferences into account).
Please list any rehearsal dates that you expect to be away.
If under 16, this statement should be signed by a parent.
I (name)
hereby give (child name)
permission
to appear in this production, if successful at auditions. I will arrange for myself or (name of designated
guardian)
to attend with (child name)
at all rehearsals and
show performances, and to ensure the safe travel of the child to and from said events.
I do/ do not (delete as appropriate) give permission for (child name)
to appear in
cast photos/ film clips for rehearsals and shows, which may be distributed to the press and to official
South Devon Players online sites for the purpose of show/ group publicity.
Signed: (parent or legal guardian)
Contact details if different from above
© The South Devon Players theatre company, c/o Chestnut Heights Community Centre, 1-3 Poplar
Close, Brixham TQ5 0SA. http://southdevonplayers.weebly.com TEL 07855 090589
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