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Audition for Arts & Letters

The Wiz

Meridian Community College Arts and Letters Series is proud to announce auditions for its upcoming musical production of The Wiz. A Broadway gem, The Wiz infuses L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz with a dazzling mix of rock, gospel, and soul music. 

Performances of The Wiz will take place at MCC's McCain Theater November 17 - 19, 2023. 

AUDITION TIMES:

  • Sunday, August 20 | 3:00-6:00 PM
  • Monday, August 21 | 6:00 - 9:00 PM
  • Tuesday, August 22 | 6:00 - 9:00 PM

Auditions for The Wiz will take place at MCC's McCain Theater located in the Davidson Fine Arts Center on the MCC Campus.

AUDITION REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. 
Register on this page by selecting your time slot below. Time slots are 5 minutes long. 

AGES FOR AUDITIONS:

  • LEADS: Teens, College Students, and Adults of all ages.
  • ENSEMBLE: Ages 10 to adult 

 

HOW TO PREPARE:

  • Singers should prepare 16 bars of a song in the style of the show (Gospel, R&B, Pop).
  • Dancers should bring footwear that can most comfortably be danced in (Character Shoes, Jazz Shoes, Sneakers, etc.).
  • Pianists should bring their own sheet music or have your accompaniment with you on your mobile device.

CHARACTERS

  • CHARACTER DESCRIPTION:
    Dorothy yearns for adventure, and then she yearns for home. In between, she grows up.

  • SONGS TO FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH:
    Home and Be a Lion

  • VOCAL RANGE:
    Alto (and you’ve got to be able to belt)

  • CHARACTER DESCRIPTION:
    Auntie Em is a stern, loving figure.

  • SINGS:
    The Feeling We Once Had  (This is the first song of the show!)
     
  • VOCAL RANGE:
    Mezzo soprano

  • CHARACTER DESCRIPTION:
    Scarecrow lacks a brain. He begins the show trapped against his will, but winds up a leader.

  • SINGS:
    I Was Born the Day Before Yesterday
     
  • VOCAL RANGE:
    Tenor

  • CHARACTER DESCRIPTION:
    Tinman has no heart, but really, he’s the best. He starts out rusted, but ends up strong and confident.

  • SINGS:
    Slide Some Oil to Me and (importantly) What Would I Do if I Could Feel
     
  • VOCAL RANGE:
    Baritone

  • CHARACTER DESCRIPTION:
    Cowardly Lion is the comic bit of the show. He pretends to be brave only to be revealed as a coward, then behaves with grace and bravery. This character needs to be funny and heroic.

  • SINGS:
    Mean Ole Lion and has a really wonderful section of Be A Lion
     
  • VOCAL RANGE:
    Baritone

  • CHARACTER DESCRIPTION:
    Addaperle is only in a few scenes, but she rules them. She is one of the witches of Oz (though she is a nice one). This is a comedic role that features some great music.

  • SONG TO LISTEN TO:
    He's the Wiz
     
  • VOCAL RANGE:
    Mezzo Soprano

  • CHARACTER DESCRIPTION:
    Evillene is... well, she's the wicked witch.She doesn't actually show up until the second act, but she has a gigantic number and then gets hit with a bucket of water. 

  • FEATURED NUMBER:
    No Bad News
     
  • VOCAL RANGE:
    Alto

  • CHARACTER DESCRIPTION:
    Glinda is a good witch who arrives at the end with an inspirational message to Dorothy. 

  • SINGS:
    A Rested Body and Believing (reprise)
     
  • VOCAL RANGE:
    Alto

  • CHARACTER DESCRIPTION:
    The Wiz is a terrifying figure of mystery and power. Well, really he is just a magician. Therefore, the performer must be able to do both. 

  • SINGS:
    So You Wanted to Meet the Wizard and Y'all Got It
     
  • VOCAL RANGE:
    Alto

  • CHARACTER DESCRIPTION:
    Uncle Henry is Dorothy's Uncle. He is physically run down from years of hard work on the farm. He often acts as the voice of reason towards Auntie Em. 

  • CHARACTER NOTES: 
    Male
    Late 30s

  • ENSEMBLE DESCRIPTION
    Consists of 4 actors (male or female) who both dance and sing to create the Yellow Brick Road - metaphorically representing the road Dorothy travels down, and encouraging her along the way.

  • Pit Singers
  • Tornado
  • Munchkins
  • Crows
  • Kalidahs
  • Poppies
  • Field Mice
  • Emerald City Citizen
  • Soldier
  • Messenger

  • CHARACTER DESCRIPTION:
    The Gatekeeper guards the gate to Emerald City.

  • CHARACTER DESCRIPTION:
    Lord High Underling is a weak coward, and Evillene's number one. 

  • CHARACTER DESCRIPTION:
    The Winged Monkey is the servant of the Wicked Witch of the West and is summoned to do her bidding. The mere mention of the Winged Monkey brings fear. 

  • CHARACTER DESCRIPTION:
    A dog.
  • NOTE: The Wiz was originally produced with an all-Black cast. It is preferred that the main characters are cast with people of color, but there are no restrictions, so long as the spirit of The Wiz is maintained and the show cannot be confused with The Wizard of Oz.

 

SCHEDULE YOUR AUDITION

 

For more informationFor more information:
Jan Freeman, Arts & Letters Assistant
jansen.freeman@meridiancc.edu
601.484.8640