Hells Kitchen Dancers
About the project
Alicia Keys, music-lyrics; Kristoffer Diaz, book; Michael Greif, dir.; Camille A. Brown, choreo.; Adam Blackstone, music supervisor; Tom Kitt, music consultant; Heidi Griffiths, Kate Murray, casting dirs.; Chalin Tulyathan, casting associate; Timothy Hanson, choral dir.; Daniel Sefik, accompanist
Dates & Locations
Rehearsals begin on or about Feb. 26; runs March 28-April 20 in NYC.
Compensation & Contract
Key Details
- Jan 19, 2024: 10:00 AM EST
- Dancers (Female characters). Lunch 1-2 p.m.
- Jan 19, 2024: 2:00 PM ESTDancers (Male characters).
Wear
sneakers and clothes that are comfortable to dance in. Be prepared to
dance at 10 a.m. sharp. Prepare 32-bars of an Alicia Keys song, or a
pop/R&B song in the style of Alicia Keys. Bring sheet music. No a
cappella singing. Also, bring a headshot and resume stapled together.
Synopsis:
In the mid 90’s, in an apartment high above the energy and grit of
Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, 17-year-old Ali squints toward
the horizon until she can just see the Hudson River. Despite the
warnings of her protective mother, the symphony of the street calls to
her—promising freedom, excitement, and the possibility of love. Finding
herself. When a wise piano teacher helps her find her voice, Ali learns
she can make the city her own.
ECC Procedures are in effect for
this audition. An Equity Monitor will be provided. Equity’s contracts
prohibit discrimination. Equity is committed to diversity and encourages
all its employers to engage in a policy of equal employment opportunity
designed to promote a positive model of inclusion. As such, Equity
encourages performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, and ages,
as well as performers with disabilities, to attend every audition.
Always bring the Equity Membership card to auditions.
Additional Materials
"Hell's Kitchen" (Broadway)
Female
Ensemble Swing (Offstage): Character is a Latina or Asian Woman in her
20s-early 30s. To cover from 4-8 ensemble dancers. An athletic, highly
skilled dancer who can learn quickly. Particularly interested in dancers
who also possess unique, offbeat looks and energies that would feel
authentic to NYC in the 1990's. Must possess strong knowledge of and
ability with all dance styles. Must have a strong sense of rhythmic
ability. Special skills (i.e. acrobatics, backflips, etc.) a plus.
Styles of dance we are seeking: Hip Hop, Rhythmic, and Contemporary
Dance. Will also understudy Tiny/Ensemble & Jessica/Ensemble: Friend
of Ali’s from her Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood. Street smart with a
sense of humor. A strong singer who is comfortable with R&B/pop/jazz
vocals and harmonizing. Rap skills are a plus.
Millie/Ensemble
(Understudy Jersey): Character is a Hispanic woman in her 40s. An
extraordinary, powerfully-voiced singer with a STRONG high belt.
Comfortable with R&B/pop/jazz vocals and harmonies. Ali’s neighbor
who has known Ali for her entire life. Comfortable speaking lines in
Spanish. Will understudy Jersey: Ali’s mother, raising her as a single
mom. Tough, outspoken, not afraid of a fight. Extremely protective of
her daughter, to a degree that strikes fear into the hearts of all Ali’s
friends. Distrustful of the outside world, most particularly of the
intentions of men, she’ll do anything she can to keep her daughter safe
and give her the best shot at life.
Crystal/Ensemble/Understudy
Miss Liza Jane: Character is a Black woman in her 40s. Ali’s neighbor
who has known Ali for her entire life. Warm, with a witty sense of
humor. A strong singer who is comfortable with R&B/pop/jazz vocals
and harmonizing. Will understudy Miss Liza Jane: A longtime resident of
Ali’s building who becomes Ali’s piano teacher. Outwardly stern and
taciturn, with incredible gravitas and presence. Puts tremendous value
on discipline and focus, but despite her imposing presence, approaches
Ali with patience and empathy, and teaches her about life and adulthood,
in addition to music.
The following roles are on offer:
Tiny/Ensemble:
Role is on offer. Character is a young Black woman in her early 20s. A
friend of Ali’s from her Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood. Street smart with a
sense of humor. A strong singer/dancer who is comfortable with
R&B/pop/jazz vocals and harmonizing. Rap skills are a plus.
Jessica/Ensemble:
Role is on offer. Character is a young Latina woman, 18+ to play late
teens/early 20s. A friend of Ali’s from her Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood.
Street smart with a sense of humor. A strong singer who is comfortable
with R&B/pop/jazz vocals and harmonizing.
Riq/Ensemble/Understudy
Knuck: Role is on offer. Character is a young Black man in his early
20s. From Ali’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood. Must feel authentically
convincing as a young man who grew up–and can hold his own–in a tough
neighborhood in NYC in the 90’s. A strong singer/dancer who is
comfortable with R&B/pop/jazz vocals. Knuck: A young man in the
neighborhood that Ali falls in love with. A bucket-drummer. While he may
appear tough to those who don't know him, he is a sensitive and soulful
spirit, who is growing increasingly frustrated with a world that
insists on stereotyping him and treating him as a threat. Percussion
experience a plus.
Ensemble Dancers: These roles are on offer.
All genders. A group of 8 dancers that is as diverse as New York city
itself. Seeking eclectic, athletic, individual, unique, and highly
skilled dancers. Particularly interested in dancers who also possess
unique, offbeat looks and energies that would feel authentic to NYC in
the 1990's. Must possess strong knowledge of and ability with all dance
styles. Must have a strong sense of rhythmic ability. Special skills
(i.e. acrobatics, backflips, etc.) a plus. Styles of dance we are
seeking: Hip Hop, Rhythmic, and Contemporary Dance.
Offstage
Understudy Millie/Crystal: Role is on offer. Character is a Latina woman
in her 40s. To understudy the roles of Maria and Crystal (see character
descriptions above).
Male Ensemble Swing (Also Covering Riq/Q):
Role Is on Offer. Character is a Black man in his early 20s-30s. To
cover from 4 – 8 ensemble dancers. An athletic, highly skilled dancer
who can learn quickly, as well as a strong singer who is comfortable
with R&B/pop/jazz vocals. Particularly interested in dancers who
also possess unique, offbeat looks and energies that would feel
authentic to NYC in the 1990's. Must possess strong knowledge of and
ability with all dance styles. Must have a strong sense of rhythmic
ability. Special skills (i.e. acrobatics, backflips, etc.) a plus.
Styles of dance we are seeking: Hip Hop, Rhythmic, and Contemporary
Dance. Will also understudy RIQ & Q (See character descriptions
above).
Female Ensemble Swing: Role is on offer. Character is a
Black woman in her early 20s30s. To cover from 4 – 8 ensemble dancers.
An athletic, highly skilled dancer who can learn quickly. Particularly
interested in dancers who also possess unique, offbeat looks and
energies that would feel authentic to NYC in the 1990's. Must possess
strong knowledge of and ability with all dance styles. Must have a
strong sense of rhythmic ability. Special skills (i.e. acrobatics,
backflips, etc.) a plus. Styles of dance we are seeking: Hip Hop,
Rhythmic, and Contemporary Dance.
The following roles are cast:
Q/Ensemble:
Role is cast. Character is a young Black or Latino man in his 20s. From
Ali’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood. Must feel authentically convincing
as a young man who grew up–and can hold his own–in a tough neighborhood
in NYC in the 90’s. A strong singer/dancer who is comfortable with
R&B/pop/jazz vocals. Percussion experience a plus.
Ray/Ensemble/Understudy
Davis: Role is cast. Character is a Black man in his late 30searly 40s.
Ali’s doorman. A large, physically imposing presence, but a kind heart.
Feels like a real person, not an actor. He looks out for Ali and all
the residents of Manhattan Plaza. A strong singer and mover. This role
will likely understudy other roles. Also understudies DAVIS: Ali’s
father. A traveling musician, who has been absent for her entire life.
Charming and likable. A true artist. His true love is music, and
although he also loves his family, it’s difficult–maybe impossible–for
him to make space for both.
Offstage Understudy Ali/Jessica/Tiny:
Role is cast. Character is a young Black woman, 18+ to play late
teens/early 20s. To understudy the roles of Ali: LEAD role. A strong,
stubborn girl with a rebellious streak who is trying to carve out her
own identity independent of her mother’s overprotective, ever-watchful
eye. Also understudies Jessica, and Tiny (see character descriptions
above). This is an offstage role.
Offstage Understudy
Jessica/Tiny/Ali: Role is cast. Character is a young Black woman, 18+ to
play late teens/early 20s. To understudy the roles of Jessica, Tiny,
and Ali (see character descriptions above). This is an offstage role.
Offstage
Understudy Crystal/Miss Liza Jane: Role is cast. Character is a Black
woman in her 40s-50s. To understudy the roles of Miss Liza Jane and
Crystal (see character descriptions above).
Offstage Understudy
Davis/Ray: Role is cast. Character is a Black man in his 40s. To
understudy the roles of Davis and Ray (see character descriptions
below). This is an offstage role.
Offstage Understudy
Riq/Q/Knuck: Role is cast. Character is a Black man in his early
20s-30s. To understudy the roles of RIQ, Q, and KNUCK (See character
descriptions above).
Male Ensemble Swing: Role is cast. Character
is a Black man in his early 20s-30s. To cover from 4 – 8 ensemble
dancers. An athletic, highly skilled dancer who can learn quickly.
Particularly interested in dancers who also possess unique, offbeat
looks and energies that would feel authentic to NYC in the 1990's. Must
possess strong knowledge of and ability with all dance styles. Must have
a strong sense of rhythmic ability. Special skills (i.e. acrobatics,
backflips, etc.) a plus. Styles of dance we are seeking: Hip Hop,
Rhythmic, and Contemporary Dance.
