- Performances at the newly refurbished historic Presidio Theatre weekend matinees in December with two Friday evenings. Actors are free for most evening bookings during performance period. Final show Boxing Day Dec 26th. Details coming soon!
- All roles paid, non AEA. Fully costumed and designed by award winning designer.
- PantoSF is celebrating our 6th year with the biggest move ever to San Francisco's own Cinderella storied theatre. Come breath life and laughs into this historic building with one of the oldest most outrageous theatre forms, beloved in UK, Australia, Ireland. Be part of the fun!! Panto SF, delighting San Francisco for years to come!
Audition notice
Cinderella the Panto seeks musical theatre performers, clowns, vaudevillians, ingenues, singers and drag personalities to join our seasoned cast and welcomes new talent. Panto is like commedia, tailored to the actors' schticks and skills, incorporating as much as you like within the narrative that has naughty for the adults and nice for the kiddies!
- Send your headshot and resume to info@pantosf.com
- Appointments will be made for auditions Wednesday 11th 6-8 pm. Request an appointment!
- Address for audition Phoenix Theatre Two, Suite 604 6th floor @ 414 Mason Street between Geary and Post Street.http://www.phoenixtheatresf.org/
- Prepare a 1-2 minute monologue or vaudeville/clown/physical act and/or song. You may be improvising with another actor as panto needs folks who can respond to audience interaction and develope gags.
- More details on role breakdowns and performance, rehearsals will be posted on this page by Monday.
- Please bring a paper headshot and resume too!!!!!
CHARACTER LIST
THE MICE PEPPER JACK AND MANCHEGO
Exaggerated funny costumes. They are both story characters as well as the hosts for audience. They appeal to the youngest audience who expect magical animals and feel comfortable interacting with them. ( American audiences expect the mice helpers from Disney’s classic film). They “ teach panto” to the audience and operate the cue cards. PantoSF has cast Clowns, Del Arte Graduates and entertainers with improv and children show interaction experience. They make it safe to pick sides against the bullies and add sentimental frame for Cinders and Buttons’ unrequited love story.
They double as Royal Retainer, Ballet Mistress, pianist and servants at the Royal Ball.
THE INGENUE CINDERELLA
Genuine, likeable heroine. No false Disney glitz. We are really rooting for her. Must have a show stopper musical theatre voice. Great audience connection. Good love chemistry with Prince.
THE PANTOMIME DAME/VILLIANESS BARONESS CUMBERBATCH, THE EVIL STEPMOTHER
Drag role. Larger than life. Outrageous. Driven to succeed and has playful rivalry with the audience who get in her way. The “ sentimental” crisis scene is played straight and might be a bit scary. Gets her comeuppance, falls from grace but is redeemed. ( A lot of traditional pantos are cruel in their punishment for her reach but we don’t subscribe to that!). Her backstory involves being “ school chums “ with Lady Diana and having a need for certain medication. Many of her double entendres and social satire play to the adult audience, the kids love to boo her in safety. Peggy L’ Eggs created this role.
THE COMIC DUO GRUELMINA AND BEATRIX, THE UGLY SISTERS
Can be drag and femme partnership. Physical difference, willing to be grotesque. Physical theatre/clown skills as they are often the butt of the joke and have exaggerated facial expressions and get into physically uncomfortable positions, like in the ballet class or at the ball .Think Lucille Ball. Educated in Europe they are ugly in behavior, vanity and ambition, not necessarily physically ( again traditional pantos can be unreasonably cruel here but we found kids recognize them as bullies and participate in their downfall joyfully).They fall for the Prince and Dandini in his royal disguise.
UNREQUISTED LOVE, THE BOY NEXT DOOR BUTTONS
The remaining man servant at Cumberbach Hall and Cinder’s confidente and best friend. He is pals with the audience and the mice and reveals he is in love with Cinders. He has a closeted singing talent that is rewarded at the end. Must be a fantastic showman and singer who can also act broken hearted. Local gay celebrities Jason Brock ( X Factor) and Cocoa Buttah ( Oasis) took on this role. Either Buttons or Dandini or both lead the onstage dance party that starts the Prince’s Ball. Lots of direct address with audience. Loves puns. Could be a girl in male drag too.
THE HERO PRINCE CHARMING of
“San Francisica-Pacifica-Bezerkley-Marinica-by the Bay”
Believable, emotionally honest, bookish nerd who ensues the patriarchal head of the nation role, willingly changing places with his man Dandini to read books and shyly pursue Cinderella, the “ ordinary girl “ he meets at Macy’s. Need to sing beautifully.
THE COMIC SIDEKICK DANDINI
This is a traditional UK panto role as well as in archetypal comedy, the servant that knows more than the master. Dandini is the Prince’s valet, a common man/dude/surfer bro, a fun loving party guy similar to Arlequino. He tries to train up his charge, the Prince to enjoy his exalted position. Buddy routines about man styles and ladies but ultimately sincere and supportive. Unwilling object of the Ugly Sister’s affections. Appeals to younger male audience.
THE LOVING FATHER FIGURE BARON CUMBERBACH OF ALAMO SQUARE
Minor aristocracy down on his luck needing to marry the nouveau riche Baroness. Very lovable, naive, everyman chap. Easily confused. Leads the audience sing-a- long with Buttons. We want the best for him.
MAGICAL BEING FAIRY GODMOTHER
Fairy opens the true show and narrates throughout as well as being a character who interacts with the story. She is an ancient storyteller and she disguises herself to test Cinderella’s kindness. She eventually rewards all the kind characters. This can be a chanteuse or comedienne ( Kitten on the Keys played it one year). As in trad fairytales, she speaks in rhyme. Magic is about hope and belief and she needs to embody that. She doubles as Cinder’s dying Mother in the quick flashback scene before the distressing Step Mother destroys Cinder’s book. This can be a revolving celebrity cameo as s/he speaks from a “story book”.
SETTINGS: This Panto is borrows from Victorian melodrama and Vaudevillian representative settings. However its set in San Francisco in the late nineteenth century featuring Alamo Square Mansion, City Hall, Macy’s if it were and Edwardian emporium.
SONGS: There are some for every generation ( Irving Berlin’s Sisters for Grandparents, Elton for parents and contemporary pop for kids.)
The “Ball features performed song and aiudinece dance party. The “ song" needs to be very current and is lead by Dandinin or Buttons who take over from staid waltzing. In past“ What Does The Fox Say”, “ Uptown Funk” and “ Happy” huge cross generational hits.
Audinece sing along led by Buttons and Baron, very Edwardian and hilarous.
THE MICE PEPPER JACK AND MANCHEGO
Exaggerated funny costumes. They are both story characters as well as the hosts for audience. They appeal to the youngest audience who expect magical animals and feel comfortable interacting with them. ( American audiences expect the mice helpers from Disney’s classic film). They “ teach panto” to the audience and operate the cue cards. PantoSF has cast Clowns, Del Arte Graduates and entertainers with improv and children show interaction experience. They make it safe to pick sides against the bullies and add sentimental frame for Cinders and Buttons’ unrequited love story.
They double as Royal Retainer, Ballet Mistress, pianist and servants at the Royal Ball.
THE INGENUE CINDERELLA
Genuine, likeable heroine. No false Disney glitz. We are really rooting for her. Must have a show stopper musical theatre voice. Great audience connection. Good love chemistry with Prince.
THE PANTOMIME DAME/VILLIANESS BARONESS CUMBERBATCH, THE EVIL STEPMOTHER
Drag role. Larger than life. Outrageous. Driven to succeed and has playful rivalry with the audience who get in her way. The “ sentimental” crisis scene is played straight and might be a bit scary. Gets her comeuppance, falls from grace but is redeemed. ( A lot of traditional pantos are cruel in their punishment for her reach but we don’t subscribe to that!). Her backstory involves being “ school chums “ with Lady Diana and having a need for certain medication. Many of her double entendres and social satire play to the adult audience, the kids love to boo her in safety. Peggy L’ Eggs created this role.
THE COMIC DUO GRUELMINA AND BEATRIX, THE UGLY SISTERS
Can be drag and femme partnership. Physical difference, willing to be grotesque. Physical theatre/clown skills as they are often the butt of the joke and have exaggerated facial expressions and get into physically uncomfortable positions, like in the ballet class or at the ball .Think Lucille Ball. Educated in Europe they are ugly in behavior, vanity and ambition, not necessarily physically ( again traditional pantos can be unreasonably cruel here but we found kids recognize them as bullies and participate in their downfall joyfully).They fall for the Prince and Dandini in his royal disguise.
UNREQUISTED LOVE, THE BOY NEXT DOOR BUTTONS
The remaining man servant at Cumberbach Hall and Cinder’s confidente and best friend. He is pals with the audience and the mice and reveals he is in love with Cinders. He has a closeted singing talent that is rewarded at the end. Must be a fantastic showman and singer who can also act broken hearted. Local gay celebrities Jason Brock ( X Factor) and Cocoa Buttah ( Oasis) took on this role. Either Buttons or Dandini or both lead the onstage dance party that starts the Prince’s Ball. Lots of direct address with audience. Loves puns. Could be a girl in male drag too.
THE HERO PRINCE CHARMING of
“San Francisica-Pacifica-Bezerkley-Marinica-by the Bay”
Believable, emotionally honest, bookish nerd who ensues the patriarchal head of the nation role, willingly changing places with his man Dandini to read books and shyly pursue Cinderella, the “ ordinary girl “ he meets at Macy’s. Need to sing beautifully.
THE COMIC SIDEKICK DANDINI
This is a traditional UK panto role as well as in archetypal comedy, the servant that knows more than the master. Dandini is the Prince’s valet, a common man/dude/surfer bro, a fun loving party guy similar to Arlequino. He tries to train up his charge, the Prince to enjoy his exalted position. Buddy routines about man styles and ladies but ultimately sincere and supportive. Unwilling object of the Ugly Sister’s affections. Appeals to younger male audience.
THE LOVING FATHER FIGURE BARON CUMBERBACH OF ALAMO SQUARE
Minor aristocracy down on his luck needing to marry the nouveau riche Baroness. Very lovable, naive, everyman chap. Easily confused. Leads the audience sing-a- long with Buttons. We want the best for him.
MAGICAL BEING FAIRY GODMOTHER
Fairy opens the true show and narrates throughout as well as being a character who interacts with the story. She is an ancient storyteller and she disguises herself to test Cinderella’s kindness. She eventually rewards all the kind characters. This can be a chanteuse or comedienne ( Kitten on the Keys played it one year). As in trad fairytales, she speaks in rhyme. Magic is about hope and belief and she needs to embody that. She doubles as Cinder’s dying Mother in the quick flashback scene before the distressing Step Mother destroys Cinder’s book. This can be a revolving celebrity cameo as s/he speaks from a “story book”.
SETTINGS: This Panto is borrows from Victorian melodrama and Vaudevillian representative settings. However its set in San Francisco in the late nineteenth century featuring Alamo Square Mansion, City Hall, Macy’s if it were and Edwardian emporium.
SONGS: There are some for every generation ( Irving Berlin’s Sisters for Grandparents, Elton for parents and contemporary pop for kids.)
The “Ball features performed song and aiudinece dance party. The “ song" needs to be very current and is lead by Dandinin or Buttons who take over from staid waltzing. In past“ What Does The Fox Say”, “ Uptown Funk” and “ Happy” huge cross generational hits.
Audinece sing along led by Buttons and Baron, very Edwardian and hilarous.
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PERFORMANCE DATES
FRIDAY December 6th OPENING NIGHT
SATURDAY December 7th Matinee@ 2pm
SUNDAY December 8th Matinee@ 2pm
FRIDAY December 12th Evening Show
SATURDAY December 13th Matinee@ 2pm
SUNDAY December 14th Matinee@ 2pm
FRIDAY December 20th Evening Show
SATURDAY December 21th Matinee@ 2pm
SUNDAY December 22th Matinee@ 2pm
SPECIAL CLOSING MATINEE BOXING DAY December 26th
REHEARSALS TBA to take place mid October, 2-3 nights as needed and 3 hour weekend daytime per avaiability.
No rehearsals Thanksgiving week from Tuesday 26-30.
FRIDAY December 6th OPENING NIGHT
SATURDAY December 7th Matinee@ 2pm
SUNDAY December 8th Matinee@ 2pm
FRIDAY December 12th Evening Show
SATURDAY December 13th Matinee@ 2pm
SUNDAY December 14th Matinee@ 2pm
FRIDAY December 20th Evening Show
SATURDAY December 21th Matinee@ 2pm
SUNDAY December 22th Matinee@ 2pm
SPECIAL CLOSING MATINEE BOXING DAY December 26th
REHEARSALS TBA to take place mid October, 2-3 nights as needed and 3 hour weekend daytime per avaiability.
No rehearsals Thanksgiving week from Tuesday 26-30.
For panto background check out these links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantomime.
Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/miller4273/boards/
Podcasthttp://player.fm/series/musicaltalk/0065-panto-in-particular
Panto casts its spell on Hollywood | Stage | The Guardian
http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2011/12/a-very-british-christmas-part-4-pantomimes/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantomime.
Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/miller4273/boards/
Podcasthttp://player.fm/series/musicaltalk/0065-panto-in-particular
Panto casts its spell on Hollywood | Stage | The Guardian
http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2011/12/a-very-british-christmas-part-4-pantomimes/