Her Benny Audition 2018 Liverpool S Royal Court

“HER BENNY” AUDITION 2018 LIVERPOOL’S ROYAL COURT

UNDER 16 ENSEMBLE

From 8-15. There are more than the usual company numbers in this musical so auditionees need stamina, commitment and enthusiasm as well as being good dancers, singers and actors. They all need to be able to perform well these three areas as an ensemble and to be able to take direction. There is no solo work as such in the ensemble though specific skills such as gymnastics, advanced dance ability, good character work mean the director has the opportunity to feature specific skills where appropriate.

UNDER 16 MAIN ROLES

BENNY ( the title juvenile role) playing age 9-12. Needs to be of slight build but look as if he could take care of himself if bullied. Must be or sound as if he could be a native Scouser/ Merseysider.

He is honest but streetwise, tough but sensitive and fiercely protective of his frail younger sister.

He needs to be a natural performer who moves well, is a good singer (medium/ high vocal range) and a very strong actor who can cope with both comic and tragic moments. He has a great deal of dialogue.

Benny has a solo which then forms part of a quartet so he must be able to cope with holding his melody against the other three. He also has solo sections of other songs. He joins in company numbers when possible so good movement skills would be an advantage.

His role is a very large one which covers Act One and half of Act Two.

NELL (Benny’s sister) playing age 7-9 Needs to be small, fragile and gentle. She needs to be a very good singer.(high vocal range)/actress. She has a demanding solo and other solo sections of company numbers. There is quite a lot of dialogue for a young child.

She must be or sound as if she could be a native Scouser/ Merseysider.

She needs to be able to play opposite Benny comfortably so that we are convinced they are close sister and brother. She will go into some limited parts of company numbers but it is not necessary that she is a very good dancer as she is frail and rather ill from the moment we see her on stage. She must be able to move us to tears.

LITTLE EVA ( merchant’s daughter who becomes attached to Young Benny) playing age 9-12.

She needs to be a good singer (medium/ high vocal range)and actress. When she is not in the role of Eva she could go into company numbers. She must be able to speak with an RP accent and appear to be middle class as opposed to the urchins.

She has a solo part of a duet with her father and must be able to hold her melody against his. She also has a solo which then forms part of a quartet and has dialogue and several appearances throughout Act One and half of Act Two. ( She grows up to marry Benny.)

She is kind and good-natured but capable of getting her own way with her father, who dotes on her.

PERKS playing age 9-15. Needs to be strong build or wiry and cocky. Must be a fair bit taller than Benny and look as if he thinks he can bully both Nell and Benny. He is the sidekick to Jazzer, a rather nasty criminal character whom he admires and models himself on. They nearly always appear as a pair and have frequent appearances.

Very good character part. Featured dialogue in both acts. Must be or sound as if he could be a native Scouser/ Merseysider. He joins in company numbers when possible so good movement skills would be an advantage.

If you wish to prepare for any of the above roles, visit our website www.abdproductions.co.uk and find the auditions link. You can then download small vocal pieces MP3 for the relevant characters (except Perks who does not have a vocal solo), the lyrics for them (all on the same sheet,) and small pieces of dialogue for each (including Perks). Submit CVs to or bring them with you to the auditions.