The Great Dickens Christmas Fair Missive
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Great Dickens Christmas Fair 2018 - September Missive #2
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Notes from your Missive Maven:
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Reminder about the Dickens character auditions next  Tuesday, notes from the costume department and more audition notices!

Cat


Please remember to contact the folks referenced in each notice below, rather than hitting "reply".

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Cat Taylor
Entertainment Director & Missive Maven
In This Missive
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Notes from the Costume Department

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(from Liz Martin)

Hello London!!!
Once again we are moving quickly towards the fashion event of the season: Dickens Fair!
I love the mishmash of high fashion and grunge, all in the mid Victorian style (1842-1863). Lets see what you bring this year!!

FASTRACK Retakes
This year Costumes will be retaking FasTrack photos that were taken between 2009 - 2012. The directors will receive a list of  those who need a new picture. They will then pass the information on to their cast.

Open up Your Closets
Now is the time to get out your Dickens ensemble, put it on (with all appropriate undergarments) and take stock.
Is everything together?
Does it still fit?
Is it still appropriate for your character?
Does it need repair?
DO you have everything you need?

If "No" is the answer to any of the above questions then NOW is the time to address this issue!!
I will post in the next missive a list of folks who are taking on work!

Cross Dressing
Up until now the Fair has had the policy of little or no cross dressing.
 While we would still like to continue in the vein, we also recognize that there are folks out there who do not identify with the gender you were born with. Please make time to contact myself and your director, (especially if this is a change from last year). My email is [email protected]
I look forward to our discussion of your new costume!
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Understudy for Queen Victoria/Lady in Waiting

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(from Laurie Tavan)

The Royals are looking for a Lady with regal bearing, poise, and grace to train in the position of lady-in-waiting to the Queen as understudy. Likeness to Queen Victoria necessary as she's a historical figure, please review through her portraits to get a feel for her looks. Victoria was 4'11" and we are aiming for actresses 5' 2" and under. Experience portraying upper class on stage preferred with upper class costuming, ability to dance, and stamina on stage for hours in the spotlight. Hours of the role are generally 2:00 - 4:30 but need to be somewhat flexible for special events.

You will need to be able to walk 2-3 times as a Lady this year during progress to become closely familiar with the role and work directly with the primary Queen to learn the gigs. Our goal is to find a consistent support structure for our current full-time actress portraying the Queen.

Please contact Laurie Tavan at [email protected] for more information.

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Understudy for Prince Albert

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The Royals are also looking for a gentleman  with regal bearing, poise, and grace to train and appear in the position of Prince Albert. Our current prince will not be able to do the entire run this year, so this person will be appearing as the prince on certain weekends. 

Likeness to Prince Albert necessary as he's a historical figure, please review through his portraits to get a feel for his look.  Experience portraying upper class on stage preferred with upper class costuming, ability to dance, and stamina on stage for hours in the spotlight. Ability to speak German and/or mimic a passable German accent a plus. Hours of the role are generally 2:00 - 4:30 but need to be somewhat flexible for special events and general gigs during the day.

Please contact Chris Marshall at [email protected] for more information.

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Trial By Jury is Casting

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(from Barry Koron)

Trial By Jury is looking for men and women to do two shows a day in the V&A.  The role of Plaintiff's Counsel is available, also male Jurors and male and female Spectators.  Please be able to sing.  Auditions will be held the first Weekend Workshop Saturday, time and place TBA.  

 This notice is just to gauge interest; please e-mail [email protected] if interested.  Thanks!
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Crown & Anchor English Country Dancers & Musicians Want You!

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(from Morgan McDow)

The Crown & Anchor English Country Dancers & Musicians Want You  to join the English Country Dance Party!

We are a fun & inclusive group who work with our Esteemed Customers to teach  our English dances to All Comers.

We have openings for dancers and musicians of all levels , and would like to invite everyone to join us for our sets at the Silk Road Stage. You can find us at our FB Page  https://www.facebook.com/groups/629239403788189/  or contact me, Morgan McDow at [email protected].

Thank you ,
Morgan McDow, Director
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PEERS Sunday Afternoon Dance Classes

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(from Cathleen Myers)
 
Want some dance practice before Dickens workshops begin? PEERS has resumed our WEEKLY Sunday afternoon dance classes at the Alameda Elks Lodge at 2255 Santa Clara Avenue in Alameda and will continue through Sunday, October 21. The schedule is still the same:
2 - 3pm: Newcomer-friendly class
3 - 4pm: For experienced dancers & brave newcomers

The 2:00 - 3:00 pm class is newcomer-friendly; the 3:00 - 4:00 pm class is for experienced dancers and brave newcomers and will cover more advanced variations and intriguing choreographies. The $10 class fee covers one or both classes!

No partners needed. We change partners frequently and our regular students are experienced dancers who will be happy to dance with you. Classes are drop-in so please feel free to drop in and dance with us whenever you have a free Sunday afternoon. We usually have a social hour after class.
 
Cathleen Myers, PEERS
http://peersdance.org/
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PEERS:  Fantastic Speakeasies and Where to Find Them - October 6

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(from Cathleen Myers)
 
Dancers, costumers, and Harry Potter fans: On Saturday evening, October 6, PEERS presents Fantastic Speakeasies and Where to Find Them: 1927 at the Alameda Elks Lodge at 2255 Santa Clara Avenue in Alameda. After the 7pm vintage dance lesson, Sara & Swingtime plays an evening of classic 1920s and 30's Swing and vintage ballroom dance music, including a variety of romantic waltzes. In the Lodge's atmospheric Rathskellar, transformed into a Blues Bar, keyboard wizard Nine-Fingered Fanny (Ellen Hoffman) performs with a variety of talented vocalists; hang out, listen, or dance to the music on the Bar's excellent dance floor. No partners needed. 1920's or '30's costume, vintage or modern evening dress, or costumes inspired by the "Harry Potter" novels and films are admired, but not required. No host bar, a light potluck snack buffet (Your potluck contributions are welcome!), and an adventure! Tickets are $20 (by September 29); $25 at the door. For information, please call (510) 522-1731, or check out the ball website at http://www.peersdance.org/speakeasies.html
 
Thank you & best regards,
Cathleen Myers, PEERS
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Reminder: Auditions for Characters from the Mind of Mr. Dickens ~ Tuesday September 25th

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Auditions for characters from:  Mr. Dickens' books will be held on t he evening of Tuesday September 25th in San Francisco, CA.

Please allow time to find the location and get situated.
Location particulars will be given when you schedule your appointment.

The character parts listed below are open as of now, if you played one of them last year and would like to do so again, please contact your director as soon as possible if you have not already done so.

If you would like to audition for one of these roles, please email  Entertainment Department Assistant Rickie Bolin at  [email protected] with the following information:

1. Your full name, email address and phone number
2. The character(s) you would like to audition for. (Please prepare a bit of the dialogue for that character -see web resources below - and be prepared to improvise as that character.)
3. Your first, second and third choice of audition time on Tuesday, September 25th, The auditions will be scheduled at 15 minute intervals, please be patient as we sometimes get a bit behind when auditioning promising actors.
4. Optional: A brief note of any experience you would like us to know about. We will have applications and accept resumes (not required) at the auditions.
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Reminder: Start Getting into the Spirit!

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(from Therese Porter)

Be not deceived! Dickens is fun to read and full of terrific stuff that will help you get into the spirit of the Fair. While subsequent Missives will be packed with helpful things for you to read, listen to and watch to get your Victorian mojo working, here are a few handy reference site to get the steam engine going:

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Reminder: The Audition Process

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(from Therese Porter)

If you're interested in auditioning for a character, please prepare yourself. This is an audition - you are showing your prospective director your potential. Preparation ensures that you shine in your best light.

Memorize a brief monologue from a character you're interested in, or if you are not sure about a character, prepare for the type of character you are interested in playing. We'll be looking for your ability to form a distinct characterization as well as your ability to project yourself vocally and physically. We will also ask you to do some cold readings and free-form improvisation. Please come prepared.

Here's a great page to learn more about Dickens' characters and the books in which they live:
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Reminder: We Want YOU To Help Put The Dickens In Dickens Fair!

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(from  Therese Porter & Rydell Downward)
 
Want to exercise your artistic muscles and make our guests' experience even more Dickensian? Consider auditioning for the Other Books! Mr Dickens' works are filled with fabulous characters spanning the entire range of human expression and drawing from all walks of life. Colourful eccentrics? You betcha! Solid salt of the earth types? Yup. Exaggerated versions of every Victorian type imaginable? Oh yeah. Villains? We've got those too. You have theatrical muscles you want to stretch? There is probably a Dickens character waiting for you to step into it.

As an ensemble cast of improvisational actors our role at the Fair is to continually interact with our guests and fellow participants providing those unique Dickensian moments that make our immersive world so unique. We are looking for experienced improvisational, interactive performers to fill out our merry band and populate the streets with the vivid and memorable characters sprung from the fevered imagination of Charles Dickens. All of the Fair is our stage, and its throngs our ever-changing audience. This is a full time commitment that requires energy, enthusiasm, strong improvisational skills and tremendous esprit de corps. We are looking for passionate people willing to bring vivid characters to life in a highly interactive and improvisational setting.

While we filling in some vacancies for specific characters noted below, Mr Dickens wrote a lot of characters, and most of them are wonderful frameworks for a performer to step into and make their own. We encourage people to peruse the Dickens sites to get a feel for what would be a good fit. Even if a specific desired character is already cast, there are usually similar characters in other works.

This year we are especially looking for:

Ralph Nickleby (Nicholas Nickleby): A "respectable" and powerful man of business with family issues and few dark secrets

Miss LaCreevy (Nicholas Nickleby): A lively and artistic lady of a certain age who helps and supports the Nickleby family through its travails.

Agnes Wickfield (David Copperfield) - a steady practical, and brave young woman. David's closest friend, most loyal supporter and ultimately his second wife.

Nicodemus "Noddy" Boffin (Our Mutual Friend): The "Golden Dustman" - a lively, generous, outgoing older man with a marvelous rags-to-riches story.

Philip Pirrip aka Pip (Great Expectations): a young man with an earnest heart, a taste for the finer things of life and a mystery at the core of his life.

Estella (Great Expectations): a young woman of spirit and a troubled upbringing, the idol of Pip's worship.

Mr Jaggers (Great Expectations): a faintly eccentric lawyer with an entire vault of secrets consigned to his care

Herbert Pocket (Great Expectations): Pip's friend and guide through London life.

Mollie (Great Expectations): Jaggers' servant, who has a few secrets of her own.

Magwich (Great Expectations): convict, benefactor, man of mystery, diamond in the rough.

If you are interested in any of these characters, or other characters (and there are so many other characters) prepare an audition and show us what you got!

Dickens' characters run the gamut of age, physical appearance, station in life and personality types. People frequently ask us what we are looking for - we want people who love to act and interact and who can bring Our Author's characters to life. No character in Dickens is a small one - each one is a canvas bristling with possibilities. For inspiration, peruse the works of Dickens (online or actual pages) or watch some of the brilliant British TV and film adaptations of his works for an idea of the kinds of characters that exist in the Dickens universe. Even if the roles you're thinking about are filled, giving us an idea of the "type" that interests you, can help us match you up with a role that you find fulfilling.

~ Therese Porter & Rydell Downward
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Reminder: God Bless Us, Every One - The Children of A Christmas Carol

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(from Therese Porter)

One of the joys of "A Christmas Carol" is watching the young performers bring the charming and poignant roles of Tiny Tim and his Cratchit siblings - as well as other young people - to life. We usually audition for these roles during workshops, and we will announce what we are looking for in subsequent Missives (including the upcoming Children's Missive).

If you and your child are interested in participating in The Book without whose existence we would not be doing this, there is no better preparation than to read the book and watch an adaptation or two. Children interested in performing these roles must be comfortable being on stage and accustomed to theatrical environments.

Although this year we hope to have more of a Crachit children presence in the streets, actual stage time is limited. Your child should have something else to do at the Fair the rest of the time.
If you have questions feel free to address them to Therese Porter, Director of A Christmas Carol at [email protected]
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Reminder: Characters from Oliver Twist

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(from Cynthia Howell)

Oliver Twist
The youthful innocent boy around whom the entire story revolves. Must look and act innocent and stout-hearted. Projection a big plus. Looking for a child 9-12 who wants to act. This role may be full or part-time

Harry Maylie
An up and coming politician who is madly in love with Rose. Harry sacrifices everything to convince Rose to marry him. Looking for a male actor between 20-40.
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Reminder: Pickwick Club Casting! 

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(from Jeffrey Weissman)

We'd like performers to be versed in Parliamentary Procedure, somewhat verbose raconteurs and sing (not necessarily well). 

Samuel Pickwick:  a retired successful businessman, mostly a passive and innocent with a childlike simplicity, he's a round-faced, clean-shaven, portly gentleman wearing spectacles.  H e is gallant towards women, yet indecisive with his dealings with them. He is the Founder and Chairman of the Pickwick Club, who with his friends, Mr Nathaniel Winkle, Mr Augustus Snodgrass and Mr Tracy Tupman, travel through London from one comic disaster to another in pursuit of adventure or honour. 

Mr Augustus Snodgrass: A young, innocuous fellow, he is the poet of the Pickwick Club, (he recites, but never writes a line of verse). 

Mr Nathaniel Winkle: A very inept young sportsman, Winkle has a flair for misadventures.

We are mounting the 'The Trial of Pickwick' and are also looking for part-time characters to fill the roles of: 

Magistrate, Mr George Nupkins, 
and his comic special constables: 
Mr Jinks, 
Mr Muzzle 
Mr Grummer
And four other support players, three men and one woman, (a few lines each).

Please contact Jeffrey Weissman for more information prior to scheduling an audition at   [email protected]
Quick Links...
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The Great Dickens Christmas Fair Website
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Contact Information
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For specific questions regarding performing at the Fair, please email Cat Taylor
If your group would like to perform at the Fair for just one day (school caroling groups, etc.)
please email Robert Young
For specific questions regarding vending at the Fair please email Vendors
For specific questions the beverage department please email Beverage
For questions regarding costumes, please email Costumes
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