Open auditions for upcoming Sonoma Arts Live productions

A beloved Broadway classic and an edgy off-Broadway newcomer will spring to life this summer, and Sonoma Arts Live is hosting auditions for actors to populate the upcoming plays.

“This is one of our most daring series of plays ever,” says Sonoma Arts Live managing artistic director Jaime Love, who points out that the season, which has been titled “women who dare,” will require daring men, women and children, in a variety of roles.

Love is joining the fun herself, taking a role in this July’s run of “Gypsy,” the groundbreaking musical from Jule Styne, Stephen Sondheim, and Arthur Laurentz. She’ll be playing the supporting character of Tessie Tura, a burlesque stripper. “I played the same role 14 years ago,” she says. “As our season is called “Women Who Dare,” I thought I’d take that to heart and dare to reprise it.”

To be directed by Michael Ross, the show has multiple available parts, including several leads, and the coveted title role of Louise, the shy wallflower who grows up to be Gypsy Rose Lee. The show includes several parts for children, including a young Louise, her sister Baby June, and others. They will even need a small dog, to play the part of Chowsie.

The role of Mama Rose will be played by award-winning actor-singer Daniella Innocenti Beem.

Sonoma Arts Live will also be auditioning actors for the comedy “Becky’s New Car,” which will run this June. The play by Steven Dietz will be directed by Carl Jordan, a frequent best director nominee from the San Francisco Bay Area Theater Critics Circle. The show follows a middle-aged woman named Becky – to be played by Melissa Claire, last seen in Sonoma in “Venus in Fur” – who takes a stab at a new life when a millionaire with an impulsive offer wanders into the car dealership she manages.

Available roles include Becky’s husband, her 20-something son, and several others, male and female.

Full character descriptions are available for both plays on the Sonoma Arts Live website, sonomaartslive.org. Auditions for “Gypsy” will take place on Feb. 12, from 6 to 10 p.m. in the Sonoma Community Center. Auditioners should be prepared to perform 32 bars of a song from a published musical that is not “Gypsy.” No monologues necessary. Dance auditions will take place at a date to be determined.

Auditions for “Becky’s New Car” will take place Feb. 19, 6 to 10 p.m. Auditioners should be prepared to present one short comic monologue, and to do cold reading from the script.

To schedule an appointment to audition for either show, email Sue at suw@sonomaartslive.org.

Email David at dvid.templeton@sonomanews.com.