By Carl Zielinski
Gargoyle staff reporter
Posted Saturday, Feb. 3, 2007, The OG, arts & news

“In olden days a glimpse of stocking/ Was looked on as something shocking/ But now, God knows/ Anything goes!”
— Reno Sweeney, from the Cole Porter musical “Anything Goes”

THIS YEAR'S SPRING musical has been chosen, and it is “Anything Goes.” While many other musicals were considered, including “West Side Story,” the 1934 Cole Porter classic stood out for a number of reasons.

“‘Anything Goes' was chosen because it has good music, a good balance of roles, some good dance numbers, mainly one setting, and it's a cute story,” said fine arts teacher Barbara Ridenour, who will oversee the production with music director Rick Murphy.

The musical will be performed April 12 to 14 in the North Attic Playhouse.

Auditions will be held Monday and Tuesday from 4 to 6 p.m. in the North and South attics. Anyone can try out for a part, and boys are especially encouraged, since the number of boys who audition for Uni musicals tends to be small.

To audition, students must choose a song and a monologue to perform. Both song and monologue should be short but should showcase the best of the performer's ability, Ridenour said. While memorization is not required, it is highly recommended.

During the audition, Murphy will look for strength, clarity, pitch, and volume in a voice, while Ridenour will look for how well students perform the songs and monologues.

So what will catch their eye?

“Someone who can sell themselves — who can shine onstage,” said Ridenour. “The acting, singing, and dancing are secondary to stage presence.”

Adding up the cast, crew, and pit orchestra, the musical will need about 50 people, and anyone who has an interest in theater is strongly encouraged to audition, Ridenour said.

More about the musical

“Anything Goes” debuted at the Alvin Theatre in New York City on Nov. 21, 1934, with Ethel Merman starring as Reno Sweeney, and it became one of the longest-running musicals of the 1930s. Porter wrote the music and lyrics. P.G. Wodehouse, Howard Lindsay, Russel Crouse, and Guy Bolton collaborated on the book.

The action takes place on the cruise ship S.S. American, which is sailing from New York to England.

The passengers are an assortment of vivid characters, including Moonface Martin, a gangster; Hope and Evangeline Harcourt, a wealthy debutante and her mother; Lord Evelyn Oakleigh, a wealthy Englishman; Elisha Whitney and Billy Crocker, a wealthy American businessman and his assistant; and Reno Sweeney, a nightclub singer. The plot involves romance, seduction, status obsession, and Moonface's attempt to stay clear of the law.

The theater Web site StageAgent.com offers this breakdown of the characters:

Billy Crocker — Elisha's kind but inefficient general manager who is in love with Hope
Role: Lead
Age: 21-36
Sex: M
Voice: Tenor (B♭4 to F4)

Hope Harcourt — A wealthy and beautiful heiress
Role: Lead
Age: 21-32
Sex: F
Voice: Soprano (B♭3 to F5)

Reno Sweeney — A sexy and charismatic nightclub singer and former evangelist who is in love with Billy
Role: Lead
Age: 30-50
Sex: F
Voice: Mezzo (F3 to B4)

Bonnie Latour — Moonface Martin's attractive but not-so-bright girlfriend
Role: Supporting
Age: 21-32
Sex: F
Voice: Mezzo (D♭4 to G♭5)

Elisha Whitney — An extremely near-sighted business tycoon and drunk
Role: Supporting
Age: 45-65
Sex: M
Voice: Spoken

Lord Evelyn Oakleigh — Hope's nerdy and aristocratic English fiancé
Role: Supporting
Age: 30-50
Sex: M
Voice: Baritone (D♭3 to F4)

Moonface Martin — A gruff but lovable gangster who is wanted by the police
Role: Supporting
Age: 30-60
Sex: M
Voice: Tenor (A3 to E4)

Mrs. Wadsworth T. Harcourt — Hope's mother who is mainly concerned with social status and money; she wants Hope to marry rich
Role: Supporting
Age: 45-60
Sex: F
Voice: Spoken

Captain — A military man who is in charge of the S.S. American

Role: Cameo
Age: 45-65
Sex: M
Voice: Spoken

Ching — A Chinese convert and reformed gambler
Role: Cameo
Age: 20-55
Sex: M
Voice: N/A

Ling — A Chinese convert and reformed gambler
Role: Cameo
Age: 20-55
Sex: M
Voice: N/A

Luke & John — Two mischievous Chinese heathens who happen to be exceptional card players
Role: Cameo
Age: 24-36
Sex: M
Voice: Spoken

Purser — The Captain's lackey
Role: Cameo
Age: 28-42
Sex: M
Voice: Spoken

Steward
Role: Cameo

Some of the more famous songs to come out of “Anything Goes” include “I Get a Kick Out of You” (Reno and Billy), “You're the Top” (Reno and Billy), and the title song (Reno, foursome, ensemble). In 1962, the script was revised to include “It's De-Lovely.”

RELATED

— StageAgent.com: Overview of “Anything Goes”

— Internet Broadway Database: Original Broadway run (420 performances) of “Anything Goes”