Contact Information
Tyrone Community Players, INC.
P.O. Box 209
Tyrone, PA 16686-0209
Phone: 814 684-ART2 (2782)
Nevermore
Take a mysterious journey into the life of American author, Edgar Allan Poe. This imaginative musical uses Poe's poetry and short stories as its base and his shifting obsession with women as its catalyst. With haunting musical melodies, NEVERMORE breathes new life and understanding into Poe's work and explores a twisted true-life tale that is as bizarre as his classic tales of the macabre.
Photos from "Nevermore" Posted 10/19/2012
View photos from our latest production, Nevermore by clicking here.
Audition Notice Posted 7/23/2012
Auditions for the avant garde musical, Nevermore will be opened to the general public on Sunday and Monday, August 19 and 20, 2012 at 7PM in The Building, located at 1019 Logan Ave., Tyrone, PA. Callbacks will be held Monday, August 20 at 8PM in the same location. No vocal audition material needs to be prepared and a reading from the script and Poe's work, provided by the director, will complete the audition. Nevermore is under the direction of Cindy Bennett with musical direction by Darcy Wilson. Nancy Sloss will act as stage manager. All parts are available and the characters are:
- Edgar Allan Poe - A challenging role spanning Edgar's life from age 13 until his death at 40. This role explores Edgar's relationships with the women in his life, all of which left him, mostly through death. The musical takes place predominately in Edgar's mind and his often tormented memory, using his feelings of abandonment and loss to drive the genius of his writing. The vocal range is Baritone/Tenor
- Virginia - Edgar's first cousin and child bride. She was his muse for many of his stories and poems. His writing excited her and that excitement in turn caused him to write more and more bizarre works. She was the love of his life, as he knew how to love. She is youthful in appearance and vocal sound. The vocal range is Mezzo/Soprano
- Elmira - Edgar's first love and the very first patron of his work. She drew out a sweetness and purity in Edgar that was rarely seen by others. Their paths separated but crossed again near the end of his life. The vocal range is Mezzo/ Soprano
- Muddy - Virginia's mother and Edgar's surrogate mother, also his aunt. Edgar and Muddy had an often tempestuous relationship, mostly about Virginia. She was dedicated to her daughter's happiness and purity. The vocal range is Alto/Mezzo
- The Whore - This character is a composite of all the ways that Edgar used his demons to escape reality and find an excuse for his life situations. Although quite a Southern gentleman, Edgar uses these women relentlessly. The vocal range is Alto
A conversation with the director - Cindy Bennett
Q: What exactly is an Avant Garde musical?
Cindy: I think of this musical in a more abstract way than you would think of, say, The Music Man or The King and I. There is an enormous chance to delve into the characters and make of them what you want. Most of the action of this show takes place in Edgar's mind, his memories of the women in his life who have left him. It's very interpretive! I think 20 groups could perform this musical and it would have 20 different visions.
Q: Why is this show listed as having adult content?
Cindy: Edgar Allan Poe had a dark, mysterious and confused life. He was often tormented and succumbed to his own demons. Even though we'll be very sensitive with the seediest parts of his life, they are real and relevant to the production.
Q: Will the rehearsal schedule be the same as we're used to?
Cindy: For the most part, yes. There will be more one-on-one time between the directors and the cast and the cast members so we can help each other find and develop the characters and relationships their interpreting. That's pretty important to me and to the quality of the show, and I'm anxious to help the cast find their own, real and justified voices for these characters.
Q: Why will we be reading from Poe's poems and stories at auditions?
Cindy: This production has less dialogue than music. There are only a few places in the script that have much interactive conversation at all. We'll use that, but may also need to use Poe's own words to audition. NEVERMORE is very much like an operetta in that way.
Q: If I've never been involved in an Avant Garde musical should I bother auditioning?
Cindy: Yes, yes, yes! The make up of the show really won't change the basic formula we look for when preparing a show and choosing a cast. Will you be committed to the production and rehearsal schedule (like in any other show)? Will you cooperate with the rest of the cast and the directors (like in any other show)? Is your talent best suited for this show (like in any other show)? Will you be willing to let yourself go and develop the characters we need (as in any other show)? Yes, yes, yes!
A conversation with the musical director - Darcy Wilson
Q: So, I don't need to prepare a song? Really?!
Darcy: Really! I will test vocal ranges and have snippets of solo and group work for you to learn/perform. We'll probably do readings first, and continue to zero in on character as we do the vocal auditions. Just come warmed up. (Plus, I know many of you, and I know that you can sing. Besides, singing Wicked is a lot different than singing Nevermore!)
Q: I've never heard of this show! Tell me more!
Darcy: This Nevermore (Careful!.. there are others!) was written by Matt Conner, who actually does not read music (Interesting!). A friend of his overheard him messing with his "Poe stuff" at the piano and was intrigued. Eventually this music became Nevermore, which was first performed at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia.
Q: What is the style of this music?
Darcy: Matt Conner has described it as "gothic pop." The music does have a more "popular music theater" edge; it is very haunting and lovely. (I imagine a much smoother sound than you will hear in youtube clips.) The orchestration is piano, strings and percussion.
Q: Why do we have to sing in a group for auds?
Darcy: There is mucho part-work in this musical. All singers must have superior independence of voice. Of course there is solo work as well.
Q: What else are you looking for? Give us the heads up as to what you really want from us!
Darcy: OK. Aside from all the usual technical stuff, I will be looking for honesty and intensity. Honest is not over-acted. Honest is natural. Intense does not have to be loud. Intense may mean disturbing. Intense may be lovely.
Cast and Crew Posted 8/27/2012
| Edgar Allan Poe | John Diller |
|---|---|
| Mother | Megan Haley |
| Virginia | Sofia Revolorio |
| Muddy | Susan Kleit |
| The Whore | Alicia Rodriguez |
| Elmira | Margot Helbig |
