UNA, WILL STUTTS HOSTS AUDITIONS FOR 'STAND BY YOUR MAN'
April 2, 2008
FLORENCE, Ala. – Will Stutts is returning to his roots this summer as he directs the University of North Alabama production of the Tammy Wynette musical, “Stand by Your Man.” Stutts, a Florence native and UNA graduate, has had a distinguished career in theatre, including several Broadway productions and more work in the genre of the one-man play than almost any other actor.
He will host auditions for “Stand by Your Man” April 19 at the Zodiac Theatre in downtown Florence. Actors/singers will audition at 1 p.m., and musicians and technical positions will audition at 3 p.m.
The play, which will take stage at UNA in July, will cast seven men, three women and a musical ensemble. Musicians are sought to play guitar, fiddle, steel guitar and bass. A variety of technical positions are also available for non-performers.
Those auditioning should provide a photo and resume and should come prepared with three minutes of modern monologue and 16 bars of a country song (not necessarily a song from the show). Piano accompaniment will be provided.
“Stand by Your Man,” written by Mark St. Germain, enables audiences to relive Wynette’s journey from the cotton fields of Itawamba, Miss., to international superstar. With comic flare and dramatic impact, the musical recounts triumphs and tragedies and explores the singer’s relationships with the five husbands she stood by, including George Jones, her strong-willed mother and her dearest friends.
Among the 26 featured songs are “Divorce,” “Till I Can Make It on My Own,” “Golden Ring” and “Stand by Your Man.”
The UNA production will also feature music director and conductor Nathan Perry, who is currently on tour as music director and conductor for the Johnny Cash musical, “Ring of Fire.”
Stutts, the play director, enrolled at the prestigious Yale University School of Drama following his graduation from UNA. He has since appeared in several Broadway productions and has written or devised and starred in a variety of one-man shows, including “Mark Twain’s America,” which he is currently touring throughout the nation.
For more information on auditions for “Stand by Your Man,” contact Nancy Gonce at 256-766-9719 or ngonce@bellsouth.net.
