Auditions will be held Friday and Saturday for Kenai Performers’ production of “Disaster the Musical,” set to debut in February.
Producer Donna Shirnberg said “Disaster” is a retro musical, set in the 1970s, with “everything to do with every single disaster movie of that era.”
‘The Poseidon Adventure,’ ‘The Towering Inferno,’ ‘Jaws,’ ‘Piranha,’ you name it? It’s in,” she said.
Shirnberg said the musical follows an eclectic group of individuals who board a boat and experience all of the disasters.
“In a two-hour time frame, the boat catches on fire, it flips upside down, someone gets eaten by sharks, the piranhas get out. And it’s all set to 70s music,” she said, “It’s a very fun, upbeat, silly show.”
The auditions will be held at the Kenai Performers’ black box theater on Kalifornsky Beach Road. Those interested do not need to prepare any material, but Shirnberg said they need to wear comfortable clothes and should bring water, because there will be dancing.
“Disaster” is an ensemble show, Shirnberg said, with a cast that includes a gambler, a disaster expert, a journalist, a washed up lounge singer, a Jewish couple, a bodyguard, and plenty more.
Shirnberg said each of the characters gets a little spotlight, but mentioned a nun with a pop gospel voice, a slimy casino owner, and a sassy woman who loves her dog as some interesting roles.
Because it’s a musical, those interested in lead roles need to be able to carry a tune and manage the vocal range, Shirnberg said. For those in more supporting roles, she said “we can work with voices.”
The performers are also looking for help with the production side of the show, for those more interested in staying behind the curtain.
“There are so many props and such – fast set changes – we are going to need an army of people behind the scenes,” Shirnberg said.
Folks interested in that work should also come to the auditions and chat with Shirnberg to get put on the list. They can also reach out to Kenai Performers and call her directly.
There are roles in the show for anyone from 20-65 years old, Shirnberg said. There could even be older teenagers, but she said because of the rating on the show, they want to keep performers above 16 years of age.
Auditions will be Friday from 6-8 p.m. and Saturday from 1-3 p.m. More information about the auditions, including a full list of cast with descriptions and vocal ranges can be found at Kenai Performers on Facebook.
Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.
