Calling all Canines! Doris Day needs under-dogs, Melbourne

 The new musical production Doris Day – So Much More Than The Girl Next Door is seeking to cast two Melbourne based canines as ‘underdogs’ for the upcoming Melbourne season at Her Majesty’s Theatre.

 Melinda Schneider and her dogs Rosie and DaisyNON-EQUITY AUDITION NOTICE!
The new musical production Doris Day – So Much More Than The Girl Next Door is seeking to cast two Melbourne based canines as ‘underdogs’ for the upcoming production at Her Majesty’s Theatre. The producers of Doris are inviting dogs of all breeds to an open audition on Tuesday 9th August at 11:00am in the foyer of Her Majesty’s Theatre to be tested for suitability.  Melinda Schneider, star of Doris has used her own two canine companions in her previous seasons of the show, but is looking for ‘underdogs’ to have on standby for the Melbourne season just in case her dogs are unable to do every performance.
Melinda says ”my two gorgeous doggies are 13 year old litter sisters called Rosie & Daisy who I’ve had since they were puppies. I call them ‘the girls’. They have very different personalities – Daisy is highly strung, wiry & a great jumper, whereas Rosie is a typical Labrador and loves her food. They did the Brisbane season of Doris with me in May, but I worry about them being able to do all the Melbourne performances because of their age, so I suggested to the team that we have a look at recruiting a couple of standby doggies…just in case, they need a night off.” Even if your dog has never tread the boards as Sandy in Annie, or Toto in the Wizard of Oz, producers insist that no performance experience is necessary – just raw talent!  The doggy audition brief states: “No previous stage experience necessary, but an ability to walk on stage, jump on a chaise lounge and be sung to is essential. The dogs must be obedient, professional, take direction well and be able to smile at the audience.” The show commences performances at Melbourne’s Her Majesty’s Theatre on 23rd August 2011. Co-producer of Doris and Her Majesty’s Theatre theatre owner Mike Walsh, along with Melinda Schneider, will be casting their eyes over the potential “underdogs” in the main foyer of the theatre on Tuesday 9th August from 11am. This is a non-equity call and all dogs must be leashed and accompanied by their owners.

Erin James

Erin James is AussieTheatre.com's former Editor in Chief and a performer on both stage and screen. Credits include My Fair Lady, South Pacific and The King and I (Opera Australia), Love Never Dies and Cats (Really Useful Group), Blood Brothers (Enda Markey Presents), A Place To Call Home (Foxtel/Channel 7) and the feature film The Little Death (written and directed by Josh Lawson).

Erin James

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