Directed by Angel Rodriguez
Performance Dates: Feb 14th - March 2nd
Audition Dates:
Saturday, Oct 26th - 1pm
Sunday, Oct 27th - 6pm
Audition Location:
Valley Performing Arts Theatre
251 W. Swanson Avenue in Wasilla
Show Location:
Valley Performing Arts Theatre
251 W. Swanson Avenue in Wasilla
Show Summary:
Puffs is a tale for anyone who has never been destined to save the world. For seven years a certain boy wizard went to a certain Wizard School and conquered evil. This, however, is not his story. This is the story of the Puffs ... who just happened to be there too. This clever and inventive play gives you a new look at a familiar adventure from the perspective of three potential heroes just trying to make it through a magic school that proves to be very dangerous for children. Alongside them are the Puffs, a group of well-meaning, loyal outsiders with a thing for badgers. Their hilariously heartfelt and epic journey takes the classic story to new places and reimagines what a wizard hero can be.
Audition Information:
AGES 14+
Please choose TWO of the following monologues to perform at your audition. You do not have to memorize the monologues, but you should be comfortable with them.
*Be ready to read ALL of the CHARACTER SNIPPETS.*
Go BIG. This is a ridiculous show. If you feel stupid, you’re doing it right.
MONOLOGUES
MEGAN JONES / Megan is dark, brooding and mysterious.
I never wanted to be a Puff. Every member of my family? Puffs. We’re like THE Puff family. But I’ve always known that I was different. There’s nothing even special about Puffs. Loyalty? Being really nice? A bunch of lame, awful failures doomed to be stupid walking personality-less nobodies that no one will ever care about ever? Ugh. My mom was a Puff. But she was different. She became something bigger. She made the name Jones finally mean something other than a bunch of ... Puffs. I thought ... I knew ... I would be different too. But ... after all my hard work to make myself not a Puff, what do you know? The hat puts me with the Puffs. I did everything. I mean, I even changed my accent just so I wouldn’t sound like my Puff family.
HARRY / Perhaps Harry doesn’t actually possess the heroic qualities he is so famous for.
Say ... remember the First Task? That was pretty crazy. At first, I was like, “oh no”, but then I was like “broom!” And then I was like “vroom vroom”, but then the dragon broke off his chain and chased me all around the school and almost killed a bunch of people. Hahaha ... ahhh. Remember that? Feels like ages ago. Bye, Wayne! Cedric, look out for that dragon! Just kidding.
LEANNE / Leanne is bubbly, excited, and so proud of her Puffness.
No! I don’t want to leave. Why is everyone always so down on us? I won’t stand for it anymore! And I won’t sit for it either. And I also won’t stand on one leg because I can’t. Watch. Anyways. Look at your hand! You have a wand! (Everyone looks at the hand that in fact does not have a wand in it.) Unless you looked at your other hand. Look at yourselves! Hannah. You used to be so awkward. And you still are, but we don’t mind anymore! Who’s that? It’s Ernie Mac. And he is basically the best. And Sally. Remember the time you did that thing?
CEDRIC / a very popular kid, a bit of a rockstar in the Puff house, but not the sharpest tool in the shed
And my name...is Cedric. Thanks. Now gather round. Don’t be shy. Welcome to the Puffs! Just a few things to get you acquainted to the school. First, the stars move. Don’t freak out. Just breathe. Second...the Puffs don’t exactly have the best reputation here. People will make jokes about you. Or throw food at you. Or they might curse you. In fact, here is a list of curses you can expect to be hit by at some point in the next week. But none of that matters. Because really, we’re a bunch of nice, fun, happy people. Also, badgers. Badgers are great!
WAYNE HOPKINS / a normal guy who wants to stand out and have others think he is special
Question. Hypothetical. What if I don’t have enough of a personality for the magic talking hat to sort me? Like...how much authority does this hat really have? Never mind. This place is crazy huh? I never thought I’d go to school in a castle. Pretty cool. I’ve never really liked school. People were mean. To me. I’m talking too much. You probably have all your own nervous thoughts going on ... can I tell you something? I think I might be ... special? I watch a lot of movies and read lots of books, and it’s like; a normal boy finds out he actually has amazing abilities and is swept away to a new, magical world? Does that sound familiar? Because that is now my ACTUAL life. And THAT kid, through some incredible circumstances always becomes like the most important person. Like in the whole world. A sort of ... Chosen One. AHH! Magic is real, and this orphaned boy wizard is ready for seven years of amazing adventures!
MISTER VOLDY / is the embodiment of evil
Since we’re on the verge of our victory to be remembered for all dark ages to come, pats on the back by the way, I’ve been working on some fun one liners to say when we vanquish our great teenage enemy, Potter. Maybe I can try some out, so you can see how fun thy are - eh hem. “Boy who lived? How about the boy who’s dead now? HA!” “Nice second scar - the one that’s on your whole body - since I killed you.” “Mother’s love your way out of that!” Or my favorite - “Loser says Avada what -” he says, “What” - “KEDABRA!” - then he dies. What? The megaphone is still on? Really? Oh my. I am just having a day, aren’t I? YAH! Harry!
CHARACTER SNIPPETS
Because actors in Puffs will play several roles, we are looking for some actors who can quickly switch from one comedic character role to another. Bold vocal and physical choices are encouraged.
XAVIA JONES (evil, crazy, dangerous) - I want you to hurt them. Torture them. Kill them, maybe? Prove to me that you are my daughter.
MYRTLE (quirky, unpredictable, odd ghost with a very distinctive voice) - Goodbye, Cedric. Think of me every time you see a toilet. Waaaaahhhhhhhhh!
A CERTAIN POTIONS TEACHER (slimy, sinister, mean, demanding) - You are the most dunderheaded students I have ever seen sit in my class. If you manage to succeed in my course this year, I will eat a shoe. Ten points from the Puffs.
UNCLE DAVE (Distant, goofy, not ready for parenthood) Oh my Gawd! I forgot to tell you. Yer a Wizard, Wayne! ...Also, wizards exist! ... and you are one. Just like your British parents. Oh right! Yer parents were British! Wow. We gotta talk more. Come on, I’ll drive ya to the airport!
Rehearsal Information (Subject to change):
11/04-11/07 (Monday- Thursday) 6:30-8:30pm at TBD Read Through/Character Work/Act 1 Scenes
No Rehearsal 11/11-11/17
11/18-11/21 (Monday- Thursday) 6:30-8:30pm at TBD Act 1 Scenes/Act 2 Scenes
11/25-11/27 (Monday-Wednesday) 6:30-8:30pm at TBD Act 2 Scenes
No Rehearsal 11/28- 12-8
12/9 -12/12 (Monday- Thursday) 6:30-8:30pm at TBD Act 1 Scenes/Full Act 1
12/16-12/19 (Monday- Thursday) 6:30-8:30pm at TBD Act 2 Scenes/ Full Act 2
No Rehearsal 12/20- 12/29
12/30 (Monday) 6:30-9:00 TBD OFF BOOK, Full Run
01/02/25-01/03/25 (Thursday and Friday) Act 1/Act 2
01/06-01/10 Monday-Thursday 6:00-9:00 at VPA Act 2 Run Throughs
No Rehearsal 01/13-01/17
01/20-01/23 Monday-Thursday 6:00-9:00 at VPA Act 1 Run Throughs
01/27-01/31 Monday-Friday 6:00-9:00 at VPA Full Runs
02/03-02/06 Monday-Thursday TECH Costume Parade/Act 1/Act 2/Full Run
02/10-2/12 TECH Full Runs
02/13/25 PREVIEW NIGHT, call time 6pm.
02/14/25 OPENING NIGHT, call time 6pm
Character List:
Most actors in Puffs will play several roles, so we are looking for at least eleven actors who have the ability to quickly switch from one comedic character role to another.
Wayne Hopkins - a boy wizard (but not that boy wizard), ready to take on whatever challenges face him, even if he ! fails again and again
Oliver Jones - a math savant who would rather study algebra than magic
Megan Jones - a “goth” Puff who wants nothing to do with being a Puff but is sorted into their
house anyway
Narrator - A real professional Puff when it comes to storytelling
Ernie Mac and Others (A Very Tall Man, Seamus, A Certain Potions Teacher, Professor Turban, Ghost History Teacher, Professor Locky, Mr. Nick, Sal, Second Headmaster, Real Mr. Moody)
Hannah and Others (First Headmaster, Professor McG, Professor Sproutty, Xavia Jones, Professor Lanny, Runes Teach, Ms. Babble)
J. Finch Fletchley and Others (Uncle Dave, Goyle, A Far Friar, Clumsy Longbottom, Hermeoone # 3, Viktor, Mr. Bagman, Zach Smith)
Leanne and Others (Ginny, Helga, Frenchy)
Sally Perks and Others (Hermeoone, Blondo Malfoy, Rowena, Rita Scooter, Bippy)
Susie Bones and Others (Harry, Colin, Hermeoone # 2, Ric Gryff, Myrtle)
Cedric and Mr. Voldy