AUDITIONs will take place on June 17 at 2pm

Auditions are not required, but for the special roles shown with video/audio clips, we encourage you to.

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CAMP VAUDEVILLE AUDITION SPEECHES & Songs

Do you have a special skill or talent that could be featured in this year's show?
​Come to auditions and show us what ya' got! Here are some ideas:

• Singer
• Dancer
• Instrumentalist
• Comedian
• Ventriloquist
• Puppeteer
• Bell Ringer
• Magic Act​

• Animal Act (Stupid Pet Tricks)
• Juggler
• Hypnotist
• Mind Reader
• Gymnast/Tumbler/Contortionist
• Roller Skater
• Yodeler
• Whistler​

​LIST OF PERFORMERS IN 2023 CAMP VAUDEVILLE
LILLIAN RUSSELL (speaking and singing), song: “AFTER THE BALL”
MAUDE ADAMS (speaking)
WILLIAM GILLETTE (speaking)
AL JOLSON (speaking and singing), song: “TOOT, TOOT, TOOTSIE”
BLANCHE RING (speaking and singing), song: “IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME”
HARRY LAUDER (speaking *Scottish accent and singing),  song: “ROAMIN’ IN THE GLOAMIN’”
BLOSSOM SEELEY(speaking and singing), song: “YES, SIR, THAT’S MY BABY”
GEORGE M. COHAN (singing), song: “YANKEE DOODLE BOY"

These are just some of the speaking parts in our Camp Vaudeville this year. If you audition, you may not necessarily
​be cast in the role for which you auditioned. You could be assigned another speaking part in the show.

Lillian Russell​ - After the Ball

My, it brings back lovely memories of my tours across America to be here tonight. Where to begin? Well, I made my professional debut at Tony Pastor’s famous theatre on 14th Street in New York City when I was 19 years old.

The following year I began starring in operettas on Broadway and for the next 30 years I was one of the biggest stars in New York, London and on tour, and loved every minute of it.

Oh, and I loved to ride my bicycle which was custom made by Tiffany and Company. It was gold-plated with handlebars that were inlaid with mother-of-pearl and the wheel spokes featured my initials set in diamonds. When I shortened my cycling suit by three whole inches it was a shocking sensation and set a trend.

Al Jolsen - Toot Toot Tootsie

My family emigrated to the United State from Russia when I was 8 years old and when I was 14 I left home to try my luck in vaudeville. After singing in a revue on Broadway, the Shuberts signed me to a seven year contract, and I began starring in a string of shows that became huge successes.  It allowed me to introduce so many wonderful songs which have become standards: “April Showers,” “Rock a Bye Your Baby,” “Swanee,” “Sonny Boy,” “When the Red, Red Robin,” “I’m Just Wild About Harry.”

Then in 1927 I went to Hollywood. Warner Brothers had a new process called Vitaphone which would synchronize sound and motion picture film. The movies had been silent since their inception, with only live music playing as the film was projected.   Everyone thought sound pictures would be a disaster, but there I was starring in the first talkie.  Well, guess what? “The Jazz Singer” was an overnight sensation and revolutionized the entire industry. And I went on to have an even bigger career in the movies.  Who would have guessed?

Blanche Ring - In the Good Old Summertime

You are too kind. I guess show business was in my blood.  I come from five generations of a theatrical dynasty. My great grandfather came from England in 1852 and toured with a theatrical caravan as far as the Mississippi River, my grandfather was one of the leading comedians of his day, and my father was an actor.

I made my stage debut at age 16. I toured extensively in vaudeville, including an appearance at the Camden Theatre.  I starred on Broadway in a number of shows from 1902 until 1938. I even dabbled in a film or two in Hollywood. But I guess I’m mostly remembered for my singing.

And what great songs I got to introduce and make famous: “Come Josephine in Your Flying Machine” and “I Got Rings on My Fingers.” And the song I will sing for us tonight: “In the Good Old Summertime.”

Harry Lauder - Roamin’ in the Gloamin’

Well, I guess it’s always good to start at the beginning and that would be in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1870 when I was born.  I made my first public appearance at age 13 in a variety show and won the first prize money. 
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This led to an engagement in Glasgow and later to London.  I’d started writing my own songs and when I recorded “I Love a Lassie” it became a hit and made me a star.  And I kept writing and singing and joking and entertaining for the next 40 years.

I toured all over the world including 22 trips to the United States, where I had my own railway train, the Harry Lauder Special.  I must have been doing something right because they tell me that by 1911 I was the highest paid performer in the world! Not bad for a wee lad from Scotland.

Blossom Seeley - Yes, Sir, That’s My Baby

Hi ya, folks! It’s great to be up here singin’ for you tonight.  They called me the Queen of Syncopation and let me tell you I can belt out a song like no one else! They said when my hands begin a-going and I begin to toddle, you just have to hold tight for fear of getting up and toddling right along with me. 

I was already a stage performer at age ten. They called me “The Little Blossom.”  As I grew a bit older, I toured in vaudeville and learned to sell a song. I’m the one who brought jazz and ragtime into mainstream America. 
Get this, in 1925 George Gershwin wrote a 23 minute jazz opera called “Blue Monday” for me and my husband, Benny Fields, which we performed at Carnegie Hall accompanied by Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra.  How about them apples?

George M. Cohan - Yankee Doodle Boy