The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati (TCT) is holding auditions in May for two MainStage productions in the company’s 100th Season: the World-Premiere Adaption of CASPER the Friendly Musical, and the holiday favorite, A Charlie Brown Christmas.
Here’s everything you need to know about Auditions for TCT’s Casper and A Charlie Brown Christmas:
TCT is the nation’s oldest children’s theatre and is a professional theatre company. All roles are paid positions. TCT is passionate about creating an inclusive workplace and committed to diverse casting process; all roles are open to all ethnicities and backgrounds.
Upon audition registration, you may indicate which shows you would like to be considered for this season. Auditions are by appointment only. Young Artists ages 9-18 and Adults 18+ may make an audition appointment.
New to auditioning or want to know more about the process or the shows? Visit thechildrenstheatre.com to sign up for TCT’s Audition Prep MasterClass on May 4th!
You only need ONE audition appointment even if you are interested in both productions. Visit www.thechildrenstheatre.com/mainstage/auditions to sign up for an audition appointment.
Appointments can be made for:
- Monday, May 13, 2019 between 5:30 and 8:30 pm
- Tuesday, May 14, 2019 between 5:30 and 8:30 pm
- Wednesday, May 15, 2019 between 5:30 and 8:30 pm
- Thursday. May 16, 2019 between 5:30 and 8:30 pm
You may be asked to return and attend a “movement callback” on the day of your audition, which will take place from 8:30 to 9 pm.
- CASPER the Friendly Musical callbacks are Saturday, May 18, 10 am – 2:30 pm
- A Charlie Brown Christmas callbacks are Sunday, May 19, 6-10 pm
Auditions and Callbacks are held at TCT’s headquarters located at: 4015 Red Bank Road, Cincinnati OH 45227. For information concerning auditions email Eric Byrd at [email protected]. Visit www.thechildrenstheatre.com/mainstage/auditions to sign-up for an audition appointment.
PREPARE:
Please prepare one memorized song that best shows your vocal range. (1-minute max). The song must be an age appropriate. Remember to have your PIANO SHEET MUSIC, as we will NOT be auditioning your a cappella skills. An accompanist will be provided. Your sheet music MUST have the piano part, not just the vocal line, and music should be in a 3-ring binder with the cut CLEARLY marked for the accompanist.
You only need a song. You do NOT need to prepare a monologue.
You may be asked to show your dance ability later in the evening. Please bring attire with you to change into in case we ask you to return.
You must bring a RECENT 8×10 headshot and UPDATED performance resume. Even if you upload to the audition website, a hardcopy of your headshot and resume is required.
Plan to arrive at least 10-15 minutes ahead of your appointment to check/correct previously submitted paperwork. If we are ahead of schedule, we may audition you early.
Due to concentrated rehearsal periods, we ask that you do not have conflicts during rehearsals. In an effort to best facilitate all rehearsal times, all those auditioning will be asked to list all conflicts at the time of the audition. Conflicts will result in a stipend adjustment. Please take note of when rehearsals begin, the day and evening tech and performance schedule, and bring your calendar with you to the audition.
ABOUT THE SHOWS:
CASPER the Friendly Musical
TCT takes Casper center stage in this world-premiere musical adaptation for young audiences! Everyone’s favorite friendly ghost and his three uncles live a rather uneventful existence in the family mansion. Fifty years after their lives were cut short in a lightning storm, Magdalena, their former maid, re-enters their (after)lives! Now a celebrity TV Host, she is looking for the deed to the mansion… not because she wants the house, but because she believes there’s a message on the back that will lead her to a “great treasure”. As competition reality TV is all the rage, she hosts a live treasure hunt in the mansion on Halloween. One lucky young contestant could win $1 million if they find the deed! It is up to young Casper and his new friends, the contestants, to save the mansion from Magdalena, and discover the greatest treasure of all! Casper the Friendly Musical is in the style of a typical big Broadway musical with standard vocal requirements.
Rehearsals/Shows:
- Rehearsals: September 7 – October 5, 2019
- Mon – Thurs: 6:30-9:30 pm, Sat: 10 am – 4 pm
- Tech in the Taft Theatre: October 9 – 11, 2019
- Performances: October 12 – 21, 2019
- Morning and Afternoon performances during school days. Afternoon and evening performances Friday-Sunday.
SEEKING THE FOLLOWING:
CASPER: Young Male, Unchanged voice. Portrays 11-12 years old. A joyful and curious boy whose life was recently cut short because of a lightning storm. Must be able to carry the show and captivate the audience. Will fly. Loveable and friendly, but never scary. Actor, Singer, Dancer. Experience flying and using heely shoes a plus.
MAGDALENA: Adult Female between 60-70 years old… but being a big Hollywood star… she doesn’t look it. Her style is a mixture of Daphne Guinness, Iris Apfel, and Elvira. Fame and treasure are all she seeks and will do whatever it takes to find the greatest treasure of all. Actor, Singer, Dancer. Alto
DONALD: Young Male, changed-voice Bari-tenor, Portrays 12-13 years old. Clumsy and an outsider, but not a pushover. He is revealed as Magdalena’s nephew, and she has asked him to rig the competition.
UNCLES STRETCH, STINKY, and FATSO: Adult Males. Casper’s Uncles. As former Vaudeville performers, they miss their tap-dancing days. Unlike Casper, the Uncles are a bit grouchy they are no longer living and are pretty annoyed they are unable to cross over to the other side because Casper is waiting for his parents to return. Unfortunately, they do not have the heart to tell him they’ve already on the other side. Character Singer/Actors, with strong tap skills. Experience using heely shoes a plus.
BETTINA: Teen Female, Belter, Portrays 15 years old. Bettina is the oldest of the kids in the competition and the tallest. She is a popular, beautiful, bully. But she eventually changes her ways. Bettina experiences flight when Casper takes her hand during a game of pretend. Flight experience a plus. Actor/Singer/Dancer.
MINNIE, COCO, and LANE: Casper’s Aunts (wives of Stinky, Fatso, and Stretch) return after a failed “ghostbusting” attempt by Magdalena. The Aunts were also zapped in the lightning storm which offed Casper and the Uncles. Unfortunately, they were soaking their feet in water and are footless ghosts. With the Uncles, the Aunts are part of a big show-stopping blacklight tap number to reunite with their feet. Tapper, Actor, Singers
PIERCE: Teen Male. Pierce is your typical 15-year-old, beach loving, wave surfing, California tween. Dude, everything is like so totally awesome in Pierce’s world! Actor, Singer, Dancer
GRETCHEN: Teen Female. Portrays 14-15, Alto. Tough, Tall, Mighty. Don’t mess with her. She is Bettina’s side kick and does whatever Bettina wants her to do. Actor, Singer, Dancer
PRECIOUS: Young Girl. Very small. Must Portray 7-8 years old. Tiny, adorable and LOVES sweets of any kind. She is always seen with some form of candy in her hand. Actor, Singer, Dancer.
BRADLEY: Young Male. Portrays 10-11 years old. Smallest boy. Slightly smaller than Casper. He is a Preppy, technology loving fashion plate. Think Ritchie-Rich from a very well-off family.
ENSEMBLE: A group of 10+ Adults and Teens who play a wide variety of characters and features including parents, television crew members, tappers, and flashback characters. Many of these roles understudy other characters. Dancer, Singer, Actors.
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Back by popular demand! The whole family can celebrate the season with our live rendition of your favorite holiday special! Following the famous television special word-for-word (and frame-by-frame), Charlie Brown and the rest of the Peanuts gang are here to remind us all about what’s most important during this Yuletide season.
Rehearsals/Shows:
- Rehearsals: November 4-27 and December 1, 2019
- Mon-Thus: 6:30-9:30 pm, Sat: 10 am-4 pm, Sun the 1st: 6:30-9 pm
- Tech in the Taft Theatre: December 4-6
- Performances: December 7-16
- Morning and Afternoon performances during school days. Afternoon and evening performances Friday-Sunday.
SEEKING THE FOLLOWING:
CHARLIE BROWN: Adult or Potentially a Teen Male. Portrays a Young Boy. Must embody the essence of the classic cartoon character. Must Ice Skate. Actor, Singer, Ice Skater
SNOOPY: Adult Male. Must embody the essence of the classic cartoon character. Must be able to do pratfalls, howl, and pantomime to tell a great story. Actor, Singer, Ice Skater. Tumbling a plus!
LUCY: Adult or Potentially a Teen Female. Portrays a Young Girl. Must embody the essence of the classic cartoon character. Must Ice Skate. Self-assured, somewhat bossy friend to Charlie Brown. Actor, Singer, Ice Skater
LINUS: Adult or Potentially a Teen Male. Portrays a Young Boy. Must embody the essence of the classic cartoon character. Best friend of Charlie Brown. Actor, Singer
PIG PEN: Adult or Potentially a Teen Male. Portrays a Young Boy. Must embody the essence of the classic cartoon character. Messy and dusty friend of Charlie Brown and part of the gang. Must be able to ice skate. Actor, Singer, Ice Skater
FRIEDA: Adult or Potentially a Teen Female. Portrays a Young Girl. Must embody the essence of the classic cartoon character. Part of the gang. Lovely red head very proud of her curls. Must be able to ice skate. Actor, Singer, Ice Skater
SCHROEDER: Adult or Potentially a Teen Male. Portrays a Young boy. Part of the gang. Plays the toy piano and love interest of Lucy. Must be able to ice skate. Actor, Singer, Ice Skater
VIOLET: Adult or Potentially a Teen Female. Portrays a young girl. Part of the gang. Must embody the essence of the classic cartoon character.
SALLY: Adult or Potentially a Teen Female. Portrays a young girl. Charlie Brown’s sister who is in love with Linus. Must be able to ice skate. Actor, Singer, Ice Skater
PATTY: Adult or Potentially a Teen Female. Portrays a young girl. Part of the gang. Known as Peppermint Patty. Must embody the essence of the classic cartoon character. Actor, Singer.
FRANKLIN: Adult or Potentially a Teen Male. Portrays a young boy. Must embody the essence of the classic cartoon character. Part of the gang. Franklin was the first African American character in the strip. Must be able to ice skate. Actor, Singer, Ice Skater
MARCIE: Adult or Potentially a Teen Female. Portrays a young girl. Part of the gang. Must embody the essence of the classic cartoon character.
SHERMY: Adult or Potentially a Teen Male. Portrays a young boy. Part of the gang. Must embody the essence of the classic cartoon character.
WOODSTOCK: Adult or Teen, Any Gender. Must embody the essence of the classic cartoon character. Must be able to puppeteer and pantomime to tell a great story. Actor, Puppeteer.
ENSEMBLE: The group of Teen Actors and Singers portraying a variety of iconic characters from the Peanuts gang and will understudy principle roles. Must embody the essence of the classic cartoon. They sing, dance, skate, and help make the television special come to life on stage.
The ability to ice skate is a plus for all characters.