2020 SEASON AUDITIONS: ROANOKE, VA
LOCAL AUDITIONS FOR MILL MOUNTAIN THEATRE’S 2020 SEASON will be held on January 24 & 25, 2020 from 9:00am – 6:00pm (The Dance Call will be held at the end of each day from 5:00-6:00pm).
Auditions will take place at the MMT Rehearsal Studio, located at 20 Church Ave SE, Roanoke, VA 24011 on the 3rd floor. Free and metered parking is available nearby. An accompanist will be provided.
If you are interested in auditioning, please email a headshot and resume to auditions@nullmillmountain.org with ‘ROANOKE AUDITIONS’ in the subject line. If you have a preference of Friday 24th or Saturday 25th as your audition day, please indicate this in the body of your email. AEA members may contact auditions@nullmillmountain.org to schedule an audition appointment. EMC and non-Equity actors will be seen as time permits at these auditions. EMC and non-Equity actors should still submit all materials to auditions@nullmillmountain.org for more information.
Non-Equity only: in the email submission, please denote if you have local housing (within ~30 miles of Downtown Roanoke) available.
***Students ages 16 and older who are interested in auditioning for ensemble roles in Cabaret and Holiday Inn should request an appointment time for these local auditions, and plan to attend the dance call.
Mill Mountain Theatre Staff in the audition room will include: Ginger Poole (Producing Artistic Director), Travis Kendrick (Director of Education), Christopher Castanho (Resident Creative), Victoria Buck (Education Associate), and Seth Davis (Resident Music Director & Accompanist).
PLEASE PREPARE:
A one-minute song if auditioning for: Dreamgirls, Cabaret, Holiday Inn, Golden Age of Broadway Concert, Crooners Concert, or the 2020 Apprentice Company*. We may ask to hear a one-minute monologue and/or contrasting one-minute song.
A one-minute monologue if auditioning for The Diary Of Anne Frank, The Cake, or the 2020 Apprentice Company*. We may ask you to read sides.
There will be a dance call from 5:00PM – 6:00PM on both audition days for all those auditioning for Dreamgirls, Cabaret, Holiday Inn, and the 2020 Apprentice Company*.
*The 2020 Apprentice Company is in residence for 12 weeks during the summer, and will have roles in Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical (touring production), Cabaret, and Cinderella.
Actors of all ethnicities are encouraged to audition for all roles.
DREAMGIRLS
Music by Henry Krieger
Book and Lyrics by Tom Eyen
Directed & Choreography by Donald Jones Jr
Music Directed by Seth Davis
Rehearsal: March 3 – 24, 2020
Previews & Performances: March 25 – April 11, 2020
EFFIE WHITE: Female, 20s-40s, African American, principal role. Confident and outspoken with emotional depth. Lead singer of the Dreamettes. Mezzo Soprano with powerful belt. Journeys from snappy confidence to depths of betrayal, triumphing in the end. Seeking an actor willing to dig deep emotionally.
DEENA JONES: Female, 18-40s, African-American, principal role. Backup (later lead) singer for the Dreamettes, moving from innocent and modest to “star.” Mezzo.
LORRELL ROBINSON: Female, 18-40s, African American, Principal role. Young, energetic, and outspoken. Eager for success and a romantic at heart. Backup singer of the Dreamettes. Soprano.
CURTIS TAYLOR, JR.: Male, 25-45, African American, Principal role. Cadillac dealer and manager of ‘The Dreamettes’. Charming, smooth, and funny, he’s ruthless in the pursuit of his dream. Tenor/High Baritone.
JAMES “THUNDER” EARLY: Male, 30s-50s, African American, Supporting role. A flashy star of early R&B soul singer, a trendsetter and showman. Seeking a Tenor with a strong falsetto.
C.C.WHITE: Male, 20s-30s, African American, Supporting role. Talented song writer and Effie’s brother. Tenor.
MICHELLE MORRIS: Female, 18-40, African American, Supporting role. Backup singer, replacement for Effie. Desires to stay out of the conflict. Mezzo Soprano.
MARTY MADISON: Male, 40s-60s, African American, Supporting role. Theatrical agent for J.T. Early. He is honest and loyal. Baritone.
ENSEMBLE: Male and Female, 18-40+, African American, except Dave & The Sweethearts could be white. Several smaller roles will be cast from this ensemble of singer-actors.
CABARET
Music and Lyrics by John Kander & Fredd Ebb; Book by Joe Masteroff
Directed & Choreographed by Kristen Brooks Sandler
Music Directed by Seth Davis
Rehearsals: (Non-Eq start on May 25 / Equity start June 1) – June 24, 2020
Previews & Performances: June 25 – July 5, 2020
EMCEE: The host and Master of Ceremonies at the Kit Kat Klub. Gender-fluid and comfortable with being close to both men and women. Comedic, loveable, sinister. Requires agile stage movement and dance ability. Age range and appearance are flexible. Speaks with a German accent. Tenor (Middle C to High C#).
SALLY BOWLES: (20s-30s) A British Cabaret singer at the Kit Kat Klub. A quirky character that comes across as flighty, yet at times struggles with knowing the darkness of the reality of her life as a cabaret performer. Seeking compelling performer who is a strong actor, singer, and dancer. Speaks with a British Accent. Soprano with a belt (Low A to High C).
CLIFF BRADSHAW: (20s-30s) An American novelist and English teacher traveling to Berlin. Presented as a closeted gay man exploring his sexuality. Must be comfortable with stage movement and some dance. Speaks with an American accent. Tenor (Low A to High E).
FRAULEIN SCHNEIDER (50s+) A landlady who rents rooms in her large flat. Must be comfortable with stage movement and some dance (waltz). Speaks with a German accent. Alto (Low D to A flat above middle C).
HERR SCHULTZ: (50s+) One of Fraulein Schneider’s roomers and the proprietor of a Fruit Shop. Must be comfortable with stage movement and some dance. Speaks with a German accent. Tenor (Low G to High F).
FRAULEIN KOST: (30s-40s) Another of Fraulein Schneider’s roomers. She earns money by offering favours to sailors – presentation of the character should exhibit a strong sexual comfort and commanding nature. Comfortable with stage movement. Speaks with a German accent. Alto/Mezzo (Low A flat to High F).
ERNST LUDWIG: A friendly and Likeable German Sings in the Chorus. Takes English lessons from Cliff and smuggles funds for the Nazi Party. Comfortable with stage movement and some dance (waltz). Speaks with a German accent.
KIT KAT KLUB GIRLS: (20s-30s) Performers in the Kit Kat Club. Seeking a diverse group of women who are comfortable embracing their characters’ sexuality through movement and dance. Seeking strong singer-actors with excellent dance skills.
MALE ENSEMBLE: (20s-30s) Bobby, Victor, Kit Kat Klub Waiters, Patrons, others. Seeking a diverse group of men who are comfortable embracing their characters’ sexuality through movement and dance. Seeking strong singer-actors with excellent dance skills.
POLKADOTS: THE COOL KIDS MUSICAL
Music and Lyrics by Douglas Lyons & Greg Borowsky
Book by Melvin Tunstall III
Directed & Choreographed by Christopher Castanho
Music Directed by Emma Gwin
Rehearsals: May 18 – 29, 2020
Performances: May 30- July 3, 2020
LILY POLKADOT: Female, plays 8 years old. Lily is the new kid in town – and the only one of her kind. She is polite, talented, and extremely intelligent. Mezzo soprano.
PENELOPE SQUARE: Female, plays 9 years old. Overly confident, bratty, loud, and loves the limelight; the world revolves around Penelope and we just happen to be living in it. She is the older sister to Sky Square, and is strongly against mixing Polkadot and Square people. Comedic mezzo soprano belter with soul.
SKY SQUARE: Male, plays 8 years old. Video games illuminate his imagination; he’s anxiously shy, friendly, quirky, and curious. He is the younger brother to Penelope Square and an admirer of Lily Polkadot. Soulful/rock bari-tenor up to A flat.
MRS. SQUARE: Adult Female. Mrs. Square is a 3rd Grade teacher at Rockville Elementary, responsible for integrating Polkadots and Squares; she’s the rational disciplinarian, yet also gentle and loving. Mezzo Soprano.
MAMA SQUARE: Adult Female. Sky and Penelope’s mother. Mama Square is a loud mouth, overbearing, and stuck in her ways. Mezzo Soprano.
(All roles in Polka Dots: A Cool Kids Musical will be played by members of the 2020 Apprentice Company)
THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK
Book by Frances Goodrich & Albert Hackett
Adapted by Wendy Kesselman
Directed by Billie Aken-Tyers
Rehearsals: September 1 – 22, 2020
Previews & Performances: September 23 – October 4, 2020
OTTO FRANK: (50s) Anne’s father and the patriarch of the annex. He leads with love and strength in all he does. He is practical, polite, and even-tempered, striving for peace in every situation. At 53, he has the resilience of a younger man, but the experience of his age to recognize the reality of the world around him.
EDITH FRANK : (40s) Anne’s reserved and nervous mother. She is soft-spoken and constantly worried about her family’s fate. She is close with her daughter Margot, and longs for a deeper connection with Anne. Despite her quiet demeanor, she has fortitude and will make her mind known when necessary.
PUTTI VAN DAAN: (40s-50s) The head of the Van Daans. An irritable former business partner of Mr. Frank, he is struggling to find his place as second in command. He is intelligent, pragmatic, and harsh. While in the annex, he wants to teach his son to be more outgoing and tough. Mr Van Daan is selfish and openly critical of others, especially Anne.
MRS. PETRONELLA VAN DAAN: (40s-50s) The vain and finicky wife of Mr. Van Daan. She is not ready to give up her lifestyle, and prizes the material things of life. She clings to her fur coat like others cling to their identity. She hides her fear of the unknown by worrying about the trite and frivolous. At the center of much of the conflict in the annex.
MIEP GIES: (30s) A well-liked, kind, and generous secretary from Mr. Frank’s office. She helps to protect the families in hiding, and is their connection to the outside world. Miep keeps them informed and fed, and though worried, she is determined to protect them.
MR KRALER: (40s) Otto Frank’s business partner. He helps to hide the members of the annex. He never questions his obligations to help the Franks and do what is right. Dignified, and at a loss for the world around him.
JAN DUSSELLl: (50s) Difficult to get along with, he is the only one in the annex without a family. A dentist by trade, he puts himself first. Skeptical by nature, Mr Dusselli has little patience for his roommate, Anne.
NAZI OFFICER and TWO DUTCH COLLABORATORS: (male, any age) Although these men do not come into the play until the end of the show, they are exceedingly important roles.
THE CAKE
By Bekah Brunstetter
Directed by Sarah Butts
Rehearsals: October 13 – November 4, 2020
Previews & Performances: November 5 – 8, 2020
DELLA: (40s-50s) North Carolinian, born and raised. A religious and socially conservative woman. Warm, pleasant, and caring; she has a maternal instinct despite not having children of her own. An old friend to Jen’s family; married to Tim.She sees herself as open-minded, but has not had the life experience to challenge the world-views with which she was brought up. A prolific and enthusiastic baker, she has been chosen as a contestant for The Great American Baking Show.
JEN: (Early 30s) Born and raised in North Carolina, but lives in Brooklyn. Is engaged to Macy. She is an experienced event planner with a compulsive attention to detail. Considerate, kind, and enthusiastic, she always sees the best in people. Her newfound liberal lifestyle and planning her lesbian wedding brings tension to her conservative hometown.
MACY: (Early 30s) Black, born and raised in New York. Jen’s fiancé; progressive, sharp, bold, and outspoken. Very confident in her belief system, she challenges those who think differently. Innately curious and inquisitive. She is who she is, and will not make compromises to coddle people’s feelings.
TIM: (40s+) Della’s husband and a good ol’ boy. He is a plumber with a good work ethic, who takes pride in providing for the household. He finds comfort in his traditional values, and hasn’t had a reason to question his beliefs. He is loving and loved, though perhaps not completely in touch with his emotions.
HOLIDAY INN
Based on the Film from Universal Pictures
Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin
Book by Gordon Greenberg and Chad Hodge
Directed by Travis Kendrick
Choreographed by Kristen Brooks Sandler
Music Directed by Seth Davis
Rehearsals: November 10 – December 1, 2020
Previews & Performances: December 2 – 20, 2020
JIM HARDY: (30s) Handsome, kind, sincere, and good-natured, he is a performer and singer-songwriter who is eager to leave showbiz behind for a simpler life on a farm in Connecticut. Lyric Baritone.
TED HANOVER: (30s) Jim’s best friend and performing partner; a charming flirt, he is looking for his big break. Seeking a strong dancer (in the style of Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly) who taps extremely well. Comedic role. Lyric Baritone.
LILA DIXON: (30s) A determined performer and Jim’s mismatched fiancée. She isn’t the smartest in town, but what she lacks in intelligence she makes up for with sheer determination and a love for the spotlight. Seeking a comedic actor and strong dancer who taps. Mezzo Soprano.
LINDA MASON: (30s) A school teacher with the hidden talents of a singer and dancer; lovely, charming, and funny. She is tough and distant at first, but is ultimately won over by Jim’s kindness, humor, and love of music. Mezzo Soprano with strong belt/mix.
LOUISE BADGER: (40s-50s) The local fix-it woman; tough, no nonsense, and extremely perceptive. Seeking a strong comedic actor with a great Mezzo/Alto belt voice.
DANNY: (30s-50s) The energetic and sarcastic manager for the musical act of Hardy, Hanover, and Dixon. He encourages Ted and Lila to move ahead with a double act while Jim tries to set up a normal life. Danny will stop at nothing to make his clients stars.
ENSEMBLE: (Various Ages) Seeking a diverse group of strong singer-dancers who can tap to play various roles (Announcer, dancers, radio personalities, Hollywood creative team, Midville townspeople, and Holiday Inn guests).
