Auditions Overview

CASTING CALL: South Pacific

Paramount Theatre 2025-2026 Broadway Series
BROADWAY SHOW #4

AUDITIONS

1
What: Equity Principal Auditions (EMC and Non-Equity actors are welcome and encouraged to attend)
When: Monday, May 19th and Tuesday, May 20th, 2025
9:00am-5:00pm
Lunch from 1:00-2:00pm
Where: Chicago Actors’ Equity Office
557 W. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60661

PREPARATION:

Please bring ONE copy of Headshot/Resume
Please prepare ONE one-to-two-minute cut or TWO one-minute cuts in the style of the shows. You may be asked to sing more from your book.

2

What: Equity Chorus Auditions for Singers (EMC and Non-Equity actors are welcome and encouraged to attend)
When: Wednesday, May 21st, 2025
9:00am-5:00pm
Lunch from 1:00-2:00
Where: Chicago Actors’ Equity Office
557 W. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60661

PREPARATION:

Please bring ONE copy of Headshot/Resume
Please prepare ONE one-to-two-minute cut or TWO one-minute cuts in the style of the shows. You may be asked to sing more from your book.

3

What: Equity Chorus Auditions for Dancers (EMC and Non-Equity actors are welcome and encouraged to attend)
When: Thursday, May 22nd, 2025
9:00am-5:00pm
Lunch from 1:00-2:00
Where: Chicago Actors’ Equity Office
557 W. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60661

PREPARATION:

Please bring ONE copy of Headshot/Resume even if we have seen you for previous auditions.

Please come ready to dance, in comfortable clothing, and jazz, tennis, or character shoes. You will be taught a short jazz-style combination and then you will be asked to perform the combo in small groups.

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS

NOTE about Child Actors (Actors under the Age of 16).

The character descriptions below refer to the age of the characters. The only roles available to actors under the age of 16 are Ngana and Jerome, Emile’s half-Polynesian daughter and son. Rather than coming to these open calls, all parties interested in these roles may contact Paramount Casting at casting@paramountarts.com for consideration.

A NOTE from Casting:

Most characters we encounter currently are on the binary and are written with he/him or she/her pronouns. However limiting the descriptions are, our casting seeks to be inclusive as possible and we invite gender non-conforming, genderqueer, transgender, and non-binary actors to submit for the roles they most identify with.

We will also list race/ethnicity when specific to the character but are otherwise seeking all races and ethnicities.

Please let us know if you have any questions, concerns, or if there are any accommodations we can provide.

Back to Top

South Pacific

South Pacific

Paramount Theatre- Broadway Series

PERSONNEL
  • Trent Stork (they/them) – Co-Director of SOUTH PACIFIC, Artistic Producer & Casting Director for Paramount Theatre
  • Devon Hayakawa (Any Pronouns) – Co-Director of SOUTH PACIFIC
  • Morgan DiFonzo (she/her) – Choreographer of SOUTH PACIFIC
  • Kory Danielson (he/him) – Music Director of SOUTH PACIFIC
  • Elena Gerk (she/her) – Artistic & Casting Associate for Paramount Theatre
PRODUCTION DATES
  • First Rehearsal: March 30, 2026
  • Tech Begins: April 21, 2026
  • First Public Performance: April 29, 2026
  • Opening Night: May 8, 2026
  • Closing Night: June 14, 2026
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS

ENSIGN NELLIE FORBUSH

Female, White, 20s

A nurse from Arkansas. Beloved by her fellow nurses and the Seabees, she is independent, optimistic and virtuous. When Nellie realizes that her ingrained racial prejudices stand in the way of her relationship with Emile, she conquers her biases, embracing a new life of compassion and empathy.

EMILE DE BECQUE

Male, White, 38

An expatriate French plantation owner, who has lived on the island in exile for 16 years. Emile has two children, Jerome and Ngana, by his late Polynesian wife. Despite his past – he fled France after killing a man – Emile is an honorable man of great bravery.

BLOODY MARY

Female, Tonkinese, 40s-50s

A beloved – and blunt – entrepreneurial Tonkinese woman, Bloody Mary is clever and resourceful. She runs her own business, selling souvenirs to the navy men for high prices while paying her native craftspeople generously. Above all, Bloody Mary wants the best possible life for her daughter, Liat.

LIAT

Female, Tonkinese, 20s

Bloody Mary’s young and pure-hearted Tonkinese daughter. Liat speaks French, but is determined to transcend the barriers of language in order to learn more about the handsome newcomer, American Lt. Joe Cable.

LT. JOSEPH CABLE

Male, White, 20s

Proud member of the United States Marine Corps, Ivy League-educated, lieutenant from outside Philadelphia, Cable has come from a little island south of Marie Louise seeking Emile de Becque. He is charged with the order to execute a mission to spy on Japanese encroachment from inside their territory. Formal and reserved at first, he falls in love with Liat and must resolve his inner conflict concerning race.

LUTHER BILLIS

Male, 30s-40s

A crafty Seabee who desperately wants to visit the off-limits island of Bali Ha’i, Billis often gets himself into trouble. He is an entrepreneurial, gregarious sailor who operates a secret laundering side-business. When a risky opportunity to help his country arises, Billis takes the dive.

CAPT. GEORGE BRACKETT

Male, 50s

The highest-ranking commanding officer for the US Navy camp on the island.

CMDR. WILLIAM HARBISON, UNITED STATES NAVY

Male, 30s-50s

Second in command on the island, he is Capt. Brackett’s right-hand man.

NGANA

Female, half-Polynesian, 8-12 years old

Emile’s young, half-Polynesian daughter

JEROME

Male, half-Polynesian, 8-12 years old

Emile’s young, half-Polynesian son

HENRY

Male, Pacific Islander, 50s-60s

A native of the island, he works as Emile’s house butler.

ADULT ENSEMBLE

Early 20’s to Mid 40’s.

Will play Residents of Bali Ha’i, Seabees, Sailors, Marines, Soldiers, and Nurses that occupy the Islands visited in South Pacific.

NOTE ON VOICE TYPES: Strong Part Singers, Well Versed in Style

INTIMACY NOTES

Set in 1943, this show gives a glimpse into the life of the U.S Navy and U.S. Marines stationed on an Island in the South Pacific during WWII. While no war scenes are shown, there are moments when military action is heavily discussed.

The Paramount Theatre acknowledges the presence of charged racism, and the extreme stereotypes presented towards the Pacific Islander characters in this musical, specifically that of Bloody Mary. This production will work with the actors in these roles to uphold an honorable representation of these characters to respect the varied cultures present in this musical. Paramount Theatre dedicates our institution to uncovering, unraveling and unwinding racism’s effect upon the communities we serve. We call upon our every peer and patron to do the same.

There are several physically intimate moments between Nellie and Emile throughout the show that will require them to share multiple kisses.  There is an intimated night of passion between Cable and Liat in Act I that will require them to partially disrobe and share a series of kisses.  Cable and Liat embrace and kiss again in Act II.

Back to Top