Audition Info

CASTING CALL: NEWSIES

NOTE: No child actors should attend the EPA/ECC on February 19 and 21, 2019.  Any interested parties should contact Trent Stork, Casting Director for Paramount Theatre, at casting@paramountarts.com.

PRODUCTION DATES:

• First Rehearsal: August 5, 2019
• First Public Performance: September 4, 2019
• Closing Performance: October 20, 2019

PRODUCTION TEAM:

• Jim Corti: Director
• William Carlos Angulo: Choreographer
• Tom Vendafreddo: Music Director
• Trent Stork: Associate Director and Casting Director

SEEKING:

Seeking strong actors, singers, and dancers of all genders, ethnicities, ages and types.

EQUITY PRINCIPAL AUDITIONS

(EMC and Non-Equity actors are welcome and encouraged to attend)

• When: Tuesday, February 19, 2019
  • 10:00am-6:00pm
  • Lunch 1:30-2:30pm
• Where: Chicago Actors’ Equity Office, 557 W. Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60661

PREPARATION:

• Please bring ONE copy of Headshot/Resume
• Please prepare a one minute cut of a song in the style of the show that shows off your range. Please bring your book, as you may be asked to sing other selections from it.

Equity Chorus Call

(EMC and Non-Equity actors are welcome and encouraged to attend)

• When: Thursday, February 21, 2019,
  • Male Identified Dancers 10:00am-2:00pm
  • Lunch 2:00-3:00pm
  • Female Identified Dancers 3:00-6:00pm
• Where: Chicago Actors’ Equity Office, 557 W. Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60661

PREPARATION:

• Please bring ONE copy of Headshot/Resume
• Be warmed up and prepared to dance in appropriate attire and bring jazz or ballet shoes. You may be asked to sing. Please prepare a one-minute cut of a song in the style of the show that shows off your range. Please bring your book.

Character Breakdown

JACK KELLY

• Male Identified, 20s to play 18
• Pop Tenor with strong voice up to A4
• Any ethnicity but especially looking for male identified performers of color.
• The charismatic leader of the Manhattan newsies.  An orphaned dreamer and artist who yearns to get out of the crowded streets of New York and make a better life for himself in Santa Fe. Fiercely protective of his best friend, Crutchie, and strongly loyal, Jack isn’t afraid to fight to attain better conditions for the working kids of New York City. Though living on the streets has given him a tough-guy exterior, Jack has a big heart and can demonstrate a sweet vulnerability – especially when it comes to bantering with a certain female reporter. Must have a great pop tenor voice and sense of physicality.

CRUTCHIE

• Male Identified, 20s to play 13-17
• Tenor with strong voice up to A4
• Any ethnicity but especially looking for male identified performers of color.
• A dedicated newsie with a bum leg, which he uses to his advantage to sell papes. Though he walks with the assistance of a crutch, Crutchie relies on a goofy- sweet sense of humor and optimistic resilience to get ahead. He is the heart of the resistance.

DAVEY

• Male Identified, 20s to play 15-18
• Tenor, with strong voice up to A4
• Any ethnicity but especially looking for male identified performers of color.
• Les’s straight-laced, bright, big brother who starts selling newspapers to help his family earn a living but becomes swept up in the fervor of the strike. A leader in his own right who is learning to use his voice to uplift others. He is the brains of the resistance.

LES

• Male Identified, 10 years old
• Strong Singer
• Any ethnicity but especially looking for male identified performers of color.
• Davey’s cheeky younger brother who is inspired by the freedom of the newsies and loves their independent lifestyle. A precocious and natural newsie, Les is an intuitive sales boy and a pint-sized charmer. This role will be double cast.

KATHERINE PLUMBER

• Female Identified, 20s to play 16-18
• Strong contemporary pop voice with belt up to F5
• Any ethnicity.
• An ambitious young reporter who works hard to make a name for herself as a legitimate journalist in a time when women are not taken seriously. Quick, funny, and resourceful, she boldly captures the voice of a new generation rising in her coverage of the newsies’ strike. While she generally has no time for cocky, streetwise young men, she makes an exception for Jack Kelly.

MEDDA LARKIN

• Female Identified, 30s-40s
• Big Voiced mezzo with a strong belt up to E5
• African American
• Inspired by vaudeville performer Aida Overton Walker, this big-voiced saloon singer and star of the Bowery.  She offers her theater as a safe haven for the newsies. An astute entertainer with great comic delivery, she’s a good friend to Jack and stands firmly behind the newsies in their fight for justice.

JOSEPH PULUTZER

• Male Identified, 50s
• Baritone, up to F4
• Caucasian
• A pompous businessman through and through, owns the World and is concerned solely with the bottom line. Katherine’s no-nonsense father, Pulitzer doesn’t sympathize with the strikers, but he does eventually – and grudgingly – respect Jack.

OSCAR AND MORRIS DELANCEY

• Male Identified, 20s.
• Any ethnicity.
• Tough brothers with strong body types, who work at the distribution window for the World, take the side of the publishers in the strike, and are known to use their fists to make a point.

MALE IDENTIFIED ADULT CHARACTER ENSEMBLE

• Male Identified, 30s-40s
• An ensemble of strong actor/singers who play a variety of character roles. Especially looking for taller and larger body types. Characters include:
• Wiesel- Or “Weasel,” runs the distribution window for the World and knows most of the newsies by name. Assisted by the intimidating Delancey brothers, who keep order by any means necessary, Wiesel is Pulitzer’s disgruntled paper pusher.
• Seitz, Bunsen, and Nunzio- Pulitzer’s editor, bookkeeper, and barber.
• Snyder- The crooked and sinister warden of The Refuge, a filthy and horrible orphanage.  He is concerned only with catching enough kids to keep his government checks coming.
• Mr. Jacobi- Deli store owner and friend to the newsies.
• Governor Teddy Roosevelt- A well-respected lifelong public servant, inspires Jack to stand up to Pulitzer.
• Guards, policeman, goons, customers, a photographer, and stage manager etc.

MALE IDENTIFIED DANCING ENSEMBLE

• Male identified, 20s-30s to play teenagers
• Strong singers and dancers (mostly pop tenors)
• Any ethnicity but especially looking for male identified performers of color.
• The newsies- the hard-working kids of New York City that go on strike for a livable wage.  Athletic dancers with huge voices. Tough as nails.

FEMALE IDENTIFIED ENSEMBLE

• Female Identified, 20s-30s
• Strong singers and movers
• Two female ensemble members to play nuns, customers, bowery beauties.   One ensemble member will also play Hannah- Pulitzer’s practical and insightful secretary.  These tracks will cover Katherine Plumber and Medda Larkin.

CASTING CALL: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

NOTE: No child actors should attend the EPA/ECC on February 26 and 28. Any interested parties should contact Trent Stork, Casting Director for Paramount Theatre, at casting@paramountarts.com.

PRODUCTION DATES:

• First Rehearsal: October 14, 2019
• First Public Performance: November 13, 2019
• Closing Performance: January 19, 2019

PRODUCTION TEAM:

• Amber Mak: Director
• Megan E. Farley: Choreographer
• Kory Danielson: Music Director
• Trent Stork: Casting Director

SEEKING:

Seeking strong actors/singers of all genders, ethnicities, ages and types.

Equity Principal Auditions

(EMC and Non-Equity actors are welcome and encouraged to attend)

• When: Tuesday, February 26, 2019
  • 10:00am-6:00pm
  • Lunch 1:30-2:30pm
• Where: Chicago Actors’ Equity Office, 557 W. Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60661

PREPARATION:

• Please bring ONE copy of Headshot/Resume
• Please prepare a one-minute cut of a song in the style of the show that showcases your voice. Please bring your book, as you may be asked to sing additional selections.

Equity Chorus Call

(EMC and Non-Equity actors are welcome and encouraged to attend)

• When: Thursday, February 28, 2019
  • 10am-6pm
  • 1:30-2:30pm
• Where: Chicago Actors’ Equity Office, 557 W. Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60661

PREPARATION:

• Please bring ONE copy of Headshot/Resume
• Be warmed up and prepared to dance in appropriate attire and bring jazz or ballet shoes. Female Identified performers: please also bring character shoes if you have them.  You may be asked to sing. Please prepare a one-minute cut of a song in the style of the show that showcases your voice. Please bring your book.

Character Breakdown

BELLE

• Female Identified, 20s
• A vibrant, intelligent girl who is often judged more for how she looks than the woman who lives inside the beautiful face.  She wants to live and experience life beyond the small village where she lives and always feels as if she is an outcast. She is strong willed. Courageous, loyal, and intelligent.  Movement and dance required. Range: E3 – F5

BEAST

• Male Identified, 20s-early 30s
• A Prince transformed into a terrifying beast for his lack of compassion and empathy.  He is hot-tempered and commanding, but has a warm, loving heart buried far beneath his gruff exterior.  Very physical role, as well as comedic timing. Range: A2 – F4

GASTON

• Male Identified, 20-early 30s
• The egotistical, ultra-masculine villain determined to marry Belle. He is charismatic and vain. Manipulative yet not necessarily smart.  Male. Range: A2 – E4

MAURICE

• Male Identified, 40s-50s
• Belle’s loving, eccentric father who loves his daughter immensely and wants to protect her.  Range: Bb2 – Db4

COGSWORTH

• Male Identified, Any Age
• A tightly-wound, enchanted mantle clock and the head of the Beast’s household. He is uptight, strict, and punctual but also hard-working, faithful, and thorough.  Male. Range: A2 – E4

MRS. POTTS

• Female Identified, 30s-40s
• A warm-hearted, maternal enchanted teapot. She is loyal, caring, and playful.  Female. Range: F#3 – G5

LUMIERE

• Male Identified, Any Age
• A suave, debonair, enchanted candelabra. He is a loyal and steadfast servant. Movement a plus and great comedic timing. Male. Range: F#2 – F#4 C

CHIP

• Male or Female Identified, 7-10 years old
• An enchanted teacup and Mrs. Potts’ darling little child. They are innocent, playful, and bright-eyed. Male/Female Range: A3 – F5

BABETTE

• Female Identified, 20s-early 30s
• A saucy, enchanted feather-duster, and the object of Lumiere’s affections. She is a strong willed, flirtatious feather duster. Female. Range: C4 – F5

MADAMA DE LA GRANDE BOUCHE

• Female Identified, 40s-50s
• A former opera diva-turned-enchanted wardrobe. She has a caring, refined, larger than life personality. Female. Range: C#4 – D5

LE FOU

• Male Identified, 20s-30s
• Gaston’s bumbling sidekick. He is Gaston’s loyal friend with more compassion. Must have comedic physicality in movement. Male. Range: B2 – F#4

MONSIEUR D’ARQUE

• Male Identified
• The scheming proprietor of the local insane asylum. He is a dark, sinister villain who aides Gaston in his plot to marry Belle.

ENSEMBLE

• Male and Female Identified, All Ages
• Villagers, Enchanted Objects of Castle, must be able to dance and move well.