Audition Info

“ELF” CASTING CALL

SEEKING

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

PRODUCTION DATES

First Rehearsal: Monday, October 23, 2017
First Public Performance: Wednesday, November 22, 2017
Closing Performance: Sunday, January 7, 2018

PRINCIPAL AUDITIONS

What: Equity Principal Auditions (EMC & Non-Equity actors are welcome and encouraged to attend)
When: Monday, May 1, 2017
10:00am-6:00pm
Lunch from 1:30-2:30
Where: Chicago Actors’ Equity Office
557 W. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60661

PREPARATION

Please bring ONE copy of Headshot/Resume.
Please prepare a 1-minute selection from “ELF” or in the style of the show.

CHORUS AUDITIONS

What: Equity Chorus Auditions (EMC & Non-Equity actors are welcome and encouraged to attend)
When: Tuesday, May 2, 2017
Where: Chicago Actors’ Equity Office, 557 W. Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60661
10:00am-1:00pm Male Identified Performers
2:00-6:00pm Female Identified Performers

PREPARATION:

Please bring ONE copy of Headshot/Resume.
Please come warmed up and ready to dance and bring jazz or tennis shoes. You may be asked to sing. Please prepare two contrasting 1-minute selections from “ELF” or in the style of the show.

Child actors will be seen at a later time. For more details, email casting@paramountarts.com.

PRODUCTION TEAM

Trent Stork: Casting Director
Amber Mak: Director & Choreographer
Tom Vendafreddo: Music Director
Kaylee Oost: Company Manager

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN

BUDDY

Male Identified, 20s-30s. Must have a strong singing voice and a good falsetto. B2-Ab4 (falsetto up to C5)
Buddy is the perfect elf. He is happy all the time, good natured, always sees the positive side of everything. He has a childlike wonderment and excitement for life. A genuine, earnest soul. Great comedic timing. Dance and Tap a plus but not necessary. Comfortable on ice skates a bonus.

JOVIE

Female Identified, 20s-30s. Must have a very strong singing voice with a solid belt. G3-D5.
A sales woman at Macy’s Department store. Completely disillusioned with Christmas. Perhaps she loved it at once, but now it is lonely and her faith in the magic of the season is long gone. She has had many disappointments in life which has made her a bit bitter and feel hopeless. She has a dry wit. Buddy’s love interest. Dancing a plus but not required. Comfort on ice skates a bonus.

WALTER HOBBS

Male Identified, 40s. Must have a good singing voice. Bb2-G4.
Buddy’s real father. Top executive that has clearly lost touch with his family and the Christmas season. Consumed with pressure from work, he is harsh and brash but wasn’t always this way. Strong character actor, father type, dry sense of humor. However, by the end of the show he has re-connected with his family.

EMILY HOBBS

Female Identified, 40s. Must have a warm, strong singing voice with a strong belt. F3-C5.
Devoted wife to Walter and mother to Michael. She is strong willed and able to stand up to Walter. She has a natural warmth about her and sees more positive than negative in the world.

MICHAEL HOBBS

Male Identified, 11-13 years old. Very strong singing voice – most likely unchanged. F3-E5.
Son of Walter and Emily. Adolescent boy. Doesn’t believe in Santa anymore. Excited by the prospect of having a brother. Buddy and he become fast friends.

SANTA CLAUS

Male Identified, 40s-60s. Must have a good singing voice. Bb2-F4.
A good storyteller and jolly man who has become frustrated with the lack of holiday spirit in the world. He is starting to lose hope in people and their belief in Christmas and his tune isn’t as jolly as it once was. A natural kindness and good natured quality about him. Character Man.

DEB

Female Identified, 30s-40s. Must be a very strong character singer with an excellent belt. D4-C5.
Walter’s secretary who tries to keep a balance at the office and keep her boss happy. She has a positive, pleasant, and kind demeanor. Movement a plus.

MALE & FEMALE ENSEMBLE

Strong singers and dancers of all ages and ethnicities. Many character men and women needed. Ice skating experience a plus.

For questions of email submissions, please contact:
Trent Stork, Broadway Series Casting Director, casting@paramountarts.com

“ONCE” CASTING CALL

PRODUCTION DATES

First Rehearsal: Monday, March 26, 2018
First Public Performance: Wednesday, April 25, 2018
Closing Performance: Sunday, June 3, 2018

AUDITIONS

What: Equity Principal Auditions (EMC and Non-Equity actors are welcome and encouraged to attend)
When: Monday, May 15^th 2017
Where: Chicago Actors’ Equity Office, 557 W. Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60661
10:00am-6:00pm
Lunch from 1:30-2:30

SEEKING

Seeking strong actor/musicians of all genders, ethnicities, ages and types.

Child actors for the role of Ivanka will be seen at a later time. For more details, email casting@paramountarts.com.

PREPARATION

Please bring ONE copy of your headshot/resume.
Actors may either 1) sing a self-accompanied song on their instrument of choice or 2) sing a short song and demonstrate proficiency on an instrument. (An accompanist will be provided for those choosing the second option.)

PRODUCTION TEAM

Trent Stork- Casting Director
Jim Corti- Director
Tom Vendafreddo- Music Director
William Carlos Angulo- Choreographer
Kaylee Oost- Company Manager

NOTE: All actors in the cast of ONCE will play at least one instrument. However, unlike most productions of this musical, the instrumentation in Paramount’s production will be less specific to the character. For example, Andrej usually plays the double bass and Svec usually plays drums. This may be reversed in this production, depending on the actors. This does not apply to Girl (who must play piano) and Guy (who must be an excellent guitar player).

Instruments needed in ONCE: Piano, guitar, violin, cello, double bass, mandolin, ukulele, and accordion.

Girl

Female Identified (20s-30s)
Czech. Must play piano and sing extremely well. She and Guy have the same soul.

Guy

Male Identified (30s)
Irish singer and songwriter. Must sing and play guitar extremely well. He and Girl have the same soul.

Billy

Male Identified (20s-40s)
Half-Spanish. Owner of a small shop. A self-proclaimed martial arts expert. Must sing well.

Male Identified (50s-60s)
Irish. Guy’s father. Owns a vacuum repair shop.

Ex-Girlfriend

Female Identified (20s-30s)
Guy’s ex-girlfriend. Now lives in New York.

Andrej

Male Identified (20s-30s)
Czech. Girl’s flat mate. Manager of a fast food chain restaurant. Dreams to one day become the Area Manager.

Svec

Male Identified (20s-30s)
Czech. Girl’s flat mate. Loves the soap Fair City.

Reza

Female Identified (20s-30s)
Czech. Girl’s flat mate. Wears a lot of make-up. She’s looking for a “sensitive animal” Irish husband. Must sing well.

Baruska

Female Identified (40s-50s)
Girl’s mother. A formidable woman. Must sing well.

Bank Manager

Male Identified (30s-40s)
A prim man from County Cork. A guitar enthusiast. Must sing well.

Male or Female Identified (20s-40s)
Host of Open Mic Night at a bar. Must sing well.

Eamon

Male Identified (20s-40s)
Studio engineer. Happily married. Must sing well.

Ivanka

Female Identified (5-years-old)
Girl’s 5-year-old daughter. Should have the ability to sing. Piano or violin a plus.

On Stage Swings/Covers

Male and Female Identified (20s-60s)
Members of an on stage band that cover all principal roles.

NOTE: Child actors for the role of Ivanka will be seen at a later time. Those interested should contact Trent Stork, Casting Director for the Paramount Theatre, at: casting@paramountarts.com for more information.

For questions of email submissions, please contact:
Trent Stork, Broadway Series Casting Director, casting@paramountarts.com