AUDITION INFORMATION - OPEN CALL
A Christmas Carol
Written by Charles Dickens
Adapted and directed by Dustin Trabert & Caitlin Sussman
Audition dates:
Friday, September 9th,6:30–9:30pm Saturday, September 10th,10:30am–1:30pmpm
Callbacks are September 17, 10:30am–1:30pm
Sides are available for your use if you wish before your audition,
please email [email protected] and put A Christmas Carol in the subject line.
Best wishes and thank you very much for auditioning ~Dustin Trabert & Caitlin Sussman
Valley Center Stage’s beloved annual tradition returns with a new production of A Christmas Carol. Ebenezer Scrooge is a businessman whose lonely Christmas is invaded by a series of encounters that force him to examine his life. Join us for our celebration of Charles Dickens’ timely and timeless tale about choices and connections, character and community, and ghosts.
CHARACTERS. NO ROLES ARE PRECAST
Character breakdown / Project needs
Jacob Marley: Scrooge’s old business partner, now deceased.
Ghost of Christmas Past: A strange ghost.
Ghost of Christmas Present: A boisterous ghost.
Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: A silent ghost.
Headmaster: Practical and forward-thinking.
Fan: Scrooge’s loving sibling.
Fezziwig: Cheerful and kind; an enthusiastic (if not graceful) dancer.
Mrs. Fezziwig: Cheerful and kind; an enthusiastic (if not graceful) dancer.
Dick Wilkins: A dreamer.
Belle: Scrooge’s former lover.
Belle’s Husband: Belle’s present husband.
Bob Cratchit: Scrooge’s only employee.
Mrs. Cratchit: Bob’s spouse.
Tiny Tim: The youngest Cratchit child, weakened by illness.
Peter: The second-oldest Cratchit child, almost old enough to work.
Martha: The oldest Cratchit child, employed and living out of the home.
Belinda: The second-youngest Cratchit child, caretaker of the youngest sibling.
Freddy: Scrooge’s only living relative. Recently married; loves celebrating.
Freddy’s Spouse: Likes party games.
Topper: A party guest.
2 Charity Collectors: A pair of philanthropic workers.
Passerby Child: A moppet.
Poulterer: Sells turkeys, geese, etc.
Caroline: Owes Scrooge money.
Caroline’s Spouse: Owes Scrooge money.
3 Businessmen: Colleagues of Scrooge at the Exchange.
Old Joe: A dealer in used goods.
Mrs. Dilber: Scrooge’s housekeeper.
Charwoman: A traveling cleaner.
Undertaker: A burial professional.
Various Carolers, Party Guests, and Laborers: They sing, they party, they work
Additional information
Preferred method of submission: Email
Audition/Interview dates: September 9th, 5:30–9:30pm; September 10th, 10:30am–1:30pm; Callbacks September 17, 10:30am–1:30pm
Pay type: None
Audition location: North Bend WA
Submission instructions: Email to schedule a time slot. Please include a headshot/ resume in the email if you have them.
Union Requirements: None
Website specific to project:
Equity Contract: None
Casting
While our play is set in mid-nineteenth century London, we do not feel beholden to Dickens’s descriptions of his characters’ genders, races, ages, or sexual orientations. We are excited to reflect our community in our casting, and we will cast our telling of his story with an active intention to portray a diverse and inclusive population that reflects that. All roles (except Scrooge, which has been cast) are open to any who feel a connection to them. Some roles may be doubled.
Location of Audition
All auditions are at Valley Center Stage’s home space at the Sallal Grange, 1060 Stilson Ave SE, North Bend, WA 98045. The building is on the southern corner of the intersection of SE North Bend Way and SE Mt Si Road.
Audition requirements
Email us at [email protected] to schedule an audition. Please come prepared with two distinct approaches to either (A) reading from one of the sides provided, or (B) a memorized monologue of your choice. By “approach,” we mean a set of choices about character and/or circumstance—in other words, be ready to do the piece two different ways. There are no “bad” choices in this—have fun with it! We’ll also have a brief conversation about your interest in the material and what you’re hoping to get out of the show.
Sides will be emailed to you when we confirm your audition time, and will be provided onsite on the day of auditions.
Callbacks will involve reading a variety of sides from the play. We will let you know which sides we’d like you to work with in advance.
If you have any questions or concerns about participating in this audition process, please email; this process only works for us if it works for you, and we will make what accommodations we can.
Rehearsals will be in person and everyone must be vaccinated in order to audition or participate in this show. Please be prepared to show documentation in order to audition. For more health and safety information, please see our full policy on our website https://valleycenterstage.org/health-safety/.
REHEARSAL SCHEDULE
Rehearsals begin on Sunday, October 9. Weekday rehearsals will be in the evening between the hours of 6:30 and 9:30pm, and weekend rehearsals will be from 11am to 2pm or from 6pm to 9pm. We will be scheduling rehearsals no more than 5 days in a row until tech week, the week leading up to our opening on December 2nd. Valley Center Stage is a volunteer organization; as such, all positions, cast and crew, are volunteer positions. We will strive to be respectful of your time and energy in every way possible.
PERFORMANCES - EVENING SHOWS AT 7:30PM, MATINEE SHOWS AT 2PM
Friday, 12/2 – opening night, evening show
Saturday, 12/3 – matinee
Sunday, 12/4 – matinee
Thursday, 12/8 – evening showFriday, 12/9 – evening show
Saturday, 12/10 – matinee AND evening shows
Sunday, 12/11 – matinee
Wednesday, 12/14 – POTENTIAL evening show, depending on cast/crew availability/interest
Thursday, 12/15 – evening show
Friday, 12/16 – evening show
Saturday, 12/17 – matinee AND evening shows
Sunday, 12/18 – closing matinee