AUDITIONS

The Music Man

Please read all information carefully:

Auditions for The Music Man will be held, BY VIDEO SUBMISSION ONLY. Videos must be received no later than 11:59pm on Monday, June 5th to be considered for callbacks. Specific details about video submission are below.

The Music Man will be directed and choreographed by Jennifer Hill Barlow, assisted by Amelia Rose Moore, with music direction by Justin Bills.

In-person callbacks, by invitation only, are scheduled for June 17, 2023. Details will be included if invited to callbacks.

Rehearsals will begin on or around July 31, 2023.

This page will be updated when callback invitations and casting have been sent.

A NOTE ABOUT CASTING:
At Hale Center Theater Orem we seek to honor the intentions of the works we produce. If nothing specific is given by the original playwright regarding the characteristics of any given role, and/or if those characteristics do not affect the intended story in any significant way, we will not consider any certain person or type over others when casting.

We invite anyone and everyone to audition for any and all of our productions, regardless of any physical attribute, gender, race, age, ability, ethnicity, or experience. All are welcome at HCTO.

Video Audition Details:

Please film yourself performing 16-32 bars, preferably from a Golden Age musical. For everyone except Marian and the School Board, we are looking specifically for bold character choices but not caricature.

School Board members must possess a fundamental understanding of harmonic structure and an advanced ability to switch from straight tone to vibrato speed so as to match the other singers. Actors cast in the roles of the School Board will be required to often rehearse extra time with the quartet to form an ensemble that sounds like they’ve been singing together for a long time.

In addition to your vocal selection, please also include a recording of the dance combination found below. Actors who are ONLY interested in Mayor Shinn, Mrs. Paroo, Eulalie Shinn, Constable Locke, Charlie Cowell, Winthrop, and Amaryllis do not need to submit an initial dance video. All other actors must submit an initial dance audition via video.

Dance Combination w/ Music

Dance Combination w/ Counts

YouTube links and non-secured Google Drive links are the easiest. Many people will be watching your audition video and open links make it the most simple for everyone to access.

Along with completing the AUDITION FORM, please send your audition videos along with a headshot and resume to auditions@haletheater.org no later than June 5, 2023 at 11:59pm to be considered for callbacks. **Please note that this is a different email address than previous submissions.**

The audition form is available here.

Character Descriptions

All roles are available. We are looking for a diverse cast with a variety of body types.

HAROLD HILL (Male, 30s-40s presenting, any ethnicity)

A dynamic and attractive leading man, with energy and charisma to burn. A compelling conman, posing as a traveling salesman, who uses his great warmth and personality to put one over on the folks of River City. Bold, confident, and a resolute bachelor until he meets his match in the town librarian. Seeking a skilled and dynamic actor with great depth and personal appeal. Must move and sing well.

MARIAN PAROO (Female, 30s presenting, any ethnicity)

A dynamic and appealing leading lady, with great depth and vulnerability. River City’s guarded and resolute town librarian and music teacher. Artistic, deeply intelligent, and strong-willed, she possesses a hidden warmth, vulnerability, and sizable romantic streak just below the surface. Seeking an actor of great skill, with a warm and dynamic lyric soprano voice. Must move well.

MARCELLUS WASHBURN (Male, 30s-40s presenting, any ethnicity)

Comedic character man, with loads of energy and appeal. Former friend and conman/colleague of Harold’s who has settled in River City. Immensely affable and well-intentioned, he gets caught up in the scam when Harold enlists his help. Very strong comedic actor who sings and moves well.

MRS. PAROO (Female, 40s-50s presenting, any ethnicity)

Warm and funny character actress with Irish dialect. The warm-hearted, straight-talking, widowed mother of Marian and Winthrop. Fiercely loyal to her children, she is a good listener with a strong sense of humor and self. Character singer.

MAYOR GEORGE SHINN (Male, 50s+ presenting, any ethnicity)

Comedic character man, with stature and personality. River City’s bombastic and somewhat hapless Mayor. Full of self-importance and bluster, he is easily distracted as he frequently clashes with newcomer Harold Hill as well as the young man pursuing his daughter. Character singer.

EULALIE MACKECKNIE SHINN (Female, 40s-50s+ presenting, any ethnicity)

Comedic character actress with great comic chops and appeal. Mayor Shinn's wife and River City’s First Lady. Snobby, status-oriented busybody who conversely possesses an eccentric, artistic side. Travels with a pack of sycophantic gossips. Character singer.

CHARLIE COWELL (Male, 30s-40s presenting, any ethnicity)

A verbose, cocksure anvil salesman, hell-bent on exposing Harold Hill as a fraud. Character singer.

CONSTABLE LOCKE (Male, 40-60’s presenting, any ethnicity)

River City's chief law enforcement officer. He is a quiet, wise man who sees through Harold, yet doesn’t seem to take Harold’s antics too seriously. Character singer. Minimal dancing is required for this role.

TOMMY DJILAS (Male, 16-20 presenting, any ethnicity)

Attractive, appealing young actor with exceptional dance skills. The irresistible and misunderstood town “bad boy” who is secretly dating Zaneeta Shinn, the Mayor’s daughter. Top-tier dancer with strong technique. Must sing well.

ZANEETA SHINN (Female, 16-20 presenting, any ethnicity)

The Mayor’s teenage daughter, harboring a crush on Tommy Djilas. Funny, pretty, appealing, and charismatic. Great dancer and singer.

OLIN BRITT (Male, 25-45 presenting, any ethnicity)

Editor of the Gazette, member of the School Board, and member of the barbershop quartet formed by Harold. Strong bass. Must be comfortable with tight harmonies.

OLIVER HIX (Male, 25-45 presenting, any ethnicity)

Banker, member of the School Board, and member of the barbershop quartet formed by Harold. Married to Alma Hix. Strong baritone. Must be comfortable with tight harmonies.

EWART DUNLOP (Male, 30s-40s presenting, any ethnicity)

Owner of the General Store, member of the School Board, and member of the barbershop quartet formed by Harold. Married to Maude Dunlop. Strong tenor 2. Must be comfortable with tight harmonies.

JACEY SQUIRES (Male, 25-45 presenting, any ethnicity)

Owner of the livery stable, member of the School Board, and member of the barbershop quartet formed by Harold. Married to Mrs. Squires. Strong tenor 1. Must be comfortable with tight harmonies.

WINTHROP PAROO (Male, 10-12 presenting, any ethnicity)

Marian’s baby brother, shy and isolated due to his pronounced lisp. Quiet and lonely but warm, loving, and truly appealing. Strong singer.

ETHEL TOFFELMIER (Female, 25-40s presenting, any ethnicity)

A comical “Pick-a-little” lady and Marcellus Washburn's girlfriend. Strong singer.

ALMA HIX (Female, 25-45s presenting, any ethnicity)

A comical “Pick-a-little” lady married to Oliver Hix. Strong singer.

MAUD DUNLOP (Female, 25-45s presenting, any ethnicity)

A comical “Pick-a-little” lady married to Ewart Dunlop. Strong singer.

MRS. SQUIRES (Female, 25-45s presenting, any ethnicity)

A comical “Pick-a-little” lady married to Jacey Squires. Strong singer.

AMARYLLIS (Female, 10-12 presenting, any ethnicity)

A dreamer and a romantic. A piano student of Marian’s, with a schoolgirl crush on Winthrop. Awkward and charming. Must have a clear, simple soprano.