Thank you for your interest in performing at CenterStage Theatre at the JCC!
Most roles are paid a stipend which varies by production. We do not provide housing.
Seeking Youth and High School/College Students for our summer production of
The Secret Garden
Auditions
Wednesday, May 14
6:30pm – Performers 11–14 years old for the roles of Colin and Mary
Thursday, May 15
6:30pm – Performers in high school and college for all other tracks
Callbacks will be Sunday, May 18
JCC SummerStage is an audition-based program. This is not a camp. There are no fees to participate. Performers are not paid.
Rehearsals begin May 27 and will be evenings and weekends. Performances July 12–20. Please bring a list of all conflicts to the audition. Resumes and headshots helpful, but not required.
Please bring a 32-bar cut of a musical theatre song in the style of the show. Provide clearly marked sheet music in the correct key. Please have an alternate cut available. Dance audition will be at callbacks only. Video auditions accepted for participants with conflicts. Upload your file to Youtube or another hosting site and email the link to [email protected] Video auditions must be received prior to the start of the open call auditions.
JCC SummerStage is made possible in part by the Frumel Ureles Fund for Theater Arts.
Character Breakdown
NOTES:
SEEKING: Actors of all genders, cultures and skin tones. Many actors may cover chorus and small principal roles.
Specifically seeking an actor who can sing in Hindi to play Fakir & an Indian actress to play Mary’s “Ayah” (Both actors will also be double in other roles)
All other speaking characters, experience with a British accent is a plus, but not required. (Yorkshire Dialects will be taught to Martha & Dickon).
Mary & Colin (seeking actors 10–14) All other roles will be filled by college & high school performers.
Ages below are character ages.
CHORUS – All genders & Vocal Ranges. They support the production vocally and physically, sometimes as supporting characters, other times as Manor staff, and other times to build the world of the play through staging and movement. (Specifically Seeking Singers: 4-8 Male & female voices and 6 Singer/ Dancer/ Movers)
MARY LENNOX – 10-12 (Range: Young Voice, Ab3-D5) A ten-year-old girl sent to live with her uncle, Archibald, when her parents die from cholera in India. Quite the curious explorer and often finding herself in trouble. Stubborn and always fighting for what she believes in. British accent required.
ARCHIBALD CRAVEN – 30-45 (Range: Baritone, C3-A4) Mary’s uncle and lord of Misselthwaite Manor. Haunted by the past and afraid of the future, he locks himself away both physically and mentally. Mary painfully reminds him too much of his wife, Lily, who died ten years ago.
LILY – 28-38 (Range: Soprano, Bb3-D6) Mary’s aunt and Archibald Craven’s wife. Died of a tragic accident in her garden and haunts Misselthwaite Manor. A passionate woman who followed her own instincts, she reaches from beyond the grave to ensure the happiness of those she cares for.
DR. NEVILLE CRAVEN – 35-45 (Range: Baritone, C3-F#4) Archibald’s younger brother. Trapped by the idea that he is responsible for the caretaking of his brother and young Colin. Even though his one-sided infatuation with Lily, continues after her death. Because of this he clings to Misselthwaite Manor.
MARTHA – 18-25 (Range: Mezzo-Soprano Belt, G3-D5) A young and spunky housemaid. Grew up near
Yorkshire and has the accent to prove it. Although she is from a lower-class family, her wisdom is often far beyond her age.
DICKON -14-22 (Range: Tenor, D3-G4) Martha’s younger brother. Looks after the plants and animals within the Misselthwaite grounds. He is a young man who is between the world of child imagination and adult reasoning. Open, honest, and energetic. He befriends Mary and convinces her to take care of the Garden.
COLIN CRAVEN – 10- 12 (Range: Young Voice, A3-E5) Archibald’s ten-year-old son. He’s spent his life in bed due to a heart condition. He is very stubborn and throws temper tantrums to get what he wants. He believes his father hates him for causing Lily’s death. Strong Falsetto appreciated.
MRS. MEDLOCK – (Range: Flexible) Archibald’s housekeeper. As cold as Misselthwaite Manor.
MRS. WINTHROP – (Range: Flexible) Headmistress of a private school. Prides herself on nurturing girls with tempers. Mary seems to be more than she can handle.
BEN WEATHERSTAFF – (Range: E3-D#4) Head gardener. Secretly entrusted to take care of the garden after Lily’s death. Knows a great deal about the history of the garden and the grounds it sits on. He has worked for the family for many years. He calls himself “an old man.”
DREAMERS:
ROSE LENNOX – 28-38 (Range: Soprano, A3-D6) Mary’s mother. She doesn’t understand how her sister Lily could truly love Archibald. She struggles with depression and showing affection to Mary after her sister, Lily, dies. She dies during a cholera outbreak in India at the beginning of the story and haunts Mary until she finds her new life in the course of the story.
CAPTAIN ALBERT LENNOX – (Range: Tenor, D3-A5) Mary’s father and British officer. Caring to a fault, he, too, dies during the cholera outbreak in India and haunts Mary until she finds her new life in the course of the story.
ALICE – Rose’s friend.
AYAH – Female Presenting, Mary’s nanny (Seeking an actress of Indian or South Asian decent for this track). In our version this role will be revised from the original production and will be woven into the flashback portions of the story
FAKIR – (Range: Tenor, C3-B4) Sings in Hindi.
LIEUTENANT WRIGHT – (Range: Flexible) Officer in Mary’s father’s unit.
LIEUTENANT SHAW –Fellow officer.
MAJOR HOLMES – Fellow officer.
MAJOR SHELLEY –Age Flexible Officer.
MRS. SHELLEY –Major Shelley’s wife.
CLAIRE HOLMES –Major Holmes’ wife.