Thank you for your interest in performing at CenterStage Theatre at the JCC!
CenterStage features Rochester area performers for all productions at our local professional theatre program.
Please come with a list of all rehearsal availabilities and conflicts. Headshot and resume are optional but appreciated.
Video and/or private auditions available for those unable to attend the scheduled dates.
All roles are paid. Sorry, we do not provide housing, transportation, or per diems.
THE SOUND
A New Musical Inspired by True Events
Music & Lyrics by Christian Douglas
Book by Charlotte Cohn & Jason Odell Williams
Director: Charlotte Cohn
Associate Director/Choreographer: Esther Winter
Musical Director: Julie Covach
AUDITIONS: Monday, December 1 at 6pm
Jewish Community Center, 1200 Edgewood Ave, Rochester, NY 14618
Performers will have an exciting opportunity to be part of the creation of this new musical and work directly with the creative team and CenterStage artistic staff. This is a new musical and music is not published. Audition candidates please email centerstage@jccrochester.org for a link to sample materials.
Prepare 32 bars of 2 musical theatre songs that show your range and vocal skill. Accompanist provided. Bring sheet music in the correct key. Video submissions are accepted. Please send submission no later than December 1 at noon. Email link to a private recording to: centerstage@jccrochester.org
Callbacks will be December 8, 2025
Rehearsals begin March 2026
Performances: May 2–17, 2026
SEEKING 11 MUSICAL THEATRE PERFORMERS (6 female, 5 male)
NOTE: Except for Lila and Old Jacob, ALL PERFORMERS MUST be comfortable singing close 3 and 4-part harmony.
SYNOPSIS
Set in 1943 and today, this uplifting musical inspired by true events tells the story of an aging Holocaust survivor named Jacob, who tells a young American student about the harrowing days after the deportation of Danish Jews was ordered by the Nazis, but within 48 hours, the entire nation of Denmark came together to help seventy-five hundred of the roughly eight thousand Danish Jews escape to freedom and survive by hiding them in fishing boats sailing across the Sound. As Jacob tells his story, a magical entity only he can see and hear called “The Sound” helps him remember long forgotten details while playing some of the parts in his memories as they unfold before us. Using magical realism as a framework, the characters will find love, lose love, make narrow escapes, perform courageous acts of kindness, and uncover incredible family relationships – all to prove how, like the water connecting Denmark and Sweden, we are all connected in profound ways. And to show how this story – about nations helping nations, and neighbors helping neighbors – is everyone’s story.
PRESENT DAY CHARACTERS:
ROLE FOR BLACK OR OTHER PERSON OF COLOR FEMALE, 30s–60s
THE SOUND – Tour de force role. She represents the body of water between Denmark and Sweden. Also a voice inside Old Jacob’s head that only he can see and hear. All-knowing. All-loving. No nonsense. She is funny, good with accents and characters, and capable of being larger than life (because… you know… she’s a body of water and been around forever!), but she’s also warm and grounded as the “guiding entity” of this story. She’s pulling the strings to make sure this story gets told right now.
Also plays 1943 Characters: KATRINA – a kind, Christian Dane who lives next door; FRIDA BAMBERGER – a wealthy, Jewish Dane and Anne’s mother; and RESISTANCE LEADER – a young, Christian Dane, who loves their country!
Vocal range: Mezzo/Belter (Eb3-Eb5). Must be comfortable singing in pop, rock and gospel styles with powerhouse delivery. Sings lead vocal in “The Sound,” “The Resistance” and “I Am The Water.”
***
ROLE FOR MALE, 60s+ (to play 90s)
OLD JACOB – Male. Jewish. Danish. A lovable curmudgeon. Must have great comic timing – capable of dry, subtle delivery but also being big and emotional. Wants to forget the past but knows deep down he needs to tell his story before it’s lost forever.
Vocal range: Baritone. Must be comfortable in a jazz/crooner style. Sings lead in “One Magical Night.”
***
ROLE FOR FEMALE, 18–22
LILA – Female. American. Jewish but non-practicing. She’s studying abroad in Denmark for a semester and is assigned to speak to Old Jacob for one of her classes. She’s sweet, smart and sarcastic. Great comic timing. Charming and instantly likable.
Vocal range: Alto/Mezzo soprano (G3-B4). Must be comfortable in a singer/songwriter style. Sings lead in “Lila.”
***
1943 CHARACTERS
ROLE FOR MALE, 40s–50s
HERLUF COHN [HAIR-luff] – Male. Jewish. The eternal optimist. A fun-loving father, but maybe has blinders on when it comes to the war and not thinking Denmark could suffer the same fate as France or Poland.
Vocal Range: Baritone (G2-F4) Must be comfortable with jazz and gospel styles with a swung feel. Sings lead on “That Could Never Happen”, “Across the Sound” and “Do You Remember”
***
ROLE FOR FEMALE, 40s–50s
LOTTE COHN [LAUD-uh] – Female. Jewish. Herluf’s wife. The cautious worrier. Warm and loving, yet fiercely protective of her family. She wants to believe everything will be okay, but as the situation worsens, she quickly does what needs to be done to survive.
Vocal Range: Mezzo Soprano/Belter (F3-Eb5). Must have a strong chest belt in the contemporary musical theater style. Sings lead on “We Deserve Better” and “Into The Water.”
***
ROLE FOR MALE, late TEENS – late 20s
JACOB COHN [YAH-kub] – 17, male. Jewish. Their son. The impetuous risk-taker. Loves his family and girlfriend very much, but also wants to stay and fight for Denmark. Gets caught up trying to please everyone and do the right thing. He’s impulsive but has a big heart. We need to root for this kid!
Vocal Range: Tenor (Db3-A4). Must be comfortable in a contemporary musical theater style. Strong tenor with an easy top range. Sings lead on “Sweden and You”
***
ROLE FOR FEMALE, mid-TEENS – mid 20s
REBECKA COHN – 15, female. Jewish. Their daughter. The brash rebel. She can be cutting and sarcastic, but it’s done with love. She’s probably the smartest of the three Cohn children – and knows it – but she loves her family, especially her younger sister. She also loves reading Shakespeare and is instantly smitten by Lucas when they meet. Exudes charm and likability.
Vocal Range: Soprano/Belter (Ab-B5). Must be comfortable in a jazz/cabaret style with strong pop chops. Sings lead on “The Jewish Sidestep” and “Romeo and Juliet.”
***
ROLE FOR FEMALE, early-late TEENS
EMILIE COHN [uh-MEAL-yuh] – 12, female. Jewish. The youngest. The emotional tween. Innocent and kind, she just wants everything to go back the way it was before the war started. Full of emotion and heart.
While the character is age 12, we are expecting to cast an older teen due to the demands of the role. Ages 15 and under must submit a resume of theatre experience and a pre-screening video performance of a musical theatre song (32 bars) that shows your range and vocal skill prior to December 1.
Range: Mezzo/Belter (A3-E5). Must be comfortable in a jazz/cabaret style
***
ROLE FOR FEMALE, late TEENS – late 20s
ANNE BAMBERGER [ANN-uh] – 17. Daughter of Frida, a Jewish Dane. As Jacob’s girlfriend, Anne is the “heart” of the play and must exude warmth and optimism. She is the hopeful romantic – charming and maybe a bit quirky. Instantly likable and memorable.
Also plays: RESISTANCE MEMBER 2 and GERMAN SOLDIER 2
Vocal Range: Mezzo/Belter (A3-C5) Must be comfortable in a contemporary musical theater style (ie Jason Robert Brown) with a strong mix/belt. Sings lead on “Sweden And
You” plus various ensemble vocals parts throughout and must be a strong ensemble singer, comfortable singing harmonies.
***
ROLE FOR MALE, 40s – 60s
NOAH BAMBERGER – A wealthy, Jewish, Dane. Anne’s father, married to Frida (male, late 40s-60s). He’s big and gregarious… also a bit selfish.
Also plays: ULRIK – a hard-nosed, no-nonsense fisherman; PASTOR – a kind Christian Dane; and RESISTANCE MEMBER 1.
Vocal Range: Bari-tenor (C3-G4). Must be comfortable in pop and gospel styles. Sings lead on “Across the Sound” plus various ensemble parts throughout and must be a strong ensemble singer, comfortable singing harmonies.
***
ROLE FOR MALE, mid-TEENS – mid-20s
LUCAS – male, 16. The fisherman’s son. A Christian Dane. Handsome and bookish. Charming and winning without being cocky, he’s instantly smitten by Rebecka.
Also plays: DANISH NEIGHBOR, GERMAN SOLDIER 1 and RESISTENCE MEMBER 3
Vocal Range: Tenor (C3-G4). Must be a strong tenor, comfortable in the pop/contemporary musical theater style. Sings lead on “Romeo And Juliet” plus various ensemble vocals parts throughout and must be a strong ensemble singer, comfortable singing harmonies.