Auditions for A CHRISTMAS CAROL by Charles Dickens August 7, 2010

Auditions for CARROLLWOOD PLAYERS Charles Dickens’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL

SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 2010, 11 a.m. – CHILDREN ONLY
SUNDAY, AUGUST 8, 2010, 7 p.m. – ADULTS ONLY
MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010, 7 p.m. – ADULTS ONLY

ALL AUDITIONS TAKE PLACE AT THE CARROLLWOOD PLAYERS
4335 Gunn Highway, Tampa, FL 33618-8729

PLEASE BRING A RESUME AND HEADSHOT IF AVAILABLE. IF NOT, BRING A LIST OF THEATRE EXPERIENCE AND A PHOTOGRAPH WILL BE TAKEN FOR YOU.

AUDITIONS WILL CONSIST OF READINGS FROM THE SCRIPT.

AUDITION SCENES MAY BE REQUESTED FOR PERUSAL ON OR AFTER JULY 31, 2010. EMAIL [email protected].

SOME SINGING WILL BE USED IN THIS PRODUCTION. IF YOU SING WELL, PLEASE PREPARE A SHORT CHRISTMAS CAROL OF YOUR CHOICE (NO ACCOMPANIMENT)

LIST OF CHARACTERS:

ALL AGES ARE APPROXIMATE. EXCEPTIONS CAN BE MADE IF YOU CAN BELIEVABLY PORTRAY YOUNGER OR OLDER.

THOUGH SOME CHARACTERS IN THIS PLAY HAVE SMALLER APPEARANCES, MANY OF THE CAST MEMBERS WILL PLAY MULTIPLE ROLES. THEREFORE, THERE ARE NO SMALL PARTS AND THIS IS TRULY AN ENSEMBLE PIECE. LARGE AND MEDIUM SIZED PARTS APPEAR IN BOLD.

1. THE NARRATOR: Male, 60-80 years old. A wise and gentle grandfatherly type, who is telling his grandchildren the story of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. The Narrator has a surprise for everyone at the end of the play.

2. GRANDSON/ROGER CRATCHIT/IGNORANCE: Male, 7-12 years old. These three parts will be performed by one young actor. The grandson is visiting his grandfather, the Narrator, on Christmas Eve. Roger Cratchit is a poor young boy who lives in London with his brother Tiny Tim and the rest of the Cratchit family. Ignorance is an impoverished boy spirit who appears with the Ghost of Christmas Present.

3. GRANDDAUGHTER 1/FAN/ELIZABETH: Female, 7-12 years old. These three parts will be played by one young actress. The granddaughter is visiting her grandfather, the Narrator, on Christmas Eve. Fan is Ebenezer Scrooge’s sister and appears with him when he is a young man in the schoolhouse. Elizabeth is the daughter of Belle and her husband Colin.

4. GRANDDAUGHTER 2/SARAH CRATCHIT/WANT: Female, 7-12 years old. These three parts will be played by one young actress. The granddaughter is visiting her grandfather, the Narrator, on Christmas Eve. Sarah Cratchit is a poor young girl who lives in London with her brother Tiny Tim and the rest of the Cratchit family. Want is an impoverished girl spirit who appears with the Ghost of Christmas Present.

5. EBENEZER SCROOGE: Male, 50-80 years old. Ebenezer Scrooge is the focal character of the play. He is a cold, miserly old man who once knew what it meant to love and live, but who is now a lonely, greedy, bitter old grouch. Deep inside, he is a good person who has allowed his pain to destroy him from within. Will he find redemption?

6. BOB CRATCHIT: Male, 40-50 years old. Scrooge's clerk, a kind, mild, and very poor man with a large family. Though treated harshly by his boss, Cratchit remains a humble and dedicated employee and is a passionate and loving father and husband.

7. FRED: Male, 25-40 years old. Scrooge's nephew, a genial man who loves Christmas. Fred is poorer than Scrooge, but rich compared to Bob Cratchit. He invites Scrooge to his Christmas party each and every year, only to be refused by his grumpy uncle.

8. MRS. OR MR. UPTON: Female or Male, 40-80 years old. A well-to-do citizen of London who has taken up the cause of the needy. A comical character but also an important one who helps the audience see just how greedy and unkind Scrooge can be.


9. MRS. OR MR. CHUMSWORTHY: Female or Male, 40-80 years old. A well-to-do citizen of London who has taken up the cause of the needy. An especially funny character but also an important one who helps the audience see just how greedy and unkind Scrooge can be.

10. NIGEL CARUTHERS/HEADMASTER/LONDONER: Male, 25-50 years old. These three parts will be performed by one actor. Nigel Caruthers is a struggling working man who is trying to feed his family. He owes Scrooge money. The headmaster is Scrooge’s teacher when he was a boy. This part is a voice performed from offstage. “The Londoners” are very important to the action of this play and appear in various scenes as background characters.

11. THE GHOST OF JACOB MARLEY/OLD JOE: Male, 50-80 years old. These two parts will be performed by one actor. Must be able to play the parts so each will be a different and unique person! Jacob Marley was, in life, Scrooge’s business partner. He was a greedy and grouchy old man, just like Scrooge. He died seven years ago and now is an unhappy and miserable ghost doomed to wander the earth in chains for all eternity. Marley’s ghost will appear as a combination of live acting and special effects. Old Joe is a disreputable fence who steals or buys belongings from the servants of the wealthy deceased, and then resells them.

12. THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST/MARTHA CRATCHIT: Female, 15-25 years old. These two parts will be performed by one actress. The Ghost of Christmas Past is a mysterious, petite, white-robed creature who plays a key role in showing Scrooge his past and showing the audience why Scrooge is now the way he is. Martha Cratchit is Bob Cratchit’s oldest child who works in a milliner’s shop.

13. CHILD SCROOGE/TURKEY BOY/LONDONER: Male, 7-12 years old. These two parts will be performed by one young actor. Child Scrooge is Ebenezer Scrooge when he was an innocent young child in school. Turkey Boy is a poor London boy who delivers a big Turkey to the Cratchit’s for Mr. Scrooge. “The Londoners” are very important to the action of this play and appear in various scenes as background characters.

14. BELLE: Female, 15-25 years old. Belle is Scrooge's first and only real love. She breaks her relationship off with him because of his changes for the worse. Scrooge later sees her happily married to someone else. Dances at Fezziwig’s party.

15. YOUNG SCROOGE/LONDONER: Male, 15-25 years old. These two parts will be performed by one actor. Young Scrooge is Ebenezer Scrooge just before he is about to graduate from school. “The Londoners” are very important to the action of this play and appear in various scenes as background characters. Dances at Fezziwig’s party.

16. MRS. FEZZIWIG/MRS. DILBER: Female, 50-70 years old. These two parts will be performed by one actress. Mrs. Fezziwig is the jolly wife of Mr. Fezziwig, Young Scrooge’s boss. Mrs. Dilber is old Scrooge’s housemaid, who sells his belongings to Old Joe after he dies. Dances at Fezziwig’s party.

17. MR. HATHAWAY/MR. FEZZIWIG: Male, 50-70 years old. These two parts will be performed by one actor. Mr. Hathaway is a gentleman of London’s upper social circles. Mr. Fezziwig is the jolly and kind boss of Young Scrooge. Dances at Fezziwig’s party.

18. ELLEN FEZZIWIG/LINDA/LONDONER: Female, 15-25 years old. These three parts will be performed by one actress. Ellen Fezziwig is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig and appears at Fezziwig’s party. Linda is Fred’s wife and appears at his Christmas party. “The Londoners” are very important to the action of this play and appear in various scenes as background characters. Dances at Fezziwig’s party.

19. YOUNG JACOB MARLEY/LONDONER: Male, 15-25 years old. These two parts will be performed by one actor. Young Jacob appears at Fezziwig’s party. “The Londoners” are very important to the action of this play and appear in various scenes as background characters. Dances at Fezziwig’s party.

20. THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT/LONDONER: Male or Female, 20-80 years old. These two parts will be performed by one actor or actress. The Ghost of Christmas Present is a jovial, large, boisterous spirit who appears to Scrooge. “The Londoners” are very important to the action of this play and appear in various scenes as background characters.

21. COLIN/THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS FUTURE/LONDONER: Male, 20-30 years old. These three parts will be performed by one actor. Colin is Belle’s husband. The Ghost of Christmas Future is a grim reaper spirit who does not speak. “The Londoners” are very important to the action of this play and appear in various scenes as background characters.


22. MRS. CRATCHIT/LONDONER: Female, 40-50 years old. Mrs. Cratchit is Bob Cratchit’s poor, loving wife. “The Londoners” are very important to the action of this play and appear in various scenes as background characters.

23. PETER CRATCHIT/LONDONER: Male, 12-16 years old. Peter Cratchit is Bob Cratchit’s oldest son. “The Londoners” are very important to the action of this play and appear in various scenes as background characters.

24. TINY TIM: Male, 7-12 years old. Tiny Tim is Bob Cratchit’s youngest son, and is crippled.

SHOW DATES: November 26, 2010 through December 18, 2010. Performances are Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.

THERE WILL BE NO REHEARSAL ON THANKSGIVING DAY!

MOST REHEARSALS FOR THIS SHOW WILL BE ON TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS AT 7:30 PM AND SATURDAYS AT 11 A.M.

NOT ALL CAST MEMBERS WILL NOT BE REQUIRED AT ALL REHEARSALS.

CHILDREN WILL REHEARSE MOSTLY ON SATURDAYS.

FULL, EXACT REHEARSAL SCHEDULE WILL BE AVAILABLE AT AUDITIONS.

IMPORTANT: PLEASE BRING ALL KNOWN CONFLICT DATES WITH YOU TO THE AUDITIONS!

THE FOLLOWING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FOR THIS SHOW! Please email Jim Russell at [email protected].

Youth Coordinator – Assists Director with rehearsing youth cast members. Can be a cast member.

Music Captain – Assists Director in planning caroling sequences in the play. Coaches singers. Can be a cast member.

Dance Captain – Assists Director in planning Victorian dance sequence. Coaches dancers. Can be a cast member.

Assistant Stage Manager – Assists Stage Manager and Director during rehearsals and works with stage crew on scenery changes during performances.

Script Supervisor – Marks all blocking and cues in master script, monitors script during rehearsals, takes line notes, calls lines to cast members.

Stage Crew – Helps with scenery changes, special effects and costume changes during performances.

Costume Crew – Assists Costume Designer with fittings, sewing, preparation of costumes, etc. Work costumes and help with costume changes during performances. Sewing and costume experience helpful.

Sound Operator – Operates sound effects during show.

“THE LONDONERS” Victorian caroling group!

Would you like to help Carrollwood Players promote this production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL by visiting local public places as a Victorian Caroler on select dates in November and December?

HAVE FUN AND HELP US SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THIS CLASSIC HOLIDAY PLAY.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE IN THE PLAY TO BE PART OF THIS CAROLING GROUP!!!!!!