Audition Info

OPEN AUDITION DATES FOR our 93rd season!

AUDITION DATES AND TIMES

Sept. 17, 2024 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Sept. 20, 2024 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

What to Prepare

Please plan to attend both audition nights

Different things will be required each night. This will give you the best chance to show off your skills.

September 17 Auditions: Creative movement as well as monologues and singing. Additionally scenes from the script will be presented.

September 20 Auditions: A dance combo and songs from Bright Star will be taught and presented. Additionally scenes from the script will be presented.

If you absolutely cannot make both nights (and I would suggest that you try,) please let the Director know BEFORE the auditions begin.

Contact thedgbrightstar@gmail.com

Line Reading

Please prepare one of the following monologues chosen from the script, with some piecing together of separate lines.

Along with context from the script, be sure to bring your own talent, interpretation, and passion to your audition. Don’t worry about choosing a monologue that fits with your own gender identity or the part you would like to have, choose the one that best showcases your abilities!

It will be worth your while to do some googling of Bright Star on YouTube. There are many different productions available to watch - some very good, some not, but if you haven’t seen the production before, this will give you a chance to understand what is happening and how it is happening in the show.

MUSIC

Prepare 16 measures of a song which will show off your abilities. You may sing a bluegrass song if it is in the contemporary Broadway vein.  Don’t sing anything from Bright Star. Bring sheet music,  no tracks.  Acapella is ok as well as self accompanied with guitar or ukulele; however,  this is not generally preferred. 

The Music Director will do vocal placement and may have you sing a part of a song from the show of his choice that is appropriate for your range on the second night of auditions. It is certainly worth your while to familiarize yourself with the music from the show before auditions.

dance

A basic musical theatre movement jazz dance will be taught. Dance attire not necessary, but something you can move in. Ladies should wear character shoes if available, if not jazz shoes or sneakers will be fine. It is very possible that the Ensemble will be divided into Dance and Singing; however, EVERYONE will need to sing, and EVERYONE will need to move choreographically.

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN

• Alice Murphy (1923 and 1945) - must be a strong singer and play age 17 as well as age 39. Alice is growing up in Zebulon, North Carolina wild and free much to the consternation of her very religious father and mother. She falls in love with Jimmy and a surprise pregnancy ensues. In 1945 we see her as a successful southern journal editor.

• Jimmy Ray Dobbs (1923 and 1945) – must be strong singer and play age 19 as well as age 41. Jimmy is the son of the Mayor of Zebulon. He falls in love with Alice – a girl from the other side of the tracks, but his father doesn’t approve. Jimmy discovers something that keeps him from marrying Alice.

• Mama Murphy (1923 and 1945) - strong singer, about 40, then mid-sixties – she does not approve of her husband’s choices.

• Daddy Murphy (1923 and 1945) - strong singer, 40 ish, then 60 ish, makes the worst mistake of his life.

• Mayor Josiah Dobbs (1923) – strong singer, strong willed as he wants his son to be successful and follow in his footsteps. Alice is in the way of those plans and must be removed along with any other problems.

• Billy Cane (1945) – strong singer, 23 years old, just returned from WWII and looking to make his way as a writer. He brings his stories to the southern journal and meets Alice.

• Margo Crawford (1945) – strong singer, 21 years old, owns the town’s bookshop and is waiting for Billy to make his decision.

• Daddy Cane (1945) - strong singer, Billy’s Dad, about 70 years old who must tell Billy when he returns that his mother died while he was overseas.

• Lucy Grant (1945) – strong singer and dancer, works for Alice at the Southern journal.

• Daryl Ames (1945) - works for Alice at the Southern journal, acerbic wit

Ensemble of singers and dancers. The Ensemble will be present on stage during the entire performance - sometimes singing, dancing, reacting in character, moving set props etc. – some will also portray additional characters such as the following:

• Stanford (1923) - Mayor Dobbs’ lawyer. He is very professional and hard-working. He is caught up in the same societal expectations as Mayor Dobbs, enforcing every one of the Mayor’s wishes. He is also the square dance caller

• Florence (1945) - Florence works at Margo’s bookstore. She is a very supportive friend to Margo, always willing to help out. She is a romantic and often gets caught up in dreams.

• Edna (1945 - Edna works at Margo’s bookstore as well. She is energetic, hard-working, and optimistic. Along with Florence, Edna is an essential part of the strong community surrounding Margo.

• Max (1945) - A young resident of Zebulon who frequents the bookstore. He’s naive and very earnest. His blossoming relationship with Edna displays a sense of community and continuity in the town beyond the main plot.

• Dr. Norquist (1923) - As Alice’s doctor in Zebulon, Dr. Norquist values the picture of a perfect community and, along with Mayor Dobbs, tries to preserve Zebulon’s image. At times valuing that preservation above Alice’s own wellbeing, Dr. Norquist’s influence on Alice displays an important conflict in the show.

• Rehearsals 

  Click on Staff Calendar below and go to months September -December 2024 for rehearsal schedule

AUDITION DATES AND TIMES

Dec. 8, 2024 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Dec. 9, 2024 7:000 p.m. to 10:0 p.m.

Auditioners:

Characters

     Eurydice – A young, innocent woman – ingénue.

     Orpheus – A young, innocent man – ingénue. Needs to sing a cappella and sound good.

      Eurydice’s Father – 40 to 50 years old. Educated.

      A Nasty Interesting Man/The Lord of the Underworld – Plays a creepy predator and a child who matures in Hades as its Lord. (Note “Hades” is not “Hell”. It is the place of the dead in Greek mythology.)

      A Chorus of Three Stones – Comic relief in story. Think “the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, the Dormouse” from Alice in Wonderland or Nasty Children at a birthday party.

                      Big Stone

                      Little Stone

                      Loud Stone

            May be played by 3 women, 3 men, or any combination of men and women.

Performers of all ethnic and racial backgrounds welcome

All characters are played modern not classical.

Except for the 3 Stones, all characters are gender specific.

Rehearsals 

Click on Staff Calendar below and go to months December 2024 - February 2025 for rehearsal schedule

AUDITION DATES AND TIMES

Jan. 12, 2025 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Jan. 14, 2025 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Callbacks by invitation only:

Jan. 16, 2025 7-10pm

INFORMATION FOR AUDITIONERS:

Audition Requirements:

This is not the Dreamgirls movie, so please be familiar with the music and characters from the Broadway Musical. Do not sing a song from the movie. Remember the interpretation of characters from the movie, are not the same as the Broadway show.

General: Please arrive 15 minutes early to complete the paperwork. Please bring a complete list of conflicts between January and April and please bring a resume and headshot if you have them.

Vocal: Please prepare 32 bars of a song in the style of Dreamgirls that best shows your vocal range and talent. Please bring sheet music in the correct key for the accompanist who will be provided.

If you are auditioning for Effie White, please prepare a 32-bar cut of” Move” and “I am Changing”.

If you are auditioning for James Thunder Early, please prepare a 32- bar cut of a James Brown song or a Little Richard song.

If you are auditioning for Denna Jones, please prepare a 32 bar cut of a Diana Ross song or a song by a Motown artist.

A vocal coach will be present to test your range and ability to harmonize.

Be prepared to read from the script

Dance: Please come prepared to move with appropriate shoes. There will be a dance routine to learn. If you are auditioning for the “Dreamettes,” also bring shoes with heels to learn extra dance routines.

Callbacks: Information will be given at the auditions.

If you are called back for one of the Dreamettes, please be prepared to read from the script and sing in groups of trios the title song “Dreamgirls” and “It’s All Over”.

If you are called back for Curtis please be prepared to sing “ When I First Saw You”

If you are called back for Effie White please be prepared to sing “ And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going”.

Character Breakdown

EFFIE WHITE – African American woman, 20-40. Vibrant young woman who is as oversized in talent as she is in person. Effie is the true powerhouse in the group, a soaring singer whose voice overpowers and transcends Deena’s and Lorrell’s. She is smitten with Curtis from the start and is overcome with anger and jealousy when she senses his growing attraction to Deena. Effie should be full-figured, and her size carries with it a true sense of sexuality. Must have a huge gospel belt voice. Must move very well.

DEENA JONES – African American woman, 20-30. The young, thin, beautiful member of the dreams. Happy singing backup to Effie until Curtis puts her in the lead and grooms her as star of the group. Mezzo, big full belt voice. Must move very well.

LORRELL ROBINSON – African American woman, 20-30. The third member of The Dreams. Sexy, flirtatious girl from the projects of Detroit who has been singing with her best friends Effie and Deena for years. Carries on an affair with Jimmy Early, who refuses to leave his wife for her. Soprano, on top of most triad harmony, big full belt voice. Must move very well.

CURTIS TAYLOR, JR. – African American man, 30-40. Handsome, and very sexy. Slick car salesman who becomes the Dreams’ manager. Has an appreciation of R & B music and a sense of what it sells. Motivated by dreams, he takes over the management of Jimmy Early’s career and oversees the rise to stardom of The Dreams. Initially warm and approachable he becomes hardened by wealth and power and the need to control everything and everyone. Baritone. Must move well.

JAMES “THUNDER” EARLY – African American man, 30-40. James Brown-like R & B star. The Dreamettes become his backup singers. Has an affair with Lorrell. Charismatic, sexy, high energy. Rock and R & B tenor. Must move well

C.C. WHITE – African American man, 18-30. Effie’s songwriter brother writes all “The Dreams” hit songs. Endearing and soft-spoken, he tries to do what’s best but slowly gives up his ideals to Curtis’ controlling vision. High baritone. Must move well.

MICHELE MORRIS – African American woman, 20s. Effie’s replacement in “The Dreams”. She sings bottom in the harmonies. Mezzo soprano, big belt. Must move well.

MARTY – African American man, 30-50, street savvy, long-time manager who oversaw Jimmy’s career and rise to R & B stardom. Represents an earlier age of Black entertainment. At odds with Curtis and his ideas and schemes. Later oversees Effie’s comeback. Baritone voice. Should move well.

1 CAUCASIAN MAN AND 2 CAUCASIAN WOMEN - Strong singers who move well to play Dave and The Sweethearts (Pat Boone singer and his backup girls who sing the all-American pop version of “Cadillac Car”.) Will play other ensemble roles such as reporters, press agents, etc.

1 CAUCASIAN MAN – Strong singer, character actor to play Frank, the press agent, and various supporting roles. Must move well.

ENSEMBLE OF EXCELLENT SINGER / DANCERS: (African American/Multicultural/Caucasian) Singer/Dancers for various supporting roles: strong singers who move very well. All possess unique and vivid personalities and have the ability to play a wide variety of characters including Tiny Joe Dixon, Dave & the Sweethearts, The Stepp Sisters, The Tuxedos, Charlene, Joann, M.C., Stage Manager, Little Albert, Mr. Morgan, The Tru-Tones, Dwight, fans, reporters, stagehands, party guests, photographers, film executives, etc.

·         DAVE (& THE SWEETHEARTS): (Pat Boone types)

·         WAYNE: Male, assistant to Curtis

·         FRANK: Male, press agent

·         DWIGHT: Male, TV director M.C., Male or Female (as male), emcee at The Apollo Theater

·         CHARLENE & JOANN: Females, backup singers for J.T. Early

·         MORGAN: Male, Effie’s lawyer

·         JERRY: Male or Female Nightclub owner

·         Male and Female Singing Groups:

·         Female: STEPP SISTERS … LES STYLE … [DAVE] & THE SWEETHEARTS

·         Male: LITTLE ALPERT & THE TRUE-TONES … THE FIVE TUXEDOS … TINY JOE DIXON

Seeking understudy roles as well. Understudies will have a guaranteed performance.

REHEARSALS 

Click on Staff Calendar below and go to months January - April 2025 for rehearsal schedule

March 16th call time of 11 am with a rehearsal run start at 1pm

AUDITION DATES AND TIMES

April 6, 2025 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

April 7, 2025 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

AUDITIONERS:

REHEARSALS 

Click on Staff Calendar below and go to months April - June 2025

AUDITION DATES AND TIMES

May 6, 2025 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

May 8, 2025 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

AUDITIONERS:

REHEARSALS 

Click on Staff Calendar below and go to months May- August 2025

GENERAL AUDITION INFORMATION

• Please bring a current photo that we may keep. You will be asked to fill out a Theatre Resume, with any prior experience...though none is required.

• All auditions are held at the Milord Studio Theatre. 330 West 202nd Street—Chicago Heights, IL. 60411

• Covid protocols set forth by CDC and State of Illinois for indoor spaces will be followed as well as protective guidelines followed by the League of Chicago theatres.

  Interested actors will need to be vaccinated

• Drama or Comedy – Be prepared to read from the script.

• Musical – Check the specific show auditions for information on what to prepare. You will need to bring sheet music (in your key) for our accompanist. Be prepared to read from the script - and wear comfortable clothes/shoes for a dance/movement audition, conducted by the Choreographer.

The Drama Group is a community theatre. Actors – These are non-paid/non-equity shows. The Drama Group promotes diversity in casting. Performers of all backgrounds, ethnicities, ages, sizes, racial identities, physical abilities, gender identities (and/or non-conforming) are encouraged to audition.

NOT THE PERFORMING TYPE? WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR BACKSTAGE HELP.

Set Builders / Painters / Make-Up & Hair People / Seamstresses / Lighting People / Sound People / Stage Crew / Prop People / Decor People / Photographers & MORE!

INTERESTED, BUT NOT SURE?
Come on over! We'd LOVE to teach you the 'theatrical ropes'! Start a NEW hobby with a lot FUN people! Become a part of The Drama Group Family!