Chicago

LOCAL Auditions
3:00 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 21
at the theatre,
1828 3rd Ave., Rock Island

After 27 years, CHICAGO is still the one musical with everything that makes Broadway shimmy-shake: a

universal tale of fame, fortune, and all that jazz, with showstopping songs and choreography. No wonder CHICAGO has been honored with 6 Tony Awards, 2 Olivier Awards, a Grammy, and thousands of standing ovations.

In roaring twenties Chicago, chorus girl Roxie Hart murders a faithless lover and convinces her hapless husband, Amos, to take the rap...until he finds out he’s been duped and turns on Roxie. Convicted and sent to death row, Roxie and another “Merry Murderess,” Velma Kelly, vie for the spotlight and the headlines, ultimately joining forces in search of the “American Dream”: fame, fortune, and acquittal. This sharp-edged satire features a dazzling score that sparked immortal staging by Bob Fosse.

This phenomenal musical will be directed & choreographed by Ashley Becher, who has also directed The Addams Family, A Christmas Story, White Christmas, and many others here at Circa '21.

Production dates, including 2 weeks of rehearsals, are April 24 – July 5, 2025. All roles in this professional production are paid.

Those auditioning should prepare a brief selection (approx.16 bars) of a relevant musical theatre song. Singing from the show is perfectly fine. Please bring sheet music; an accompanist will be provided. Everyone will need to learn a brief dance, so please come in or have clothes/shoes comfortable to move in. Please bring a current headshot and resume.

Available Roles & descriptions:

VELMA KELLY: Female, (Range: Alto, E3-D5) Vaudeville performer who is accused of murdering her sister and husband. Hardened by fame, she cares for no one but herself and her attempt to get away with murder. 

ROXIE HART: Female, (Range: Mezzo-Soprano, F3-B4) Reads and keeps up with murder trials in Chicago, and follows suit by murdering her lover, Fred Casely. She stops at nothing to render a media storm with one goal: to get away with it. Longs to be a star.

AMOS HART: Male, (Range: Baritone, C3-F#4) Roxie’s faithful husband. Lies for her and tries to take the blame until he realizes that he has been two-timed by Roxie. Still in love with her, or misguided, he believes anything she says in her pursuit to get out of jail. 

MARY SUNSHINE: Male presenting actor, (Range: Soprano, Bb3-Bb5) Sob sister reporter from the Evening Star. Believes there is a little bit of good in everyone and will believe anything she is fed that matches her beliefs. Must have extremely strong falsetto.

ENSEMBLE: Will feature heavily as dance ensemble, but also need to sing. Will play Cell Block girls, Fred Casely, Judge, Roxie's boys, etc.

Please note the roles of BILLY FLYNN and MATRON "MAMA" MORTON are already cast.

Baskerville

Accepting Submissions

Get your deerstalker cap on – the play’s afoot! Comedic genius Ken Ludwig transforms Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic The Hound of the Baskervilles into a murderously funny adventure. Sherlock Holmes is on the case. The male heirs of the Baskerville line are being dispatched one by one. To find their ingenious killer, Holmes and Watson must brave the desolate moors before a family curse dooms its newest heir. Watch as our intrepid investigators try to escape a dizzying web of clues, silly accents, disguises, and deceit as five actors deftly portray more than forty characters. Does a wild hellhound prowl the moors of Devonshire? Can our heroes discover the truth in time? Join the fun and see how far from elementary the truth can be.

The delightful comedy will be directed by Corinne Johnson, who has also directed Murder on the Orient Express, Miracle on 34th Street, and Disenchanted here at Circa '21.

Video submissions should include a resume and photo along with a brief monologue. In addition, those submitting for Actors 1 & 2 and Actress 1 should prepare a compressed (90 second) retelling of a children's story. The story must have a minimum of three different characters. Dialects, distinct voices, and costume/props are encouraged.

Production dates, including 2 weeks of rehearsals, are Jan. 2 – March 8, 2025. All roles in this professional production are paid.

Submissions should be sent to production manager Jeremy Littlejohn at jeremylittlejohn1977@gmail.com.

Available Roles & descriptions:

SHERLOCK HOLMES (Male 30s – 40s).
Highly intelligent, confident, charismatic, quick-witted, obsessive. Thinks very highly of his close friend Watson. A sophisticated mind who savors adventure and an intriguing mystery and has a manic gleam of mischief in his eyes. A mind that works overtime. All ethnicities are strongly encouraged.

DOCTOR WATSON (Male 30s - 50s).
Smart, grounded, and full of heart and wonder, lives to have adventures and assist his close friend Holmes. We see the play through his eyes. The heart and soul of the play. All ethnicities are strongly encouraged.

ACTOR ONE (Male 20s – 50s)
Must show great versatility and nimbleness physically and vocally (including multiple dialects). Plays multiple roles (over 10), including STAPLETON (seemingly geeky butterfly lover who conceals a psychopath within), BARRYMORE (mournful caretaker of Baskerville Hall), MILKER (scrappy Dickensian urchin boy), LUCY (loving wife of WILSON), and DR. MORTIMER. All ethnicities are strongly encouraged.

ACTOR TWO (Male 20s - 50s).
Must show great versatility and nimbleness physically and vocally (including multiple dialects). Plays multiple roles, including SIR HUGO BASKERVILLE (a brutal, cruel Cavalier), WILSON (exuberant, hearty head of messenger office), SIR HENRY BASKERVILLE (young Texan relation to Baskervilles, open-hearted, earnest, ready for adventure and to fall in love), and INSPECTOR LESTRADE (cocky police inspector). All ethnicities are strongly encouraged.

ACTRESS ONE (Female 20s-50s).
Must show great versatility and nimbleness physically and vocally (including multiple dialects). Plays multiple roles, including MISS STAPLETON (STAPLETON’s initially secretive, scared “sister” who passionately falls in love with SIR HENRY), CARTWRIGHT (scrappy Dickensian urchin boy), MRS. BARRYMORE (severe, humorless Swedish caretaker of Baskerville Hall), MRS. HUDSON (older, maternal housekeeper for HOLMES). All ethnicities are strongly encouraged.

Come
From Away

Accepting Submissions

This beautiful musical tells a true story that has become something of a legend: on Sept. 11, 2001, the residents of the isolated, small town of Gander, Newfoundland played host to the world. What started as an average day turned into a legend of Canadian hospitality when 38 planes, carrying thousands of people from around the globe, were diverted to Gander’s airstrip on a moment’s notice, doubling the island’s tiny population. In the week after 9/11, residents banded together to house, clothe, and feed nearly 7,000 plane passengers, cheering the stranded travelers and building lasting connections with them through empathy, music & an open bar. Nominated for 7 Tony awards, Come From Away has itself become a symbol of generosity and connection, and the show is known for offering one of the most heartwarming evenings available at a theatre.

This phenomenal musical will be directed by Corinne Johnson, who has also directed Murder on the Orient Express, Miracle on 34th Street, and Disenchanted here at Circa '21.

Video submissions should include a resume and photo, a vocal reel, a one minute contemporary dramatic monologue and a one minute contemporary comic monologue.

Submissions should be sent to production manager Jeremy Littlejohn at jeremylittlejohn1977@gmail.com.

Production dates, including 2 weeks of rehearsals, are Aug. 28 – Nov. 1, 2025. All roles in this professional production are paid.

Available Roles & descriptions:

DIANE & OTHERS Gender Female Age range 50 - 69
Vocal range Mezzo Soprano Female, 50s–60s; Diane is a traditional divorcee from Texas, who is terrified that her son may have been flying at the time of the attacks. When she finds out he is safe, she’s given a new lease on life and discovers a wilder more carefree side of herself. Also plays Newfoundland local, CRYSTAL. Contemporary soprano or mezzo with strong mix.

HANNAH & OTHERS Gender Female Age range 30 - 59
Vocal range Soprano Female, 30s–50s, African American, Latina, Asian, or any ethnicity; the mother of a firefighter in Manhattan, HANNAH waits for news about her son and is comforted by Beulah. Also plays Newfoundland local, MARGIE. Contemporary soprano with strong high mix.

JANICE & OTHERS Gender Female Age range 20 - 29
Vocal range Mezzo Soprano Female, 20s; an eager new local TV reporter, Janice is thrown into the deep end on her first day. Initially naïve about the world, Janice must face the pain and confusion around her. Plays another Newfoundland local by the name of JENNY. Mezzo w\ strong belt

BEULAH & OTHERS Gender Female Age range 40 - 69
Vocal range Mezzo Soprano Female, 40s–60s; Head of the Gander Legion, with a firefighter son, she befriends Hannah and walks to church and prays with her. Quick-witted and open hearted, Beulah loves to share a joke. Mezzo w\ strong belt

BONNIE & OTHERS Gender Female Age range 30 - 59
Vocal range Mezzo Soprano Female, 30s–50s; A no–nonsense mother of 3, Bonnie is the head of the Gander area SPCA. When she discovers animals are trapped on the planes, she stops at nothing to ensure their safety. Also plays a Newfoundland local by the name of MARTHA. Mezzo

BEVERLY & OTHERS Gender Female Age range 50 - 69
Vocal range Soprano with Belt Female, 50s–60s; An American Airlines pilot, Beverly has always loved flying, but her world is changed when she hears about coworkers who were killed in the attacks, and when she is confronted by passengers who refuse to fly again. Also plays Newfoundland local, ANNETTE. Soprano belter with strong high mix

OZ & OTHERS Gender Male Age range 30 - 59
Vocal range High Tenor Male, 30s–50s; The quirky constable in the two–person Gander police force. When the town’s population suddenly doubles, Oz helps in unexpected ways. Also plays the role of JOEY, a rambunctious passenger on one of the planes who enjoys a good drink, MR. MICHAELS, a local gym teacher who speaks Spanish and MATTY, the owner of the Trailways Bar, which is full of passengers 24/7. High Tenor

KEVIN T & OTHERS Gender Male Age range 30 - 49
Vocal range High Tenor Male, 30s–40s; The head of an environmental energy company in Los Angeles, Kevin was on vacation with his boyfriend (and secretary, also named Kevin), when they are stranded in Gander. Inspired by the town’s generosity, Kevin creates the ‘Pay It Forward Foundation.’ Also plays the role of GARTH, head of the local union representing the bus drivers. High Tenor

KEVIN J & OTHERS Gender Male Age range 30 - 49
Vocal range Baritone Male, 30s–40s, Latino, Asian, Middle Eastern, or any ethnicity; Kevin’s boyfriend and secretary. Sarcastic and unhappy, he wants to leave and get back to the U.S. as soon as possible. Also plays the role of DOUG, a local air traffic controller, married to Bonnie, who tries to help his wife and the animals. Baritone

BOB & OTHERS Gender Male Age range 30 - 49
Vocal range Baritone Male, 30s–40s, African–American or any ethnicity. A hardened New Yorker, Bob is suspicious of where he’s landed, fearing that it’s World War 3, that someone is going to shoot him and steal his wallet – but instead he ends up losing his New York jadedness. Also plays MUHUMUZA, an African passenger who, despite a language barrier, finds common ground with a local bus driver. Baritone.

CLAUDE & OTHERS Gender Male Age range 40 - 59
Vocal range Tenor Male, 40s–50s; The gregarious and well-liked Mayor of Gander, Newfoundland, Claude loves his work, the townspeople, and his daily traditions, but he’s never had to deal with a crisis of this magnitude. Also plays DERM, mayor of the nearby town of Appleton. Tenor.

NICK & OTHERS Gender Male Age range 50 - 69
Vocal range Baritone Male, 50s–60s, Middle Eastern or any ethnicity; An English oil engineer who is focused on his work, Nick’s life is turned upside down when he falls for another passenger, Diane. Also plays ALI, an Iranian passenger. Baritone.