Jekyll & Hyde, the musical
by Georgetown Palace Theatre
Jul. 22 - Jul. 24 (2023)
Jekyll and Hyde tells the story of man’s struggle between good and evil, and the duality that exists within all of us.
Dr. Henry Jekyll and the people around him in his upper-class circle such as his fiancé Emma Carew, his best friend and lawyer John Utterson, and Emma’s father, Sir Danvers Carew, who is the head of the board of directors at the hospital Jekyll works at, have little to no understanding and connection to the dangerous and miserable lives of London’s poorer communities.
Jekyll’s eyes are opened a bit when a young prostitute and burlesque performer, Lucy Harris, befriends him and comes to him for aid after she is savagely beaten by a client. Denied a test subject for his serum by the board of directors for the hospital, which he is convinced will eradicate evil from the souls of mankind, Dr. Jekyll tests the formula on himself only to accidentally unleash his own inner demons in the guise of Edward Hyde, a savage, hedonistic monster who takes a more sinister interest in Lucy.
As Jekyll struggles a losing battle to control Hyde, Edward begins to exact revenge for Henry, systematically murdering the board of directors who denied Jekyll his requests. As Hyde gains strength and control, Dr. Jekyll must take desperate action to prevent Hyde from harming those closest to him and taking over his life completely.
Jekyll & Hyde Audition Information
Director: Scott Shipman
Music Director: Nick Xitco
Choreographer: Ella Harper
Initial Auditions for The Georgetown Palace’s production of Jekyll and Hyde will take place from July 22-25, 2023. The production is scheduled to open on Friday October 6th, 2023 and close on Sunday November 5th, 2023. Rehearsals are scheduled to begin on Monday August 14th, 2023. No roles require any specific age or background/demographic, so we encourage anyone aged 18 and up to audition.
We are looking for talented and diverse performers of all ethnicities for all roles aged 18 and up.
Character descriptions can be found HERE for more specific information regarding the people that populate this piece.
Actors of all ethnicities and gender identities are encouraged to audition. In reference to the character descriptions below—most characters we encounter currently are in the binary and are written with he/him or she/her pronouns and you will see that in the following descriptions. But however limiting the descriptions are, our casting seeks to be as inclusive as possible and we invite gender non-conforming, genderqueer, transgender and non-binary actors to submit for the roles they most identify with. We will also list race/ethnicity when specific to the character but are otherwise seeking all races and ethnicities. Let us know if you have any questions, concerns, or if there are any accommodations we can provide (from language developed by Kevin Kantor and Emily Tarquin from the Actors Theatre of Louisville)
The Auditions:
Primary auditions will consist of a singing audition on Saturday July 22nd. Callbacks will be held on the evenings of Monday and Tuesday, July 24th and 25th. Video submissions will be accepted if you are unable to audition in person, but please note we highly encourage you to come in person if it is at all possible as it allows us to interact with you and get a fuller picture of who you are and the scope of your talent.
Vocal auditions are from 1:00 PM- 5:00 PM on Saturday July 22nd . This initial audition should consist of no more than one minute of a song in the style of the show that shows off your range and abilities. This show uses classic/legit musical theater styling rather than pop music, so please factor that into your choice as you prepare your audition. Singing from the show is completely acceptable if you so choose, but we encourage you to use your initial audition to show us not only your talent, but also your creativity and personality. An accompanist will be provided, and we will also be able to connect pre-recorded music if you bring that with you instead. If you need to use pre-recorded music please make sure to have either the exact cut you will be using or have the music correctly cued up prior to entering the audition room.
The dance audition on Monday July 24th will be part of invited callbacks and will only be required for people being considered for Lucy Harris, Lady Beaconsfield/Nellie, and all ensemble roles. If women have character heels to wear during the dance call that is preferred.
Callbacks:
Callbacks will take place on the evenings of Monday July 24th and Tuesday July 25th. Monday will begin with a dance call for certain roles before moving into singing/reading callbacks for most female presenting roles, Henry Jekyll/Edward Hyde, and the board of governors. All auditioning for the role of Lucy please note that the music director will be specifically looking to hear both a semi-legit sound and a belt.
Tuesday July 25th will focus more on the remaining principal characters with singing and readings. This production will not be relying on costume and make up effects to differentiate Jekyll from Hyde, it will be the actor’s portrayal that tells that story, so if you are called back for a track that plays multiple characters be prepared to show distinct characters vocally and physically during callbacks.
Audition sign ups can be found HERE
Conflicts: When signing up for an audition slot please note any conflicts during the rehearsal or performance dates. Please note: conflicts do not necessarily negate the opportunity to be cast, but we must know about them up front to factor that into the casting decisions. Barring emergencies, additional conflicts added/disclosed after casting could result in dismissal from the production. Sunday rehearsals will only be planned for tech rehearsals immediately prior to opening, but please include Sunday afternoon conflicts for the rehearsal period so that in the event a Saturday must be canceled due to cast conflicts we will know whether a reschedule on Sunday is an option.
Rehearsals begin Monday August 14th. A digital link to the script will be given in your offer letter, if cast. Physical librettos will be available at the first rehearsal. Rehearsals will typically be held Monday-Thursday evenings from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM, and on Saturdays from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
Health and Safety Protocols:
While the Coronavirus public health emergency has expired, COVID-19 and other contagious diseases are still out there, just to a lesser extent. Everyone should self-monitor for symptoms and either wear or mask around others or just stay home if they do not feel well. You should also wear a mask if you have direct exposure to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
If you do test positive for COVID-19, you must isolate for 5 days, and then only return to rehearsal or performances if your symptoms have improved. You should wear a mask until Day 10 or you have a negative test.
The Georgetown Palace is committed to creating an inclusive and safe environment in which all community members feel a sense of belonging, and does not discriminate in casting practices on the basis of an individual’s ethnicity, age, gender, physical and cognitive ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, country of origin or other factors. We strongly encourage candidates of all ages, abilities, gender, and ethnicities to audition.
Background checks: Everyone involved with the production must submit to a background check at the Palace’s expense. If you are cast, you will receive a secure link where you can fill it out. There is no cost to you.
The Georgetown Palace Theatre is 501c3 Non-profit organization.
