Initial Auditions for The Georgetown Palace’s production of Dickens’ Christmas Carol, A Traveling Travesty in Two Tumultuous Acts will take placeon Sunday, September 15, 2024 with callbacks on Monday, September 16 on the Playhouse Stage.
The production is scheduled to open on Friday, November 29, 2024 and close on Sunday, December 29.
Rehearsals are scheduled to begin on Monday, October 21.
- There will be no performances on December 6 or 7.
- Performances outside of the normal performance schedule are:
- Thursday, December 19 evening performance
- Monday, December 23 evening performance
Director: Jessie Drollette
Stage Manager: Adriana Fontanez
What we are looking for:
We are looking for talented and diverse performers of all ethnicities for all roles. We are looking for actors aged 16 and up.
PLEASE NOTE: We will also be hiring at least 2 understudies for this production. Those understudies will be guaranteed performances.
The Georgetown Palace desires to be as inclusive as possible and we enthusiastically encourage gender non-conforming, genderqueer, transgender and nonbinary actors to submit to audition for any roles listed. We also seek all races,ethnicities and abilities. Our character descriptions on the following pages are gender binary and are written with he/him or she/her. While they are limited in their writing, we hope that anyone who identifies with any of the roles, will come out and audition.
Character Descriptions:
*Special note: Though the characters in the piece are cis-gender, any non-binary, trans, and gender non-conforming actors are encouraged to audition.
In addition, we may have the opportunity to cast female presenting actors in male presenting roles, such as Selsdon, Teddy and Elyot, depending on the audition pool.
SIR SELSDON PIDDOCK – A “classical” actor in the truest sense of the word who will be playing Ebenezer Scrooge.
MRS CORDELIA ffOLIET-ffOLKES ffORTESCUE WOODS – An actress who wishes her resume were as long as her name. Plays Martha Cratchit, Bell, Fred’s Wife, Fan, Partygoer at Fezziwigs, Citizen #1, Caroler and various London Citizens.
DAME ROWENA MIDDLETON-LEWIS – An actress of some pretensions who plays multiple roles. Plays Ghost of Christmas Yet-To-Come, Little Boy, Partygoer at Fezziwigs, Partygoer at Freds, Peter Cratchit, Caroler, and various London Citizens.
CYNTHIA IMBRY – A young actress who is the company understudy and is suddenly forced into the production and isn’t prepared but anxious to make an impression. Understudy to MRS ffOLIET-ffOLKES ffORTESCUE WOODS, DAME MIDDLETON-LEWIS, MRS SALISBURY, MR PIDDOCK, MR CRUMMELS and MR SHUB
MR ELYOT CRUMMELS – A once dashing leading man now playing character parts. Plays Bob Cratchit, Man #2, Mr Fezziwig, Old Joe, Ghost of Marley, Partygoer at Freds, Ghost of Christmas Present, Caroler and Various London Citizens.
TEDDY SHUB – An over-anxious young actor who appears to be all teeth. He plays every scene as though he were Macbeth. Plays Tiny Tim, Nephew Fred, Gentleman #1, Dick Wilkins, Young Scrooge, Citizen #2, Caroler and Various London Citizens.
MRS BETTINA SALISBURY – The company diva who was pretending to be ill for this evening’s performance, assured that the show would be canceled. It hasn’t been and she appears mid-way through the show determined to play her roles. Plays Mrs Fezziwig, Emily Cratchit, Ghost of Christmas Past, Partygoer at Fred’s, Charwoman, Caroler and Various London Citizens.
The Auditions:
Initial auditions will take place on the Playhouse Stage on Sunday, September 15 from 6:30-10:00p.
Please note that at any time, these auditions could be video recorded for casting purposes only.
Please prepare a comedic monologue preferably from a play, around a minute long. It does not have to be memorized but should be prepared. We welcome auditioners that are 16 and older.
Callbacks will consist of cold reads from the script, and a little improvisation. Sides will be posted with the callback list.
Callbacks will take place on Monday, September 16 by invitation only from 6:30 PM to 10:00 PM on the Playhouse Stage. Callbacks will be posted on the Georgetown Palace website as soon as possible after initial auditions are completed, and an email will be sent to all audition participants at the time of posting. Specific sides will be provided for callbacks for all characters.
A link to the website that holds the sides will be provided in the email.
Audition sign ups can be found HERE
If none of the auditions times listed works for your schedule, please fill out the form and add yourself to the waitlist. Send productions@georgetownpalace.com an email, and we’ll arrange an alternate audition time. If you are on the waitlist, please send an email explaining why – productions will no longer be reaching out to those on the waiting list.
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. Adding all of your conflicts after casting could result in your removal of the production.
Casting:
Once casting is completed (typically 2-3 days after callbacks), emails will be sent to the actors that will be offered a role in the production. Once the full cast has accepted, everyone else who auditioned will be notified via email.
Compensation:
All actors are offered a role in the show will be paid a non-union stipend. Payment and casting will be contingent upon The Georgetown Palace Theatre’s casting policies.
Health and Safety Protocols:
Everyone should stay home if they do not feel well. If you test positive for COVID 19, or suspect you have the flu, you should stay home and away from others until for 24 hours. Please monitor your symptoms for improvement and fever free (without meds). Then take added precaution for the next 5 days.
We still recommend wearing a mask in rehearsals the day after you return from travel.
The Georgetown Palace Theatre 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.
Please see our operating standards at the following link:
Georgetown Palace Operating Standards
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 a 501c3 non-profit organization.
If you have any questions, please email productions@georgetownpalace.com.
