The Robber Bridegroom
by Alchemy Theatre Company
Nov. 11 - Dec. 22
With one of the only genuine bluegrass scores ever heard in a Broadway musical, the toe-tapping, knee-slapping THE ROBBER BRIDEGROOM combines themes of love, deception and adventure. Set in 18th-century Mississippi, it is an irreverent, playful, and at times raunchy tribute to the con men, hucksters and charlatans that created our great nation -- a Southern-fried Robin Hood tale of Jamie Lockhart, a dangerous, handsome, backwoods rogue who’s a gentleman by day and a bandit by night. When he falls for the beautiful daughter of the county’s wealthiest planter, his world is turned upside down. Throw in an evil stepmother who is intent on Rosamund's demise, her pea-brained henchman and a hostile talking head-in-a-trunk, and you have a high-energy mix of witty dialogue and rollicking barn dance.
THE ROBBER BRIDEGROOM has its origins in a Brothers Grimm fairytale and was adapted by beloved writer Eudora Welty into a novella of the same name in 1942. It is a bawdy fairytale with book and lyrics by Alfred Uhry, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Driving Miss Daisy, and a score by Robert Waldman.
[2018 poster image by Susquehana Stage, Marietta, PA]
CASTING NOTICE
THE ROBBER BRIDEGROOM
A re-envisioned musical production from the ALCHEMY THEATRE
At the WHISENHUNT AT ZACH THEATER
Music by Robert Waldman
Book and Lyrics by Alfred Uhry
Based on the novella The Robber Bridegroom by Eudora Welty
Directed by Michael Cooper
Choreographed by Noah Wood
Musical Direction by Ellie Jarrett Shattles
Produced by Marnie Near
Rehearsals will begin March 30 with Tech Week scheduled for May 22 to May 28, 2026.
Exact rehearsal dates and times during April and May will be determined by cast availability, but primarily rehearsals will be held on weeknights and weekend days. Please note there will be a required, heavier commitment to our Tech Week dates.
AUDITIONS WILL BEGIN WITH ONLINE SUBMISSIONS:
If you are interested in a particular role, please let us know by submitting the following:
1) YOUR HEADSHOT AND RESUME,
2) THE ROLE (S) YOU ARE INTERESTED IN, and
3) SELF-TAPE VIDEO OF A VOCAL SELECTION – 32 bars of a song of your choice – one that best shows your vocal capabilities and represents the character you are interested in. Please send to the attention of Michael Cooper, Director at: mcooper@thealchemytheatre.org
PLEASE SUBMIT BY THE DEADLINE OF MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2025. Both your headshot and resume should be in PDF format and as attachments along with your video. Requests should be sent to the above address with a valid email address included for the purpose of return correspondence.
IN-PERSON CALL-BACKS WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY JANUARY 10, SUNDAY JANUARY 11, and MONDAY JANUARY 12, 2026. Call-backs to include singing from the score, reading from character specific sides, and a dance combination taught by the choreographer. Please Note: THE ROBBER BRIDEGROOM is told in “story theatre” fashion backed by keyboard, fiddle, guitar/banjo and a “genuine-bluegrass-mixed-with-Broadway” musical score.
PAY: There is pay.
Performance Dates:
First Performance Date 05/29/26
Last Performance Date 06/14/2026
Number of Performances 13
Fri & Sat evening and Sun matinee 5/29, 5/30, 5/31
Thur, Fri evening, Sat matinee & Sat evening and Sun matinee 6/4, 6/5, 6/6, 6/7
Thur, Fri evening, Sat matinee & Sat evening and Sun matinee 6/11, 6/12, 6/13, 6/14
THE ROBBER BRIDEGROOM will be staged in-the-round at the Whisenhunt Theatre.
PLEASE NOTE: The roles of JAMIE LOCKHART and CLEMENT MUSGROVE have been cast.
CASTING NON-EQUITY, AUSTIN-AREA TALENT FOR:
LITTLE HARP Vocal range top: G4. Vocal range bottom: D3.
A bloodthirsty, villainous robber. Not very bright. Known for his lack of success and for plotting with his brother, Big Harp—who is a head kept in a trunk-- to rob and kill the wealthy local planter, Clement Musgrove. Driven by greed, he is a rival to the heroic robber, Jamie Lockhart.
BIG HARP Vocal range top: E4. Vocal range bottom: E3.
Big Harp is depicted as a disembodied head kept in a trunk by his brother, the bandit Little Harp. While Big Harp doesn’t have a physical body, he's the brains of their thieving operation and plots with Little Harp to rob wealthy travelers like Clement Musgrove. Big Harp is the more strategic partner to the unstable Little Harp, representing the absurdity and violence of the Harp Gang, acting as a constant, although bizarre, companion to his brother.
GOAT Vocal range top: B4. Vocal range bottom: G3.
Goat is a simpleton—a somewhat foolish character who is duped by the evil Salome into killing her stepdaughter in exchange for a suckling pig. A dense, dim, innocent and vapid character adding to the story much like the “fool” in Shakespeare’s comedies.
SALOME Vocal range top: A#5. Vocal range bottom: B3. Strong belt.
Clement Musgrove's second wife. An ugly, scrawny, strong-willed woman to be reckoned with. She is consumed by jealousy of her stepdaughter Rosamund and regrets her wealthy husband’s favoritism towards his daughter. She is a cruel and bitter woman who believes she is unloved and unappreciated. In a vengeful act, she attempts to have her stepdaughter killed by hiring Goat to murder Rosamund in the woods.
ROSAMUND Vocal range top: G5. Vocal range bottom: Bb3. Strong belt.
Musgrove's beautiful, if willful, daughter. A naïve, but plucky and free-spirited heiress who is initially infatuated with the mysterious Bandit of the Woods. Despite her privileged upbringing, she is incredibly independent and driven by her desires, ultimately leading to a chaotic but romantic connection with Jamie Lockhart, who initially robbed her. Mischievous. A carefree sexuality. A feminist heroine who rejects traditional roles. She is a woman in control of her own actions, even when they are impulsive or unconventional. Her relationship with Jaime Lockhart is fraught with complications due to their double-mistaken identities, but she eventually embraces her love for him, despite the disapproval of those around her.
GOAT’S MOTHER /TOWNSPERSON #4
GOAT’S MOTHER: A mother who all but forces her son, Goat, to accept the wicked stepmother Salome's deal to kill Rosamund in exchange for a suckling pig. Only moderately more intelligent than her children, Goat and Airie.
TOWNSPERSON #4: In addition to GOAT’S MOTHER, to play various residents of Rodney, Mississippi.
AIRIE/TOWNSPERSON #3
AIRIE: Goat’s sister. Described as "just as dumb as her brother”. Part of the poor family that includes her brother, Goat, and their mother, who live in the area of Rodney, Mississippi. Communicates through actions, physical comedy and simple sounds.
TOWNSPERSON #3: In addition to AIRIE, to play various residents of Rodney, Mississippi.
RAVEN/TOWNSPERSON #2
RAVEN: A beautiful, smart black bird, known for its acrobatic flight and glossy black feathers. Highly intelligent with a wide vocal range. Bewildering and watchful.
TOWNSPERSON #2: In addition to RAVEN, to play various residents of Rodney, Mississippi.
TOWNSPERSON #1: To play various residents of Rodney, Mississippi.
The Alchemy Theatre is committed to equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment. It is the policy of The Alchemy Theatre to provide full and equal employment opportunities to all artists without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, marital status, veteran status, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, physical or mental disability or any other legally protected status. We are committed to building a creative and dynamic workplace that celebrates individual differences and diversity, treating everyone with fairness and respect.
Thank you!
