AUDITIONS FOR SOMETHING ROTTEN!

music & lyrics by Karey Kirkpatrick & Wayne Kirkpatrick, book by Karey Kirkpatrick & Jahn Farrell

Wheaton Drama, Inc. proudly announces auditions for Something Rotten!, directed by Steven Meerdink, music direction by Sandra Jozef, and choreography by Morgan Prentiss. We are seeking a high-energy group of performers with a ‘Can Do!’ attitude! Actors should plan to attend one audition date and remain available for potential callbacks and the scheduled read-through.

Callbacks are by invitation at the director’s discretion, and not all roles will require one.

Auditions will involve singing, dancing, and reading scenes (sides will be provided once you sign up for a slot) with fellow auditionees so we can get a sense of how well performers work together.

Auditions will be held in 40-minute time slots. When signing up, please indicate the day and preferred time slot. (Sign up for a 40-minute time slot; 6:00 – 6:40, 6:45 – 7:20, 7:25 – 8:05, 8:10 – 8:50, 8:55 – 9:35)

Please be prepared to sing 32 measures of a musical theatre song (not from the show) and bring sheet music in the correct key to your audition.

Audition dance routines (one tap & one Broadway) will be taught at the audition, but it is also highly recommended that you attend a dance workshop on Wednesday, March 4 or Wednesday, March 11, beginning at 6:00 p.m. at Winfield Park District (located at 0N020 County Farm Rd, Winfield, IL 60190). We ask that all those who plan to attend a dance workshop sign up for the desired date so that our choreographer can plan accordingly. To sign up for a dance workshop, please click here. Please note that those who are unable to attend the workshop (or wish to review the material on their own) will have access to it via video as well, once they sign up for an audition slot. It is also important to know that attending the dance workshop does not guarantee being cast (or not being cast) in the production of Something Rotten!

Please note that all those auditioning must be at least 16 years of age. In addition, all cast members must be, or become, a member of Wheaton Drama.

AUDITION DATES

Please arrive promptly!

• Sunday, March 15; 6:00
• Monday, March 16; 6:00
• Callbacks Tuesday, March 17, 6:30-10:00 p.m.

LOCATION

Wheaton Drama Inc.
111 N. Hale Street
Wheaton IL 60187

Other Important Dates

• READ THROUGH:
  • Saturday, March 21; 10:00 a.m.
• PERFORMANCES:
  • Friday, May 22nd – Sunday, June 14th (15 performances total)
    • Evenings Thursdays, Fridays, & Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Matinees Sundays at 2pm

Send completed audition forms and request for your audition date of preference to the production team at [email protected]. Head shots are also requested (if available). The audition form can be found here (or is available upon request at the email listed above).

Synopsis

Welcome to the Renaissance, where the Black Plague has ceded power to the Puritans, farthingales and codpieces are the latest fashion trend, and the biggest celebrity in England is a playwright named William Shakespeare. In the midst of all this excitement, brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom are trying to keep their acting company afloat. In a desperate attempt to out-Bard the Bard, Nick consults with a soothsayer, who informs him that the future of theatre involves acting, singing, and dancing — sometimes all at once! As the Bottom brothers strive to write the world’s very first “musical”, they find themselves caught in a bitter battle with the Bard and the play’s the thing. Something Rotten! is a hysterical, joyous, over-the-top celebration of everything you love about Broadway.

Cast of Characters

• Nick Bottom
  A struggling playwright who dreams — much to his own chagrin — of having a career like Shakespeare’s. Though Nick is artistically frustrated and stressed about leading the Troupe, he means well, even if his actions aren’t always exactly ethical. 
  • tenor, baritone / early to late 30s
• Nigel Bottom
  Nick’s sweet younger brother who lacks the confidence he needs to write until he falls in love with Portia. Inspired by her confidence in him, Nigel writes verses worthy of Shakespeare himself! 
  • tenor / early to late 30s
• William Shakespeare
  The most famous playwright in Tudor England. Though Shakespeare is extremely successful, he’s always on the lookout for inspiration, which sometimes includes borrowing ideas from others. A ‘rock star’. 
  • tenor / early 30s to early 40s.
• Bea
  Married to Nick and loves him in spite of his lack of success in the theatre. She is whip-smart, is resourceful, and always looks on the bright side of any situation. 
  • alto / mid-20s to late 30s
• Portia
  A Puritan and Brother Jeremiah’s daughter. She is passionate about poetry even though she isn’t technically allowed to read it. 
  • mezzo-soprano / early 20s to mid-30s
• Nostradamus
  Not ‘the’ Nostradamus, but his nephew or niece, can see the future, although with varying degrees of accuracy. Their predictions, for better or worse, lead the Troupe to produce their very first musical. (male or female) 
  • tenor, baritone / 40s to 70s
• Brother Jeremiah
  A Puritan and Portia’s father. He sees sin wherever he looks and does not approve of the theater, especially Nick and Nigel’s Troupe. 
  • tenor, baritone / late 40s to late 50s
• Lord or Lady Clapham A posh patron of the theater. They abandon the Troupe as their patron once they cross Brother Jeremiah.
  • 40s to 70s
• Minstrel Opens the show by welcoming the audience to the Renaissance! Joins the ensemble for the rest of the show.
  • tenor / any age (at least 16)
• Shylock
  Banned from any profession other than moneylending, but theatre is his true love, and he wants nothing more than to become the Troupe’s patron. 
  • baritone (could be a non-singing) 40s to 70s
• Ensemble
  These dancing singing roles will fill all the additional roles and carry several productions numbers. Peter Quince, Robin, Tom Snout, Snug, Francis Flute, Townspeople, Puritans, Concert Crowd, Astrologers, Psychics, Fortune Tellers, Grim Reapers, Eggs, Guards. 
  • (6 male, 6 female)
  • soprano, alto, tenor, baritone / any age (at least 16)