AUDITIONS: Phoenix Productions' SCHOOL OF ROCK - THE MUSICAL at the Count Basie Center in Red Bank
For over 30 years, Phoenix Productions has been dedicated to the mission of providing quality theatrical experiences on both sides of the footlights. After three decades of performances at the Count Basie Center for the Arts, the organizations announced earlier this year their intentions to merge, combining and solidifying their regional impact on the performing arts.
Together, Phoenix Productions and the Count Basie Center have a clear vision: to be the place where a diverse mix of talented people want to do their best work. The organizations’ continued pledge to deepen their commitment to cultural competency, racial equity and social inclusion is at the heart of the Basie Center’s mission as a nonprofit.
In casting, this means a commitment and intention to locate and encourage performers of all ages, ethnicities, cultural heritages / backgrounds, body types, and gender expressions.
AUDITION ANNOUNCEMENT
SCHOOL OF ROCK
Phoenix Productions is looking for a diverse slate of performers for its next production, School of Rock – The Musical. Based on the 2003 movie starring Jack Black, School of Rock – The Musical tells the story of Dewey Finn, a failed, wannabe rock star who decides to earn an extra bit of cash by posing as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. There, Dewey turns a class of straight–A pupils into a guitar-shredding, bass-slapping, mind-blowing rock band. But can Dewey get them to the Battle of the Bands without their parents and the school’s leadership finding out? With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, this musical features 14 new songs as well as songs from the movie.
There are roles for performers who are working on their QUADRUPLE threat skills – singing, dancing, acting AND playing a musical instrument. Looking for performers who can pass for 11-14 years old for the student ensemble – 4+ members of the student ensemble should play instruments very well (piano, bass, drums, and both rock and acoustic guitar).
Performers who would like to be considered for the roles of Zach (guitar), Freddy (drums), Katie (cello and bass) and Lawrence (piano and keyboard) should prepare a 30-60 second video submission of themselves playing their instrument. These 4 roles will be cast based on musicianship and not gender expression, ethnicity or cultural heritage / background. Send your video submission or a link to
Auditions@phoenixredbank.com prior to your scheduled, in-person audition date.
Audition Dates:
May 18 from 6:00PM – 9:00PM
May 19 from 6:00PM – 9:00PM
May 21 from 10:00AM– 1:00PM
Auditions will take place at the Phoenix Rehearsal Center (59 Chestnut Street in Red Bank). All auditionees are asked to prepare 16 bars of their best musical/standard music selection. Please bring your sheet music in the correct key for the accompanist.
If you cannot make any of the scheduled audition times please send a video submission or a link to
Auditions@phoenixredbank.com – along with a picture, list of credits or a resume, and a list of all conflicts during the proposed rehearsal dates. Video submission deadline is May 16.
Select performers will be asked to a callback session at the Phoenix Productions Rehearsal Center (59 Chestnut St. Red Bank, NJ 07701) on Sunday May 22 from 11:00AM – 3:00PM.
Please visit
https://www.phoenixredbank.com/new-stage-policies for our revised policies / procedures and COVID-19 action plan.
Rehearsals / vocal coaching will be in-person and we will follow strict protocols to minimize the risk of transmission.
Due to the nature of the show, frequent COVID testing for all participants will be required.
Rehearsal dates: June 1 (or there abouts) to July 22 -- typically 3 weekday evenings and one weekend day.
Performances:
Friday July 22 - 8:00PM
Saturday, July 23 - 3:00PM / 8:00PM
Sunday, July 24 - 3:00PM
Director: Corey Rubel
Music Director: Kara Leigh
Choreographer: TBD
Production Stage Manager: Jess DeLucia
SCHOOL OF ROCK (LLOYD WEBBER) — CAST LIST
PRINCIPALS
Dewey Finn - Rock Tenor (B2-A5): A wannabe rock star with big dreams, Dewey finds themself in urgent need of some cash after getting kicked out of their band. They impersonate a teacher to land a job at the prestigious Horace Green prep school, where they turn their class of straight-A students into a rock group and enter them in the Battle of the Bands. High rock tenor must have at least some basic guitar skills. All ethnicities, gender expressions, cultural heritage / background and body types are encouraged to audition for this role.
Rosalie Mullins - Soprano (A3-D6): Proper and a bit uptight, Rosalie is the head of Horace Green School. They have a secret love of rock music and yearns to recapture the carefree spirit of their youth. Though originally cast as a ‘headmistress,’ all ethnicities, gender expressions, cultural heritage / background and body types are encouraged to audition for this role.
Ned Schneebly - Baritone (C3-F#4): Ned is an old friend of Dewey’s, and the two currently share an apartment with Ned’s girlfriend Patti. They used to play in Dewey’s band but is now a substitute teacher – who Dewey impersonates to get the job at Horace Green. Ned is still passionate about their music but tends to let their bossy girlfriend Patti tell them what to do.
All ethnicities, gender expressions, cultural heritage / background and body types are encouraged to audition for this role.
Patty Di Marco - Mezzo-Soprano (B3-E5): Ned’s domineering girlfriend, who lives with Ned and Dewey. They call the shots in their relationship and isn’t too happy about Dewey’s presence in their flat – or their influence on Ned. All ethnicities, gender expressions, cultural heritage / background and body types are encouraged to audition for this role.
KIDS: (Must appear aged 11 – 13)
Summer Hathaway - Range: A3-D5 a Manhattan ‘princess;’ has never had it any other way than their own; they are confident things will continue in this vein; gives a new sense to the word entitlement; pop/rock singer who moves well. All ethnicities, gender expressions, cultural heritage / background and body types are encouraged to audition for this role.
Tomika - Range: A3-G5 a wonderful singer who is exasperated by their two fathers' inability to see that they need help; they think Tomika is perfect; Tomika knows they’re drowning; pop/rock singer who moves well. This role was written for and includes references to the character’s African American heritage. All ethnicities, gender expressions, cultural heritage / background and body types are encouraged to audition.
Zack Mooneyham (guitar) - Range: A3-D5: plays guitar; a mixture of anger at their father's indifference and passion for the music that is raging inside them; Zack knows they have more than they have ever been able to show; pop/rock singer who moves well. All ethnicities, gender expressions, cultural heritage / background and body types are encouraged to audition for this role.
Freddie Hamilton (drums) - Range: A3-D: plays drums; a character who is happy to be released; pop/rock singer who moves well. All ethnicities, gender expressions, cultural heritage / background and body types are encouraged to audition for this role.
Katie (bass) - Range: A3-D#5: plays bass guitar/cello; Katie is distinguished by their talent for the cello; pop/rock singer who moves well. All ethnicities, gender expressions, cultural heritage / background and body types are encouraged to audition for this role.
Lawrence (piano / keyboard) - Range: A3-D#5: plays piano; a shy, awkward character, unconfident and gauche, but a genius on the keyboard, who needs a free spirit like Dewey to lead them out of the darkness; pop/rock singer who moves well. All ethnicities, gender expressions, cultural heritage / background and body types are encouraged to audition for this role.
Marcy - Range: A3-G5: a clever character; back-up singer with style; pop/rock singer who moves well. All ethnicities, gender expressions, cultural heritage / background and body types are encouraged to audition for this role.
Shonelle - Range: A3-G5 clever character; back-up singer with style; pop/rock singer who moves well. All ethnicities, gender expressions, cultural heritage / background and body types are encouraged to audition for this role.
Billy Sandford - Range: A3-D5: a character with a marked artistic flair, and other problems; pop/rock singer who moves well. All ethnicities, gender expressions, cultural heritage / background and body types are encouraged to audition for this role.
Sophie - Range: A3-D5: : as eager as the others to enjoy school instead of dreading it; a wiz on the technical side; pop/rock singer who moves well. All ethnicities, gender expressions, cultural heritage / background and body types are encouraged to audition for this role.
Mason Ward - Range: A3-D5: as eager as the others to enjoy school instead of dreading it; a wiz on the technical side; pop/rock singer who moves well. All ethnicities, gender expressions, cultural heritage / background and body types are encouraged to audition for this role.
James - Range: A3-D5: a student; pop/rock singer who moves well. All ethnicities, gender expressions, cultural heritage / background and body types are encouraged to audition for this role.
Madison - Range: A3-D5: a student; pop/rock singer who moves well. All ethnicities, gender expressions, cultural heritage / background and body types are encouraged to audition for this role.
ADULT ENSEMBLE: Most actors play multiple parts
All ethnicities, gender expressions, cultural heritage / background and body types are encouraged to audition for these roles:
TEACHERS
Mx. Sheinkopf
Mx. Noble
Mx. Green
Gabe Brown
Mx. Sanders
Mx. Gordon
Mx. Bingham
Mx. Woodward
Mx. Janes
Mx. Macapugay
Mx. Wagner
PARENTS
Mx. Mooneyham
Mx. Hathaway
Mx. Williams
Mx. Spencer
Mx. Sandford
Mx. Ward
Mx. Hamilton
Mx. Turner
Mx. Travis
OTHERS
Jeff Sanderson – Manager of Battle of the Bands
Theo (No Vacancy) - Range: D3-D5
Doug (No Vacancy) - Range: G3-G4
Bob (No Vacancy) - Range: G3-D5
Snake (No Vacancy) - Range: G3-G4
Stanley
Security Guard 1
Security Guard 2
Weekly travel stipends may be available to those who qualify.
Videos
