DR. SEUSS’S HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS – National Tour
VIRTUAL OPEN CALL
Producers: Running Subway Productions &
TROIKA Entertainment
Book and Lyrics by Timothy Mason
Music by Mel Marvin
Director: Matt August
Choreographer: Bob Richard
Musical Supervisor: Peter Leigh-Nilsen
General Management by Brian Schrader and Tegan Meyer
Casting: Binder Casting/Chad Eric Murnane, CSA
1st Rehearsal in NYC: o/a 10/25/21
End of Contract: o/a 12/13/21
Number of Performance Weeks: 4-weeks
Route: Weeklong, and multiweek engagements.
*Performance weeks may have up to 12 performances in a given week. The Production runs approximately 85 minutes.
Rehearsals:
Flat. $600.00 p/w
Performances:
Min. $1,500 p/w – Lead
Max. $750 p/w – Principals
Max. $650 p/w – Featured Ens.
Flat. $600 p/w –Ensemble
ABOUT: The Grinch discovers there’s more to Christmas than he bargained for in this heart-warming holiday classic. Max the Dog narrates as the sour and scheming Grinch, whose heart is “two sizes too small”, decides to steal Christmas away from the holiday loving Whos.
DIRECTOR’S NOTE ON CASTING: Whoville is made up of individuals that are all different from one another and get much joy in celebrating the holiday, the community, and their differences. We are actively assembling a cast that represents different ethnicities, races, gender identities, religions, levels of ableness, sexualities, and political parties. It is meant to be a metaphor for the rich and diverse cultural tapestry that makes up our melting-pot nation.
PLEASE SUBMIT ALL ETHNICITIES FOR ALL ROLES.
SEEKING:
[THE GRINCH] Male Identifying, 35+ to play 56 years old. Should be 6’0” or taller. Our main protagonist. He has spent years living in seclusion. He is fed-up with Christmas and ingeniously decides to steal it. A beastly, charming, often silly curmudgeon. He is hilariously scary but with a softy’s heart underneath — think more Wile E. Coyote than Voldemort. He fancies himself a Vaudeville superstar with “champion-stock” DNA and has a personality that outsizes everybody else in Whoville. The Grinch is a real triple threat. Baritone (A2-D4) with strong falsetto. LEAD
[OLD MAX] Male Identifying, 45+ to visibly be the oldest soul on stage. Our storyteller who unexpectedly has a final memory that inspires him to celebrate the night of the Grinch’s transformation with the audience. A wise and somewhat weary old soul on the last legs of a spectacular life. He is trustworthy and charming and can “spin a yarn” like the best of them. Sings You're a Mean One. Bass-baritone (G2-E4). PRINCIPAL
[YOUNG MAX] Male Identifying, 18+ to play much younger. Should be 5’8” or under. Misery loves company, but this peppy new pup refuses to succumb to the Grinch’s negativity and pessimism. He is lovable, charming, and always eager to please. He is indefatigably positive and fun. Everything the Grinch tries to destroy, Max catches before it breaks, never tiring of the Grinch’s antics. Tenor (C3-A4). PRINCIPAL
[CINDY-LOU WHO] Female identifying, 6-10 years old to play younger. Should be 4’2” or under and visibly the smallest person on stage. She is the youngest child of the central Who family. She is the one person with a genuine heart of gold that can find and express love to the Grinch. She is still young enough to be guided by her sense of wonder and empathy and believes in the possibility for goodness in the Grinch. Soprano (A3-F5). PRINCIPAL
[ANNIE WHO] Female Identifying, 8-13 years old to play 10. Should be 4'2-4’9”. She is the second youngest child of the central Who family. Primary function of this role is to cover Cindy-Lou Who — see character description. This track will dance. Soprano (A3-F5). FEATURED ENSEMBLE
[PAPA WHO] Male Identifying, 30s. Should be 5’8” or taller. The Father of the central Who Family. He is the calm eye of the storm, goodness and confidence pours out of him. He accidently indoctrinates the children of Whoville with the story of the boogeyman Grinch. Tenor (B2-G4). FEATURED ENSEMBLE
[MAMA WHO] Female Identifying, 30s. Should be 5’6” or taller. The Mother of the central Who Family. She is overwhelmed by the Christmas hysteria, and she is unsuccessfully struggling to maintain control of both her children and Grandpa and Grandma Who. Adorably annoying, funny, and a loving mother. Soprano with belt (C4-F5). FEATURED ENSEMBLE
[GRANDPA WHO] Male Identifying, 55 years old. The eldest of the central Who family. He is gruff, comically grumpy, and enjoys antagonizing Mama Who and trying to scare the children with ghost stories. He loves Christmas and his grandchildren but is driven batty by both. Baritone (Bb2-E4). FEATURED ENSEMBLE
[GRANDMA WHO] Female Identifying, 55 years old. The matriarch of the central Who family who can solve any problem, a peacemaker. She is loving and warm. The children respect and listen to her, and she has the patience to calm both them and Mama Who. Mezzo Soprano (C4-E5). FEATURED ENSEMBLE
[WHO FAMILY CHILDREN] Male and Female Identifying, 18+ to play younger. Should be 5’2” or shorter. Roles include Danny Who, Boo Who, and Betty-Lou Who. The rest of the children from the central Who family. They are the life and pulse of the Holidays: loud and filled with energy. Looking for dancers who are skillfully acrobatic and/or gymnastic. The specific “tricks” for each track will be tailored to the skills of the performers. Tricks can include splits, balancing, juggling, skating with Heely’s, etc. Who Family Children need to sing. ENSEMBLE
[YOUNG WHO ENSEMBLE] Male and Female Identifying, 18+ to play younger. Should be 5’2” or shorter. The Children of Whoville. They are the life and pulse of the Holidays: loud and filled with energy. Should be dancers who are skillfully acrobatic and/or gymnastic. The specific “tricks” for each track will be tailored to the skills of the performers. Tricks can include splits, balancing, juggling, skating using Heely’s, etc. Young Who Ensemble needs to sing. ENSEMBLE
[ADULT WHO ENSEMBLE] Male and Female Identifying, 20s-40s. The Adults of Whoville. They have a bright optimism and radiate joy and enthusiasm. They are all different from one another and get much joy in celebrating the holiday, the community, and their differences. Should be dancers who are skillfully acrobatic and/or gymnastic. The specific “tricks” for each track will be tailored to the skills of the performers. Tricks can include splits, balancing, juggling, skating using Heely’s, etc. Adult Ensemble will cover principal and featured roles — see character descriptions. Adult Who Ensemble needs to sing well. ENSEMBLE
About TROIKA Entertainment
TROIKA Entertainment is a theatrical production company producing touring musical theatre productions throughout North America and internationally. We are based in Rockville, MD.
TROIKA Entertainment LLC is an equal opportunity employer. We will extend equal opportunity to all individuals without regard to race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, disability, age, genetic information, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws. Our policy reflects and affirms our Company’s commitment to the principles of fair employment and the elimination of all discriminatory practices.
OPEN CALL INFORMATION/DIRECTIONS:
We are seeking individuals of all different ethnicities, races, gender identities, religions, levels of ableness, and sexualities to make up the cast of the Non-Equity National Tour of “THE GRINCH”.
Self-taped submissions will be accepted using the link below ONLY. Please do not email submission videos to casting. Carefully read and follow all the instructions, and only submit if you are fully available for all dates. Videos must be submitted on airtable as links (Dropbox, Vimeo, or Google Drive).
https://airtable.com/shr5SYu2z8djzR2mN
What to Prepare (General Instructions for ALL Roles)
Slate video: Include your name, height, role, current location, Covid-19 vaccination status, and a full body pan. If you are under 18, please include your age in your slate.
Prepare the full audition packet for your role. Audition materials:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/t9gpkvzb8cecd3x/AAAAruoqcDst5WIeVSe3XIzwa?dl=0
Accompaniment tracks (with/without melody guides) are included. For your submission, please use the accompaniment only track.
In addition to the audition packet, sing a brief cut of a song that channels your inner “Who” and really lets your best “Who” personality shine through. Please use an accompaniment track for this song as well, no acapella.
If possible, accompaniment tracks for both songs should be played on a separate device than the one being used for recording.
Video Framing: Please be sure the video is framed so that we see your head to your waist for all sides and songs, to give us the best view of you. Video should be filmed horizontally, and make sure you are well lit.
PLEASE REVIEW THESE ADDITIONAL PREPARATION NOTES SPECIFIC TO THE CHARACTERS LISTED BELOW:
GRINCH: There are two versions of Song #2 in the packet. For the initial round of videos, please prepare the version labeled “Audition Cut” only, and not the full version of the song.
OLD MAX: For Song #1, there are two different key options. Pick the key that best suits your voice.
GRANDPA WHO: For Song #2, there are two different key options. Pick the key that best suits your voice.
ADULT WHO ENSEMBLE: Prepare the ADULT WHO side and either the Mama or Papa side, depending on which you identify with. For the song, choose the vocal part that best suits your voice.
CINDY: Do scene into song as one video/file
DANCE COMBO VIDEOS: (Young Max, Young Who Ensemble, Who Family Children, Adult Who Ensemble)
In addition to your audition packets, there is a dance combo that needs to be filmed. Please frame the video so that we can see your full body for the dance combo.
Please note, we are looking more for character/personality and storytelling with the dance combos, than technique.
If you have any special skills in Dance (jumps, leaps, turns), Cirque (juggling), or any kind of tumbling/acrobatics, we would love to see that! Please include a separate short video showing us your best and most impressive tricks.
HOW TO SUBMIT/DEADLINE
HOW TO SUBMIT:
All videos should be uploaded as separate clips, not as one long video.
We would like the videos to be labeled in this exact way and order: Slate, Side #1, Side #2, Song #1 (Title), Song #2 (Title).
DO NOT upload the entire audition as one file.
DEADLINE:
All tapes are due by 9PM EST on Monday, August 16, 2021.
QUESTIONS:
Email info@bindercasting.com with any question.
Videos
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