Paramount Theatre 2024-25 Season - Chicago EPA Aurora Civic Center Authority | Aurora, IL
Notice: Audition Call Type: EPA
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (C)
BREAK: 1:00PM - 2:00PM
LOA
$994 weekly minimum (LOA ref. COST) Broadway Series
$689 weekly minimum (LOA ref. COST) Bold Series & Stolp Island Theatre
Equity actors for roles in Paramount Theatre's 2024-25 Season (see breakdown).
All Stage managerial positions are currently filled.
Please bring one copy of Headshot/Resume. Please see special instructions for Million Dollar Quartet in breakdown. Otherwise, please prepare 1 two-minute or 2 one-minute contemporary musical theatre song(s) that best show off your style and range.
Actors' Equity Association - Chicago Member Center
557 W Randolph St
1st Fl
Chicago, IL 60661
See breakdown for production-specific personnel.
EXPECTED TO ATTEND:
Trent Stork (they/them) –Director of Cats, Artistic Producer & Casting Director for Paramount Theatre
Elena Gerk (she/her) – Artistic & Casting Associate for Paramount Theatre
See breakdown for production-specific dates.
OTHER
The Aurora Civic Center Authority (parent company to Paramount Theatre) is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, familial status, sexual orientation, national origin, ability, age, or veteran status.
EPA Procedures are in effect for this audition. An Equity Monitor will be provided.
Equity’s contracts prohibit discrimination.
Equity is committed to diversity and encourages all its employers to engage in a policy of equal employment opportunity designed to promote a positive model of inclusion. As such, Equity encourages performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, and ages, as well as performers with disabilities, to attend every audition.
Always bring your Equity Membership card to auditions.
CASTING NOTE: Most characters we encounter currently are on the binary and are written with he/him or she/her pronouns. However limiting the descriptions are, our casting seeks to be inclusive as possible and we invite gender non-conforming, genderqueer, transgender, and non-binary actors to submit for the roles they most identify with. We will also list race/ethnicity when specific to the character but are otherwise seeking all races and ethnicities. Please let us know if you have any questions, concerns, or if there are any accommodations we can provide.
Due to frequent and necessary interaction with members of the general public, performers, fellow employees and other individuals, successful candidates for employment are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before they begin work and will be required to provide proof of vaccination. “Fully vaccinated” as defined by the CDC means that at least 14 days have passed following receipt of the final dose of an FDA authorized COVID-19 vaccine. Additionally, COVID-19 boosters are required for eligible employees.
Paramount Theatre
Stolp Island Theatre
Paramount Theatre is proud to announce the addition Stolp Island Theatre! Set to open in July 2024, the immersive 98 seat house will allow an experience like never before. The inaugural production for the space will be an intimate production of Million Dollar Quartet! Paramount Theatre is currently seeking actors for an open-ended run with contracts provided on a rolling basis.
Jim Corti (he/him) – Director of Million Dollar Quartet, Artistic Director for Paramount Theatre
Kory Danielson (he/him) – Music Director
Trent Stork (they/them) –Artistic Producer & Casting Director for Paramount Theatre Elena Gerk (she/her) – Artistic & Casting Associate for Paramount Theatre
PRODUCTION DATES
First Rehearsal: June 11, 2024
Tech Begins: July 3, 2024
First Preview: July 10, 2024
Opening Night: July 19, 2024
Closing Night: TBD (Open Run)
Audition Preparation:
Please prepare a one-minute cut of a song cut in the style of the show to be SELF-accompanied on guitar for the roles of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Carl Perkins.
Please prepare a one-minute cut of a song cut in the style of the show to be SELF-accompanied on piano for the role of Jerry Lee Lewis.
Please prepare a one-minute cut of a song cut in the style of the show for the role of Dyanne. An accompanist will be provided.
Jerry Lee Lewis: Male, 20. Rock ‘n’ Roll’s legendary piano prodigy and celebrated Last Man Standing. Superb piano player.
Elvis Presley: Male, 21. The first and still undisputed King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Plays guitar. Carl Perkins: Male, 24. The first poet of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Lead guitar player.
Johnny Cash: Male, 24. A giant of American music at the dawn of his epic career. Plays guitar.
Sam Phillips: Male, 33. The Father of Rock ‘n’ roll and the founder of Sun Records. Discovered Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and many others including Roy Orbison and B.B. King. A towering and charismatic figure in American music.
Dyanne: Female, mid-twenties. An aspiring singer who can hold her own among four legends of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Elvis’s girlfriend.
Brother Jay: Male, mid-twenties. Brother of Carl Perkins. Plays bass.
Fluke: Male, mid-twenties. Sun Record’s drummer. A superb drummer.
Paramount Theatre
Bold Series
Stephen Schellhardt (he/him) – Director
Morgan DiFonzo (she/her) – Choreographer
Kory Danielson (he/him) – Music Director
Trent Stork (they/them) – Artistic Producer & Casting Director for Paramount Theatre Elena Gerk (she/her) – Artistic & Casting Associate for Paramount Theatre
PRODUCTION DATES
First Rehearsal: February 10, 2025
Tech Begins: March 5, 2025
First Preview: March 12, 2025
Opening Night: March 20 and 21, 2025
Closing Night: April 27, 2025
NOTE: While many actors will play preteens/teens, ALL actors need to be over the age of 16
Chip Tolentino: Male, 16+ to play Preteen. An athletic, social, boy scout and champion of the Twenty-Fourth Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, he returns to defend his title, but he finds puberty hitting at an inopportune moment.
Logainne Schwartzandgrunenierre: Female, 16+ to play Preteen. Also known as “Schwartzy”, Logainne is the youngest and most politically aware speller, often making comments about current political figures. Schwartzy is driven by internal and external pressure, but above all by a desire to win to make her two fathers proud. She is somewhat of a neat freak, speaks with a lisp, and regardless of the outcome this year, she will be back next year.
Leaf Coneybear: Any Gender, 16+ to play Preteen. The second runner-up in their district, Leaf gets into the competition on a lark and finds everything about the bee incredibly amusing. Leaf is home schooled and comes from a large family of former hippies. Leaf has severe Attention Deficit Disorder and spells words correctly while in a trance.
William Barfee: Male, 16+ to play Preteen. A Putnam County Spelling Bee finalist last year, William was eliminated because of an allergic reaction to peanuts and is back for vindication. His famous Magic Foot method of spelling has boosted him to spelling glory, even though he only has one working nostril and a touchy, bullying personality. He develops a crush on Olive.
Marcy Park: Female, Asian, 16+ to play Preteen. A recent transfer from Virginia, Marcy placed ninth in last year's nationals. She speaks six languages, is a member of all-American hockey, a championship rugby player, plays Chopin and Mozart on multiple instruments, sleeps only three hours a night, hides in the bathroom cabinet, and is getting very tired of always winning. She is the poster child for the Over-Achiever, and attends a Catholic school called Our Lady of Intermittent Sorrows. She is also not allowed to cry.
Olive Ostrovsky: Female, 16+ to play Preteen. A young newcomer to competitive spelling. Her mother is in an ashram in India, and her father is working late, as usual, but he is trying to come sometime during the bee. Having found comfort in its words and vastness, Olive made friends with her dictionary at a very young age, helping her to make it to the competition. She starts enormously shy, and shyly blossoms.
Rona Lisa Peretti: Female, 30s-40s. The number-one realtor in Putnam County, a former Putnam County Spelling Bee Champion herself, and the returning moderator. Rona is a sweet woman who loves children, but she can be very stern when it comes to dealing with Vice Principal Panch and his feelings for her. Her commitment to the competition is unflagging and always drives it forward.
Douglas Panch: Male, 30s-60s. Vice Principle Panch is frustrated with his life and finds the drive of the young spellers alien to him. After five years' absence from the Bee, Panch returns as judge. There was an incident at the Twentieth Annual Bee, but he claims to be in a better place now, thanks to a high-fiber diet and Jungian analysis. He is infatuated with Rona Lisa Peretti, but she does not return his affections.
Mitch Mahoney: Any Gender, 20s-40s. The Official Comfort Counselor, Mitch/Midge is an ex-convict performing community service with the Bee, and hands out juice boxes to losing students. Mitch/Midge has no idea how to offer comfort, but wishes to find a way to make the kids feel better.
Paramount Theatre
Broadway Series
In Paramount Theatre’s upcoming production of Cats, the curtain rises on what remains of the Cirque du Chat. In addition to fabulous dancers and singers, Paramount Theatre is seeking acrobats, circus performers, contortionists, aerialists, and any other form of specialty physical performer to join the production. Many of the acts in the Cirque du Chat will be based around the performers we are able to find so please come audition!
Trent Stork (they/them) – Director of Cats, Artistic Producer & Casting Director for Paramount Theatre Sylvia Hernandez-Distasi (she/her) – Circus Choreographer
TBD - Choreographer
Kory Danielson (he/him) – Music Director
Jim Corti (he/him) – Artistic Director for Paramount Theatre
Elena Gerk (she/her) – Artistic & Casting Associate for Paramount Theatre
PRODUCTION DATES
First Rehearsal: March 31, 2025
Tech Begins: April 23, 2025
First Preview: April 30, 2025
Opening Night: May 9, 2025
Closing Night: June 15, 2025
Munkustrap: Mature, Male Cat. The Ringleader of the Cats and Lion Tamer to his wild-at-heart brother, Macavity. The sensible and responsible oldest brother of Rum Tum Tugger and Macavity.
Rum Tum Tugger: Mature, Male Cat. The middle Brother of the Brother Trio of Cats: Munkustrap, Rum Tum Tugger, and Macavity. Happily domesticated and uses his Rock Star charm to get what he wants when he wants it. The mid-show vocal entertainment in this Cirque du Chat.
Macavity: Younger to Mature, Male Cat. Untamed, Lionesque, youngest brother to Munkustrap and Rum Tum Tugger. Has a heart of fire and refuses to be domesticated. His reputation for disruption makes him both infamous and seductive. He has two ex-lovers: Bombalurina and Demeter.
Grizabella: Older, Female Cat. Aging and broken-hearted former Trapeze Artist Cat. Once upon a time she only had to reach out and be caught. She reaches still but no one is there. Her lover abandoned her many years ago, her mind deteriorated, and her community shunned her. Miss Havisham on a wire.
Mistoffelees: Young, Male Cat. The Magician Cat, of course! Uses his terpsichorean powers to find and bring back Old Deuteronomy. Confident, mysterious, and the most beloved of Cats.
Victoria: Young, Female Cat. The arial and contortion specialist in the Cirque du Chat. The most recent soul to be brought back to a new Jellicle Life. The Jellicle Ball is her coming-of-age party- she is now looking for a mate.
Bombalurina and Demeter: Mature, Female Cats. Sisters who used to have a double act. Both used and spurned by Macavity, they revile but long for his embrace.
Bustopher Jones: Older, Male Cat. The jolly Happy Clown of the Cirque du Chat. Loves to eat but constantly forgetting and misplacing what he was just snacking on!
Asparagus (or, just Gus): Older, Male Cat. The star of yesteryear who has sadly aged out of his former Circus Glory Days. He can still remember the good times when all eyes were on him. He is now a bit of a Sad Clown type who the Cats still adore. The Cats love to hear his stories!
Old Deuteronomy: Older, Gender TBD. Maybe the Strongman Cat or the Strong-Woman Cat or maybe the Bearded Lady Cat. In any form, Deuteronomy’s progeny make up the Cirque du Chat.
Skimbleshanks: Mature, Male Cat. Skimblehsanks is the Manger cat in charge of loading and unloading the Circus on and off the train as the Circus travels from town to town. He’s a bit much but you gotta love him. Every group needs a Skimble, but not everyone in the group can be a Skimble, ya know?
Mungojerrie and Rumpleteaser: Younger, Male and Female Cat Respectively. Bouncy pair of naughty Acrobatic Cats who star in the Cirque du Chat when they aren’t causing mayhem and mischief.
Coricopat and Tantomile: Mature, Twin Cats of any Gender. Psychic Twin Cats who are rarely if ever seen apart. Or are they one cat altogether? No one really knows…
Tumblebrutus: Younger, Any Gender Cat. The Tumbling Star of the Cirque du Chat. Can fly through the air with greatest of ease.
Jellyorum: Older, Female Cat. The Mother Figure to the younger Cats and Caretaker of all the Cats. Loves Gus most of all.
Jennyanydots: Mature, Female Cat. A Gumby Cat that thinks that her special skill… tap dance! …should be a main attraction in the Cirque du Chat. Munkustrap is in support but the other Cats are not so sure…
Sillabub: Female Cat. Last year’s Jellicle Choice and heart of the Cats. Can see through, and relate to, Grizabella’s pain. Currently the Trapeze Act in the Circus.
Cassandra: Female Cat. The Mysterious Seductress of the Cats. Often used to memorize the audience as a point of distraction for the Magic Acts. Best friend and cohort to Mistoffelees.
Carbuckety, Alonzo, Pouncival, Electra: Four Cats of any Age and any Gender. Other Acts in the Cirque du Chat- maybe: trapeze, wire walking, tumbling, contortionist, etc.
Ensemble Cats: Cats of any Age and any Gender. Other cats that serve as ensemble Cats and back up performers to the Main Attractions in the Cirque du Chat.
Cat Chorus: One voice of each of the primary voice types: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Bass. Offstage Singing Cats that make the music in the Circus of Cats sound great!
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