AUDITIONS FOR SEUSSICAL
Seussical Auditions June 6, 7, and 9, 2022
Uptown Music Theater of Highland Park is excited to announce non-equity auditions for “Seussical”, its September 2022 production. Seussical is a fantastical, magical, musical extravaganza! Tony winners, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Once on This Island, Ragtime), have lovingly brought to life all of our favorite Dr. Seuss characters, including Horton the Elephant, The Cat in the Hat, Gertrude McFuzz, lazy Mayzie and a little boy with a big imagination – Jojo. The colorful characters transport us from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus to the invisible world of the Whos. Uptown Music Theater is a not-for-profit theater company, located in Highland Park, IL.
Directed by Debra Goldman
Music and Orchestra Direction by Marty Karlin
Choreography by Sarah Makkawy
Audition Dates: June 6, 7, and 9, 2022 at 6pm with callbacks on June 11. Walk-ins welcome!
Location: West Ridge Center, 636 Ridge Road, Highland Park, IL 60035
Stipend, Commission, and Comps Policy: Uptown Music Theater offers a $100 stipend for lead and supporting roles. In addition, our ticket policy offers all performers two options: traditional comps or a commission on tickets sold. More details available at auditions.
Time Commitment: Read through will be held in June and rehearsals will be held at West Ridge Center in Highland Park between June 28 and August 26 before moving to the performance space in Highland Park on August 27. Performances are at the brand-new Northwood Theater in Highland Park on Fridays and Saturdays September 2, 3, 9, and 10 at 7:30pm; Saturdays and Sundays September 3, 4, 10, and 11 at 2pm.
COVID-19 Policy: All cast and staff must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and boosted, as recommended by the CDC guidelines, for auditions, rehearsals, and performances. Proof of vaccination and booster status (as applicable) must be provided at auditions before being seen. This information will be verified at auditions against a physical vaccination card, photocopy of vaccination card, digital record of vaccination, or a printed record from your vaccine provider. Performers must remain masked at all times until their audition. Staff will be fully masked at all times.
Safety at Rehearsals and Performances: Uptown Music Theater intends to have mask-free performances of this production. Due to the evolving nature of COVID-19, Uptown and the production staff will follow the latest local and CDC guidelines for rehearsals and performances and will partner with cast and staff to ensure the safety and comfort of all involved. Presently, masks that cover the lower half of the face including the nose must be worn at all times during rehearsals.
Material to Prepare: 32 bars of a song in the style of the show that shows your voice at its best. Music must be in the key you plan to sing. Please provide music in a book or double-sided in a 3-ring binder. Be prepared to dance. Bring a headshot and resume if available.
Contact Info: Please make an audition appointment here -
AUDITION SIGN UP and please complete this -
DIGITAL FORM before arrival. We will generally not be accepting video auditions. For additional information or questions, please contact us at
info@umthp.org.
Uptown Music Theater is committed to diversity, positivity, and inclusion. We encourage performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, and ages, as well as performers with disabilities, to audition. Auditions may be recorded on video. Expect to stay for a short time past your chosen time slot for the dance audition. It is the policy of Uptown Music Theater to accept walk-in auditions.
All roles are available.
Lead Roles:
The Cat in the Hat
Horton the Elephant
JoJo
Gertrude McFuzz
Mayzie LaBird
Supporting Roles:
Sour Kangaroo
The Mayor of Whoville
Mrs. Mayor
General Genghis Kahn Schmitz
Bird Girls (3)
The Wickersham Brothers (3)
Other roles:
Ensemble
Character Breakdown:
The Cat in the Hat
Our story's omniscient narrator, the Cat is fun loving and enjoys rhyming. Pops up throughout the story to help the audience. Wise and attentive.
(male identifying, female identifying, or non-binary)
Age: 18 - 40
Vocal range: F2 to F4 or Bb4 to D6
Horton The Elephant
Our story's main character, he is a compassionate and gentle elephant. Commonly misunderstood because of his larger size. He is protective and loving of all creatures in the jungle.
Age: 18 - 40
Vocal range: A2 to F4
Jojo
The Mayor's son, he is a Who that is always finding trouble. Bright, creative, and inadvertently mischievous. Possesses a wildly expansive imagination and finds solace in his friendship with Horton.
Age: 10 – 17 (male identifying, female identifying, or non-binary)
Vocal range: Ab3 to C5
Gertrude Mcfuzz
Horton's one-feathered-tail bird neighbor. Gertrude is sweet and timid. Though kind and loyal, she is also self-conscious of her shortfalls. She endeavors to help Horton.
Age: 18 - 40
Vocal range: F3 to F5
Mayzie Labird
The most beautiful bird in all of the jungle. Oblivious to her self-centered ways, she relies on her talent of manipulation, and intoxicating beauty, to navigate her way through life.
Age: 18 -40
Vocal range: G3 to Eb5
The Sour Kangaroo
The leader of the jungle. She is loud, brassy, and stubbornly set in her ways. A caring mother, but unabashedly sassy and soulful.
Age 25-50
Vocal range: F#3 to F5
General Genghis Khan Schmitz
Proud and misguided military leader of children, which renders him comical.
Age: 30-?
Vocal range: Baritone
Mr. Mayor
Age: 30-50
JoJo’s father, who loves JoJo dearly, trying hard to raise a difficult child in a difficult world.
Vocal range: Tenor/Baritone
Mrs. Mayor
Age: 30-50
JoJo’s mother, who loves JoJo dearly, trying hard to raise a difficult child in a difficult world.
Vocal range: Soprano
Bird Girls
Age: 18-40
Mayzie's friends – a jazzy, sassy girl group
Vocal range: Alto, Mezzo, Soprano
The Wickersham Brothers
Mischievous boys, who like to tease, play pranks, and make music together.
Age: 18-40
Vocal range: Bass, Baritone, Tenor
Ensemble
Ages: 10 and up, and Ranges: various
Including The Grinch, Judge Yertle the Turtle, Vlad Vladikoff, Jungle Creatures, Circus Characters, and The Whos
We are seeking a strong ensemble of actors to bring these wonderful roles in Seussical to life. We are thrilled to perform this beautiful show with its meaningful themes of compassion, friendship, and perseverance. We will provide a safe venue for auditions, rehearsals and performances, so that we can provide family-friendly live entertainment to our musical theater-loving community. Jamie Davidson, President.
For more information, please visit
www.umthp.org.
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