AUDITIONS

Note: our planned October 2024 production of Princess and the Pauper has been taken off the books—the city of Bandon decided to install new lighting in the Sprague Theater in the middle of what would have been our run.

However, we are leaving the audition information up on the site, below, for folks who are or were curious to see what auditions with us entail.

Auditions Actor auditions for Princess and the Pauper will be taking place Saturday and Sunday July 15 - 16 2024 at the Sprague theater in Bandon, Oregon. Orchestra members will be auditioned from April 15 onwards until the orchestra is full. People looking to help the show backstage or in other ways (lights, sets, outreach etc.) can contact us at directortorsti@rovainenmusicals.com, letting us know your interest.
Audition sign-ups will open likely June 1st—check back on this page then.

Can I do this? This show is intended to 1) be entertaining but also to 2) shine a light on the community. While all parts are cast based on fit, this might mean a local singer holding one part, a retired firefighter playing another, and a talented high school student in a third. We have parts for people who have done thirty theater shows, and ones for folks giving it a first try.
That said, we want to make this experience a joy both for our cast and for our audiences, so lead and solo singing parts will go to people who either have the talent, experience, or potential to hold them well on stage.
A list of parts for the show can be found at the bottom of this page.

Time Commitments / Expectations We strive to create the best show we can for the community. For this, attendance at all rehearsals is required, and while at rehearsals, actors are asked to be focused and ready. Exceptions to the rehearsal schedule are ideally avoided, but can be made for sicknesses or family emergencies; and in rare cases, people can still be cast even if they have known short prior conflicts with the rehearsal schedule—for example, being away for a wedding over a weekend early in the rehearsal process.
In addition, all actors will be asked to memorize their lines and songs by the first rehearsal September 22, and orchestra members to be familiar with their parts by September 28. Missed / forgotten lines here and there are to be expected, but with a 4-week rehearsal window, we want to hit the ground running.
For specific date and times required for performances and rehearsals, scroll down to Times/Dates Commitments below.

What’s the Show? The Princess and the Pauper, based on Mark Twain’s book of similar name. For more show information, click the button below.

Ages (Actors): Leads, small, and medium parts will be open to adults and high-school aged students. In addition, we will have a youth ensemble for ages 11-13. If a parent is part of our production, we are open to their children aged 7-10 being part of the show if the parent attends those rehearsals.

Auditions Themselves: all auditions will be in-person in Bandon July 15 or 16, unless there is an extraordinary circumstance preventing that, in which case we arrange an audition the week prior (in-person or by ZOOM).
— Lead and medium part / solo singing part auditions will consist of actors having prepared a 30-60 second song snippet and a spoken monologue, also 30-60 seconds.
— Small and Ensemble part auditions ask actors to prepare 30-45 seconds of a song, and a cold read at the audition from the script.
— Youth Ensemble auditions (ages 11-13) ask youth to come ready to sing 30 seconds of a song.

Times/Dates Commitments:
Actors in general can expect to rehearse every Saturday and Sunday afternoon, and some weeknights. We will have
—full cast rehearsals on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 pm to 5/6 pm starting September 22 and up to October 13
—solo and small group rehearsals Mondays - Thursdays from 7 pm to 9:30 pm** September 23 to October 10 **weeknight rehearsals are by character and scene. We will provide a full rehearsal schedule in late July letting people know which weeknights they are scheduled to attend. Also,
— full cast dress rehearsals Monday-Thursday 7 pm to 10 pm October 14 - 17.
— Six performances
Fridays / Saturdays October 18,19,25,26 6:30 pm call time to end of show (9:30/10 pm)
Sundays October 20,27 1:30 pm call time to end of show (4:30/5 pm) final day cast party
Orchestra Members
— Six rehearsals with the cast
Sat/Sun 1-6 pm October 12-13; Mon-Thu 7-10 pm October 14-17 (dress rehearsals)
— Two rehearsals with just the orchestra TBA; likely 5-7 pm Sat September Sept 28, and Sat October 5
— Six performances
Fridays / Saturdays October 18,19,25,26 6:30 pm call time to end of show (9:30/10 pm)
Sundays October 20,27 1:30 pm call time to end of show (4:30/5 pm) final day cast party
Backstage/Tech
— Six rehearsals with the cast
Sat/Sun 1-6 pm October 12-13; Mon-Thu 7-10 pm October 14-17 (dress rehearsals)
— One-three meetings / rehearsals prior to Oct 12; time and date TBA based on position
— Six performances
Fridays / Saturdays October 18,19,25,26 6:30 pm call time to end of show (9:30/10 pm)
Sundays October 20,27 1:30 pm call time to end of show (4:30/5 pm) final day cast party

Part Information

LEAD ROLES:
The Pauper Sings several solos and duets, actor is in most of the scenes in the play
The Princess Also sings several solos and duets, actor is in most of the scenes in the play

MEDIUM AND LARGE ROLES:
The Mother The Pauper’s mother A few short solos songs
Bridget Pauper’s friend One solo song, possibly one duet
Rowland Minister advisor One large solo song, short duet, and sings in group songs
Hertford Minister advisor short duet, sings in group songs
King Henry VIII three solos, then dies

NOTE: those in small and bit roles will also play in various group parts [minister, servant, street people, court, etc.]

SMALL ROLES:
Valentine/a Ruffian leader. Solo sung lines, sings part of a silly quartet
Brinley, Bromley, and Thorpe Ruffians; share a silly quartet
John Pauper stepfather mostly acting, with a few solo singing lines
Wives of Henry VIII These are closer to bit roles, but they sing 2-10 solo singing lines depending on the wife

BIT ROLES: 1-10 lines [will be assigned to and played by members of the Ensemble and/or Youth Ensemble]
Cook, Cromwell, Prisoners, Baker, Constable, Ministers, Ruffians, Servants, Viscount of Shaftsbury, Witch, Lawyers, Guard, Aristocrat, Characters in Ruffians’ Play

ENSEMBLE PARTS: sing in group songs, play bit parts, act in group and court scenes. Could include all or some of the following:
Ministers, Servants, Urchins, Court, Ruffians, Knights, Street People