Auditions to be held for ‘Hunchback’
Auditions for The Little Theatre of Tuscarawas County’s musical production “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” will be held at Dover High School on Sunday and Monday, April 28 and 29 at 6:30 p.m. Callbacks will be held Tuesday, April 30 if necessary.
Artistic Director Mary Maxwell said those auditioning must be, at a minimum, entering ninth grade at the beginning of the 2024-25 school year. Individuals who do not meet this criterion will not be considered. Adults of all ages are welcome to audition. All roles are nonunion, nonpaid positions. Auditioners should be aware that while adapted from the Disney film, the show is a darker and more mature version, closer to Victor Hugo’s novel on which it is based.
Maxwell hopes to cast up to 50 actors because the show requires an involved ensemble to tell the story.
“In addition to principal roles, there will be two ensembles,” she said. “The congregation is a group of strong musical theater performers functioning as narrators and playing 40 multiple roles. They must be comfortable with movement, and acrobatic skills are a plus. A second ensemble, the choir, will be on stage throughout the show to provide accompanying vocals.”
A separate audition for the choir is tentatively planned. Anyone interested is encouraged to listen to the cast recording at https://open.spotify.com/album/2rFRK6qKdQHN
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Those interested should prepare 16-32 bars of a song in the style of the musical that shows both vocal and acting ability. The song should not be from “Hunchback.” A dance audition and readings from the script will complete the audition. Those attending are asked to enter the south side of the building, using the side entrance (Door G) on Tornado Alley. Parking is directly across from the side entrance.
“The Hunchback of Notre Dame” is the story of Quasimodo, a deformed bell ringer who escapes his caretaker to join in the Feast of the Fools. Despite the fact he was treated badly by the crowd and because of competition for the hand of Esmeralda, he ultimately must save everyone from the destruction of the Roma.
Maxwell’s production staff includes Kait Gallagher-Wilsterman, assistant director; Megan Sams, music director; Jennica Cochran, choreographer; and Shavonne McMillan and Josie McCutcheon, producers.
Rehearsals will be held Sundays through Thursdays from 6-9:30 p.m. beginning the week of May 5. Some rehearsals may be held off-site. A read-through is scheduled for Sunday, May 5 and a technical rehearsal for Saturday, June 22.
The musical will open Friday, June 28 and run June 29 and 30 and July 5, 6, 7, 12, 13 and 14. As the theater’s summer musical, the production is presented through special arrangement with Musical Theatre International and is sponsored by Levco Striping Services. The season is sponsored by Dover FOE #515.
All questions may be emailed to Maxwell at marycate1996@gmail.com.