Upcoming Auditions
for Mainstage & Readers Theatre Showcase
All roles at ACT are open to anyone in the community! No experience is necessary to audition. Here are a few tips to help you understand our audition process:
Auditions are held over two nights, and you may choose either night to audition. Auditions for Mainstage shows are held on our Mainstage; auditions for Readers Theatre Showcase and 35below shows are held in 35below. For Mainstage or Readers Theatre show, there’s no need to make an appointment – we’ll get you signed in when you arrive! Some 35below shows do offer audition sign-ups (and we’ll list that by show).
We list approximate age ranges of the characters – but it’s always a good idea to come by and check out the script so you can get a feel for the characters.
For musical auditions, please prepare 16 bars of music and bring your sheet music to the audition in the key in which you will be singing. We will provide an accompanist. No one may sing along to a CD or other recording.
For non-musical auditions, all audition material is provided and will be available at the auditions. Generally, you will be asked to read pages from the script in front of the director, the stage manager, and another reader.
But what happens when you walk in the front door? What to Expect at ACT Auditions
Note: Asheville Community Theatre policy prohibits participation by anyone on any sex offender or sexual abuse registry to any activity sponsored by Asheville Community Theatre. The only exception is being a member of an audience of an event sponsored by ACT.
MAINSTAGE
HANDS ON A HARDBODY
MUSICAL
Book by Doug Wright; Music by Trey Anastasio and Amanda Green; Lyrics by Amanda Green
Directed by Jerry Crouch; Music Director: Lynda Shuler; Choreographer: Shari Azar
AUDITIONS: April 8-9, 2019; 6:00-9:00 pm
PRODUCTION DATES: June 7-30, 2019; Performances Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 pm and Sunday afternoons at 2:30 pm. Additional performances Thursday 6/20 and 6/27 at 7:30 pm. Cast must plan to arrive at least 1 hour prior to show time.
REHEARSALS: Begin April 14, 2019; Rehearsals generally held Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights from 6:30-9:30 pm. All actors will not necessarily be needed for every rehearsal or for the entire rehearsal. Full rehearsal calendar available at auditions – you are able to list any conflicts you have with the rehearsal schedule at this time.
DIRECTOR SEEKS: 9 men, 6 women
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:
WOMEN’S ROLES
Norma Valverde (35-45) – A full-figured Latina woman, kind and hopeful, quiet until moved by the spirit, infectious laugh; low mezzo
Virginia Drew (50s) – A one-time beauty queen settling into middle age, J.D.’s wife; mezzo soprano. All ethnicities.
Janis Curtis (60s) – A tough old bird with sunburnt skin & missing teeth, comic, and full of integrity. Married to Don; low mezzo. All ethnicities.
Kelli Mangrum (early 20s) – A pretty UPS worker with steel ambition and big dreams; mezzo soprano. All ethnicities.
Heather Stoval (late 20s) – A flirtatious restaurant hostess, used to bending the rules and getting away with it; mezzo soprano. Caucasian.
Cindy Barnes (30s-40s) – Former Miss Gregg County, fond of pageant hair and pastels, works in PR at the dealership; ensemble – vocal part flexible. All ethnicities.
MEN’S ROLES
Benny Perkins (40s) – A weather-beaten face, ingratiating grin, and lots of homespun philosophy; our narrator of sort; tenor. Caucasian.
J.D. Drew (60s) – A “good ole boy” with pomaded gray hair and a high wattage grim, Virginia’s husband; baritone. All ethnicities.
Chris Alvaro (40s) – Well built under his hoodie, aviator glasses conceal eyes, military steeliness and hidden vulnerability; tenor. All ethnicities.
Ronald McCowan (30s) – A good-natured guy with a slight Louisiana accent and a love of Snickers candy bars; tenor. African-American.
Greg Wilhote (20s) – A cute young man in a baseball hat; tenor. All ethnicities.
Jesus Peña (20s) – A hardworking, smart, first generation Mexican-American, speaks both English and Spanish; tenor. Latino.
Mike Ferris (30s) – A boyishly handsome man with questionable ethics, works at the dealership; tenor. All ethnicities.
Frank Nugent (50s) – A radio personality, a diehard good ole boy dressed in a Stetson; baritone-tenor. All ethnicities.
Don Curtis (60s) – Wears a cardboard sign on his head saying “I love you Janis, go baby go!” Also doubles as Dr. Stokes; baritone. All ethnicities.
AUDITION MATERIAL: Prepare in advance for the auditions! Audition material will also be available at the auditions – no need to print and bring with you.
Benny
Benny/J.D.
Chris
Frank/Dr. Stokes
Greg/Kelli
Heather/Mike
Janis
Janis/Don
J.D./Virginia
Jesus 1
Jesus 2
Mike/Cindy
Norma/Ronald
RABBIT HOLE
NON-MUSICAL
By David Lindsay-Abaire
Directed by Stephanie Hickling Beckman
AUDITIONS: June 10-11, 2019; 6:00-9:00 pm
PRODUCTION DATES: August 9-25, 2019; Performances Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 pm and Sunday afternoons at 2:30 pm. Cast must plan to arrive at least 1 hour prior to show time.
REHEARSALS: Begin June 16, 2019; Rehearsals generally held Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights from 6:30-9:30 pm. All actors will not necessarily be needed for every rehearsal or for the entire rehearsal. Full rehearsal calendar available at auditions – you are able to list any conflicts you have with the rehearsal schedule at this time.
DIRECTOR SEEKS: 2 men, 3 women
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:
Becca (early 30s – mid 40s) – Tough and uncompromising. She cannot tolerate insincerity or impracticality. Any race or ethnicity
Howie (early 30s – mid 40s) – A patient man who specializes in pretending everything is fine. Any race or ethnicity
Izzy (early -mid 20s) – Becca’s younger sister. A party girl who never grew up. Any race or ethnicity
Nat (early 50s-mid 60s) – Becca and Izzy’s mother, an opinionated alcoholic with a knack for sticking her foot in her mouth. Any race or ethnicity
Jason (mid teens -early 20s) – Awkward and nerdy. Any race or ethnicity
READERS THEATRE SHOWCASE
THE CONSTANT WIFE
By Somerset Maugham
Directed by Anita Chapman
AUDITIONS: April 9, 2019, 10:30 am-2:30 pm
PRODUCTION DATES: April 26-28, 2019
REHEARSALS: April 11, 16, 18, 23 and 25, 2019 from 10:30-2:30
DIRECTOR SEEKS: 5 women, 4 men
ANCESTRAL VOICES
By A.R. Gurney
Directed by RoseLynn Katz
AUDITIONS: May 21, 2019, 10:30 am-2:30 pm
PRODUCTION DATES: June 7-9, 2019
REHEARSALS: May 23, 28 and 30, June 4 and 6, 2019 from 10:30-2:30
DIRECTOR SEEKS: 2 women, 3 men
ARMS AND THE MAN
By George Bernard Shaw
Directed by Jim Reid
AUDITIONS: August 13, 2019, 10:30 am-2:30 pm
PRODUCTION DATES: August 30-September 1, 2019
REHEARSALS: August 15, 20, 22, 27 and 29, 2019 from 10:30-2:30
DIRECTOR SEEKS: 3 women, 5 men
35below
There are no auditions posted at this time for 35below shows.