Auditions May 14th &15th
Callbacks May 16th

Performance Weekends
July 16-25

Register to Audition!

Sign up now for auditions. You will be sent an audition packet detailing audition and rehearsal location and audition time request in April and May.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Please fill out our audition form.  We ask for detailed information, so just fill out what you have.  We have open auditions and do not pre-cast our shows.  For this show you may use CD, ipod, or piano accompaniment and you may sing a song from this show or one that shows a similar range and style of the character you are auditioning for.  If you would just like to be in the chorus, you will audition your song and be taught a simple stage choreography routine different from the dance audition.  Remember we are looking for local talent to be the star of our shows!  Break-a-leg and see you at auditions!  See the detailed list of characters below.  The cast calls for adults, teens and children.

The Music Man Characters

Main characters

• Prof. Harold Hill — a con man and traveling salesman who tries Iowa after saturating Illinois; falls for Marian
• Marian Paroo — the town librarian and part-time piano teacher; eventually falls for Harold Hill
• Marcellus Washburn — Harold's old friend, no longer a con man, who's dating his boss's niece, Ethel Toffelmier
• Mayor George Shinn — a proud local politician prone to saying nonsensical phrases, tries to control town but can't even control his own family, unlike most of the townspeople he never falls for Hill's scam; he is the main antagonist
• Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn — the mayor's wife; a grand dame whom Harold appoints head of the "Ladies' Auxiliary Society for the Classic Dance"
• Mrs. Paroo — Marian's Irish mother
• Winthrop Paroo — Marian's shy, lisping, brother who hardly ever talks since the death of his father

Secondary characters

• The Barbershop Quartet — four bickering businessmen and school board members united by Harold (Olin Britt, Oliver Hix, Ewart Dunlop and Jacey Squires)
• Pickalittle Ladies — Eulalie's four gossipy friends, Alma Hix, Mrs. Squires, Ethel Toffelmier and Maud Dunlop
• Charlie Cowell — an anvil salesman who tries to expose Prof. Harold Hill as a con man
• Tommy Djilas — a young man "from the wrong side of town" who is secretly seeing Zaneeta Shinn; Harold encourages their relationship and makes him assistant band leader
• Zaneeta Shinn — the mayor's oldest daughter; secretly seeing Tommy Djilas
• Constable Locke — the town sheriff
• Amaryllis — Marian's young piano student
• Gracie Shinn — the mayor's youngest daughter
• ENSEMBLE
  Numerous adult-types, teens and kids to play townspeople, traveling salesmen, teen dancers,
  Wa Tan Ye girls, boys' band

THE MUSIC MAN By Meredith Willson
Character Breakdown: (vocal range)

HAROLD HILL
Leading man, charismatic and charming, good actor, average singer/mover. B - High G
MARION PAROO
Leading lady, excellent voice, strong actress, moves well, confident. G - High G
CHARLIE COWELL - Good actor, strong speaking voice.  
MAYOR SHINN - Good actor, comic timing.
EULALIE MACKECKNIE SHINN
Good actress, comic timing, good singer, moves well D - High D
MARCELLUS WASHBURN
Good actor, comic timing, sings and dances E - High D sharp
ETHEL TOFFELMIER - Good actress, good singer and moves well D - High D
MRS. PAROO - Mother to Marion and Winthrop, good actress, singer, capable of Irish brogue A flat - High E flat
WINTHROP PAROO
Young, shy son to Mrs. Paroo/brother to Marion, capable of lisp, sings and dances
C - High E flat
AMARYLLIS - Good actress, same size/age as Winthrop, slightly bratty

THE QUARTET:
EWART DUNLOP, OLIVER HIX, JACEY SQUIRES, OLIN BRITT
Important singing roles, capable of holding harmonies, some acting
Olin--Bass: A - High D
Oliver--Baritone: E - High F sharp
Ewart--Baritone: E - F sharp
Jacey--Tenor: B - High A
TOMMY DJILAS - Handsome, teen heartthrob, good actor and dancer  
ZANEETA SHINN - Excellent dancer, Mayor's daughter, love interest to Tommy  
GRACIE SHINN - Good singer, Mayor's younger daughter B - E flat
ALMA HIX, MAUD DUNLOP, MRS. SQUIRES
Pick-A-Little ladies (adult and/or older teen/college) core group, strong singers, comic timing, move well, married to 3 of Quartet men All: D - High D
CONDUCTOR - Strong speaking voice  
CONSTABLE LOCKE - Good actor
ENSEMBLE Adult-types, teens and kids to play townspeople, traveling salesmen, teen dancers, Wa Tan Ye girls, boys' band; Various SATB

HCST Auditions

Audition Resources

Looking for wholesome and high quality audition materials for kids or teens?

Try this link for a list of some popular resources (including some free resources) which we suggest you try for ideas about:

• “kid-friendly” monologues
• song and music resources for musical theater auditions
• Choosing monologues and music for those all -important auditions!

(Please note: This information link is provided as a service to our young entertainers and is not a commercial enterprise of HCST).

Frequently Asked Questions & Audition Tips

Are roles ever precast?
It is the strict policy of HCST to never precast a role. We offer only open auditions. If you have a legitimate reason that you cannot make a scheduled audition, you may, at the discretion of the director, pre-audition.  

How long is the audition process?
Depending on the show and the size of the cast, your time with us will vary. We respect your time; therefore, all of our audition times are pre-scheduled for you. We trust you will respect our time, and others, as well, and arrive at auditions on time.

What is your audition process?
Auditioning for a show can be one of the most stressful steps towards your desire to be cast.  With HCST, you will audition independently of your fellow actors in front of our audition panel.

What do I prepare for my audition?   
Our musicals require you to prepare a song of your choice. We most likely will have piano accompaniment, but if you are more comfortable bringing your own CD, the CD must be without a vocal track. Directors vary, but most prefer to hear a song that is not from the show in which you are auditioning. Consider a song that would compliment the song styles from the show. Please select a song that would get no more than a PG rating if it was in a movie and one that demonstrates your vocal range. Your song needs to be memorized and be prepared to sing the entire song. You may be stopped after singing 16-32 measures. Do not misinterpret this to mean the audition panel did not like your song. It means they have heard enough to adequately score your piece. It will be at the discretion of the director if you will read from the script at the time of your singing audition.

What if I am not cast in the show? The audition process is a tremendous learning experience. Unfortunately, we cannot cast everyone who auditions. We hope you come back another time if you are not cast. However, there are numerous other avenues where you can get involved with us.

We provide a broad introduction to theater via our studio classes and camps where every child has a chance to participate. Our objective is to motivate and inspire young student actors, building self confidence and self esteem. We offer an energized environment as training and educating actors is an integral part of our mission at HCST. Our classes and camps are taught by accredited instructors, where you can hone your acting skills in drama, singing and choreography, preparing you for that next audition.  

Your talents are always welcome helping to building sets, back stage working with our stage manager, assisting with props, working with our sound and lighting technicians, ushering, and much, much more.

Audition Tips

• Plan and practice introducing the piece. How will you enter the room, or stage, and how will you walk away? Don’t rush to start talking or singing until you are settled down and ready. Don’t leave until you have completely finished your piece. For example, just say Hello, my name is…….and I will be singing (name of song and name of show) if applicable. When you come prepared, it will be easier to relax and enjoy performing the audition.
  
  
• Practice singing loudly and clearly, as we really want to be able to hear you AND understand your words.
  
  
• Know your song! Think about who you would be singing your song to, as it will affect how you deliver your song. Include some movement, or even some choreography, as long as that does not distract you from presenting your song well. Your facial expressions, gestures & movements, and an expression in your voice are excellent tools for your audition.
  
  
• Have someone at home watch and listen to your song. Ask them to tell you if you are doing anything that would be distracting to the audition panel, such as shifting from foot to foot, swinging your arms, etc.
  
  
• Pick a focus (place or places to look) while singing. Your best focus may be the audition panelists themselves, or just over their heads, as if you were singing to an audience. This way, the panelists can see your face clearly.
  
  
• Please wear clothes appropriate for an audition. Do not wear a ‘costume’ from the show in which you are auditioning. If you have hair that is long enough to fall into your face, please have it pulled back, as we want to see what your whole face looks like.

Have fun and enjoy your audition time! Our process BEGINS with your prepared audition piece. There will be many factors that go into our casting process, and your initial audition piece is but one of those factors. If you receive a call back, the audition process will continue over the next day or two, again, depending on the size of the cast required. Good Luck!