WHEN:
Live On-site Auditions at The Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse
Sunday, November 29 at 6:30 pm
Monday, November 30 at 7pm
(Must be 13 years or older to audition for this production)
Virtual auditions will also be accepted and must be received by Sunday, Nov. 29 at 12 noon
WHERE:
The Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse
300 Brevard Avenue • Cocoa • FL 32922
VIRTUAL AUDITION PREPARATION:
If you are opting to audition with us virtually this season, please follow the instructions below.
- No Experience Necessary, we will train you!
- Record a video of your audition song and upload it to YouTube, Dropbox, Google Drive or another video hosting site that is easy to access and view publicly.
- Make sure that your video audition is 16 bars of music or no longer than 1 minute in length. Reminder to make sure that your video is set to public viewing.
- It is important that we hear your vocals in your video, so please make sure that you are singing with live accompaniment or pre-recorded background music only and not singing along with another pre-recorded vocalist.
- Please, NO a capella (singing without instrumental accompaniment) auditions for this production. We need to hear how you are on pitch with accompanied music.
- Send an active link to view your video to CVPauditions@gmail.com with “Attn: Newsies Audition” as the headline.
- CLICK HERE to fill out and submit an online Audition Application (Must be submitted by November 30 at 12 noon)
- You will be contacted via email when we receive your video and information and are able to view your audition with any further instructions, if required.
- Virtual auditions for NEWSIES must be received by Sunday, November 29 at 12 noon.
- If you are called back for a principal role, you will be asked to join us in person at the Playhouse for those dates (Note: Callback auditions are closed to the public)
AUDITION PREPARATION FOR LIVE ON-SITE AUDITIONS:
- No Experience Necessary, we will train you!
- On-site audition dates for NEWSIES are Nov. 29 at 6:30pm and Nov. 30 at 7pm
- You will be required to wear a face mask and have your temperature checked to enter the theatre.
- Please keep a socially safe distance while in the theatre waiting to audition.
- Please limit vocal auditions to a maximum of 1 minute or 16 bars of music. Sheet music Is preferred (We provide a pianist). CD, Flash Drive or MP3 accompaniment must not contain pre-recorded vocals and must stop at 1 minute. No smart phones or iPods/tablets, please.
- Flash drives with MP3 files are accepted at auditions as well.
- If you do not have a prepared song, you will be asked to sing “Happy Birthday” with the piano accompaniment (a pianist will be provided)
- No a capella (singing without instrumental accompaniment) vocals, please.
- You will also be given stage movement and/or dance to follow, Please dress comfortably with correct shoes to move.
ABOUT THE SHOW:
DISNEY’S NEWSIES • January 29 - February 14
Through special arrangements with Music Theatre International (MTI)
Music by Alan Menken • Lyrics by Jack Feldman • Book by Harvey Fierstein
Based on the Disney film written by Bob Tzudiker and Noni White
Stop the presses! This Disney film turned Tony-winning Broadway hit inspires everyone to fight for what's right and seize the day!
Set in turn-of-the century New York City, it’s the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged "newsies." When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions and fight for what's right!
A large, energetic cast of diverse performers of all ages, genders and ethnicities is needed!
Casting Breakdown
Jack Kelly
The charismatic leader of the Manhattan newsies, is an orphaned dreamer and artist who yearns to get out of the crowded streets of New York and make a better life for himself out West. Must have a great pop tenor voice and sense of physicality.
Gender: Male
Age: 15 to 23
Crutchie
A dedicated newsie with a bum leg that’s painful, but helps sell more papers. Though he walks with the assistance of a crutch, Crutchie doesn’t let it define him. Crutchie is the heart of the resistance. Though his movement will suggest his bum leg, Crutchie will still be included in the dance numbers.
Gender: Any
Age: 13 to 21
Davey
Les’s straight-laced, bright big brother starts selling newspapers to help his family earn a living, but becomes swept up in the fervor of the strike. A leader in his own right who is learning to use his voice to uplift others, Davey is the brains of the resistance.
Gender: Male
Age: 14 to 25
Les
Davey’s fearless, cheeky younger brother is inspired by the freedom of the newsies and loves their independent lifestyle. A precocious and natural newsie, Les is an intuitive salesboy and a pint-sized charmer. He should present as younger than the other newsies.
Gender: Male
Age: 9 to 15
Newsies
Including Albert, Buttons, Elmer, Finch, Henry, Ike, Jo Jo, Mike, Mush, Race, Romeo, Specs, Splasher, and Tommy Boy, are some of the hard-working kids of New York City that go on strike for a livable wage.
Gender: Male
Age: 13 to 21
Scabs
Three newsies who are hesitant to join the strike.}
Gender: Any
Age: 10 to 21
Spot Conlon
The proud leader of the Brooklyn newsies, boasts an intimidating reputation and a short singing solo in “Brooklyn’s Here.”
Gender: Any
Age: 15 to 23
Katherine Plumber
An ambitious young reporter, works hard to make a name for herself as a legitimate journalist in a time when women aren’t taken seriously. Quick, funny, and resourceful, she boldly captures the voice of a new generation rising in her coverage of the newsies’ strike. While she generally has no time for cocky, streetwise young men, she makes an exception for Jack Kelly. Though she only has a brief dance solo in “King of New York,” Katherine should have a great contemporary pop voice with a high belt.
Gender: Female
Age: 17 to 24
Darcy
The upper-class son of a publisher who sides with the newsies. Can double as a newsie.
Gender: Male
Age: 13 to 20
Bill
The son of William Randolph Hearst who joins the newsies' cause. Can double as a newsie.
Gender: Male
Age: 15 to 25
Wiesel
Or “Weasel,” runs the distribution window for the World and knows most of the newsies by name. Assisted by the intimidating Delancey brothers, who keep order by any means necessary, Wiesel is Pulitzer’s disgruntled paper- pusher.
Gender: Male
Age: 25 to 50
Oscar and Morris Delancey
Tough brothers who work at the distribution window for the World, take the side of the publishers in the strike and are known to use their fists to make a point.
Gender: Male
Age: 14 to 23
Joseph Pulitzer
A pompous businessman through and through, owns the World and is concerned solely with the bottom line. Katherine’s no-nonsense father, Pulitzer doesn’t sympathize with the strikers, but he does eventually – and grudgingly – respect Jack.
Gender: Male
Age: 35 to 60
Seitz
Editor, advises Pulitzer, but ultimately admires the kids’ newspaper.
Gender: Any
Age: 30 to 60
Bunsen
Pulitzer’s bookkeeper, who comes up with the ideas to raise the newsies’ price per paper.
Gender: Any
Age: 25 to 60
Hannah
Pulitzer’s practical and insightful secretary.
Gender: Female
Age: 19 to 45
Nunzio
Pulitzer’s barber.
Gender: Male
Age: 25 to 65
Guard
The Guard removes the newsies from Pulitzer’s building.
Gender: Any
Age: 20 to 65
Snyder
The crooked and sinister warden of The Refuge, a filthy and horrible orphanage, is concerned only with catching enough kids to keep his government checks coming.
Gender: Any
Age: 35 to 65
Medda Larkin
Inspired by vaudeville performer Aida Overton Walker, this big-voiced saloon singer and star of the Bowery offers her theater as a safe haven for the newsies. An astute entertainer with great comic delivery, she’s a good friend to Jack and stands firmly behind the newsies in their fight for justice.
Gender: Female
Age: 20 to 50
Mr. Jacobi
Owner of Jacobi’s Deli, who allows the newsies to congregate in his restaurant to plan their strike – when he doesn’t have any paying customers, that is.
Gender: Male
Age: 25 - 65
Mayor
The Mayor of New York City rebuffs Pulitzer’s attempts to shut down the newsies’ strike.
Gender: Male
Age: 40 to 60
Governor Teddy Roosevelt
A well-respected lifelong public servant, inspires Jack to stand up to Pulitzer.
Gender: Male
Age: 45 to 65
Stage Manager at Medda’s Theatre
Gender: Any
Age: 20 to 70
Bowery Beauties
Ensemble of Showgirls at Medda’s Theatre
Gender: Females
Ages: 16 to 50
Additional Ensemble Roles
Goons
Nuns
Policemen
Woman - Newspaper Customer
What to expect if you are cast in Disney’s Newsies:
If you are cast, rehearsals may begin as soon as Thursday, December 10 at 7pm. We typically rehearse from 7pm to 10pm on Mon-Fri, on Saturdays from 10am or 12 noon to 6pm, and 1pm to 6pm on Sundays. During the final week of technical rehearsals, we plan on rehearsing until 11 pm. There may be three times before we begin technical rehearsals that you may be asked to stay until 10:30 PM.
Note: Not every cast member will be required to be at every rehearsal.
The Director makes sure to create a well organized rehearsal schedule. Your time is very important, and we will try our best to make your time at CVP productive. If cast, your schedule requirements will be based on where you are placed in the show. In order for the Director to work with conflicts it is important that you let her know by writing them on your audition application. For this production of Newsies, please check and double check any conflicts you have between December 1, 2020 through February 21, 2021 and let the Director know at the time of your audition. Thank you!
PERFORMANCE DATES FOR NEWSIES:
Friday, January 29 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, January 30 at 2 pm & 7:30 pm
Sunday, January 31 at 2 pm
Thursday, February 4 at 7:30 pm
Friday, February 5 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, February 6 at 2 pm & 7:30 pm
Sunday, February 7 at 2 pm
Friday, February 12 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, February 13 at 2 pm & 7:30 pm
Sunday, February 14 at 2 pm - Valentine’s Day
ADDITIONAL POTENTIAL HOLDOVERS/ WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT BE SCHEDULED:
Thursday, February 11 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, February 14 at 7:30 pm Valentine’s Day
Thursday, February 18 at 7:30 pm
Friday, February 19 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, February 20 at 2pm & 7:30 pm
Sunday, February 21 at 2 pm & 7:30 pm