Audition Notice - Beautiful The Carole King Musical

Book by Douglas McGrath
Words and Music by Gerry Goffin & Carole King
Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil
Music by Arrangement with Sony Music Publishing
Orchestrations, Vocal and Incidental Music Arrangements Steve Sidwell
Additional Music Arrangements by Jason Howland

Directed by Trinidad Snider
Musical Direction by Rachel Woods
Choreography by Cassandra Miller
Artwork by Noah Hrbek

"Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall, all you have to do is call..."

Beautiful is the inspiring tale about a girl who became King, featuring such unforgettable classics as "You've Got a Friend," "One Fine Day," "So Far Away," "Will You Love Me Tomorrow," and "Natural Woman." This Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical is filled with the songs you remember and a story you'll never forget.

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com

CASTING

NEAR WEST THEATRE IS COMMITTED TO DIVERSE, INCLUSIVE CASTING. WE WILL CAST ARTISTS WITHOUT REGARD TO DISABILITY, RACE, AGE, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, COLOR, GENDER IDENTITY, NATIONAL ORIGIN, ETHNIC ORIGIN, OR ANY OTHERWISE INDICATED BASIS. WE ARE COMMITTED TO AUTHENTICALLY CASTING TO ENSURE ALL MARGINALIZED GROUPS ARE REPRESENTED.

Character Descriptions

BEAUTIFUL CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS

CAROLE KING (understudy/ensemble) (Female Identifying, White or Caucasian,18+ to play ages 16-29) An aspiring singer/songwriter. A unique, appealing, funny, and vulnerable girl from a Jewish family in Brooklyn. Talented, good-natured, unassuming, and often the peacemaker in difficult situations. A reluctant star with no pretense and a passion for music. Seeking an exceptional actress with a powerful, distinctive voice. Piano skills required.

GERRY GOFFIN (Male Identifying, White or Caucasian,18+ to play late teens-late 20’s) Carole’s boyfriend, songwriting partner, and eventual husband. He is smoldering, dark & handsome with a rebel vibe. He is innately sympathetic, wounded, and tortured. An ambitious artist who is always striving for more. Seeking a strong actor who sings well. Baritone/tenor.

CYNTHIA WEIL (Female Identifying, White or Caucasian, 18+ to play late teens-late 20’s) A songwriter who becomes romantically involved with Barry. Carole’s best friend. She is sophisticated, intelligent & chic, with a quick wit. Although self-confident and sarcastic, she is also extremely likable. Seeking an actress with comic solid timing who sings well. Belt.

BARRY MANN (Male Identifying, White or Caucasian, 18+ to play late teens-late 20’s) A songwriter who becomes romantically involved with Cynthia. He is good natured, appealing & neurotic. Ambitious but likable. Seeking a strong comedic actor with a great voice. Must be a strong high tenor comfortable with pop & rock style singing. Guitar and piano skills are a plus. 

DON KIRSCHNER (Male Identifying, White or Caucasian, 30’s-40’s) An influential music publisher and producer. He is a fast-talking, energetic force of nature. He is powerful, direct & sometimes intimidating, but he has a natural affinity for his writers and artists. A hit-maker. Seeking a strong actor. Non-signing role.

GENIE KLEIN (Female Identifying, White or Caucasian, 40’s-50’s) Carole’s Jewish mother. Once an aspiring playwright, she has been broken down by life & her husband’s infidelity. Protective of Carole and unforgiving of her husband’s mistakes. Seeking a strong actress. Non-signing role.

A multitalented ensemble that will portray members of Carole’s inner circle as well as famous musical groups that Carole, Gerry, Cynthia, and Barry wrote for. Dance skills are a plus.

NEIL SEDAKA/RIGHTEOUS BROTHER/ENSEMBLE (Male Identifying, White or Caucasian, 20’s-30’s) a singer/songwriter. Tenor.

NICK/RIGHTEOUS BROTHER/ENSEMBLE (Male Identifying, White or Caucasian, 20’s-30’s) a singer/songwriter.

LOU ADLER/ENSEMBLE (Male Identifying, White or Caucasian, 20’s-30’s) a record producer

BOBBY VEE/ENSEMBLE (Male Identifying, White or Caucasian, 20’s) A singer

BETTY/ENSEMBLE (Female Identifying, White or Caucasian, 20’s) Carole’s childhood friend

MARILYN WALD/ENSEMBLE (Female Identifying, All ethnicities, 20-s) a singer.

DRIFTER #1 /ENSEMBLE (Male Identifying, African American or Black, Latine, 20’s-30’s) Black, Member of the doo-wop group The Drifters

DRIFTER # 2/ENSEMBLE (Male Identifying, African American or Black, Latine, 20’s-30’s) Black, Member of the doo-wop group The Drifters

DRIFTER # 3/ENSEMBLE Male Identifying, African American or Black, Latine, (20’s-30’s) Black, Member of the doo-wop group The Drifters

DRIFTER # 4/ENSEMBLE (Male Identifying, African American or Black, Latine, 20’s-30’s) Black, Member of the doo-wop group The Drifters

SHIRELLE #1/UPTOWN SOLOIST/ENSEMBLE (Female Identifying, African American or Black, Latine, 20-30’s) Member of the pop group The Shirelles

SHIRELLE #2/LUCILLE (Female Identifying, African American or Black, Latine, 20’s-30’s) Black, Member of the pop group The Shirelles, Don Kirshner’s secretary

SHIRELLE #3/JANELLE WOODS (Female Identifying, African American or Black, Latine, 20’s-30’s) Black, Member of the pop group The Shirelles

SHIRELLE #4/LITTLE EVA (Female Identifying, African American or Black, Latine,16-Late 20’s) Black, Member of the pop group The Shirelles, Pop Singer of Locomotion

Auditions 

• You must be at least 16 years of age to audition.
• Audition dates are scheduled for Wednesday, January 15, Thursday, January 16, and Friday, January 17, from 7 PM to 10 PM.  Anyone auditioning must stay for the entire time. Please register below to reserve a space.
• Callbacks are scheduled for Saturday, January 18, from 10 AM to 4 PM.
• Our audition process involves group work in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. You do not need a headshot or resume; no preparation is required. It is a group experience of theatre games, improvisation, characterization, and movement. Come as you are, in comfortable clothing, and be ready to engage with your peers. Decisions and notifications will be made by the end of the following week.

Expectations

• Cast members are expected to prioritize rehearsals during the eight (8) weeks this production rehearses and for the nine performances.
• By the end of your audition, you must communicate any known rehearsal or performance conflicts to the Stage Manager and/or Director.

Rehearsals

• Rehearsals are scheduled for Tuesday, February 4 - Wednesday, March 19. Rehearsal days will be Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays (depending on conflicts). Rehearsals are Sunday from 12 pm to 8 pm (usually a four-hour range that will vary depending on conflicts) and Monday – Wednesday from 7 pm to 10 pm. Rehearsal times will vary. The stage manager will distribute a schedule by Thursday of every week.
• Closer to the show's opening, typically tech week, rehearsals may be extended on some days, but they will not run past 11:00 PM.
• You may be required to participate in a Dry Tech Rehearsal on Saturday, March 22. This rehearsal is typically during the day.

Tech Week  (Attendance is mandatory during this week!)

• Sunday, March 23, is Tech Sunday, an extended rehearsal for all cast, staff, and crew from 12 PM to 10 PM. A potluck supper is organized and scheduled for this date. This is the first working tech rehearsal. Costumes, lighting, props, and special effects will be incorporated later in the week.
• Monday – Thursday, March 24 – 27, are all mandatory rehearsals. Cast, crew, and staff are expected to be at the theater from 6 PM to 11 PM each day. Everyone must stay until the end of the rehearsal to run the show.

Performances

• The cast is expected to be at the theater at 6:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday performance nights and at 12:30 p.m. on Sundays.
• The performances are on March 28, 29, April 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, and 13.
• Curtain times for Friday and Saturday are at 7:30 PM, and Sunday is at 2 PM.

Reserve a spot at auditions by submitting this registration form below.

Prior to your audition, you will receive an audition form that must be completed before you audition.