Theatre Cedar Rapids announces casting for The Sound of Music. (Music by Richard Rodgers. Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. Suggested by Maria Augusta Trapp). To be performed live at Theatre Cedar Rapids April 29 – May 29, 2022. Performances take place Thu – Sat at 7:30 p.m. and Sun 2:30 p.m. Up to two daytime school matinees may be added.
Directed by Brian Glick, music director Cameron Sullenberger, choreographed by Megan Helmers, scenic design by S. Benjamin Farrar, lighting by Scott Olinger, and costumes by Joni Dee Sackett.
The creative team seeks a diverse company of child and adult actors. Actors of all ethnicities will be equally considered for all roles and actors of color are encouraged to audition. All roles are open.
All performers must be fully vaccinated and willing to follow COVID-19 precautions such as they are at the time rehearsals begin.
ABOUT THE SHOW
The world’s most beloved musical returns to TCR! The inspirational story, based on the memoir of Maria Augusta Trapp, follows the charming and spirited Maria, a young postulate who serves as governess to the seven children of the imperious Captain von Trapp. Maria brings music and joy to the household as the forces of Nazism take hold of Austria.
Featuring favorites like “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “My Favorite Things,” “Do Re Mi,” “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” and the title number, The Sound of Music won the hearts of audiences worldwide, earning five Tony Awards and five Oscars and was the final collaboration between Rodgers & Hammerstein.
Perusal script available here.
About Auditions
Contact Brian Glick b-jglick@hotmail.com with questions about auditions.
- February 12 – Youth Vocal and Choreography. No sign-ups. Arrive, complete audition form, then you will be escorted to the audition space. Age: 7-17. Come dressed to move. Must learn one of the these songs: “Reflection” (Mulan), “Home” (Wonderland), “Consider Yourself” (Oliver), “Might as Well Be Spring” (State Fair), “I Got No Strings” (Disney’s Pinocchio), “I Always Knew” (Annie Warbucks). You will be limited to 16 bars. Youth audition cut recordings available here. Youth sheet music here. No phones allowed to read your music from or to play accompaniment. No acapella auditions. Masks will be required upon arrival and during the dance call. They should come off for all acting and vocal sides, with distance. Sides will be provided – no need to prepare audition monologues. Parents can wait in the TCR lobby and lounge (after signing the parental consent form), or leave and return to TCR when your child is finished. Your child will not be left unattended at any point during the process. GRADE 9-12 with show choir conflicts may attend the adult auditions the next day.
- 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Youth performers last name initials A through M.
- 2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Youth performers last name initials N through Z.
- February 13 – Adults Vocal and Choreography. No sign-ups. Arrive, complete audition form, then you will be escorted to the audition space. No Age: 18 +
- 6:30 p.m. Adult Dance Call (required) – Come dressed to move. All dance backgrounds (including none) welcome. The team would like to see how you move even if you are auditioning for a non-dancing role.
- Adult Vocal Auditions (following dance call) – Vocal auditions will be private (in order of arrival and number given at check-in station. No audition sign-ups.). Bring a classic musical theatre song that fits the Rodgers and Hammerstein songbook. (i.e., Disney, Lerner or Loewe, etc.) between 16 and 32 bars. Please make sure you have a start and stop on your sheet music to hand to the music director and use your selection to show off your voice and personality/acting choices. Once your song is complete you may leave for the night. No phones to read your music from or to play accompaniment. No acapella auditions. Masks will be required upon arrival and during the dance call. They should come off for all acting and vocal sides, with distance.
- February 15 – Callbacks Acting Sides and Additional Vocals.
- 6:30 p.m. Those called back will be notified via email on Feb 14th by 5:00 p.m. You must be present for this callback in order to be considered. The creative team will also want to see couples and family pairings. If you are not called back it does not mean you aren’t being considered.
- Casting will be announced no later than Friday, February 18. Those cast will be notified by email. Once the cast is notified and roles are accepted the full cast will be made public.
ROLES AVAILABLE
The creative team seeks a diverse company of child and adult actors. Actors of all ethnicities will be equally considered for all roles and actors of color are encouraged to audition. All roles are open.
All performers must be fully vaccinated and willing to follow COVID-19 precautions such as they are at the time rehearsals begin.
- Maria Rainer (soprano, female-identified, any ethnicity) – Spirited. Gentle. Kind. Determined. At the beginning of our story, she is a postulant seeking admission into a religious order of nuns at Nonnberg Abbey. This role involves choreographed physical intimacy of hugs and kissing.
- The Mother Abbess (soprano, female-identified, any ethnicity) – Confident. Trustworthy. Maternal. Wise. She is the female head of a religious order of nuns at Nonnberg Abbey.
- Sister Berthe (alto, female-identified, any ethnicity) – Straight-laced. Sharp-tongued. As Mistress of Novices, she is in charge of the newly admitted nuns.
- Sister Margaretta (mezzo-soprano, female-identified, any ethnicity) – Kind. Understanding. Concerned. As Mistress of Postulants, she is in charge of those seeking admission into a religious order, like Maria.
- Sister Sophia (soprano, female-identified, any ethnicity) – Rule-follower. Easy-going. She is a nun at Nonnberg Abbey.
- Captain Georg von Trapp (baritone, male-identified, any ethnicity) – Polished. Authoritative. Sad. Kind. A retired naval captain who holds his children at arms-length to hide his emotions from the death of his wife. This role involves choreographed physical intimacy of hugs and kissing.
- Franz (non-singing, male-identified) – Formal. Secretive. Cryptic. He is Captain von Trapp’s butler.
- Frau Schmidt (non-singing, male-identified) – Efficient. Strong-willed. Certain. She is the von Trapp family’s housekeeper.
- Rolf Gruber (tenor, male-identified, any ethnicity) – Opinionated. Overconfident. Green. He is a suitor to Liesl and telegram delivery boy. This role involves choreographed physical intimacy of a kiss.
- Elsa Schraeder (mezzo-soprano, female-identified, any ethnicity) – Sophisticated. Witty. Self-reliant. She is a baroness of wealth and aristocracy engaged in a romantic relationship with Captain von Trapp. This role involves choreographed physical intimacy of hugs and a kiss.
- Max Detweiler – (baritone/tenor, male-identified, any ethnicity) Charming. Indulgent. A bon vivant. Loyal. He is a friend to Captain von Trapp and Elsa.
- Herr Zeller (non-singing, male-identified) – Severe. Humorless. Bullying. He is a Nazi officer (non-singing).
- Captain von Trapp’s children, ranging in age from 6-16:
- Liesl von Trapp (mezzo-soprano, female-identified, any ethnicity) – Confident. Caring. Flirtatious. She is the eldest von Trapp child and has a crush on Rolf, the telegram delivery boy. This role involves choreographed physical intimacy of a kiss.
- Friedrich von Trapp (male-identified, any ethnicity) – Dutiful. Serious. Proud.
- Louisa von Trapp (female-identified, any ethnicity) – Rebellious. Prankster. Clever.
- Kurt von Trapp (falsetto, male-identified, any ethnicity) – Affable. Mischievous. Gentle.
- Brigitta von Trapp (female-identified, any ethnicity) – Bright. Observant. Curious.
- Marta von Trapp (female-identified, any ethnicity) – Sweet. Shy. Sincere.
- Gretl von Trapp (female-identified, any ethnicity) – Youngest. Darling. Fun.
- Ensemble: Roles include approximately 25 nuns, novices, and postulants at Nonneberg Abbey; von Trapp family servants and neighbors; Nazi officers and guards; and contestants at the Kaltzberg Festival Concert.
ABOUT THE REHEARSAL PROCESS
- Rehearsals will begin the week of March 21st.
- Rehearsals will generally be 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. weeknights with longer weekend rehearsals. Children will be released by 9:00 p.m. until we get to tech runs and performances.
- TCR and the directing team will work with the cast to establish COVID-safe boundaries for actors, masking practices, and will make determinations about actor interaction, choreography, and intimacy as reliable information is released.