Audition Information
Please ensure you have read all the information before you book an audition.
Production Team
Producer | BEN FAIRBAIRN
Director | JESSICA LOVELACE
Music Director | MATTHEW LOVELACE
Choreographer | EMMA JOSEPH
The Show
The 1975 musical Chicago, based on a 1926 play of the same name, and most iconically revived in 1996, is a playful and irreverent mash of decades and styles, much like the vaudeville setting it uses to tell its story. We would like to add 2022 to the mix, drawing from popular contemporary representations of criminality seen in shows like Orange is the New Black, Wentworth, and Underbelly
Rehearsals
Blaxland High School – Monday & Thursday nights, 7.30 – 10.30pm
N.B. Rehearsal venue may change depending on availability
- First Rehearsal – Thursday February 10th
- All Day Rehearsals – Sunday 13th March & Sunday 3rd April
- Sitzprobe – Sunday 8th May
Production Week
Blue Mountains Theatre
- Bump In – Saturday May 14th
- Bump In – Sunday May 15th
- Tech Rehearsal #1 – Monday May 16th*
- Tech Rehearsal #2 – Tuesday May 17th*
- Dress Rehearsal #1 – Wednesday May 18th*
- Dress Rehearsal #2 – Thursday May 19th*
- Bump Out – Sunday June 5th*
- Cast Dinner (venue TBA) – Monday June 6th
* denotes a date where attendance is compulsory
Performances
Blue Mountains Theatre
- Saturday May 21st @ 8pm
- Sunday May 22nd @ 2pm
- Friday May 27th @ 8pm
- Saturday May 28th @ 2pm
- Saturday May 28th @ 8pm
- Sunday May 29th @ 2pm
- Friday June 3rd @ 8pm
- Saturday June 4th @ 2pm
- Saturday June 4th @ 8pm
- Sunday June 5th @ 2pm
All cast will be required at the theatre 1.5 hours before the beginning of each show
Rehearsals and Commitment
It is the expectation of both the production team and the BMMS committee that everyone involved in this production will be available for all dates listed on this page. To ensure that Chicago is a production of the highest quality, and in fairness to all involved, it is essential that all cast members are available for all scheduled rehearsals. This is vitally important in 2022, where COVID-19 restrictions mean that rehearsals must be planned not only for creative decisions but also in accordance with guidance and restrictions from NSW Health.
Everyone’s time is valuable. It is vital that important rehearsal time is not wasted by the absence of required cast members. All known absences at the time of the auditions must be recorded on the audition form. Missing rehearsals without notice may result in cast members forfeiting their place in the cast.
A prerequisite for all cast members is that they need to sign a cast agreement with the production team and committee of Blue Mountains Musical Society, confirming their agreement to the Code of Conduct and Media Consent policies.
Costs
BMMS Membership (Annual)
- $22 Adults
Performance Fees
- $170
Cast Dinner
- $35 | Estimated cost. TBC closer to the event.
Code of Conduct
You will be required to sign a code of conduct at the commencement of rehearsals. If you miss 3 or more rehearsals without adequate notice, your role in this production will be reconsidered.
Key Audition Information
- Everyone auditioning for the cast must be at least 18 years of age at the time of the first rehearsal.
- Everyone auditioning for Chicago is required to show proof of COVID-19 Vaccinations.
- Everyone auditioning for Chicago cast must take part in the General Dance audition (12pm-1pm). You will need to book in for the General Dance audition.
- Those auditioning for Roxie, Velma, Featured Ensemble (Inmates), and Ensemble (Inmates) are required to take part in the Advanced Dance audition (1pm-2pm) as well as the General Dance audition. You will need to book in for BOTH the General Dance audition AND the Advanced Dance audition
- All auditions will be filmed for casting purposes. All footage will be destroyed at the end of the process.
Singing Auditions
Venue : Blaxland High School
- Wednesday February 2nd 7:30pm-10:30pm
- Thursday February 3rd 7:30pm-10:30pm
(Additional time slots may open up if required)
Sing whatever you want. We suggest something in a Jazz/Cabaret/Vaudeville style, but most importantly something you are comfortable with performing. It doesn’t need to be longer than 2 minutes. We would prefer you to sing in some kind of American accent.
Please bring your own piano sheet music in your preferred key in either a folder or neatly taped for the accompanist. No backing tracks will be accepted.
Please note: if auditioning for Ensemble (Inmates) or Ensemble (Non-Inmates) you are not required to do a singing audition, but you are welcome to.
Acting Auditions
(This will take place during your singing audition time slot)
If auditioning for Velma, Roxie, Billy, Mama, Mary, Amos, or a Featured Ensemble (Inmates & Non-Inmates) role, you will need to be prepared to perform the set dialogue. You do not need to have it memorised, but it will be helpful to be familiar with it. We are looking for American accents – ideally something from the midwest of the USA, but won’t be picky!
Set pieces: (click to download)
Movement/Dance Auditions
Venue : Blaxland High School
- General Dance: Saturday 5th February 12:00pm-1:00pm
- Advanced Dance: Saturday 5th February 1:00pm-2:00pm
Everyone auditioning for the cast must take part in the General Dance audition (12pm-1pm). You will need to book in for the General Dance audition.
Those auditioning for Roxie, Velma, Featured Ensemble (Inmates), and Ensemble (Inmates) are required to take part in the Advanced Dance audition (1pm-2pm) as well as the General Dance audition. You will need to book in for BOTH the General Dance audition AND the Advanced Dance audition
Please note: Even if not auditioning for the above specified roles, you are welcome to participate in the Advanced Dance audition if you wish
Roles
Velma Kelly
- Role Type: Lead
- Vocal Type: Alto
- Singing (and acting) Audition?: Yes
- General Dance Audition: Yes
- Advanced Dance Audition: Yes
Roxie Hart
- Role Type: Lead
- Vocal Type: Mezzo
- Singing (and acting) Audition?: Yes
- General Dance Audition: Yes
- Advanced Dance Audition: Yes
Billy Flynn
- Role Type: Lead
- Vocal Type: Baritone
- Singing (and acting) Audition?: Yes
- General Dance Audition: Yes
- Advanced Dance Audition: No
Mama Morton
- Role Type: Lead
- Vocal Type: Alto
- Singing (and acting) Audition?: Yes
- General Dance Audition: Yes
- Advanced Dance Audition: No
Mary Sunshine
- Role Type: Lead
- Vocal Type: Soprano
- Singing (and acting) Audition?: Yes
- General Dance Audition: Yes
- Advanced Dance Audition: No
Amos Hart
- Role Type: Lead
- Vocal Type: Baritone
- Singing (and acting) Audition?: Yes
- General Dance Audition: Yes
- Advanced Dance Audition: No
Mona, Annie, June, Liz, Hunyak, Kitty
- Role Type: Featured Ensemble (Inmates)
- Vocal Type: Any
- Singing (and acting) Audition?: Yes
- General Dance Audition: Yes
- Advanced Dance Audition: Yes
Clerk, Judge, Fogarty, Aaron, Martin, Harry, Fred
- Role Type: Featured Ensemble (Non-Inmates)
- Vocal Type: Any
- Singing (and acting) Audition?: Yes
- General Dance Audition: Yes
- Advanced Dance Audition: No
Ensemble (Inmates)
- Role Type: Ensemble (Inmates)
- Vocal Type: N/A
- Singing (and acting) Audition?: No
- General Dance Audition: Yes
- Advanced Dance Audition: Yes
Ensemble (Non-Inmates)
- Role Type: Ensemble (Non-Inmates)
- Vocal Type: N/A
- Singing (and acting) Audition?: No
- General Dance Audition: Yes
- Advanced Dance Audition: No
If you identify as:
“I just want to dance!” Go for Ensemble (Inmates)
“I’m really more of an actor, I can move a little though…:” Go for Ensemble (Non-Inmates)
“I’m an amazing triple threat!” Go for Roxie, Velma, Amos, or Featured Ensemble (Inmates)
“I can sing, but moving isn’t exactly ideal for me:” Go for Billy, Mama, Mary, or Featured Ensemble (Non-Inmates)
“I don’t really fit what you’ve suggested above but I really want to play χ role:” Go for χ role!
Notes on casting
- We would like to be somewhat gender-blind during the casting process. Of course this isn’t always possible with singing roles because of vocal types, but given the vaudeville style (and in-world drag portrayal of Mary Sunshine) and feminist overtones, we think it is important to represent a broader understanding of the gender spectrum. This will draw attention to the ongoing issues presented by the very binary judicial and incarceration systems we currently live under, and also complement the Brechtian meta-theatrical conceit of the show. The roles of Roxie, Velma, Amos, and Fred will be strictly cast as women and men, respectively, but we would like to consider all genders for all other roles. The majority of Inmates (both Featured Ensemble and Ensemble) will likely be played by people who identify as women or non-binary, and the majority of Non-Inmates (both Featured Ensemble and Ensemble) will likely be played by people who identify as men or non-binary.
- It would be our preference to cast someone in the role of the “Hunyak” who speaks (or who has some grasp on) a language other than English. This need not be Hungarian, and ideally would be a language that the performer has some familial connection to. The Hungarian verse in Cell Block Tango would be translated into this language. This would prevent a non-Hungarian speaker learning approximate sounds by rote and frankly butchering a language and solve the issue of a xenophobic slur in the script.
- There is a space on the audition form for you to list any special skills you may have. Given the vaudevillian setting of the show, any circus style skills could be of use to us! In particular, we are looking for someone who is good at whistling, and someone who can speak a language other than English as above. We may ask you to demonstrate these skills during your audition.
BEFORE YOU BOOK AN AUDITION, PLEASE READ THE AUDITION INFORMATION ABOVE
If you have issues booking your audition, please email producer@bmms.org.au.
Audition Form
In addition to booking your audition, you must complete the following audition form BEFORE YOUR AUDITION. This form has important information that we will use to contact you to inform you of the result of your audition.