Director: Amy Rebecca King
Music Director: Michael Rosensteel
Choreographer: Evelyn Joy Hoelscher
Stage Manager: David Poynter
Initial Auditions for The Georgetown Palace’s production of CATS will take place from Monday, April 29 – Wednesday, May 1.
The production is scheduled to open on Friday, August 2 and close on Sunday, September 8.
Rehearsals are scheduled to begin on Monday, June 10.
- This show’s ASL performance is scheduled for August 10.
- This show has an adaptive performance on August 15.
CATS is set amongst a larger-than-life junkyard playground and is alive with purr-fect felines including Rum Tum Tugger, Mr. Mistoffelees, Macavity, Jennyanydots, Old Deuteronomy, Skimbleshanks and Grizabella.
The Jellicle Cats come out to play on one special night of the year—the night of the Jellicle Ball. One by one they tell their stories for the amusement of Old Deuteronomy, their wise and benevolent leader, who must choose one of the Cats to ascend to The Heaviside Layer and be reborn into a whole new Jellicle life.
What we are looking for:
We are looking for talented and diverse performers of all ethnicities for all roles. We are looking for 20 actors, aged 16* and up. We will not be casting anyone under the age of 16.
*Actors will need to be 16 by the time rehearsals begin.
The Georgetown Palace desires to be as inclusive as possible and we enthusiastically encourage gender non-conforming, genderqueer, transgender and nonbinary actors to submit to audition for any roles listed. We also seek all races and ethnicities. Our character descriptions on the following pages are gender binary and are written with he/him or she/her. While they are limited in their writing, we hope that anyone who identifies with any of the roles, will come out and audition.
The Auditions:
Auditions will take place on the Springer Stage on April 29 from 6:30-10p and on April 30 from 6:30-10:00p.
**Please note that at any time, these auditions could be videoed for casting purposes only.**
This audition will be different from previous auditions. Participants will be singing and dancing in one visit. Please plan to be at the Palace for about an hour once your audition time begins. We will see 8 performers per hour. The first part of the audition will be your song for the production team. The second part of the hour will be learning your dance combination.
Performers will be able to sign up on Monday evening or Tuesday evening, April 29 and 30, respectively. You won’t have much time to change between singing and dancing, so please come in your dance audition outfit so that we can get you in and out on time. Please refrain from wearing jeans or restricting clothing for your dance audition. Please also bring jazz shoes or sneakers for the dance portion.
Due to this new format, it is imperative that you show up before the hour mark of your audition time. Example: Your audition time is 6:00p, please show up by 5:50p to get signed in.
We are hoping this new format will make auditioning easier and less driving for the performers. Having 2 days available will also help mitigate the need for any video submissions.
The vocal audition should consist of no more than one minute (16-32 bars) of a song of your choice keeping with the style of the show. Please factor that into your song choice as you prepare your audition. Singing something from the show is completely acceptable if you so choose, but we want to see what song you choose to highlight your talents. An accompanist will be provided, and we will also be able to connect pre-recorded music if you bring that with you. We will not accept an acapella audition. If using pre-recorded music, please make sure to have the exact cut you will be using cued up prior to entering the audition room and it shouldn’t include vocals. If using sheet music, please make sure it is in the correct key, with any cuts clearly marked and in a binder for the accompanist.
While we would like you to pick your own song, we understand it can sometimes be daunting for some people. If you are unable to pick a song, our music director has picked several male and female sides should you need/want to use one.
Male Vocal Side – Song: Old Deuteronomy – sing all roles given as one
Male Vocal Side – Song: Old Gumbie Cat
Male Vocal Side – Song: The Ballad of Billy M’Caw
Female Vocal Side – Song: Bustopher Jones – sing all roles given as one
Female Vocal Side – Song: Memory
Callbacks:
Callbacks will take place on Wednesday, May 1 by invitation only from 6:30 PM to 10:00 PM on the Springer Stage. Callbacks will be posted on the Georgetown Palace website as soon as possible after initial auditions are completed, and an email will be sent to all audition participants at the time of posting. Specific cuts of songs will be provided for callbacks for all characters. There will also be additional dancing. A link to the website that holds the sides will be provided in the email.
Audition sign ups can be found HERE
If none of the auditions times listed work for your schedule, please fill out the form and add yourself to the waitlist. Send productions@georgetownpalace.com an email, and we’ll arrange an alternate audition time. If you are on the waitlist, please send an email explaining why – productions will no longer be reaching out to those on the waiting list.
When signing up for an audition slot please note any conflicts during the rehearsal or performance dates. Please note: conflicts do not necessarily negate the opportunity to be cast, but we must know about them up front to factor that into the casting decisions. Barring emergencies, additional conflicts added/disclosed after casting could result in dismissal from the production. Sunday rehearsals will only be planned for tech rehearsals immediately prior to opening, but please include Sunday afternoon conflicts for the rehearsal period so that in the event a Saturday must be canceled due to cast conflicts we will know whether a reschedule on Sunday is an option. Adding all of your conflicts after casting could result in your removal of the production.
Rehearsals:
Rehearsals begin Monday, June 10, 2024. Scripts and scores will be available at the first rehearsal. But those offered roles will receive a link to a digital copy. Rehearsals will typically be held Monday-Thursday evenings from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM, and on Saturdays from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Sunday afternoon will only be an option in the event a Saturday must be canceled due to cast conflicts.
Performances:
Performances are Friday and Saturday at 7:30p, and Sundays at 2p. Sometimes ticket demand causes us to add Saturday Matinee performances at 2p.
- This show’s ASL performance is scheduled for June 8, 2024.
- This show has an adaptive performance on August 15, 2024.
- This show is scheduled to run for 6 weeks.
Casting:
Once casting is completed (typically 2-3 days after callbacks), emails will be sent to the actors that will be offered a role in the production. Once the full cast has accepted, everyone else who auditioned will be notified via email.
Compensation:
All actors offered a role in the show will be paid a non-union stipend. Payment and casting will be contingent upon The Georgetown Palace Theatre’s casting policies.
Health and Safety Protocols:
While the Coronavirus public health emergency has expired, COVID-19 and other contagious diseases are still out there, just to a lesser extent. Everyone should self-monitor for symptoms and either wear or mask around others or just stay home if they do not feel well. You should also wear a mask if you have direct exposure to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
If you do test positive for COVID-19, you must isolate for 5 days, and then only return to rehearsal or performances if your symptoms have improved. You should wear a mask until Day 10 or you have a negative test.
GPT:
The Georgetown Palace Theatre is committed to creating an inclusive and safe environment in which all community members feel a sense of belonging and does not discriminate in casting practices on the basis of an individual’s ethnicity, age, gender, physical and cognitive ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, country of origin, or other factors. We strongly encourage candidates of all ages, abilities, gender, and ethnicities to audition.
Please see our operating Standards at the following link: Georgetown Palace Operating Standards
Everyone involved with the production must submit to a background check at the Palace’s expense. If you are cast, you will receive a secure link where you can fill it out. There is no cost to you.
The Georgetown Palace Theatre is a 501c3 non-profit organization.
If you have any questions, please email productions@georgetownpalace.com.
