Fantasy Playhouse to hold auditions for “A Christmas Carol”

HUNTSVILLE — Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theater will hold auditions for its annual production of the Charles Dickens classic tale “A Christmas Carol” Sept. 14 and 15.

They are looking for strong singers, actors and dancers ages 6 and up. Children (ages 6-12) will audition Sept. 14 at 6 p.m., while teens and adults will audition at 1 p.m. Sept. 15. Auditionees are asked to arrive 15 minutes early to fill out paperwork. Callbacks, by invitation, will be Sept. 16 at 1:30 p.m.

Children auditioning must be 6 years old on or before Sept. 14. No preparation is required. Children may be taught a song or asked to talk with a British accent depending on their role. They may also be asked to participate in theatre games.

For teens and adults, all actors auditioning for speaking roles will have to speak with a British accent. There will be no prepared monologues, but they will have to do a cold reading. Those auditioning for a singing role—which includes Haunters and Carolers—will have to be prepared to sing up to one minute of a song that highlights their singing ability, range, style and acting. Singers must also bring sheet music, as there will be no a cappella singing auditions.

Melanie Berry, marketing associate for Fantasy Playhouse and a cast member in last year’s production, advised anyone thinking of auditioning to brush up on their British accent and joked that it is a great excuse to watch your favorite BBC shows.

“The energy and love I received from the cast and crew throughout the experience was incredible,” Berry said. “Being a part of giving this beautiful story to audiences who came as a part of their Christmas celebrations was a joy every performance.” 

Here is a breakdown of roles:

CHILDREN 

Boys:

Tiny Tim – young boy, sings (small and sickly)

Child Scrooge/Fezz Guest/Caroler – plain, sings, dances

Toby – age 11-15, on the smallish side.  Think Oliver’s Artful Dodger

Guttersnipes (4-6 possible roles)/Schoolboys (4 roles)

Ignorance/Shopper – small child

Girls:

Belinda – young Cratchit daughter, fun & happy

Fan/Shopper – Fan is Scrooge’s sister

Charges of the Poor Governess (6 roles) – dancers approx. 9 to 12 yrs. old

Fezz Guest/Caroler – plain, sings, dances

Guttersnipes (0-2 possible roles)

Want/Shopper – small child

TEEN AND ADULT MEN

Jacob Marley (adult)

Haunt 1 Ali Baba (adult) – dances, baritone/tenor – the haunt leader

Haunt 2 Touchstone, the Court Jester (male or female, adult or teen)  dances, sings – the comic relief

Haunt 4 Robinson Crusoe (adult) dances, baritone/tenor – strong presence

Ebenezer Scrooge (adult)

Bob Cratchit (adult) – overworked, underpaid, but proud & dependable

Fred/Fezz Guest (adult) dancer – likeable, happy, content

Mr Coote/Fezz Guest (adult) dancer – a bit stuffy but very caring

Mr Peachy/Fezz Guest (adult) dancer – slightly daft but genuine

Eb/Caroler (young adult) –  posh, sings, Scrooge’s younger self

Caroler/Fezz Server/Fred Guest (adult) – posh, sings, dances

Caroler/Fezz Server/Fred Guest (adult) – posh, sings, dances

Carole/Fezz Guest (adult) – plain, sings, dances

Caroler/Fezz Guest (young teen) – plain, sings, dances

Ghost of Christmas Past/Fred Guest (male or female adult) –  strong acting skills

Ghost of Christmas Present/Board Person (male or female adult) – booming and larger than life

Ghost of Christmas Future/Lamplighter (male or female adult) – non- speaking role

Mr Fezziwig/Song Sheet Seller (adult) dances – jolly, old fashioned, fun, good natured

Mr Livermore/Chestnut Man (adult) – dour, nearly lifeless, haughty

Jim (young adult) – Caroline’s husband, poor, proud & capable

Mr Fowler, Poulterer (adult) – mature, hardworking, no nonsense purveyor of turkeys/geese

Old Joe/Chimney Sweep (adult) – Cockney, great character role

Dick Wilkins (young adult) – character role

Topper (young adult) – character roles

Peter (young teen) – caring, wants to emulate Bob

Toby – age 11-15, on the smallish side –  think Artful Dodger

TEEN AND ADULT WOMEN

Haunt 2 Touchstone, the Court Jester (male or female, adult or teen)  dances, sings – the comic relief

Haunt 3 Scheherazade (adult) dances, mezzo – lithe & lovely

Caroler/Fezz Server (adult) – plain, sings, dances

Caroler/Fezz Server (adult) – plain, sings, dances

Caroler/Fezz Guest (adult) – posh, sings, dances

Caroler/Fezz Guest (young teen) – posh, sings, dances

Rose/Caroler/Fezz Guest (young adult) – posh, sings, dances

Ghost of Christmas Past/Fred Guest (male or female adult) – strong acting skills

Ghost of Christmas Present/Board Person (male or female adult) – booming and larger than life

Ghost of Christmas Future/Lamplighter (male or female adult) –  non- speaking role

Mrs Fezziwig/Fruit Vendor (adult) dances – Jolly, old-fashioned, fun, good natured

Mrs Crowe/Flower Seller (adult) – Cockney laundress, great character role

Mrs Dilber/Candy Seller (adult) – Scrooge’s charwoman, great character role

Caroline (young adult) – Jim’s wife, poor but proud, possibly an Irish immigrant

Mrs Tribble, Toy Shop Owner (adult) – mature, slightly self-important shopkeeper

Poor Governess/Phyllis F (young adult/teen) dancer – oldest most dutiful

Fezz daughter

Belle (young adult/teen) – Scrooge’s lost love

Meg (young adult/teen) – Fred’s wife

Phoebe F/Fred Guest/Shopper (young adult/teen) dancer –  youngest Fezz daughter, spoiled a bit

Philomena F/Fred Guest/Shopper (young adult/teen) dancer –  middle Fezz daughter, loves food

Cook/Fred Guest/Shopper (adult) dancer –  fun featured dance role.

Mrs Cratchit (adult) – motherly, committed, tough and loving

Martha Cratchit (young adult/teen) – dutiful eldest Cratchit daughter

Berry also said that being a part of the technical crew is an option.

“If you want to help out but are terrified of finding yourself in a spotlight, the technical crew is as warm and welcoming as the cast,” she said. “You’ll get all the behind-the-scenes involvement without memorizing a line.”

Alma Huston will direct the play, and Julia Ramsey will serve as the producer.

Those cast in the production must be available to rehearse at the following dates and times: Tuesdays and Thursdays Oct. 9-Nov. 20 from 6:30-9 p.m., Saturdays Oct. 13-27 and Nov. 10 from 9 a.m.-noon, and Saturdays Nov. 3, 17, 24 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The cast will also be required to rehearse from 5:30 p.m. until approximately 10 p.m. during Tech Week, Nov. 25-29.

Performance dates will be the weekend of Nov. 30-Dec. 2, Dec. 4 for student matinees and the weekend of Dec. 7-9. The call time will be noon for weekend shows at 1:30 and 5 p.m., and 7:30 a.m. for shows at 9 a.m. and noon on Dec. 4.

“There’s a reason this has become such a tradition in the Tennessee Valley,” Berry said. “It’s a wonderful show about the power of reaching out to other people and the spirit of charity at Christmastime.”

Fantasy Playhouse Arts Center is located at 3312 Long Ave. in Huntsville.

For questions, contact Ramsey at julia.ramsey@fantasyplayhouse.com.