Audition Information

Bremerton Community Theatre strives for diversity in all aspects of the theater. Theater artists wishing to join us in our mission to "promote, advance and encourage the art and education of the theatre; to cooperate with other educational and theatrical groups for the advancement of the theatre; to provide a mode of expression to anyone interested in any phase of the theatre; and to provide entertainment to the community" may join us at our forthcoming auditions as listed below. Please check back or join our Facebook Group for updates to this schedule.

UPCOMING AUDITIONS

Blithe Spirit by Noël Coward.

Directed by Trina Williamson. To be performed Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2:30pm, November 1-24, 2024.

Winner! 2009 Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Revival The smash comedy hit of the London and Broadway stages, this much-revived classic from the playwright of Private Lives offers up fussy, cantankerous novelist Charles Condomine, re-married but haunted (literally) by the ghost of his late first wife, the clever and insistent Elvira who is called up by a visiting "happy medium", one Madame Arcati. As the (worldly and un-) personalities clash, Charles' current wife Ruth is accidentally killed, "passes over", joins Elvira and the two "blithe spirits" haunt the hapless Charles into perpetuity.

AUDITION DATE
Auditions will be held at 6:30pm on Sunday, Sept. 8 and Monday, Sept. 9, 2024 at Bremerton Community Theatre. Rehearsals start September 11.

AUDITION RESOURCES
The scenes listed below will be used during auditions. For those planning to audition it is recommended that you familiarize yourselves with them. They are in pdf format and can be downloaded by clicking on respective the links.

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS (ages are approximations)

Charles Condomine (mid 40’s to early 50’s) – a novelist. Charles is bright, sophisticated, articulate, and debonair but somewhat at the mercy of his wives, past and present. His interest in spiritualism as a subject for a novel leads Charles to ask Madame Arcati to dinner and a séance. He is skeptical but becomes a believer when the ghost of his first wife appears—and stays.

Ruth Condomine (mid 30’s to late 40’s) – Charles’s second wife. Like her husband, Ruth is witty and sophisticated, and she is quite the society matron. Ruth is a bit stuffy and a little predictable. She is convinced that Charles has lost his mind when Elvira appears. Ruth acts as a concerned wife, trying to restore Charles to normalcy.

Elvira (early 30’s-mid 40’s ) – the ghost of Charles’s first wife. Only Charles can see or hear her. In life, Elvira was spirited, outgoing, wild, and carefree. In death, she is no different; she socializes with Genghis Khan. She does love Charles, if somewhat casually, and is jealous of Ruth.

Madame Arcati (60+) – the local spiritualist and medium. Elderly but spry, Madame Arcati comes into the play talking to an eight-year-old contact on the other side. She truly is in contact with the other world and inadvertently is the “medium” through which Elvira is called back to this one. She is eccentric, effusive and boisterous.

Dr. George Bradman (55+) – a good friend of the Condomines who is invited to dinner and the séance. He is entirely skeptical of anything to do with the occult but tries his utmost to go along with the proceedings for the sake of Charles’ research.

Violet Bradman (50+) – Dr. Bradman’s wife. Simple and naïve, she is quite excited about being in the presence of the medium, whom she finds fascinating.

Edith (20–30) – the Condomine’s new maid. She is nervous and tears around at breakneck speed trying to do things right and make a good impression.

Oliver! Jr. Book, music, and lyrics by Lionel Bart.

Directed by Rana Tan. To be performed Friday at 7:00pm, Saturday at 2:30pm & 7:00pm, and Sunday at 2:00pm, December 13-15, 2024.

The Broadway Junior adaptation of the classic novel and award-winning musical springs to life with some of the most memorable characters and songs to ever grace the stage, based on Charles Dickens' novel, Oliver Twist. The Tony and Olivier Award-winning show is one of the few musicals to win an Academy Award for Best Picture and is widely hailed as a true theatrical masterpiece by actors and audience members alike.

AUDITION DATE
Auditions will be held Sunday, October 6th and Monday, October 7th from 6:00-8:30PM at Bremerton Community Theatre. You do not need to attend both audition days to be considered for a role.

AUDITION INFORMATION
Auditions will be comprised of group activities followed by readings from the script and vocal auditions using songs from the show. Actors interested in a part requiring solo singing should prepare a short section of song in the Broadway style no longer than one minute in length. A pianist will be available during auditions to play sheet music or an instrumental track may be played and a Bluetooth speaker will be available for use during auditions. No acapella singing will be accepted during auditions.

NOTE: there are many roles in this show for older actors as well as an opportunity for children of all ages to perform in the workhouse scene singing “Food, Glorious Food” and other ensemble songs playing multiple characters. Children who enjoy singing in a group are encouraged to audition.

AUDITION RESOURCES
Please visit Audition Materials | Music Theatre International and search for Oliver! Jr. to see the vocal song selections for each character as well as excerpts from the script that will be used during BCTjr auditions.

REHEARSAL INFORMATION
Rehearsals are typically three nights a week (Monday-Thursday) from 6:30-8PM until the week of dress rehearsals and performances. Actors must attend all dress rehearsals and performances. A preliminary rehearsal schedule will be available for review at auditions and will be finalized after casting is completed and all rehearsal conflicts are considered. Young actors interested in getting help preparing for Oliver! Jr. auditions can email the director.

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS (with vocal ranges)

Oliver Twist is the 11-year-old orphan around which the whole plot of the show revolves. Oliver is intelligent and kind, but he is not afraid to stand up for himself when the situation calls for it. He longs for a family and escapes to London to try to make his fortune – though he has no idea what adventures await him there! Ideally, Oliver should read as younger onstage, but needs to be a good singer with a strong stage presence. Vocal Range: A3 - E5

Mr. Bumble runs the workhouse where Oliver finds himself in the beginning of the show. He is cold, cruel, and he doesn’t care one bit about the boys in his workhouse. Should read as older onstage and make a good team with Widow Corney. Vocal Range: Bb2 - F4

Widow Corney runs the workhouse along with Mr. Bumble. She is cold and calculating, like Mr. Bumble, and only cares that the work gets done and money gets into in her pocket. Should read as older onstage and make a good team with Mr. Bumble. Vocal Range: B3 - Eb5

Mr. Sowerberry is the undertaker who purchases Oliver from Mr. Bumble. He is a callous man who does not treat Oliver much better than Mr. Bumble. He does not sing a solo but should be an actor that pairs well with Mrs. Sowerberry.

Mrs. Sowerberry is the wife of the undertaker. She gives Oliver scraps left for the dog to eat. She, like her husband, does not care at all for Oliver’s well-being and only wants him to work. She does not sing a solo but should be an actor who pairs well with Mr. Sowerberry.

Charlotte works for the Sowerberrys. She is kinder to Oliver than the others in the Sowerberry home, but not by much. Charlotte does not sing a solo.

Noah Claypole works for the Sowerberrys. He is a mean, nasty person who insults Oliver’s mother on purpose to upset him. Noah should read as older onstage than Oliver and have good stage presence. He does not have to sing.

The Artful Dodger, a.k.a. Jack Dawkins, is one of the most famous characters in literature. He is charming, upbeat, and charismatic. Though Dodger works for Fagin as a thief, he is the first person to show Oliver real kindness and gives him a place to belong. This actor must be a strong singer and someone who can exude charm on stage. Vocal Range: A3 - E5

Fagin recruits, trains, and manages a gang of child-thieves. Though he claims he cares for each of his children, providing them food and shelter and characteristically calling them “my dear,” he’s really only concerned with the money these young thieves bring in. This role requires a charismatic actor with a robust voice who can portray Fagin’s nuanced charm. Fagin sings several songs and should be comfortable with simple choreography. Vocal Range: C3 - G4

Charlie Bates is one of Fagin’s child-thieves. He is a great admirer of the Artful Dodger and an accomplished pocket-picker. This role requires a good actor and singer who is comfortable with simple choreography. Vocal Range: G4 - B4

Nipper is the smallest member of Fagin’s gang. He has a small solo and should be smaller in stature than Oliver. He also sings in group numbers and should be comfortable learning simple choreography. Vocal Range: A3 - E4

Captain and Handwalker are children in Fagin’s gang. They each have small solos, plus sing in group numbers and need to be comfortable learning simple choreography. Vocal Range: B3 - A4

Nancy is an adventurous young lady with a heart of gold who has fallen in with the wrong crowd. She is vivacious and kind, the life of the party, and she immediately takes Oliver under her wing. Unfortunately, she is involved with Bill Sikes, who is a troublesome person. This role requires a strong actress and singer. Vocal Range: G3 - E5

Bet is a friend of Nancy’s who shares her spirited nature and sense of adventure. Like Nancy, Bet has a kind heart but has fallen upon hard times. Requires a good singer and someone comfortable with simple choreography who pairs well with Nancy. Vocal Range: A3 - D5

Mr. Brownlow is a sweet man who takes Oliver in, even after Oliver has picked his pocket. Oliver is familiar to Mr. Brownlow immediately, even though he has no idea that Oliver is his grandchild. Mr. Brownlow doesn’t have any vocal solos. This role requires a strong, caring actor who can appear older on stage.

Mrs. Bedwin is Mr. Brownlow’s kindhearted housekeeper. This is a lovely featured role for a singer and actor who reads as older onstage. Vocal Range: C4 - B4

Bill Sikes is a quintessential villain. He is mean, selfish, and ruthless, and he always looks out for number one. He bullies everyone around him, especially Nancy, and is paranoid, always afraid that people will betray him. This role requires a strong actor and consistent singer who can lean into this character’s menacing presence. Vocal Range: B2 - D4

The Chairman is a small featured role in the Three Cripples Public House. This role does not require solo singing.

The Milkmaid, Strawberry Seller, Knife Grinder, and Rose Seller are featured roles that fill out the world of Oliver! Jr. They all have solos. These actors will also be part of the ensemble and can also be children in the workhouse. Vocal Range: Eb4 - C5

Dr. Grimwig is a featured acting role. He is extremely intelligent but a bit pessimistic, especially compared to Mr. Brownlow. This role does not have a vocal solo and is great for an actor who will enjoy playing an older character onstage. This actor will also be part of the ensemble.

Old Sally and the Mstron confirm that Oliver is Agnes’s son, and therefore Mr. Brownlow’s grandson. These featured roles do not have vocal solos and will also be part of the ensemble.

The large ensemble in Oliver! Jr. fills out the world of the musical. The ensemble roles include Children (including Child), Workhouse Governors, Servants, Maid, Delivery Person, Pauper Assistants, People in the city (including Passing Man), Policeman, Customers at the Three Cripples Public House, Street Sellers, Market Sellers, Crowd in the Town square (including First Woman, Second Woman, Third Woman and First Man), People and Police at London Bridge (including Lamplighter, First Runner, Police 1, Police 2). Various roles in the ensemble also sing group songs including the Children in the workhouse.

Upcoming auditions for the 2024-2025 season at Bremerton Community Theatre

The following performance and audition dates are tentative and subject to change. Please check back often to confirm dates and times.

Spider's Web by Agatha Christie and directed by Jeffrey Bassett. To be performed Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2:30pm, Feb. 7 through Mar. 2, 2025.

AUDITION DATE
Sunday, Nov. 10 & Monday, Nov. 11, 2024 from 6:30pm–8:30pm at Bremerton Community Theatre.

Jesus Christ Superstar lyrics by Tim Rice, music by Andrew Lloyd Weber and directed by Rana Teresa Tan. To be performed Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2:30pm, Apr. 4 through May 4, 2025 (excluding April 20th).

AUDITION DATE
Sunday, Jan. 5 & Monday, Jan. 6, 2025 from 6:30pm–8:30pm at Bremerton Community Theatre.

Gutenberg! The Musical! book, music, and lyrics by Scott Brown & Anthony King and directed by Chris Borer. To be performed Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2:30pm, May 16-25, 2025.

AUDITION DATE
Sunday, Feb. 9 & Monday, Feb. 10, 2025 from 6:30pm–8:30pm at Bremerton Community Theatre.

Suspect written by Edward Percy and Reginald Denham and directed by Kristi Ann Jacobson. To be performed Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2:30pm, June 6-29, 2025.

AUDITION DATE
Sunday, Apr. 6 & Monday, Apr. 7, 2025 from 6:30pm–8:30pm at Bremerton Community Theatre.