Audition Information

Music by Tom Kitt

Book & Lyrics by Bryan Yorkey

Directors: Lindsay Franklin and Doug Roberts

Music Director: Chris Schuman

Producer: Christine Robinson

Choreographer: Tia Allen

Costumer & Props: Tiffany Shoffner

Stage Manager: Christa Fisher

Synopsis:

This Pulitzer Prize winning musical explores the dynamics of the Goodman family, a typical suburban family each trying to cope in their own way with trauma and grief. Diana (the mother) has Bipolar Disorder, but the entire family finds themselves caught in the emotional ups and downs of her illness. Her treatment also leaves them questioning: what does it really mean to be “normal,” and is it worth the cost?

Content Warning: This show contains language, and themes of death, grief, drug use, sex, mental health, electroshock therapy, neglect, emotional abuse, and suicide. Due to these themes and situations, this show is not recommended for audiences under 16.

Audition Dates/Times:

Sunday, March 9, 2025 - 2pm

Monday, March 10, 2025 - 6:30pm

Auditionees only need to attend ONE night of auditions.

Wednesday, March 12 - 6:30pm- Callbacks by invitation only

Audition Location:

810 North Whitford, Lionville, PA 19353

Parking is available only at Marsh Creek Community Church (101 Crump Rd, Exton, PA 19341) down the street. Auditionees with mobility issues may park in the small lot behind the theater.

Rehearsal Dates: Sundays at 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm, Mondays, and Wednesdays at 6:30 pm until 9 or 10 pm

Set Building - Saturdays May 17th, 24th, 31st - 10am - ?? (must attend at least two)

Tech week will be June 1, 2, 3, 4 (Sunday-Wednesday) 6pm until finished 

Performance Dates:

Friday, 6/6 8pm, Saturday, 6/7 8pm, Sunday, 6/8  2pm, Thursday, 6/12 8pm, Friday, 6/13 8pm, Saturday, 6/14 8pm , Sunday, 6/15 2pm- Relaxed Performance, Thursday, 6/19 8pm, Friday, 6/20 8pm, Saturday, 6/21 2pm

Audition Information:

All roles are open. The Barley Sheaf Players encourage anyone who is interested to audition and is always eager to welcome new faces and fresh talent to its stage. We invite members of diverse backgrounds and abilities to audition for our productions. Resumes and headshots are welcomed but not required. 

The Barley Sheaf Players is a volunteer non-profit community theater. All production staff, cast, and crew are volunteers.

Please RSVP using this link. This is very helpful for planning purposes. 

Auditioners should arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled audition time to complete audition forms or fill out and bring the audition form (Click here) with them. Conflicts will be submitted on the audition form.

Auditionees should plan on staying for the entirety of the audition (approximately 2 hours) or until dismissed by the directors.

All auditioners will be asked to prepare the song selections for the character(s) they are interested in (see below- Songs by Character for Auditions). 

All auditoners should also be familiar with the following linked scenes.

If invited to callbacks, performers will be asked to audition with readings from the script. No advance preparation is required. Sides will be emailed to performers prior to callbacks. Performers may also be taught parts of a song with or without harmony as part of callbacks. 

Characters Descriptions from MTI:

Diana: (Should present as early 40s) Delusional, bipolar, and depressed. The sexiness of her yesterdays has only recently begun to soften. She is determined to make her family perfect but is tortured by a death in the family. Vocal Range: G3-F#5

Dan: (Should present as early 40s) Diana's husband. He is handsome and genuine. Though a constant in Diana's tumultuous life, he has grown tired and weary of her antics. Vocal Range: Ab2-B4

Natalie: (Should present as around 16) Diana & Dan's troubled daughter. An accomplished pianist and hardworking student, her struggles are exacerbated by her mother's behavior. She greatly admires Henry. Vocal Range: G3-G5

Gabe: (Should present as around 18) Diana & Dan's son. Dashing, athletic, and bright. He is a playful man and everything a mother could imagine. Vocal Range: B2-C5

Henry: (Should present as around 16) Natalie's classmate. The all-around musician, philosopher, and slacker. He has an intoxicating capacity for sympathy and romance. Vocal Range: G#2-B4

Dr. Fine/Dr. Madden: (Should present as 30s-50s) Diana's psychiatrist. Quite assured in his practice and considered somewhat of a rock star. Vocal Range: A2-A4

Songs by Character for Auditions 

Diana

* You Don’t Know (measures 1-25)

* I Miss the Mountains (measures 1-37)

Dan

* Who’s Crazy (measures 18-47)

* He’s not here (familiar, but 4-18)

Natalie

* Superboy and the Invisible Girl (be familiar with full song, but prepare measures 11-34)

* Hey #3/ Perfect for You Reprise (23-37)

Henry

* Perfect for You (measures 29-80)

Gabe

* I’m Alive (be familiar with full song, but prepare measures 43-78)

* There’s a World (prepare the whole song)

* Superboy and the Invisible Girl (familiar with harmony at the end)

Dr. Fine/Dr. Maddon

* Make up your Mind (measures 1-24)

(May be asked to do an additional selection with music taught at the audition) 

NOTE: To increase the safety of the youth members of our community as well as those working with them, clearances are required for all cast and crew members who are 18 years of age and older if minors are a part of the show. The two clearances required are the Pennsylvania Child Abuse Clearance and the Pennsylvania Criminal Background Check. Both are free for volunteers and need to be handed in at auditions or at the latest during the read through; those over 18 will not be able to rehearse at rehearsals with youth until they are received. Typically, these are returned to the requester within days of the request to the linked agencies.  More details about the handling of clearances will be shared at auditions but if you have any urgent questions contact the Membership Chair at membership@barleysheaf.org.

Music by Michael Gore

Lyrics by Dean Pitchford

Book by Lawrence D. Cohen

Based on the novel by Stephen King

Director and Music Director: Michael Macri
Producer: Joe Harrison

Consulting Producer: Dana Wainstein

If you have any questions, please email the production team: bspteenshows@gmail.com

Synopsis:

Carrie White is a teenage outcast who longs to fit in. At school, she’s bullied by the popular crowd, and virtually invisible to everyone else. At home, she’s dominated by her loving but cruelly controlling mother. What none of them know is that Carrie’s just discovered she’s got a special power, and if pushed too far, she’s not afraid to use it.

Content Warning: This show contains language, and themes of abuse, bullying, death, mental health, and neglect. Please consider your comfortability with these themes and situations, before auditioning.

Teen Workshop: Join us at our Teen Audition Workshop on April 11, 2025 RSVP HERE.

Audition Dates/Times:

Sunday, April 27, 2025 - 7 pm

Tuesday, April 29, 2025 - 6:30 pm

Auditionees only need to attend ONE night of auditions.

Thursday, May 1, 2025 - 6:30 pm - Callbacks by invitation only

Audition Location:

810 North Whitford, Lionville, PA 19353

Parking is available only at Marsh Creek Community Church (101 Crump Rd, Exton, PA 19341) down the street. Auditionees with mobility issues may park in the small lot behind the theater.

Rehearsal Dates: Sundays 7pm-10pm, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, 6:30pm to 9:30pm or 10pm

Set Building - Saturdays June 28, July 5 - 10am – ?? (must attend at least one)

Tech week will be Sunday-Wednesday July 6 - 9 – 6pm until finished

Performance Dates:

Friday, 7/11 7pm, Saturday 7/12 7pm, Sunday 7/13 2pm, Thursday 7/17 7pm, Friday 7/18 7pm, Saturday 7/19 7pm, Sunday 7/20 2pm

Audition Information:

All roles are open. The Barley Sheaf Players encourage anyone who is interested to audition and is always eager to welcome new faces and fresh talent to its stage. We invite members of diverse backgrounds and abilities to audition for our productions. Resumes and headshots are welcomed but not required. 

The Barley Sheaf Players is a volunteer non-profit community theater. All production staff, cast, and crew are volunteers.

Please RSVP using this link. This is very helpful for planning purposes.

Auditioners should arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled audition time to complete audition forms or fill out and bring the audition form (Click here) with them. Conflicts will be submitted on the audition form.

What’s expected at Auditions:

- Auditionees should plan on staying for the entirety of the audition (approximately 2 hours) or until dismissed by the director.

- Please come to the audition prepared with 16-32 measures of a song in the style of the show (pop/rock) or from the show itself. This does NOT have to be strictly musical theater songs but please keep in mind that the show is musical pop/rock and not Top 40 pop/rock.

- Auditionees will read sides in groups as well as individually.

Character Descriptions from Concord Theatricals:

CARRIE WHITE – A painfully shy outsider who, in spite of her best efforts to belong, has been the victim of her classmates' cruel jokes since childhood, as well as her mother's strict, biblically-oriented control at home. She transforms from ugly duckling into graceful – and then vengeful – swan. Vocally, she must be capable of lyrical sweetness as well as fierce power.

MARGARET WHITE – A woman of cisceral extremes, she balances her fervent religious convictions with equally sincere true-believer spirituality and tender, maternal love for Carrie. Like Carrie, with whom she shares several duets, her voice must range fromexpressive and melodic to ferocious and frightening.

SUE SNELL – A straight-A student who's been popular her entire life, she's remarkably level headed for her age. Her unthinking participation in a cruel act of bullying causes a crisis of conscience that leads her on a journey to try to right things. Vocally, she has a pop ballad voice that delivers sweet sincerity and strength.

TOMMY ROSS – Popular star athlete, valedictorian, and all around stand-out, he's the boy that all the girls want to be with, and all the boys want to be. Yet he also has unexpected, quirky sensitivity and is just starting to mine his personal life and feelings – a budding poet. His voice should have an effortless pop quality.

CHRIS HARGENSEN – Rich, spoiled-rotten, and wickedly funny, Chris is a popular beauty whose arrogant self-assurance makes her believe that the rules don't apply to her. Loaded with sexual dynamite, she has serious daddy issues and anger-management issues. Her voice is pop-rock percussive and powerful.

BILLY NOLAN – Now in his sixth year in high school, Billy's a sexy, stupid-like-a-fox bad boy whose wise mouth troublemaking has led him to spend more time in detention than in class. All these qualities make it easy for his girlfriend Chris to manipulate him to do her bidding. His voice is that of a wailing rocker.

MISS LYNN GARDNER – Mid-30s, this girls' P.E. teacher can be a strict disciplinarian if necessary, but when Carrie arouses her maternal instinct, she surprises herself by also revealing a protective "fairy godmother" side. Her voice is warm and strong, just like the woman.

There is a group of other students at school that will serve as ensemble members. The team is hoping to cast between 20 and 30 teens total.

NOTE: To increase the safety of the youth members of our community as well as those working with them, clearances are required for all cast and crew members who are 18 years of age and older if minors are a part of the show. The two clearances required are the Pennsylvania Child Abuse Clearance and the Pennsylvania Criminal Background Check. Both are free for volunteers and need to be handed in at auditions or at the latest during the read through; those over 18 will not be able to rehearse at rehearsals with youth until they are received. Typically, these are returned to the requester within days of the request to the linked agencies.  More details about the handling of clearances will be shared at auditions but if you have any urgent questions contact the Membership Chair at membership@barleysheaf.org.