Auditions
Step into the Spotlight at The Rose
The Rose encourages actors of all races, ages and skill sets to audition for our main stage shows. Adult and youth artists have a great time working together to produce shows at The Rose.
At the same time, being a part of a main stage show is a big commitment, not only for the performer but for their family. Rehearsals are as frequent as six days per week and often run late into the evening. The result is a high-quality performance and memories that will last long after the spotlight has dimmed. Auditions are held on a regular basis throughout the season. For more information on main stage auditions, please contact auditions@rosetheater.org. Interested in knowing when The Rose is holding auditions? Fill out the form below to be sent our audition announcements directly to your inbox.
Audition Announcement Email List
Audition Announcements
The Rose To Hold Auditions for its 2024 Production of
A Christmas Story: The Musical
The Rose is holding auditions for roles in its 2024 production of A Christmas Story: The Musical directed by Kathy Tyree. In person auditions will be held on Monday, July 15th & Tuesday July 16th with callbacks taking place Sunday, July 21st. We will be casting both adult & youth (10+) roles for this production. Please see the character breakdown & details below.
The Rose is joyfully and boldly committed to ensuring diversity & equity in the casting of each of its productions. Actors of all types regardless of race, gender, age, or disabilities are welcome to audition for both lead and ensemble roles.
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We believe children are the key to the future and as such, deserve to see themselves represented everywhere. We engage in a wide range of stories and productions to broaden experiences and learning opportunities. We offer a variety of classes to meet young people where they are. Providing each student with the chance to learn and grow in creativity, imagination, resilience, empathy, tolerance, and connection is what we do. This work is accomplished by an inclusive and diverse, professional staff of artists, educators, technicians, and administrators, devoted to live theater and arts education for young people. These are equal parts of the whole that make us The Rose Theater.
Time Commitment
A Christmas Story: The Musical
Rehearsals: A Christmas Story actors must be available for weeknight & weekend rehearsals from October 29 – December 5, 2024. Rehearsals will be held at our downtown location.
Performances: A Christmas Story actors must be available for weekday daytime performances as well as weekend performances from December 5 – 22, 2024. See calendar full calendar here.
Adult Actor Compensation: $2,750. Most favored nation terms in effect.
Email auditions@rosetheater.org with any questions.
When, Where & How to Audition
When & Where:
- Sign up to attend in-person auditions on Monday or Tuesday, July 15th & 16th starting at 4:00 pm, OR submit a video audition by 11:59pm on Saturday July 19th.
- In person auditions will take place downtown at The Rose Theater.
2001 Farnam St, Omaha, NE 68102
- In person auditions will take place downtown at The Rose Theater.
- Callbacks will be held on the evening of Sunday July 21st starting at 5:30 pm also downtown at The Rose Theater.
What to prepare:
- Acting: Prepare a 60 second monologue of your choice OR select from the provided sides to read from. If auditioning in person we will have someone available to read opposite of you. If submitting a video audition, please have someone out of frame read opposite of you.
- Provided sides can be found in the registration & video submission forms.
- Music: Prepare 16-32 bars of the auditionee’s choosing OR choose to use the provided sheet music & backing track.
- For in-person auditions an accompanist will be available as will a bluetooth speaker & laptop for those wishing to provide their own playback or use the backing track. Acapella (without any accompaniment) singing is also acceptable.
- Sheet music, the backing track, and a vocal demo can be found in the registration & video submission forms.
- For in-person auditions an accompanist will be available as will a bluetooth speaker & laptop for those wishing to provide their own playback or use the backing track. Acapella (without any accompaniment) singing is also acceptable.
- Dance: Learn a dance combo!
- In-person auditions- upon arrival ALL auditionees will join the show’s choreographer to learn a short dance combo. Then those who tap dance will be asked to stick around for a tap call.
- Please wear clothing and shoes you can comfortably move around in.
- If you have tap shoes please bring those as well.
- In-person auditions- upon arrival ALL auditionees will join the show’s choreographer to learn a short dance combo. Then those who tap dance will be asked to stick around for a tap call.
In person auditions will have a different dance call than folks submitting a video.
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- For video submissions- In the video submission form you’ll find an instructional dance video. Review and submit a video of yourself performing the dance combo. Or if you have a prepared dance reel you may submit that in lieu of the dance video.
How to sign up & submit:
Want to audition in person?
Complete the following registration form:
In-Person Auditions HERE
Want to audition via video submission?
Complete the video submission form and upload your materials here:
Video Auditions HERE
*In-person registration is not required to submit a video audition
About The Show!
A Christmas Story: The Musical
Join Ralphie Parker on his quest for the Holy Grail of Christmas gifts — a Red Ryder air rifle. This musical adaptation of the beloved movie brings all the classic laughs of Flick getting his tongue stuck to a flagpole, Dad getting his special award, a disastrous visit to Santa, and many more to life onstage. Bring your family together this winter to experience the universal triumphs of childhood as seen through the eyes of a very special 9-year old.
Character Breakdown:
Please note that the pronouns listed next to the character are those used in the script. We are looking to cast actors of all identities for all roles.
JEAN SHEPHERD/NARRATOR:
A good-natured curmudgeon with a deadpan sense of humor.
RALPHIE:
A 5th grade boy who wants an Air Rifle for Christmas: specifically the Red Ryder BB Gun.
THE OLD MAN:
Gruff and grumbling on the exterior, Ralphie’s Dad has a good heart.
MOTHER:
She is the secret engine that runs the family.
RANDY:
Ralphie’s younger brother.
MISS SHIELDS:
Ralphie’s 5th grade teacher.
SANTA:
Very unhappy with his job.
FLICK:
A classmate and best buddy of Ralphie’s; Flick is the guinea pig in the flagpole licking experiment.
SCHWARTZ: A classmate and best buddy of Ralphie.
ESTHER JANE: A classmate.
MARY BETH: A classmate.
NANCY: A classmate.
SCUT FARKUS:
A textbook example of a schoolyard bully.
GROVER DILL: Farkus’s toady, and is always at his side.
Adult and Youth Ensemble Members
Preparing for an Audition
Every audition is different. Please read the audition announcement for specific information regarding:
- Show title, director, available roles and contact information
- The age range of actors we are looking for
- Audition requirements
- Audition, rehearsal and performance dates
Wear comfortable clothes that allow you to move freely. If applicable, we will indicate the need for specific dance wear in the audition announcement. If you have known rehearsal conflicts, please bring conflicting dates and times with you to auditions. Offers may be withdrawn for students who have more conflicts than those listed at the time of audition.
Actors under age 18 must have an adult wait with them during the audition process. The Rose Theater is unable to provide supervision.
Arrive at least 10 minutes prior to the audition to complete paperwork. Auditions may last several hours, so be prepared to wait. Auditions are designed to closely approximate rehearsal conditions, therefore, parents are not allowed to view their student artist’s auditions. Bring a headshot and resume, if available. If the audition is for a musical:
- Come prepared to sing 16-24 measures from a song that highlights your voice. The song does not need to be from the musical you are auditioning for.
- A pianist will be available. Bring sheet music.
- You may sing a cappella (without accompaniment) but this highly discouraged, as it does not allow us to make an accurate judgment on how well you follow live accompaniment.
Download Youth Audition Tips Here
A note about younger children: The minimum age to audition for a show at The Rose is eight. We are sometimes asked about children under eight years old who want to audition. We are thrilled that your child has shown an interest in performing, but due to rigorous rehearsal and performance schedules, we ask that young children wait until they are older to audition for our main stage shows. We encourage younger children to participate in one of our production camps, which have more opportunities for budding young artists and child-friendly rehearsal and performance times.
The Audition
Depending on what the audition announcement asks you to prepare, we will likely ask for one or more of the following:
- Read directly from the show’s script
- Perform a monologue
- Perform a song
- Be taught a dance combination as part of a group
In the audition room, actors will perform for the show’s director and, if applicable, an accompanist and music director. Some actors will be released without being asked to stay and dance (if the show is a musical). This does not mean they will not be cast.
Nerves are a natural part of performing. We encourage student actors to accept that. We want young artists to learn from every experience at The Rose, including auditions. We always give students the chance to try again if they “mess up,” easing the pressure and stress.
After Auditioning
Callbacks are follow-up auditions that help directors make final casting decisions. If you or your child is called back, a member of the production team will call or email with an invitation prior to the scheduled callback date, which is listed on the audition announcement.
Getting a callback does not mean that you have been cast in the show. Not everyone will be called back. You will usually know within a few days if you have been called back for a particular show. If a student actor is not called back, it is appropriate to discuss with your student the fact that they will likely not be asked to participate in the show.
We do not always call or write to let you know that actors have not been cast. It generally takes us two weeks to complete casting decisions but may take longer. If you are not cast in a production, you may still have had a very successful audition — we may have been looking for a different kind of performer for a particular role. Often, great actors are not cast because they are just not what a director envisioned for a specific role. We encourage you to keep trying!
Youth Audition Opportunities
Teens ‘N’ Theater
Teens who have not yet graduated from high school are welcome to audition for roles in Teens ‘N’ Theater shows. Audition dates and times are subject to change. While changes are rare, we encourage you to check the website regularly. For more information about Teens ‘N’ Theater auditions, please contact Jay Hayden at jayh@rosetheater.org.
The Rose Brigade
The Rose Brigade is an elite group of musical theater performers who perform pre-shows before select main stage productions and, in some cases, participate in local and regional competitions. Auditions for The Rose Brigade are open to singers and dancers ages eight to 18. All students accepted to The Rose Brigade must enroll in required classes and attend all rehearsals. All members are responsible for student fees and potential travel fees. For more information on The Rose Brigade, click here or contact the Class Coordinator at classes@rosetheater.org or 402-502-4617.
The Rose Dance Project
The Rose Dance Project (RDP) dancers are selected by audition to represent The Rose in local and regional dance competitions and to perform within the community. Some competition pieces are even set by national choreographers. Auditions are open to dancers between the ages of five and 18. Please note that all members are financially responsible for costumes, competition fees and potential travel fees. For more information, click here. In addition to weekly RDP rehearsals, members are required to take a number of designated ballet, jazz and tap classes per week. For more information, contact Sue Gillespie Booton at sueb@rosetheater.org or 402-502-4633.
