AUDITIONS:
Saturday, July 20 at 12pm and Sunday, July 21 at 6pm
Callbacks (if required) Tuesday, July 23 at 7pm
Rehearsals Begin July 22 at 12pm
PRODUCTION DATES:
September 6 – 22, 2024
Performances Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2pm
(Possible extension through September 29)
A Musical in the Mainstage Theater
Ragtime is a sweeping musical portrait of early 20th century America. Set in the volatile melting pot of turn-of-the-century New York, three distinctly American tales are woven together – that of an upper-class White mother, a determined Jewish immigrant, and a daring Black musician – united by their courage and belief in the promise of the future. They confront history’s contradictions of wealth and poverty, freedom and prejudice, hope and despair, and what it means to live in America.
Auditioners should be aware that Ragtime is rated PG 13 for insensitive racial language
To Audition:
Auditioners are asked sing 16-32 bars of a song of the style that also that best shows off their voice and range. An accompanist is provided; please bring sheet music. No recorded accompaniment, please. Please dress for dance audition following. Auditioners should be prepared with a short monologue if requested.
Auditioners should:
– Complete digital audition form (
at this link, or through above button)
– Bring your sheet music
– Bring headshot, and resume if available and if not already submitted via link above
Video Auditions:
Must be submitted prior to July 20, and may substitute for appearing at the Saturday and Sunday auditions. Auditioners must be available to attend in-person callbacks July 22 if required. Video should include a short monologue, 16- 32 bars of a song that best shows off their voice and range, 1 minute dance routine demonstrating dance training, and be uploaded with a headshot, and a resume (if available) when filling out the digital audition form linked above.
FHT seeks to include persons of every race, color, culture, age, gender, creed, physical disability, and sexual orientation. Character ages are not set in stone and all roles are open to all ethnicities unless otherwise stated. Actors should consider roles if they feel they can represent the characters and age range listed.
CASTING FOR:
Coalhouse Walker, Jr. – A proud and talented pianist, confident and stubborn. Sophisticated with a romantic demeanor and a gentle heart. Should be able to move. Piano playing helpful but not essential.
Male, 25-35 – Ethnicity: African Descent, African American Vocal Range: Ab to G, with a sustained high F#.
Sarah – A washwoman, filled with a strong will to live fueled by an innocent spirit, falls deeply in love with Coalhouse after much resistance.
Female, 20-30 – Ethnicity: African Descent, African American Vocal Range: Lyric Soprano with strong mix, low G# to high F# on staff.
Mother – The consummate wife and mother, a kind woman who is gentle, compassionate, optimistic, and accepting of others.
Female, 30-40 – Ethnicity: Caucasian Vocal Range: Lyric Soprano / Mezzo with strong mix, low G to high Eb on staff.
Father – Mother’s professionally successful husband, cautious, resistant to change, fancies himself an amateur explorer.
Male, 35-50 – Ethnicity: Caucasian Vocal Range: Baritone, B to E on staff.
Younger Brother – A passionate anarchist, he is intense, obsessive, and high strung, influenced by Emma Goldman’s teachings.
Male, 25-35 – Ethnicity: Caucasian Vocal Range: Tenor / Baritone with strong top range, B to high F#.
Tateh – An immigrant, intelligent, passionate, and creative artist. Full of drive and heart. Wears the trials and tribulations of hist past on his sleeve. Eastern European / Latvian dialect.
Male, 30-40 – Ethnicity: Eastern European / Jewish / Latvian-American Vocal Range: Baritone / Tenor, Db to high F#.
Sarah’s Friend / Ensemble – Passionate, soulful, sings the gospel number for Sarah’s funeral. Female, any age Ethnicity: African Descent, African American Vocal Range: Gospel Lyric Soprano or Alto, low G to stratospheric scat top note.
Emma Goldman / Ensemble – Eastern European / Jewish immigrant, anarchist.
Female, 35-60 – Ethnicity: Caucasian Vocal Range: Alto, low G# to Db.
Harry Houdini / Ensemble – Hungarian immigrant, internationally famous magician Male, 30-40 Ethnicity: Caucasian Vocal Range: Tenor, middle C to high G.
Evelyn Nesbit / Ensemble – Vaudevillian performer, the “Marylin Monroe of her time.” Female, 20-30 Ethnicity: Caucasian Vocal Range: Soprano / Belter, middle C to Db.
Willie Conklin / Ensemble – Irish-American fire chief who is racist and takes out his anger on Coalhouse.
Male, 30-45 – Ethnicity: Caucasian Vocal Range: Tenor / Baritenor
Adult Ensemble – Male and Female, all ages and ethnicities.
Booker T Washington, Henry Ford, JP Morgan, Admiral Peary, Matthew Henson, Judge, Grandfather, Kathleen, Brigit, Attorneys, Bureaucrats, Reporters, Baseball Fans, people of New Rochelle / Harlem / Union Square, Factory Workers, Firemen, Demonstrators, Vacationers.
YOUTH CASTING
Little Boy – An earnest boy who has grown up in privilege. Open hearted to people that are different from him and has the precocious innocence of youth.
Male, 10-12 years old – Ethnicity: Caucasian Vocal Range: voice not yet changed.
Little Girl, Tateh’s daughter. Her arrival in America is marked by sickness and hunger. She is scared of her new surroundings and loyal to her father, her only living relative.
Female, 10-12 years old – Ethnicity: Eastern European / Jewish / Latvian-American Vocal Range: Mezzo / Soprano.
Young Coalhouse Jr. – Innocent and pure. Son of Coalhouse and Sarah. This role appears briefly at the end of the play and has no lines or songs.
Male, 4-6 year-old – Ethnicity: African descent, African-American.
Youth Ensemble – Male and Female, 7-17 years old Ethnicity: Any.
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