Beautiful: The Carole King Story
Hello and welcome from Marriott Theatre!
Please read all audition information before submitting!
Click the character name(s) to view all scenes and music. These will be due by Thursday, February 16th by 11:59pm CST. If you need an extension, please reach out to Sana Selemon at the email address listed below. Please submit via our google forms. EPA: https://forms.gle/z2Bn2kK9vvsnRaAYA, ECC: https://forms.gle/pmt1xWdDXJTREnJL8. Videos must be received as an unlisted Youtube link or Vimeo link. We are looking for understudies for every role.
In-person callbacks will be in Lincolnshire, IL during the days of March 7th and 8t, 2023. Please indicate on the form if you are not available during those days. All cast members must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to appear at an in-person callback and be cast in the show. “Fully vaccinated,” as defined by the CDC, is more than 14 calendar days following receipt of a final dose of an FDA or World Health Organization authorized or approved vaccine.
If you have questions, please email Sana Selemon at Sana.Selemon@MarriottTheatre.com.
Local Chicago actors strongly encouraged to audition!
First day of rehearsal: October 12th, 2023 (rehearsals are typically Mondays-Saturdays, 10am to 6pm, six days a week)
First Preview: November 1st, 2023
Opening: November 8th, 2023 (Show schedule: Wednesday-Sunday with two shows on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday)
Closing: on sale through December 31st, 2023, with one possible two week extension
Director: Jessica Fisch
Choreographer: Christopher Windom
Musical Director: Ryan T. Nelson
Artistic Director: Peter Marston Sullivan
Executive Producer: Peter Blair
Associate Artistic Director: Katie Johannigman
Artistic Assistant: Sana Selemon
DIRECTOR NOTE:
From behind a grand piano on the Carnegie Hall stage, Carole straddles where she’s come from and where she is going. Like Alice falling down the rabbit hole, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is a journey of remembrance and a celebration of what it takes to capture a dream. Beautiful: The Carole King Musical falls into one of my favorite categories of theater: plays in which a character on the precipice of a momentous life event stops and takes stock of all the people, places, and things that got them where they are. In telling Carole’s story, I hope to honor the profound history of the songwriters and musicians of the 1960’s and 1970’s and, above all, lift up the joy of artistic creation. I am on the hunt for curious, thoughtful actors who love this music as much as I do and are excited to play!
A note about casting (adopted from language with consent originally created by Kevin Kantor and Emily Trarquin of Actors Theatre of Louisville):
Most characters we encounter currently are on the binary and are written with he/him or she/her pronouns and you will see that in the following character descriptions. However limiting the descriptions are, our casting seeks to be inclusive as possible and we invite gender non-conforming, genderqueer, transgender, and non-binary actors to submit for the roles they most identify with. We will also list race/ethnicity when specific to the character but are otherwise seeking all races and ethnicities. Please let us know if you have any questions, concerns, or if there are any accommodations we can provide.
We are currently not able to transpose audition music at the moment but are open to performers singing the role that they’re most vocally comfortable with. If the song doesn’t showcase you at your best, you can submit another song in the world of the show.
We also welcome performers with disabilities to submit. Please reach out to Sana Selemon at Sana.Selemon@MarriottTheatre.com or 847-465-1326 ex. 1 if you have any questions or access needs.
ROLES (seeking understudies for each role)
Female identifying, White, Mezzo-Soprano (plays late teens-late 20’s). Carole has aspirations of becoming a songwriter but never dreams of becoming a star. She is a funny and vulnerable girl from a Jewish family in Brooklyn with a rare talent. Carole is often the peace maker in difficult situations. She is most comfortable behind a piano and we are actively seeking actors who feel similarly.Given the unique performance space, we are looking for an actor who is proficient in piano and able to accompany herself in key moments in the show. If this is not possible, we are still looking for actors that would have strong musicianship to convey “playing on stage”. Please send any footage of you playing and singing or if you'd like to accompany yourself on these songs, that would also work.
Please prepare all material listed below (click the character name above to view audition folder which has all sides and music)
- Carole and Gerry Side
- Carole Side 2
- "Natural Woman"
- "You've Got A Friend"
- "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow"
We have an accompaniment recording and a rehearsal recording that plays the vocal part for each song.
Male identifying, any ethnicity, Tenor (plays late teens-late 20’s). Gerry is Carole’s songwriting partner and eventual husband. He is brooding and ambitious with a rebel vibe but has the innate lyric-writing talent to back it up. Under his slick exterior is an innately sympathetic, wounded person. He always seems to want what he can’t have.
Please prepare all material listed below (click the character name above to view audition folder which has all sides and music)
- Carole and Gerry Side
- "Pleasant Valley Sunday" and "Up On The Roof" or another song of your choice in the style of the show
We have an accompaniment recording and a rehearsal recording that plays the vocal part for each song.
Female identifying, any ethnicity, Mezzo-Soprano (plays late teens-late 20’s). Cynthia is a talented songwriter and best friend to Carole. She becomes romantically involved with her writing partner Barry and the couple share an office wall with Carole and Gerry. Cynthia is whip-smart, chic and very playful. She knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go for it. Seeking an actor with excellent comedic timing.
Please prepare all material listed below (click the character name above to view audition folder which has all sides and music)
- Cynthia Side
- "Happy Days" and "He's Sure the Boy I Love" or another song of your choice in the style of the show
We have an accompaniment recording and a rehearsal recording that plays the vocal part for each song.
Male identifying, any ethnicity, Tenor (plays late teens-late 20’s). Barry is Cynthia’s songwriting partner and romantic interest. He is very neurotic but instantly likable. Barry is his own worst enemy and is stronger because of his partnership with Cynthia. Seeking an actor with excellent comedic timing.
Please prepare all material listed below (click the character name above to view audition folder which has all sides and music)
- Barry Side 1
- Barry Side 2
- "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" or another song of your choice in the style of the show
We have an accompaniment recording and a rehearsal recording that plays the vocal part for each song.
Female identifying, White (40’s-50’s). Carole’s Jewish mother. Genie had her own artistic dreams, but life, motherhood and an unfaithful husband got in her way. She is very protective of Carole and wants to make sure her daughter avoids the same mistakes. Piano playing is a plus but not mandatory. Non-singing role.
Please prepare all material listed below (click the character name above to view audition folder which has all sides and music)
- Genie Side
- Optional: provide a song of your choice in the style of the show
We have an accompaniment recording and a rehearsal recording that plays the vocal part for each song.
Male identifying, any ethnicity, Baritone/Bass (40’s-50’s). Don is an influential music publisher and boss to Carole, Gerry, Cynthia and Don. He is fast-talking, energetic, and sometimes intimidating, but he has a real affinity for his writers and artists. He knows what is going to sell.
Please prepare all material listed below (click the character name above to view audition folder which has all sides and music)
- Donny Side
- Please provide a song of your choice in the style of the show
We have an accompaniment recording and a rehearsal recording that plays the vocal part for each song.
ENSEMBLE
Singers: Please prepare the music associated with the character listed below in the dropbox folder OR one 16 to 32 bar cut (equivalent to 1 minute) in the style of the show.
Dropbox Link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/5ty1nyi1p1tqxy2/AAAETG4LxB-iyqVCGErKjp57a?dl=0
Dancers: Please submit any dance reel or dance footage in the style of the show.
A multitalented ensemble who will portray members of Carole’s inner circle as well as famous musical groups that Carole, Gerry, Cynthia and Barry wrote for, including the following groups. Dance skills are a plus.
NEIL SEDAKA/RIGHTEOUS BROTHER/LOU ADLER- any ethnicity, male identifying, Tenor (20’s-30’s)
NICK/RIGHTEOUS BROTHER- any ethnicity, male identifying, (20’s-30’s)
LUCILLE/SHIRELLE- Black, female identifying, (20’s)
LITTLE EVA/SHIRELLE- Black, female identifying, Mezzo-Soprano (20’s)
JANELLE WOODS/SHIRELLE- Black, female identifying, Alto
SHIRELLE/ENSEMBLE- Black, female identifying
MARILYN WALD- any ethnicity, female identifying, Alto
DRIFTER 1/ ENSEMBLE- Black, male identifying
DRIFTER 2/ ENSEMBLE- Black, male identifying
DRIFTER 3/ ENSEMBLE- Black, male identifying
DRIFTER 4/ ENSEMBLE- Black, male identifying
BETTY- any ethnicity
