Hello and welcome from Marriott Theatre!

Please read all audition information before submitting.

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Videos will be due by Tuesday, May 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/s691curbv4AHVxXw5, ECC: https://forms.gle/DdHuJzd1ZK1WRkDo8. Videos must be received as an unlisted Youtube or Vimeo link and uploaded as ONE video link.

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In-person callbacks will be in Lincolnshire, IL during the days of June 7th - 9th, 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.

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If you have questions, please email Sana Selemon at Sana.Selemon@MarriottTheatre.com.

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PLEASE NOTE: We are doing a combination of Virtual Submissions and In-Person Equity Auditions. Feel free to submit whichever way works best for you!

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IN-PERSON AUDITIONS

EPA/ECC Singers Call - Tuesday, May 16th, 2023 at the Chicago Equity Building from 9am - 5pm (Lunch from 1pm - 2pm) 

Preparation: please bring sheet music for a 32 bar cut (roughly 1 minute) and your audition book in case we’d like to hear more

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ECC Dancers Call - Thursday, May 18th, 2023 at the Chicago Equity Building from 10am - 1pm

Preparation: please wear comfortable clothes for dancing

All sign-ups will be held through the Actors’ Equity Portal. Local Chicago actors strongly encouraged to audition!

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DATES

First day of rehearsal: Thursday, January 4th, 2024 (rehearsals are typically Tuesdays - Sundays, 10am to 6pm, six days a week)

First Preview: Wednesday, January 24th, 2024

Opening: Wednesday, January 31st, 2024 (Show schedule: Wednesday-Sunday with two shows on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday)

Closing: Sunday, March 17th with 1 possible extension week

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Director: James Vásquez

Choreographer: William Carlos Angulo

Musical Director: Ryan T. Nelson

Artistic Director: Peter Marston Sullivan

Executive Producer: Peter Blair

Associate Artistic Director: Katie Johannigman

Artistic Assistant: Sana Selemon

Artistic Coordinator: Kavin Moore

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DIRECTOR NOTE:

In The Heights celebrates family, both blood and chosen, while also telling the story of a community who has fought to have their voices heard.  And yet, while zooming the lens in on a specific neighborhood, we all feel welcome.  No matter who we are or where we come from, everyone sees themselves in a part of this story.

For me, that's a result of the heart and soul left on the stage every night by the storytellers.  It demands we present ourselves in an authentic way, trust and honor our joy, pain, mistakes and achievements.  As BIPOC storytellers we have been given few opportunities to lead the story from our POV.  I've been lucky to 'visit' this neighborhood a few times in my career now, and every time I leave feeling more powerful and inspired to take our stories and voices further out into the world where they deserve to be heard.

I'm excited to bring this story to the Marriott.  And I'm excited to meet more of the Chicago community of BIPOC actors.  I remind you that this is a neighborhood.  And while it is a very specific neighborhood we are building, it's full of real folks of all experiences and appearances and ages.   We are looking forward to meeting YOU.  What do you have to offer our neighborhood?  As you prepare your audition, lead with that.  Lead with you, your history and your voice.  THAT is what is going to uplift and make our neighborhood sing. 

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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.

While we are currently not able to provide transposed versions of the audition music, we have found a google plug-in called Transpose on Chrome browsers that will transpose songs simply and without having to purchase anything (https://transpose.video/). If the songs provided don’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. 

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ROLES (seeking understudies for each role)

Click the character name(s) to view all scenes and music. 

Usnavi

Dominican and/or Latine/Latinx, 24, High Baritone/Tenor G4, Strong rap skills. Owner of De La Vega’s Bodega, Charismatic leading man with tremendous heart. Has a crush on Vanessa.

Please prepare all material listed below (click the character name above to view audition folder which has all sides and music)

• “In the Heights” (Usnavi version)
• “Hundreds of Stories”
• Usnavi Side

We have an accompaniment recording and a rehearsal recording that plays the vocal part for each song.

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Sonny

Dominican and/or Latine/Latinx, Seeking someone over 18 to play 15, Tenor - Bb4, Strong rap skills. Usnavi’s younger cousin, works at Usnavi’s bodega. Someone who needs guidance or risks ending up a street punk. Strong mover.

Please prepare all material listed below (click the character name above to view audition folder which has all sides and music)

• “96,000”
• “Blackout”
• Graffiti Pete & Sonny Side

We have an accompaniment recording and a rehearsal recording that plays the vocal part for each song.

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Nina Rosario

Puerto Rician and/or Latine/Latinx, 19, Soprano (High Belt - F5). Freshman at Stanford University, daughter of Kevin and Camila Rosario.

Please prepare all material listed below (click the character name above to view audition folder which has all sides and music)

• “Breathe”
• Nina and Camila Side

We have an accompaniment recording and a rehearsal recording that plays the vocal part for each song.

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Kevin Rosario

Puerto Rician and/or Latine/Latinx, 40s, Baritone - E4. Nina’s father, owner of Rosario’s Car and Limousine. Stubborn and hot tempered.

Please prepare all material listed below (click the character name above to view audition folder which has all sides and music)

• “Inútil”
• Kevin Side

We have an accompaniment recording and a rehearsal recording that plays the vocal part for each song.

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Camila Rosario

Puerto Rician and/or Latine/Latinx, 40s, Mezzo, Belter G3 - B4. Nina’s mother, co-owner of Rosario’s Car and Limousine, cool-headed

Please prepare all material listed below (click the character name above to view audition folder which has all sides and music)

• “Enough”
• Nina and Camila Side

We have an accompaniment recording and a rehearsal recording that plays the vocal part for each song.

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Benny

Black/African American, 24 Tenor - Ab4, Strong rap skills. Usvani’s friend, works at Rosario’s Car and Limousine. Hardworking, good guy. Moves well.

Please prepare all material listed below (click the character name above to view audition folder which has all sides and music)

• “When You’re Home”
• Benny Side

We have an accompaniment recording and a rehearsal recording that plays the vocal part for each song.

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Abuela Claudia

Cuban and/or Latine/Latinx, Late 60s, Alto (Belt F#3 - C5). Raised Usnavi and Sonny, clearly the matriarch of the neighborhood.

Please prepare all material listed below (click the character name above to view audition folder which has all sides and music)

• “Paciencia Y Fe”
• Abuela Claudia Side

We have an accompaniment recording and a rehearsal recording that plays the vocal part for each song.

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Daniela

Latine/Latinx, 30s, Alto (Belt G3 - C5). Owner of Daniela’s Salon. No nonsense, quick witted, brassy and outspoken.

Please prepare all material listed below (click the character name above to view audition folder which has all sides and music)

• “Carnaval Del Barrio”
• Daniela & Carla Side

We have an accompaniment recording and a rehearsal recording that plays the vocal part for each song.

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Carla

Chilean/Dominican/Cuban/Puerto Rican and/or Latine/Latinx, Mid-20s, Soprano. Hairdresser at Daniela’s Salon. Strong dancer.

Please prepare all material listed below (click the character name above to view audition folder which has all sides and music)

• Sing Ensemble “In the Heights” music or your own
• Daniela & Carla Side

We have an accompaniment recording and a rehearsal recording that plays the vocal part for each song.

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Vanessa

Latina and/or BIPOC, 19, Mezzo, High Belt - E5. Works at Daniela’s Salon and is looking to save up money to leave Washington Heights forDowntown NYC. Has a crush on Usnavi. Great dancer.

Please prepare all material listed below (click the character name above to view audition folder which has all sides and music)

• “It Won’t Be Long Now”
• Vanessa Side

We have an accompaniment recording and a rehearsal recording that plays the vocal part for each song.

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Piragua Guy

Puerto Rician and/or Latine/Latinx, Mid-30s, Tenor A4 (Sustains A4). Local piragua vendor, good hearted and hard working.

Please prepare all material listed below (click the character name above to view audition folder which has all sides and music)

• “Piragua (Reprise)”

We have an accompaniment recording and a rehearsal recording that plays the vocal part for each song.

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Graffiti Pete

BIPOC, 18. Local graffiti artist. Strong hip hop dancer, acro skills a plus.

Please prepare all material listed below (click the character name above to view audition folder which has all sides and music)

• Sing Ensemble “In the Heights” music or your own
• Graffiti Pete & Sonny Side

We have an accompaniment recording and a rehearsal recording that plays the vocal part for each song.

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ENSEMBLE (most will cover principal tracks)

BIPOC, Latine/Latinx, and/or Afro-Latinx. Will play residents of Washington Heights, NY. 

We encourage you to record the dance and song so we have a better understanding of your skills!

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Singers:

Please prepare all material listed below (click the character name above to view audition folder which has all sides and music)

• Sing Ensemble “In the Heights”

We have an accompaniment recording and a rehearsal recording that plays the vocal part for each song.

If you’re not able to record the following material, please sing something in the style of the show, roughly 32 bars or one minute. 

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Dancers:

Attached is a link to the initial dance combination for In the Heights by our choreographer William Carlos Angulo.

Timestamps:

• 0:00 Introduction
• 1:25 Breaking it Down
• 3:11 Slowly with Counts 
• 4:17 Slowly with Music 
• 4:57 Tempo with Music 
• 5:24 Submission Instructions 

If Dropbox isn’t working, you can view the combo at the following Youtube link:

Tutorial: https://youtu.be/gGIfR_6hWVQ

Music (starts at 3:20): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0BVfBwVqFo