Director: Lesley Larsen
Assistant Director: Katey Hallock
Music Director: Piper Gary
Choreographer: Kayla Tornai-Alaniz
Queer Dramaturg: Jennifer L Jones
Mental Health Dramaturg: Dr. Jenna Holt and the Arrow Project
Fri/Sat @ 7pm, Sat/Sun @ 2pm
We are accepting OPEN in-person auditions for ALL ROLES. Ages 18+ We’re looking to find and celebrate diversity in body type, race, gender, age, and ability.
in-person on the MainStage at the Wayne Theatre.
6-8:30 Music Portion (2 contrasting)
8:30-10 Dance Portion *all performers will be called to the Dance/Movement Portion
For the movement call: Please wear/bring clothing and shoes that you can move in.
Please prepare TWO CONTRASTING songs in the style of the show (16-32 bars each). Please do not use a song from the show.
Please EMAIL your accompaniment track to production@waynetheatre.org so that we can have your track ready for your audition. Please label your track with FirstName_LastName_Audition Track.
While we would like you to pick your own song, we understand it can sometimes be daunting. If you are unable to pick a song, our music director has picked 2 songs for you to sing should you want/need to use it.
Mama Who Bore Me (Mama Who Bore Me from "Spring Awakening" )
Tick, Tick…BOOM! (30/90 from "Tick, tick... Boom!")
Start at measure 40 ("Years are getting shorter" 1:01) end after measure 72 ("Bang! You're dead, what can you do?" 1:47)
The first part of the audition will consist of the vocal audition at your chosen time slot. For the second half, please be prepared to move. You will be doing approximately 3 counts of 8 of basic movement.
For accessibility purposes, those who register to audition will receive the dance audition via email the week before.
Callbacks will be held on Tuesday, 2/18 7-10pm.
Actors will be notified via email if they are called back.
NOT everyone will receive a callback. We are not calling back for every role so not receiving a callback does not mean you have not been cast.
If you are offered a callback, you will be required to learn a musical excerpt from the show.
Actors will be notified via email if they do or do not receive a role in the production. Those emails will be sent out the week of February 17th.
Rehearsals will begin Sunday, 2/23
Rehearsals will be Su/M/W/Th from 7-10pm *with a few exceptions
Due to the Easter Holiday occurring during rehearsal process, we will not be having rehearsal on 4/20.
We will be adding a rehearsal on Tuesday, 4/15. This will be the Press Showcase Dress Rehearsal. If you do not attend this rehearsal, you will not be able to perform in the Press Showcase.
Press Showcase will be Wednesday, 4/16. This is a mandatory rehearsal.
We will be starting our Sitzprobe rehearsal early on 4/13. We will be rehearsing from 6-10 instead of 7-10
Tech Rehearsals will be the week prior to opening. No conflicts accepted during Press Showcase (Wednesday, 4/16), Tech Week or Performances. *see note about conflicts below.
The week before opening, performers should plan on being present at all tech rehearsals. Every effort will be made to minimize rehearsals going over time. Flexibility is appreciated. The artistic staff reserve the right to make adjustments to the tech schedule based on the needs of the production and the venue restrictions.
Conflicts do not necessarily negate the opportunity to be cast, but we must know about them up front to factor that into the casting decisions. Barring emergencies, additional conflicts added/disclosed after casting could result in dismissal from the production. Adding all of your conflicts after casting could result in your removal of the production or at the very least, removal from key numbers or scenes. Missing more than 2 rehearsals outside of the originally scheduled absences may result in your removal from the production.
Questions? Feel free to send an email to auditions@waynetheatre.org.
Set in the East Village of New York City, Rent is about falling in love, finding your voice and living for today. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Rent has become a pop cultural phenomenon. with songs that rock and a story that resonates with audiences of all ages.
Based loosely on Puccini's La Boheme, Jonathan Larson's Rent follows a year in the life of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York's Lower East Side, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS. The physical and emotional complications of the disease pervade the lives of Roger, Mimi, Tom and Angel. Maureen deals with her chronic infidelity through performance art; her partner, Joanne, wonders if their relationship is worth the trouble. Benny has sold out his Bohemian ideals in exchange for a hefty income and is on the outs with his former friends. Mark, an aspiring filmmaker, feels like an outsider to life in general. How these young bohemians negotiate their dreams, loves and conflicts provides the narrative thread to this groundbreaking musical.
NOTE: **At the Wayne we believe strongly that it is crucial to cast actors who reflect the diversity of the characters and the setting of the world of Rent. The gender identity and sexual orientation of several characters are written into the script and will absolutely be honored. Using the text as our guide there are only references to one character’s race in the show (Mimi). Our aim is to create as diverse a cast as humanly possible and to contribute positively to discussions about inclusivity and representation allowing the production to resonate and build deeper connections with our audiences.
In reference to the character descriptions below – The characters in this show are on the binary and written with he/him or she/her pronouns as you will see in the following descriptions. However, we seek to be as inclusive as possible and ask gender non-conforming, gender queer, transgender and non-binary actors to list on the audition form the roles they most identify with. We also list race/ethnicity when specific to the character, but are otherwise seeking all races and ethnicities. Unless otherwise noted, roles will be open for consideration of actors of all ethnicities.
Roger Davis (20s, male presenting)
A musician/singer-songwriter who is a recovering drug addict living with HIV. Roger has mourned members of his community and is grieving the loss of his deceased former girlfriend. Roger longs for connection and meaning through his music. He is roommates with Mark in an abandoned loft space. He is reminiscent of a young Kurt Cobain and/or Lenny Kravitz in his musical styling.
Vocal range top: A4 Vocal range bottom: F2
*There are moments of intimacy between Roger and Mimi (kisses, body touching)
Mark Cohen (20s, male presenting)
A filmmaker and video artist who constantly seeks validation. He connects deeply with his roommate Roger and longs for the days when his group of friends were closer. In his struggles to find his place in the world, he often finds himself on the outside looking in. Mark comes from privilege but desires to understand his responsibility to himself and his community. His musical sound is akin to that of Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sting of Police, and/or Bono of U2.
Vocal range top: G4 | Vocal range bottom: A2
Tom Collins (mid 20s-mid 30s, male presenting)
A professor of technology at NYU that is grounded in anarchy and liberation, Tom Collins is smart, caring, and the backbone of his friend group. His chosen family is lifted by his positive and nurturing spirit. His warmth and empathic presence allows him to invite his friends to examine personal accountability. Tom used to be a roommate in the loft with Mark and Roger. He is also living with HIV.
Musically speaking Tom’s voice is rooted in gospel and soul genres, think Sam Cooke, Berry White, and/or Issac Hayes.
Vocal range top: A4 | Vocal range bottom: F#2
*There are moments of intimacy between Collins and Angel (Kisses, embraces, hand holding, nuzzling)
Benjamin Coffin III (mid 20s-mid 30s, male presenting)
Mark and Roger's landlord and former roommate. Benny struggles to find connection with his former chosen family. He is constantly battling being a friend while pleasing his new white in-laws. In spite of being seen as a sell out, Benny longs to know who he is and where he fits in his community.
Musically Benny has a freedom to his voice similar to Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and/or Lionel Richie.
Vocal range top: F#4 | Vocal range bottom: Bb2
*There is a moment of intimacy between Benny and Mimi (an embrace)
Joanne Jefferson (mid 20s-40s, female presenting)
A public interest lawyer who always fights for the underdog, Joanne comes from a conservative upper-class family. As an out and proud lesbian, she demands her own liberation. She is smart, purposeful, and grounded. She is dating Maureen Johnson. Joanne’s connection to Maureen brings her into an established chosen family where she discovers the power of being celebrated in your own community.
Joanne has a grounded and soulful voice filled with experience and action ala Tracy Chapman, Anita Baker, and/or Mavis Staples.
Vocal range top: E5 | Vocal range bottom: G3
*There are moments of intimacy between Joanne and Maureen (kisses, embraces)
*There are moments of physical violence between Joanne and Maureen (a buttock smack)
Angel Dumott Schunard (20s-30s,Gender-Nonconforming/Non-Binary Actors are strongly encouraged to submit for this role with the understanding that the character identifies/moves within multiple gender representations.)
A vibrant street musician who radiates light! Angel moves through the world as a gender- nonconforming human who is also living with HIV. Angel has an incredible spirit with a gift for inspiring human connection all while being a street fashion icon. Angel is magnetic and rooted in living for the moment. Angel meets and swiftly becomes Tom Collins’ partner, a connection that brings Angel into the chosen family group. Angel is the heart of the piece. Angel’s musicality is rooted in their connection and love for rhythm, movement and storytelling. Angel’s artistry is akin to the artistic qualities of Prince, a young RuPaul, and/or Grace Jones.
Vocal range top: A4 | Vocal range bottom: C3
*There are moments of intimacy between Collins and Angel (Kisses, embraces, hand holding, nuzzling)
Mimi Marquez (20s, female presenting)
A dancer and sex worker, Mimi is a proud Latina woman determined to live in the moment. She is a drug addict who is living with HIV. A young woman on a journey to find who she is and what she is fighting for. Mimi’s addiction and intentions are often at odds. She desperately tries to make the best of life in whatever way she can. Living in the same building as Roger and Mark, Mimi meets the friend group through her unexpected romantic connection to Roger and is forever changed by this chosen family. Her artistry is connected to her body and movement. Her voice is rooted firmly in expression of spirit similar to that of Selena, and/or a young Paula Abdul.
Vocal range top: E5 | Vocal range bottom: Eb3
*There is a moment of intimacy between Benny and Mimi (an embrace)
*There are moments of intimacy between Roger and Mimi (kisses, body touching)
Maureen Johnson (20s, female presenting)
A performance artist who is constantly raging and ready to fight. Maureen is full of well- intended passion and anarchist energies of which she pours into her art no matter the medium. She’s a former roommate of Roger, Mark, Collins and Benny. She completes the chosen family rounding out the space with intoxicating energy dripping with sexualized vigor. Maureen is queer and openly dating Joanne after recently breaking up with Mark. Bursting with confidence and a vivacious spirit, Maureen navigates how to be a less self-centered human that is accountable for their actions. Artistically speaking she is a radical and unexpected arts advocate.
She has a blue eye-ed soul grit to her voice which is also balanced with an iconic lesbian artistic flair, think a mixture of Janis Joplin, Ani Difranco and Sinead O’Connor.
Vocal range top: F5 | Vocal range bottom: C4
*There are moments of intimacy between Joanne and Maureen (kisses, embraces)
*There are moments of physical violence between Joanne and Maureen (a buttock smack)
The Ensemble
The Ensemble of this world is incredibly valuable and provides the foundation and full structure that holds and supports the stories Rent has to share. The following breakdowns are mapped accordingly with room for growth and adjustments as we meet the individuals who encompass them. Soul, Rock, and R&B vocal stylings of the late 80s/early 90s are encouraged.
*Gender-Nonconforming/Non-Binary Actors are welcomed and encouraged to submit for any and all of the roles below with the understanding that there are individual characters that may identify as a woman or man.
Person #1
This track is proposed to play multiple people within the world including Alexi Darling (a Producer with Buzzline a tabloid-esq TV show) as well as the Person with Coats (a member of the un-housed community selling clothing/goods to their community).
Age: 30 to 60 | Vocal range top: D5 | Vocal range bottom: F3
Person #2
This track is proposed to play multiple people within the world including Mrs. Cohen (Mark’s mom). This track is also very movement/dance forward.
Age: 40 to 60 | Vocal range top: C5 | Vocal range bottom: E3
Person #3
This track is proposed to play multiple people within the world including Mrs. Jefferson (Joanne’s mom) as well as cover gospel inspired solo work within Seasons Of Love.
Age: 40 to 60 | Vocal range top: E5 | Vocal range bottom: C3
Person #4
This track is proposed to play multiple people within the world including Mimi’s Mom. This track is very movement/dance forward.
Age: 40 to 60 | Vocal range top: E5 | Vocal range bottom: G3
Person #5
This track is proposed to play multiple people within the world including the Drug Dealer, Gordon (client the group therapy scene), and Steve (“Will I” soloist).
Age: 30 to 60 | Vocal range top: A4 | Vocal range bottom: F2
Person #6
This track is proposed to play multiple people within the world including the Pastor, Mr. Grey (Benny’s Father in Law who owns the neighborhood bar and is responsible for gentrification in the community) and Paul (counselor leading the Life Support Group). Acting forward track.
Age: 30 to 60 | Vocal range top: G4 | Vocal range bottom: F2
Person #7
This track is proposed to play multiple people within the world including Mr. Jefferson (Joanne’s dad), and featured soloist in Seasons Of Love.
Age: 40 to 60 | Vocal range top: A4 | Vocal range bottom: E2
Person # 8
This track is proposed to play multiple people within the world. This is a very movement forward track with experience in heel work encouraged.
Age: 18 to 60 | Vocal range top: A4/A5 | Vocal range bottom: F2/F3
Person # 9
This track is proposed to play multiple people within the world. This is a very movement forward track with experience in hip/hop and/or contemporary dance encouraged.
Age: 18 to 60 | Vocal range top: A4/A5 | Vocal range bottom: F2/F3
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