musical comedy The Rocky Horror Show

Burien Actors Theatre

About the project and the company

Burien Actors Theatre (BAT) is seeking actors for the musical The Rocky Horror Show, written by Richard O’Brien.

All roles are open. Actors of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, gender expressions and physical/mental ability are sought.

Synopsis: A humorous and sexy tribute to the science fiction and horror B movies of the late 1940s through early 1970s, this campy musical comedy follows Brad Majors and Janet Weiss, a newly engaged young couple whose car breaks down in a storm. They end up in the home of Dr. Frank-n-Furter, a mad transvestite scientist from the planet Transsexual unveiling his new creation, a muscle man named Rocky Horror. This sexual parody of horror and science fiction films premiered onstage in London in 1973, becoming the popular cult classic film The Rocky Horror Picture Show in 1975.

Performances are at BAT in Burien from Feb. 21 through March 22, 2020. Shows are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.

Rehearsals begin the week of Jan. 5 at BAT on some weeknight evenings, plus some Saturday afternoons or Sunday afternoons or evening, exact times to be determined based on actor availability, until tech week.
BAT has free on-site parking and is two blocks from the Burien Transit Center.

The stage director is Marc “Mok” Moser, music director is Aimee Hong, and choreographer is Gayle Staker.

Location of Audition

Burien Actors Theatre, 14501 4th Ave SW, Burien, WA 98166

Other details

NOTE: Seeking actors of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, gender expressions and physical/mental ability for all roles. Actors do not have to be the ages indicated but must be able to convincingly portray them.
While we are not trying to re-create the movie, and may go in different directions, this play ultimately deals with overt sexuality. Everyone who auditions needs to be comfortable with this and all it entails. Any questions may be emailed to us when requesting an audition slot.

Audition requirements

Please come to auditions prepared to perform a comic monologue and 32 bars of a song in the style of the show (see character list for suggestions), and bring with you the written music (in your key). Accompanist will be provided. ANY auditioner who plays Tenor Sax (rock style) would be MOST welcome, regardless of the roles for which you are auditioning; please bring sax to the auditions and be prepared to play a few bars. Please also bring resume and headshot. Callbacks will consist of cold readings from the script, working with music from the show, and some dance work.

Character breakdown / Project needs

Narrator

(male or female, age 35-60): Speaks on rhythm. Good “Radio" Voice. Guides us through the show in a dry, British-humor-inspired manner. Must have a strong presence.

Brad Majors

(male, age 20-35): Bari-Tenor (Bb2-G5)--maybe a sort of Neil Sedaka '60s style. Audition with either a pop song in that style or a pop/rock musical song. Straight Hero type. A handsome and wholesome young man. Must be able to play stilted innocence and as well as some fragility. Overly optimistic at times. Very much in love with his fiance, Janet.

Janet Weiss

(female, age 20-35): Soprano (A3-Eb5)--the most legit voice in the cast. Comfortable with some light belting but can also sound classical in head voice. Audition with 2 short contrasting works for this part: An easy pop/rock (“Mamma Mia", "Aida") and a classic Broadway soprano role (“Show Boat", etc). Straight Heroine type. A youthful, pretty and wholesome young woman, she is coy and shy at first, then becomes sexy and outlandish. Keeps losing more of her clothes throughout the show. Madly in love with her fiance, Brad.

Riff Raff

(male, age 20-50): Rock Tenor (E3-B4)--REALLY want to find a true rock screamer. Audition with something like an Aerosmith or The Who rocker. Creepy man who often makes harmless conversation seem awkward and foreboding. Not your “average" handyman/butler

Magenta/Usherette

Magenta/Usherette (female, age 20-40): Mezzo-Belter (Bb3-Eb5)--rock belter, but looking for a contrast between Magenta and Columbia. Think Joan Jett or Janis Joplin, Ann Wilson or Grace Slick. For this role, any good belting pop/rock song would work (NO Mariah or American Idol type showoff songs ... this is ROCK). Riff Raff’s sister. A very strange servant of Dr. Frank-n-Furter, on the kinky side. An exotic beauty, she exudes sex. Possibly has Eastern-European accent. Doubles as “Trixie - The Usherette” and sings “Science Fiction Double Feature”

Columbia

(female, age 20-40): Mezzo-Belter (G3-Eb5)--rock belter, but looking for a contrast between Magenta and Columbia. Think Joan Jett or Janis Joplin, Ann Wilson or Grace Slick. For this role, any good belting pop/rock song would work (NO Mariah or American Idol type showoff songs, ... this is ROCK). One of Dr. Frank-n-Furter’s groupies, cute and bubbly with a rough, rocker side. Must either have tap experience, or dance experience and be teachable.

Dr. Frank-n-Furter

(male, age 30-50): Bari-Tenor (C3-G4)--need a full-bodied voice able to do a range of “voices”. A traditional pop/rock musical song would work (“Aida”,“Chess”, etc.). A cross-dressing mad scientist/ transvestite from the planet Transsexual in the galaxy of Transylvania. Master of seduction as well as of his castle. Charismatic, with strong comic timing. Need we say more..?

Eddie/Dr. Everett Scott

(male, age 25-45): Bari-Tenor (A2-G4). For auditions, any Meatloaf song would be fine, of course. Eddie is a freeze-dried delivery guy who rocks; biker look. Doubles as Eddie’s uncle, Dr. Scott, a rumpled scientist and high school tutor of Brad and Janet, in a wheelchair. Dr. Scott has a German accent. Will require some makeup/wig work. Not required, but a plus if you play Tenor Sax (rock style); please bring sax to the auditions and be prepared to play a few bars.

Rocky

(male, age 20-35): Tenor (C3-A4). The result of one of the Frank’s experiments, he is muscular and sexually appealing. Must be in good shape and comfortable with wearing little clothing.

Phantom Male 1

(age 20s-30s): Backup singer Baritone. Will sing and dance a lot. Includes a lot of easy harmony singing, so some choral experience would be helpful

Phantom Male 2

(age 20s-30s): Backup singer Tenor. Will sing and dance a lot. Includes a lot of easy harmony singing, so some choral experience would be helpful

Phantom Female 1

(age 20s-30s): Backup singer Alto. Will sing and dance a lot. Includes a lot of easy harmony singing, so some choral experience would be helpful

Additional information

Preferred method of submission

Audition/Interview dates

Auditions are Thurs. Oct. 24 from 7 to 10 pm and Sunday, Oct. 27 from 6 to 9 pm. If these dates are problematic for you, let us know, as there may be some limited ability to work around it.

Pay type

Stipend

Audition location

Burien WA

Pay type

$200 $200

Callbacks or second audition/interview?

Callbacks are Sunday, Nov. 3 from 6 to 10 pm

Submission instructions

For audition appointment, please email audition@burienactorstheatre.org or call 206-242-5180.

Union Requirements

Open to All

Equity Contract

Non-Union