Always Something There Auditions
Hello and Welcome from Marriott Theatre!
Please read all audition information before submitting! Video submissions will be due October 16th at 11:59pm CT. Please submit your audition material via our AIRTABLE FORM. Videos must be received as an UNLISTED Youtube link or Vimeo link. We will take submissions from both AEA and Non-AEA members. Local Chicago actors are strongly encouraged to audition.
CALLBACKS: In person callbacks will be held in Lincolnshire, IL during the days of December 9th - 11th. Please indicate on the audition 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.
PRODUCTION DATES
First Rehearsal - May 29th, 2025
First Preview - June 18th, 2025
Press - June 25, 2025
Close - August 10, 2025
Always Something There Creative Team / Who Will View Submissions
James Vasquez (He/Him) - Director
Tyler Hanes (He/Him) - Choreographer
Ryan T. Nelson (He/Him) - Music Director
Peter Blair (He/Him) - Producer
Peter Sullivan (He/Him) - Artistic Director
Katie Johanningman (She/Her) - Associate Artistic Director
Kavin Moore, CSA (He/They) - Artistic Coordinator
Casting Note: Kavin Moore, CSA
Our goal is to create a warm and welcoming casting process. The team strives to lead with respect, kindness, and generosity. In regard to the character descriptions – they outline the characters as described in the script and in consultation with the creative team. They do not aim to be all-encompassing representations of who might fill these roles. We aim for an expansive and deliberate casting process. We acknowledge that the characters in the script are traditionally presented as either male or female (using he/him or she/her pronouns). Our character descriptions are marked with HIGHER VOICE or LOWER VOICE. Higher voiced roles are written for those with soprano, mezzo, and alto vocal ranges. Lower voice roles are written for tenor, baritone, and bass vocal ranges. We warmly welcome submissions from individuals who identify as gender non-conforming, genderqueer, transgender, or non-binary for the roles that resonate most with their identity.
Please reach out to Kavin Moore at Kavin.Moore@MarriottTheatre.com or 847-465-1326 ex. 1 if you have any questions or access needs.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
Please submit your audition material via our AIRTABLE FORM. Videos must be received as an UNLISTED Youtube link or Vimeo link. All roles will need to prepare a side, 2 vocal cuts, and a dancer or mover combo. Our character descriptions are marked with HIGHER VOICE or LOWER VOICE. Higher voiced roles are written for those with soprano, mezzo, and alto vocal ranges. Lower voice roles are written for tenor, baritone, and bass vocal ranges
ALL AUDITION MATERIAL CAN BE FOUND HERE
SAMANTHA CRAIG (Higher Voice, Late Teens, Open to all ethnicities): A girl with a huge heart, classic teenage angst, and a newly discovered voice.
CAMELIA SHACKLEBAUM (Higher Voice, Late Teens, Open to all ethnicities): Samantha's best friend. A trendsetter and feminist before feminism was trendy.
COOPER ROY (Lower Voice, Late Teens, Open to all ethnicities): Samantha's secret crush, he is shy and sensitive in the way that Led Zeppelin fans often are.
JOHNNY STEVENS (Lower Voice, Late Teens, Open to all ethnicities): This boy will not survive the #metoo movement as he ages. Samantha's bully of a high school boyfriend and eventual ex- husband.
WINSTON LEE (Lower Voice, Late Teens, Open to all ethnicities): Cooper's friend. He basically started Dungeons and Dragons as like a thing. One day, he will invent "apps" and marry Camelia.
ENSEMBLE WOMAN (Higher Voice, 40s, Open to all ethnicities): HOTEL CLERK (a wry sense of humor and an unusual hairdo will get her far). SAMANTHA'S MOM (never met a Jane Fonda video she couldn't drink a Tab while watching. She's the kind of mom with secret passions who also sometimes forgets her daughter's birthday). SEÑORA JACKSON (Spanish Teacher at the high school).
ENSEMBLE MAN (Lower Voice, 40s, Open to all ethnicities): LOBBY BAND SINGER (cheeeesy). STAGE MANAGER (officious), ADULT COOPER ROY (Samantha's husband in a revised alt- realty).
ENSEMBLE TEENS
TEEN 1: INEFFECTIVE CONCIERGE (vocal fry). DEBBIE WALLER (Higher Voice, Late Teens, Open to all ethnicities), Sam's replacement in the band. Never met another girl she wasn't ready to buoy. A sensitive, pragmatic feminist ahead of her time. A Joan Cusack- esque gal. LACY, Adult Sam and Adult Cooper's daughter. *For this role please prepare the ELLA material.
TEEN 2: HOBBS TOTONCHI (Any Gender Identity Low or High Voice, Late Teens, Open to all ethnicities) "Hobbs on Keys" is what he wants on his gravestone. Ella is what he wants for the dance). GREG, Adult Sam and Adult Cooper's son. *For this role please prepare the COOPER material.
TEEN 3: DUCKIE MELBER (Any Gender Identity - Low or High Voice, Late Teens, Open to all ethnicities, the anxious drummer in Cooper's band with a mad crush on Scarlet. *For this role please prepare the COOPER material.
TEEN 4: PRESENT DAY HOTEL GUEST (easily freaked out). ELLA MENKEN (Higher Voice, Late Teens, Open to all ethnicities) Sam and Camelia’s friend. She loves lip gloss so much, she keeps one in each pocket, her locker, and her Trapper-Keeper. She is a closet brainiac.
TEEN 5: SCARLET WALTON (Any Gender Identity - Low or High Voice, Late Teens, Open to all ethnicities), Sam and Camelia's other friend. She is serious about two things in the world: Ralph Macchio and fashion. *For this role please prepare the ELLA material.
TEEN 6: GAVIN LOUIS (Lower Voice, Late Teens, Open to all ethnicities) Johnny's sidekick. He's never been in an actual fight, but he has threatened to "punch the lights out" of 27 kids in his graduating class. This week. *For this role please prepare the COOPER material.
*Seeking performers 18+ years old for all "Teen" roles
Dance Information
All roles will need to submit either the DANCE COMBO or the MOVER COMBO. Additionally, if you have any 80s special skills such as roller skating, jump rope, skateboard, break dancing, moonwalk, yo-yo, etc., we would love to see it! Dance Combos can be found HERE
Music Information
Performers will need to submit their choice of TWO cuts found in the folder that best suits their vocal range (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone) In addition to the two vocal cuts, performers are more than welcome to submit a third option of the following songs. Please note that we will NOT provide tracks for the songs listed below.
We Got The Beat (Go-Gos)
Only In My Dreams (Debbie Gibson)
Talk To Me (Stevie Nicks)
Even The Nights Are Better (Air Supply)
The Loco Motion (Kylie Minogue)
Whip It (Devo)
Together Forever (Rick Astley)
Always Something There To Remind Me (Naked Eyes)
Stop (Jane’s Addiction)
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Whitney Houston)
Shattered Dreams (Johnny Hates Jazz)
Could’ve Been (Tiffany)
ALL AUDITION MATERIAL CAN BE FOUND HERE
Please reach out to Kavin Moore at Kavin.Moore@MarriottTheatre.com or 847-465-1326 ex. 1 if you have any questions or access needs.
