AUDITION DATE
LOCATION
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 — Ripley-Grier Studios (305)
305 W 38th St, New York, NY 10018-2902
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM (E)
Lunch 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM — Holding room: Studio 207
CONTRACT
PERSONNEL
CORST expected to attend. $807 weekly minimum (Tier zz). Jordan Ahnquist: Artistic Director / Director — DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS and SHEAR MADNESS.
Note: Due to a scheduled system upgrade, signups for this audition will begin earlier than usual. You will not be able to cancel appointments via Casting Call while the upgrade is in process. Should you need to cancel, please make sure to return to Casting Call to complete your cancelation when the upgrades are complete.
Equity actors for roles in Barnstormers Theatre's 2026 Season (see breakdown). The Barnstormers Theatre encourages performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, ages, and abilities to audition. We are looking for a diverse company for the 2026 season. No roles will have understudies. Equity’s contracts prohibit discrimination. Equity is committed to diversity and encourages all its employers to engage in a policy of equal employment opportunity designed to promote a positive model of inclusion. As such, Equity encourages performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, and ages, as well as performers with disabilities, to attend every audition. Always bring your Equity Membership card to auditions.
barnstormerstheatre.org
EPA procedures are in effect for this audition. An Equity Monitor will be provided.
PREPARATION
Please prepare 1 or 2 brief monologues or, if auditioning on February 17, a monologue and a 16–32 bar cutting of a song appropriate for the season. Audition material should be no more than 2 minutes total. If you prefer, you are welcome to prepare something from one of our season’s plays or musicals. Please bring your headshot and resume stapled together and a notebook or binder with your sheet music in the correct key.
AN ACCOMPANIST WILL BE PROVIDED ON FEBRUARY 17 ONLY.
BREAKDOWN
The Barnstormers Theatre is committed to dismantling structures that may prevent all people from applying for employment with us. The Barnstormers Theatre aspires to cultivate equity, diversity, and inclusivity. We are committed to continuing to prioritize our journey as an anti-racist and fully inclusive organization and we encourage candidates from historically underrepresented groups to audition. The Barnstormers Theatre is an equal opportunity employer and as such, we consider individuals for employment according to their abilities and performance.
Note: As written, characters are listed as binary; however, we encourage actors of all genders to audition for roles for which they feel suited.
DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS
Book by Jeffrey Lane
Music and Lyrics by David Yazbek
Based on the film Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, written by Dale Launer and Stanley Shapiro & Paul Henning
Director: Jordan Ahnquist
Choreographer: Sara Coombs
Music Director: Michael Ursua
First Rehearsal: June 15, 2026
First Performance: June 25, 2026
Closing Performance: July 4, 2026
Note: All performers must be strong movers.
Seeking:
- Lawrence Jameson: An experienced British con artist who is sophisticated, suave, and elegant. Gender: male. Age: 45–60. Vocal range top: Bb4. Vocal range bottom: G2.
- Freddy Benson: A young, clever, aspiring American con artist. He is a sloppy, yet attractive womanizer, and is eventually conned by Christine. Gender: male. Age: 25–35. Vocal range top: B4. Vocal range bottom: A2.
- Christine Colgate: A seemingly good-natured American heiress vacationing on the French Riviera, who is revealed to be a notorious con artist. Naive at first, becomes cunning and mischievous. Gender: female. Age: 35–45. Vocal range top: F#5. Vocal range bottom: A3.
- Andre Thibault: Lawrence's French assistant. Official and mostly serious, with a light-hearted nature and quirky sense of humor. Gender: male. Age: 45–55. Vocal range top: F4. Vocal range bottom: F2.
- Muriel Eubanks: A wealthy and attractive American socialite from Nebraska, one of Lawrence's victims and Andre's subsequent love interest. Gender: female. Age: 50–60. Vocal range top: C5. Vocal range bottom: E3.
- Jolene: An American heiress from Oklahoma and the Princess of Petroleum, very eager, optimistic, and energetic. Gender: female. Age: 25–35. Vocal range top: D5. Vocal range bottom: A3.
- Ensemble: Waiters; Butlers; Maids.
EUREKA DAY
Author: Jonathan Specter
Director: Dori A. Robinson
First Rehearsal: June 29, 2026
First Performance: July 9, 2026
Closing Performance: July 18, 2026
Seeking:
- Don: Early 60s. Head of school. A calming presence. From New England, moved to Berkeley in the mid-80s. Started in education as a music teacher. Has lived with his partner in the same rented inâlaw unit for 25 years. No kids.
- Suzanne: Mid-50s. Warm and gracious. Moved to Berkeley after college. Raising her family and nurturing the school are her life’s work. Mother of Sebastian, Arlo, Izzy, Juniper, Tompkins, and Walden.
- Carina: Early 40s. A joiner; grew up overseas; skilled at landing in new environments. Her wife is from Berkeley; they moved nine months ago from the East Coast. Mother of Victor.
- Meiko: Mid-30s, Berkeley native. Landscape architect. Single mother by choice of Olivia. Wry sense of humor.
- Eli: Mid-30s. From Southern California, went to Stanford and then into tech. An expert pickler and competitive rock climber. Father of Tobias.
- Winter: 30s–50s. A parent. This is a walk-on role with no lines.
SHE LOVES ME
Book by Joe Masteroff
Music by Jerry Bock
Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick
Based on a play by Miklos Laszlo
Director/Choreographer: Ilyse Robbins
Music Director: Michael Ursua
First Rehearsal: July 13, 2026
First Performance: July 23, 2026
Closing Performance: August 1, 2026
Seeking:
- Arpad Laszlo: Delivery boy at Maraczek's Parfumerie. Exuberant and adorable. Gender: male. Age: 14–17. Vocal range top: E4. Vocal range bottom: Bb2.
- Ladislav Sipos: Not the brightest employee; optimistic family man, looks like a huggable father. Gender: male. Age: 45–55. Vocal range top: E4. Vocal range bottom: A2.
- Ilona Ritter: Employed at Maraczek's Parfumerie. Sexy and learned in romance, longing for more. Gender: female. Age: 25–30. Vocal range top: E5. Vocal range bottom: F#3.
- Steven Kodaly: Respected and liked employee; dapper and occasionally charming, more of a shallow womanizer. Gender: male. Age: 25–30. Vocal range top: A4. Vocal range bottom: B2.
- Georg Nowack: Established employee; hopeless romantic, shy, intelligent, soft spoken. Gender: male. Age: 25–30. Vocal range top: F4. Vocal range bottom: B2.
- Mr. Maraczek: Owner of Maraczek's Parfumerie. Commanding presence, faithful to his wife. Gender: male. Age: 55–65. Vocal range top: C4. Vocal range bottom: B2.
- Amalia Balash: Eager new employee; skilled saleswoman who easily becomes intimidated and nervous. Gender: female. Age: 20–25. Vocal range top: B5. Vocal range bottom: C4.
- Ensemble
MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS
Author: Agatha Christie
Adapted for the stage: Ken Ludwig
Director: Blair Hundertmark
First Rehearsal: July 27, 2026
First Performance: August 6, 2026
Closing Performance: August 15, 2026
Seeking:
- Hercule Poirot: Famous Belgian detective; a “big” personality — authoritative, witty, charismatic, slightly pompous. Driven to find the answers with a strong moral sense. French accent. Gender: male. Age: 40s–60s.
- Monsieur Bouc: Belgian gentleman of good humor; playful, proud, generous, whirlwind of energy; excellent comedian. French accent. Gender: male. Age: 30s–60s.
- Colonel Arbuthnot: Scotsman, middle aged, handsome, matter of fact, occasionally tender; great comic timing. Scottish accent. Gender: male. Age: 30s–40s.
- Samuel Ratchett: Middle-aged American businessman, evil at heart; brusque, unforgiving, stern demeanor. Gender: male. Age: 30s–40s.
- Helen Hubbard: Outspoken and flamboyant American from the Midwest; jovial, obnoxious, domineering, deliciously nosy and brash; excellent comedienne. Also sings. Minnesota accent. Gender: female. Age: 40s–70s.
- Countess Andrenyi: Brilliantly beautiful, impeccably put together, warm with a steely edge; not a wilting flower. Hungarian accent. Gender: female. Age: 30s–50s.
- Mary Debenham: English beauty; a governess, capable yet romantic; sadness around her eyes and hardness about her person. English accent. Gender: female. Age: 20s–30s.
- Princess Dragomiroff: Russian dowager; very formal, sweeping, impressive presence; imperial, impatient, more battle axe than princess. Russian accent. Gender: female. Age: 40s–70s.
- Hector MacQueen: Tightly wound, edgy and nervous; seems on the verge of coming unwound. Assistant to Samuel Ratchett. Gender: male. Age: 20s–50s.
- Michel the Conductor: Good-looking Frenchman, quiet, almost grave sense of humor; unfailingly polite. French accent. Gender: male. Age: 20s–50s.
- Head Waiter: Turkish waiter, snooty, smooth; great comic timing. Turkish accent. Gender: male. Age: 20s–50s.
- Greta Ohlsson: Inherently odd, devout Swedish woman; frightened, sheeplike quality; excellent comedienne. Swedish accent. Gender: female. Age: 20s–60s.
SHEAR MADNESS
Co-creators: Bruce Jordan and Marilyn Abrams
Director: Jordan Ahnquist
First Rehearsal: August 10, 2026
First Performance: August 20, 2026
Closing Performance: August 29, 2026
All roles have been cast. Auditioners will be considered for possible replacements.
Seeking (character notes):
- Tony (Age 25–40): Likable, flamboyant, irrepressible proprietor of the Shear Madness salon. Fun, devilish, enjoys physical comedy and “playing to an audience.” Rapid-fire comedic energy.
- Barbara (Age 30–45): Wisecracking, gum-snapping hairdresser/manicurist. Keeps the salon running. Likable, ambitious, streetwise.
- Eddie (Age 30–55): Well-dressed, confident man who covers a dangerous interior with a suave exterior. Often the “villain,” has strong comedic sense.
- Mrs. Shubert (Age 45–75): Old-money socialite of impeccable breeding and manners. Class act who looks good and moves well. Must have her hair cut to specifications to be washed and blown out at every performance.
- Mikey (Age 23–30): Eager, high-energy preppy/geek; earnest younger partner to Nick. Fresh out of junior college studying criminology. Must have hair washed and blown dry every performance.
- Nick (Age 30–50): Hardworking “gumshoe” detective running the murder investigation. Likeable, approachable, forceful cop with confidence to “play dumb.”
