Auditions
Step into the Spotlight at The Rose
The Rose encourages actors of all races, ages and skill sets to audition for our main stage shows. Adult and youth artists have a great time working together to produce shows at The Rose.
At the same time, being a part of a main stage show is a big commitment, not only for the performer but for their family. Rehearsals are as frequent as six days per week and often run late into the evening. The result is a high-quality performance and memories that will last long after the spotlight has dimmed. Auditions are held on a regular basis throughout the season. For more information on main stage auditions, please contact auditions@rosetheater.org. Interested in knowing when The Rose is holding auditions? Fill out the form below to be sent our audition announcements directly to your inbox.
Audition Announcement Email List
Audition Announcements
Charlie and The Chocolate Factory Auditions Closed + Youth Casting Complete
Time Commitment for Charlie and The Chocolate Factory
Rehearsals: CCF actors must be available for weeknight & weekend rehearsals from April 30th – May 31st, 2024. Rehearsals will be held at our downtown location.
Performances: CCF actors must be available for evening & weekend performances from June 7th – June 30th. See calendar full calendar here.
Email auditions@rosetheater.org with any questions.
When, Where & How to Audition
When & Where
- Attend in-person auditions on Sunday, Jan 21st starting at 1:00 pmor Monday, January 22nd starting at 5:30 pm
OR - Submit a video audition by 11:59 pm on Saturday, January 20th.
- In person auditions will take place at the Rose Studios for Youth Artists, 12202 W. Center Rd. Omaha, NE 68144.
- Callbacks will be held on Monday, Oct. 30th starting at 5:30 pm also at the Rose Studios for Youth Artists.
What to prepare
- Acting: Prepare a 60 second monologue of your choice OR select from the provided sides to read from. If auditioning in person we will have someone available to read opposite of you. If submitting a video audition please have someone out of frame read opposite of you.
- Provided sides can be found in the registration & video submission forms.
- Provided sides can be found in the registration & video submission forms.
- Music: Prepare 16-32 bars of the auditionee’s choosing OR choose to use the provided sheet music & backing track.
- For in-person auditions, an accompanist will be available, as will a bluetooth speaker & laptop for those wishing to provide their own playback or use the backing track. Acapella (without any accompaniment) singing is also acceptable.
- Sheet music, the backing track, and a volcal demo can be found in the registration & video submission forms.
- Dance: Learn a dance combo!
- In-person auditions- Upon arrival you will join the show’s director/choreographer to learn a short dance combo. Please wear clothing and shoes you can comfortably move around in.
- In-person auditions will have a different dance call than folks submitting a video.
- For video submissions – In the video submission form you’ll find an instructional dance video. Review and submit a video of yourself performing the dance combo. Or if you have a prepared dance reel you may submit that in lieu of the dance video.
- In-person auditions- Upon arrival you will join the show’s director/choreographer to learn a short dance combo. Please wear clothing and shoes you can comfortably move around in.
How to sign up & submit
Want to audition in person?
Complete the following registration form:
Charlie and The Chocolate Factory In-Person Registration Form
Want to audition via video submission?
Complete the video submission form and upload your materials here:
Charlie and The Chocolate Factory Video Audition Submission
*In-person registration is not required to submit a video audition
About The Show!
Charlie and The Chocolate Factory
The world-famous Willy Wonka is opening the gates to his mysterious candy factory…but only to a lucky few. Young Charlie Bucket and four other winners will embark on a life-changing journey through Wonka’s world of chocolate waterfalls, nutty squirrels and incredible television technology, all to be revealed by Wonka’s army of curious Oompa-Loompas.
CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY is your golden ticket to a sweet performance of “Pure Imagination.”
Character Breakdown:
Please note that the pronouns listed next to the character are those used in the script. We are looking to cast actors of all identities for all roles.
- CHARLIE BUCKET (he/him) Vocal Range = G3 – F5
Charlie is a sweet, mild-natured child with a creative and curious mind. Even though he has every reason to complain, he never does. Charlie is exactly the kind of child Mr. Wonka wants. - WILLY WONKA (he/him) Vocal Range = A2 – G4
The eccentric owner of the Wonka chocolate factory. Wonka is an endless combination of opposing parts; sometimes kind and other times biting and cold. Wonka is from another time but still has boundless energy even though he can no longer relate to the new generation. - GRANDPA JOE (he/him) Vocal Range = G#2 – G4
Charlie’s paternal grandfather. He is extremely imaginative and fun loving. He has new found energy with hi grandson, Charlie. He is kind and sensible and Charlie’s best friend and confidant. - MR. SALT (he/him) Vocal Range = Ab2 – Ab4
Mr. Salt is an intimidating figure who lives only for his sweet little child, Veruca. Mr. Salt is at his daughter’s beck and call and will use all his power and resources to make her happy. - VERUCA SALT (she/her) Vocal Range = Ab4 – Db5
A prima ballerina with a diva attitude to match. Veruca believes she deserves anything she asks for and throws huge tantrums until she gets what she wants. She has always been spoiled by her father. - MRS. GLOOP (she/her) Vocal Range = Bb3 – D5
Mrs. Gloop is strong-willed and indulgent of her son’s overeating. Mrs. Gloop is proud of her son’s appetite and thinks it better that he eat than be a nuisance. - AUGUSTUS GLOOP (he/him) Vocal Range = Bb3 – G5
A young boy who is larger than life in more ways than one. His only desire is to eat as much as possible even if it comes at the expense of making positive relationships with others. - MR. BEAUREGARDE (he/him) Vocal Range = F3 – G4
Violet’s father who lives vicariously through the success of his little girl. He is the ultimate hype man, finding any opportunity to grow her brand and create viral content. - VIOLET BEAUREGARDE (she/her) Vocal Range = C4 – F5
An avid gum chewer and social media influencer. Violet’s attempt to beat a gum-chewing record completely consumes her. Social media fame has gone to her head and makes her believe she is owed attention and praise at all times. - MIKE TEAVEE (he/him) Vocal Range = G3 – Bb4
A boy who cares only for television, online gaming, and basically living in the virtual world. He is smart, maybe even a young genius, but also rude and has no concept of respecting his elders or authority. - MRS. TEAVEE (she/her) Vocal Range = G3 – Eb5
Mrs. Teavee allows television and computers to parent her son while she spends her time lost in a bygone era. On the outside, she appears meek and a pushover for Mike, but as we get to know her better, we see how spunky and independent she is. - GRANDMA JOSEPHINE (she/her) Vocal Range = C4 – D5
Charlie’s paternal grandmother. Grandma Josephine, like her fellow grandparents, spends all her time in bed. She loves Charlie and is quick to judge others. - GRANDMA GEORGINA (she/her) Vocal Range = Ab3 – E5
Charlie’s maternal grandmother. She is the mirror image of Grandma Josephine. She too is very quick to judge others. - GRANDPA GEORGE (he/him) Vocal Range = F2 – E4
Charlie’s maternal grandfather. Grandpa George is pessimistic and terse. He does not seem as judgmental as the grandmothers and clearly loves Charlie. - MRS. BUCKET (she/her) Vocal Range = G3 – E5
Charlie’s selfless mother. Mrs. Bucket worries constantly about her son. She is extremely giving in her efforts to take care of the four invalided grandparents with whom she lives. She works multiple jobs but still has time to check in on her son and family to make sure they have everything they need. - MR. BUCKET (he/him)
Ensemble:
- OOMPA LOOMPAS | Workers at Wonka’s factory
- JERRY | A local news anchor in love with field reporter, Cherry
- CHERRY | A local field reporter in love with local new anchor, Jerry
- GUM CHOMPIN’ DIVAS
- REPORTERS
- CROWD
Preparing for an Audition
Every audition is different. Please read the audition announcement for specific information regarding:
- Show title, director, available roles and contact information
- The age range of actors we are looking for
- Audition requirements
- Audition, rehearsal and performance dates
Wear comfortable clothes that allow you to move freely. If applicable, we will indicate the need for specific dance wear in the audition announcement. If you have known rehearsal conflicts, please bring conflicting dates and times with you to auditions. Offers may be withdrawn for students who have more conflicts than those listed at the time of audition.
Actors under age 18 must have an adult wait with them during the audition process. The Rose Theater is unable to provide supervision.
Arrive at least 10 minutes prior to the audition to complete paperwork. Auditions may last several hours, so be prepared to wait. Auditions are designed to closely approximate rehearsal conditions, therefore, parents are not allowed to view their student artist’s auditions. Bring a headshot and resume, if available. If the audition is for a musical:
- Come prepared to sing 16-24 measures from a song that highlights your voice. The song does not need to be from the musical you are auditioning for.
- A pianist will be available. Bring sheet music.
- You may sing a cappella (without accompaniment) but this highly discouraged, as it does not allow us to make an accurate judgment on how well you follow live accompaniment.
Download Youth Audition Tips Here
A note about younger children: The minimum age to audition for a show at The Rose is eight. We are sometimes asked about children under eight years old who want to audition. We are thrilled that your child has shown an interest in performing, but due to rigorous rehearsal and performance schedules, we ask that young children wait until they are older to audition for our main stage shows. We encourage younger children to participate in one of our production camps, which have more opportunities for budding young artists and child-friendly rehearsal and performance times.
The Audition
Depending on what the audition announcement asks you to prepare, we will likely ask for one or more of the following:
- Read directly from the show’s script
- Perform a monologue
- Perform a song
- Be taught a dance combination as part of a group
In the audition room, actors will perform for the show’s director and, if applicable, an accompanist and music director. Some actors will be released without being asked to stay and dance (if the show is a musical). This does not mean they will not be cast.
Nerves are a natural part of performing. We encourage student actors to accept that. We want young artists to learn from every experience at The Rose, including auditions. We always give students the chance to try again if they “mess up,” easing the pressure and stress.
After Auditioning
Callbacks are follow-up auditions that help directors make final casting decisions. If you or your child is called back, a member of the production team will call or email with an invitation prior to the scheduled callback date, which is listed on the audition announcement.
Getting a callback does not mean that you have been cast in the show. Not everyone will be called back. You will usually know within a few days if you have been called back for a particular show. If a student actor is not called back, it is appropriate to discuss with your student the fact that they will likely not be asked to participate in the show.
We do not always call or write to let you know that actors have not been cast. It generally takes us two weeks to complete casting decisions but may take longer. If you are not cast in a production, you may still have had a very successful audition — we may have been looking for a different kind of performer for a particular role. Often, great actors are not cast because they are just not what a director envisioned for a specific role. We encourage you to keep trying!
Youth Audition Opportunities
Teens ‘N’ Theater
Teens who have not yet graduated from high school are welcome to audition for roles in Teens ‘N’ Theater shows. Audition dates and times are subject to change. While changes are rare, we encourage you to check the website regularly. For more information about Teens ‘N’ Theater auditions, please contact Stephanie Jacobson at stephj@rosetheater.org or 402-502-4647.
The Rose Brigade
The Rose Brigade is an elite group of musical theater performers who perform pre-shows before select main stage productions and, in some cases, participate in local and regional competitions. Auditions for The Rose Brigade are open to singers and dancers ages eight to 18. All students accepted to The Rose Brigade must enroll in required classes and attend all rehearsals. All members are responsible for student fees and potential travel fees. For more information on The Rose Brigade, click here or contact the Class Coordinator at classes@rosetheater.org or 402-502-4617.
The Rose Dance Project
The Rose Dance Project (RDP) dancers are selected by audition to represent The Rose in local and regional dance competitions and to perform within the community. Some competition pieces are even set by national choreographers. Auditions are open to dancers between the ages of five and 18. Please note that all members are financially responsible for costumes, competition fees and potential travel fees. For more information, click here. In addition to weekly RDP rehearsals, members are required to take a number of designated ballet, jazz and tap classes per week. For more information, contact Sue Gillespie Booton at sueb@rosetheater.org or 402-502-4633.