Auditions for both Fun Home and Bare (click links to jump to breakdowns) will take place the evenings of Tuesday September 19th and Wednesday September 20th at the Kensington Town Hall. Callbacks by invitation are TBD.
Please prepare one song of the contemporary, pop-rock genre. It can be musical theater or not, and preferably not a song from the show. 16-32 bars. There will be readings at callbacks.
Go to our Zoho bookings page to sign up or use the widget below.
Fun Home Character Breakdowns
ALISON BECHDEL: Lesbian cartoonist; wry, pragmatic, super intelligent; Alison is stuck artistically, and goes in search of the pieces of the story of her father’s demise in an effort to heal herself. Age: 35-45 years. Vocal range: alto (E3 – C#5, light belt)
BRUCE BECHDEL: Alison’s father, a closeted gay man. A high-school English teacher, small-town funeral home director, and historic home restoration fanatic, he is charming on the surface, with deep layers of shame and anger right underneath. Age: 35-50 years. Vocal range: tenor (B3 – G5)
HELEN BECHDEL: Alison’s mother. Intelligent, composed, with a quiet coiled intensity. Formerly a promising actress, now an English teacher, she is frustrated and exhausted by her tumultuous, emotionally abusive marriage. Age: 35-45 years. Vocal range: mezzo (Ab3 – E5, strong mix)
MEDIUM ALISON: Alison Bechdel as a freshman at Oberlin College, discovering her sexuality. Incredibly well-read, hyper-intelligent, socially awkward, and overjoyed by sex. Age: 18-20 years. Vocal range: alto (G3 to E5, effortless mix)
JOAN: A student at Oberlin. She exudes a confident, sexual energy, with a dry sense of humor. Unlike Alison, Joan is very comfortable in her skin and openly identifies as a lesbian. Age: 18-22 years. Vocal range: alto (must be good at harmonies)
ROY/PETE/MARK/BOBBY JEREMY (played by one actor): Roy, a young man Bruce hires to do yard work; Pete, a mourner who visits the funeral home; Mark, a high school junior; Bobby Jeremy, the lead singer of a band in Alison’s imagination. Good-looking singer with a strong clean 70’s pop sound. Age: 16-30 years. Vocal range: high tenor (up to B5)
SMALL ALISON: Precocious and opinionated, yet because of the era she’s growing up in, she doesn’t have the vocabulary to fully define herself. Age: 9-11 years. Vocal range: B4-B5 (must be able to sing harmonies)
CHRISTIAN BECHDEL: Alison’s brother, he tries to be the leader but is overshadowed by Alison’s strong personality. Must be able to sing harmonies and move well. Age: 9-11 years
JOHN BECHDEL: Alison’s younger brother. Like most boys his age, he is full of energy with a quirky imagination. Must be able to sing harmonies and move well. Age: 7-9 years
Bare Character Breakdowns
JASON: Male-presenting, any ethnicity; must be able to believably play a high school senior; St. Cecilia’s senior class golden boy; handsome, charming, popular jock with a sweet side; Peter’s roommate, best friend, and secret boyfriend; Nadia’s twin brother; closeted; questioning, scared. Pop Bari-Tenor Belt. Range A2 to A4.
PETER: Male-presenting, any ethnicity. Must be able to believably play a high school senior. Jason’s clandestine boyfriend, roommate, and best friend; introspective, sensitive, loyal and kind – friend to all. Pop Tenor Belt. Range Bb2 to A4.
IVY: Female-presenting, any ethnicity. Must be able to believably play a high school senior. Pretty, popular girl who all others envy; can get any guy she wants without even trying; inside is insecure, with a need to be loved; Nadia’s roommate and arch-rival; the object of Matt’s obsesion. Soprano Mixed/Belt. Range G3 to Eb5.
NADIA: Female-presenting, any ethnicity. Must be able to believably play a high school senior. Jason’s twin sister, goth, mocked about her weight; rebel with sardonic caustic wit; Ivy’s roommate and arch-rival. Pop Soprano Mixed/Belt. Range G3 to C5
MATT: Male-presenting, any ethnicity. Must be able to believably play a high school senior. Studious and pious academic and athletic rival to Jason; despite his best efforts, always comes in second; obsessed with Ivy. Tenor. Range Bb2 to G4.
LUCAS: Male-presenting, any ethnicity. Must be able to believably play a high school senior. St. Cecilia’s fun-loving purveyor of altered reality, a dealer, comedic bad boy. Baritone, Can Rap. Range A2 to E4.
SISTER CHANTELLE: Female-presenting, Black/African-American, Adult (30 – 60). Nun and drama teacher at St. Cecilia’s. Very confident and comedic. Deeply cares about the well-being of her students, and cares about putting on a good show. Also plays a Tina-Turner-esque dream Mother Mary. Soprano. Range Ab3 to E5.
CLAIRE: Female-presenting, any ethnicity. Adult (40-55). Peter’s mother, loving, in denial of Peter’s sexuality, wants to help and support him but doesn’t know how. Mezzo-soprano. Range E3 to F5.
FATHER/PRIEST: Male-presenting, any ethnicity. Adult (35-55). St. Cecilia’s headmaster, traditionalist, the voice of authority. Baritone. Range A2 to F#4.
Students: Chorus/Ensemble: all genders/ethnicity.
Named:
TANYA: Lucas’s girlfriend, physically attractive, but slightly run down and trashy
KYRA: Close friends with Tanya. A little slutty and not the brightest girl in school – a toned down, not as aggressive version of Ivy.
DIANE: nerdy goody-goody type with solid comedic timing.
RORY: Super nerdy and into religious studies.
ZACK: Plays basketball with Lucas and Jason, should be athletic, but a slacker in school.
ALAN: Also plays basketball, good student, has a ton of trouble getting dates. socially weird, but always means well.
Auditions protocol will follow the Montgomery County COVID-19 compliance rules in effect at the time of auditions. All auditionees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.