Auditions
IRVING BERLIN’S WHITE CHRISTMAS AUDITION NOTICE
OHIO Lancaster Theatre presents Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. This is our annual summer production, which is featured during the historic Lancaster Festival.
AUDITION DATES
- Friday, March 28, 2025 | 5:30 PM – 9 PM
- Saturday, March 29, 2025 | 9 AM – 12 PM, with callbacks to follow at 12:15 PM – 2:30 PM
*Special production support is provided by The Fairfield County Foundation and Ohio University Lancaster Theatre Support Fund.
THE STORY
Veterans Bob Wallace and Phil Davis have a successful song-and-dance act after World War II. With romance in mind, the two follow a duo of beautiful singing sisters en route to their Christmas show at a Vermont lodge, which just happens to be owned by Bob and Phil's former army commander. With a dazzling score featuring well-known standards including “Blue Skies,” “I Love A Piano,” “How Deep Is the Ocean” and the perennial title song, White Christmas is an uplifting, wholesome musical that will delight audiences of all ages.
Setting: New York City and Vermont, 1954.
CASTING
We are looking for a fun, talented and team-oriented, hard-working cast of approximately 20 members. Most of the parts are adult roles, and you must be able to play the roles listed in the cast descriptions below. For the role of SUSAN WAVERLY, we are looking for 9-12 years old to play 9 years old.
We are specifically looking for a diverse cast. All OHIO Lancaster students and community members are welcome to audition. If you are under 18 years old, you will need to provide a signed parental form at the time of auditions. You can find all forms here starting March 1, 2025. https://www.ohio.edu/lancaster/current-students/theatre/auditions
Detailed information about Irving Berlin’s White Christmas can be found at https://www.concordtheatricals.com/p/44974/irving-berlins-white-christm…
Auditions Dates, Sign-ups open Saturday, March 1, 2025, at 12 PM
- Friday, March 28 | 5 pm to 8 pm, by appointment
- Saturday, March 23 | 9:00 am to 11:30 am, by appointment.
Callbacks: Director Invitation only, Saturday, March 29 | 12:15 pm - 2:30 pm.
AUDITION LOCATION
Wagner Theater
Brasee Hall, Ohio University Lancaster Campus
1570 Granville Pike, Lancaster, OH 43130
SHOW TIMES
- Sunday, July 20 at 2:00 PM, possible 7 PM
- Sunday, July 27 at 2:00 PM
- Friday, August 1 at 7:00 PM
- Saturday, August 2 at 2:00 PM
- Saturday, August 2 at 7:00 PM
- Sunday, August 3 at 2:00 PM
OTHER DATES
- Mandatory Cast Meeting, Sunday, May 4, 2025, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM. Scripts will be handed out at that time.
- 1st Rehearsal: Tuesday, May 27, 2025, 6 PM
- Opening: Sunday, July 20, 2025, 2 PM
- Closing, Sunday, August 3, 2025
PREPARING FOR AUDITIONS
- Please prepare a brief traditional musical theatre song in the style of the show. Bring a track to sing with for your music. Include a headshot and resume.
- Dress comfortably for dance auditions, which will follow your audition on the half hour. Bring tap shoes if you have them. You do not need to know how to tap to audition for the show.
- Complete the conflict calendar between May 27 and August 3, 2025.
- Audition forms, conflict forms, and parental permission forms (under 18), can be found here starting March 1, 2025: https://www.ohio.edu/lancaster/current-students/theatre/auditions
Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin
Book by David Ives and Paul Blake
Based Upon the Paramount Pictures Film Written For the Screen by Norman Krasna, Norman Panama and Melvin Frank. Original stage production directed by Walter Bobbie
Irvin Berlin’s White Christmas is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals. www.concordtheatricals.com.
REHEARSAL TIMES
- Rehearsals begin Tuesday, May 27, at 6:00 pm
- Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm, dance and vocals
- Saturdays, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm, blocking, vocals, and dance
- Sundays, 12:30 pm - 4:00 pm, blocking, vocals, and dance
- Sitzprobe, Saturday, July 6, and Tuesday, July 8, 2025
- Set construction shift: Monday, July 7, 2024, 6 PM – 9 PM. All cast members are required to attend.
- Tech week is Saturday, July 12 - Saturday, July 19, 2025. All conflicts must be presented at the time of the auditions. All cast members are required to be at tech week.
AUDITIONS
Prepare a one-minute song from the show. A song from the role that you would like to play in the show. You must provide your own recorded accompaniment for your audition. You may bring your own speaker or use our speaker for your recorded track. You may be asked to do cold readings and sing additional songs from the show during that time. Group dance/movement auditions will follow your individual audition. At callbacks, actors will be asked to sing additional songs from the show. Callback songs will be posted two weeks before general auditions. You can sign up for an audition time starting Saturday, March 1, 2025.
For more information on the show and roles go to https://www.concordtheatricals.com/p/44974/irving-berlins-white-christm…
CAST RESPONSIBILITIES
As a cast member, you are expected to participate in events that promote the show: radio interviews, the Lancaster Fourth of July parade, Lancaster Festival events, and many more activities. Actors are responsible for providing their make-up, costume accessories and some personal props. Costumes will be provided.
CAST GUIDELINES
All cast members must abide by the rules and regulations established by Ohio University Lancaster. Cast and crew members will be asked to sign a photo release, a confidentiality agreement, and a morality clause.
CREW NEEDS
We are currently looking for a Stage Manager. This person will work closely with the director and attend all rehearsals. We also need a sound assistant, projectionist, lighting board operator, and spotlight operators (2). Contact the director at jonesv2@ohio.edu if you are interested. You must be available for tech week Saturday, July 13 - Saturday, July 20, 2025, and all shows.
THE CREATIVE TEAM
- Producer, Director – A. Victor Jones
- Choreographer – Frances Gaskill
- Vocal Director – Ian Keller
- Assistant Director – Jennifer Myers
- Lighting Design – Dale Harris
- Consultant – Levi Donahue
- Set Construction – Greggory Schroeder
Irving Berlin's White Christmas — Cast List. Provided by Concord Theatricals.
All ages listed below are suggested by Concord Theatricals, not a requirement of Ohio University Lancaster Theatre.
PRINCIPAL ROLES
BOB WALLACE – A major singing star, Bob is the guiding force behind the song and dance team of Wallace and Davis. He wears his fame easily and is a born leader, but he has some trouble with social and romantic interactions. Despite his occasional gruffness, he is a deeply kind and principled man who is searching for his true love. A superb singer with a crooning style who moves very well. Baritone.
PHIL DAVIS – The fun-loving, go-getting song-and-dance partner of the team of Wallace and Davis. An irrepressible clown, operator and incorrigible ladies’ man who is determined to see his friend happy, even if it requires scheming and outright deception. He has a boyish charm and sex appeal. Strong jazz and tap-dancing needed – a song-and-dance comic performer. Bari-Tenor.
BETTY HAYNES – The sensible, responsible half of the upcoming song-and-dance team, The Haynes Sisters. Destined to be a star in her own right, she is nonetheless hesitant to take the spotlight for herself. A woman of decent, upstanding principles, she is devoted to her younger sister. Like Bob, she hides her yearning for true love under a protective shell. A female singer of quiet beauty and charm with a rich chest mix sound and a soprano extension. Must move well.
JUDY HAYNES –The younger, more ambitious, slightly scheming Haynes sister. While wholesome and adorable, she is sexy and flirty – a winning charmer whom no man can resist. Strong jazz and tap dancing needed – a major song-and-dance performer. Chest mix.
GENERAL HENRY WAVERLY – (late 50s to mid 60s) A retired U.S. Army General, adjusting to civilian life in post-World War II America. Once a powerful leader, he now struggles to run an Inn in Vermont. He remains a man of great principle and dignity. Beneath his curmudgeonly military exterior lies a warm, compassionate man in need of family and love. Except for one line, a non-singing role.
MARTHA WATSON – (late 40s to mid 60s) Once a Broadway star, now the general’s housekeeper at the Inn, Martha has a very dry, wry, wisecracking sense of humor. Bighearted but completely unsentimental, she runs the General’s life despite his protestations. She is an irrepressible meddler, but always for what she believes to be the other guy’s best interests. A winning, appealing character-comedienne with a clarion belt voice.
SUSAN WAVERLY – (9-12 years old to play 9 years old) The General’s granddaughter, Susan is a lovable and outgoing real kid. She is very smart, wise beyond her years, and cares deeply about her grandfather. Once bitten hard by the showbiz bug, she demonstrates everything that is winning in the ultimate child performer. She must have an excellent belt voice and be able to move well.
FEATURED ROLES
RALPH SHELDRAKE –Army buddy of Bob and Phil’s, now a major television executive with the Ed Sullivan Show. Fast-talking, New York professional. Baritone.
RITA and RHODA – Bob and Phil’s star chorus girls, they are brash, sexy and fun, although perhaps not the smartest.
EZEKIEL FOSTER – (mid 40’s to late 50’s) The ultimate taciturn New Englander, he helps out at the inn and takes life at a very slow pace. Can be double-cast with the role of SNORING MAN.
MIKE – Bob and Phil’s stage manager. He tends to be over-dramatic and completely hysterical, but he gets things done. Never seen without his whistle and clipboard, which he uses to attempt to keep order. Can be double cast with the role of ED SULLIVAN ANNOUNCER.
ENSEMBLE ROLES
TESSIE – Bob and Phil’s extremely competent assistant. Can be double cast with the role of ASSISTANT SEAMSTRESS.
JIMMY – The proprietor of “Jimmy’s Back Room,” a none-too-classy nightclub.
CIGARETTE GIRL
SNORING MAN
MRS. SNORING MAN – Can be double cast with the role of SEAMSTRESS.
TRAIN CONDUCTOR
DANCE CAPTAIN
SEAMSTRESS
ASSISTANT SEAMSTRESS
ED SULLIVAN ANNOUNCER
REGENCY ROOM ANNOUNCER (OFFSTAGE VOICE)
SHELDRAKE’S SECRETARY (OFFSTAGE VOICE)
SOLDIERS, TRAIN PASSENGERS, INN GUESTS, CLUBGOERS, CHORUS KIDS AND PATRONS OF THE REGENCY ROOM