Auditions

CASTING NOTICE FOR

MOONSHINE & MISTLETOE: An Appalachian Christmas Tale

Victory Productions & Jessica Huckabey Theatricals is casting LOCAL Principal Adult and Children roles for MOONSHINE & MISTLETOE: An Appalachian Christmas Tale, opening November 24, 2023, at the Garden Theatre, Winter Garden!

Victory Productions & Jessica Huckabey Theatricals is committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of the theater industry. We believe that diversity is a strength, and we are dedicated to creating a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for all artists and theater enthusiasts. We encourage performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ages, body types, and abilities to audition for this production. Please let us know if you need any specific accommodations to participate in the audition process.

Seeking both AEA Guest Artists and Non-Equity. All roles are paid.
Rate of Pay: AEA Guest Artist Minimum ($658/week minimum – negotiable)
NON-AEA ($550/week minimum)
NON-AEA Who Play Instruments ($650/week minimum)

For an audition appointment, send an email request with headshot and resume to: auditions@victoryproductions.org  

ADULTS – OPEN CALL (By appointment)

WHEN:
Sunday August 20, 2023 – 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Monday August 21, 2023 – 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
CALLBACKS:
Monday August 21, 2023 – 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
(Via ZOOM or In-Person)
WHERE: Victory Productions Studios

720 Business Park Blvd.  #22

Seeking strong singer/actors, singer/actor/musicians versed in multiple instruments, especially acoustic guitar, banjo, violin, upright bass, accordion, harmonica, and other bluegrass instruments. All ethnicities encouraged to attend.

ADULTS PREPARE THE FOLLOWING:

  • Bring headshot and resume.
  • Please note instruments that you play proficiently on your resume.
  • Prepare a vocal selection of a folk/classic country/bluegrass song. (approx. 32 bars)
  • If you play an instrument, you may accompany yourself, or a piano accompanist will be provided. If you play multiple instruments, you may bring them as well to demonstrate.
  • NO contemporary country, pop, rock, or musical theatre. Classic country, folk, and bluegrass selections only.
For song samples from the show, visit www.moonshineandmistletoe.com.
For sides, please visit this link: Audition Sides

CHILDREN – OPEN-CALL AUDITION

WHEN:
Sunday August 20, 2023 – 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
WHERE: Garden Theatre
160 W. Plant Street
Winter Garden, FL
The Children will be asked to learn material from the show.
Please bring headshot and resume to the audition.
Only ONE Parent/Guardian will be allowed to accompany their child into the building.
Child actors will receive comp tickets and a travel stipend in lieu of salary. Both children’s roles will be double cast.
There will be no callbacks for children’s roles. 

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN

Ulysses “Lessy Boy” Ballard, 55+, baritone/bass. The family patriarch. Wry sense of humor, but a centered, peaceable man. (Preferred instruments- lead guitar and/or banjo and/or dulcimer and/or harmonica). Strong actor. ROLE IS CAST BUT SEEKING ALTERNATE.

Curleen Ballard, 50+. Strong gospel belt voice. NO instrument required. The family matriarch. Warm and loving but set in her ways and suffers no foolishness. Strong actor.

Dovey Ballard, 25-30, mid-range belt/mix. The Ballard’s younger daughter (preferred instrument- fiddle). Excitable, a tad naive, unmarried but very much hoping to change her relationship status.

Della Ballard Sparks, 25-35, mix soprano/belt. The Ballard’s elder daughter and the mother of Duncan, Alice Ann, and Nellie (preferred instrument-guitar or banjo). Salt of the earth, always ready to lend a hand, sunny disposition.

Jarrett Sparks, 30-40, High Baritone. Coal miner husband of Della (preferred instrument-rhythm guitar and upright bass and/or banjo). Easy going, a playful father.

Mamie MacDowell, 45+, Belt/mix. Widowed sister of the patriarch (preferred instrument- mandolin or autoharp). Sweet, but weighted by loss.

Arlie MacDowell, 20-30, light tenor. Son of Mamie (preferably plays many stringed instruments). An adult with a child-like manner. A ‘musical savant.’  Sings “I Wonder as I Wander”

Reverend Nathe Hinkle, 30-40, second tenor. The new-to-the-area pastor (preferred instrument- accordion/concertina/upright bass). Proper and cautious, but a happy spirit. Unmarried and the object of Dovey’s eye.

Wilmer Flutie, 50-65, baritone. Comedy skills a must. The moonshiner (preferred instrument- upright bass/pennywhistle/jug). A fun-loving rascal.

Dewey Joe Ballard, 22-30, lyric tenor. Strong actor. The prodigal son (preferred instrument-guitar and/or fiddle). Solid, a friend to all, optimistic and determined.

Joy Lynn Ballard, 20-25. Angelic mix soprano. NO instrument required. Dewey Joe’s pregnant wife. Quiet, gentle, bright. A soon-to-be mother.  Sings “Brightest and Best”

Duncan Sparks, 9-12, boy soprano with great pitch and ability to carry harmony. Sings duet on “Brightest and Best”

Alice Ann Sparks, 7-9, ensemble singer. Sweetly charming. Sings “Snowman on the Mountaintop” with the family.

NOTE REGARDING CASTING OF ACTOR/MUSICIANS:

The actors are also the musicians. Country/folk/bluegrass instrumentation. Arrangements are flexible based on casting, but acoustic guitar, string bass, fiddle, accordion, and banjo are required. Other options: concertina, dulcimer, autoharp, piano, harmonica, and dobro. Some actor/musicians may play multiple instruments. Shows that are similar in nature are Once, James Joyce’s The Dead.