TCR announces auditions for the summer 2023 production of Rock of Ages, book by Chris D’Arienzo (and featuring the music of Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Steve Perry, Poison, Europe, and more!). Auditions will be held at Theatre Cedar Rapids March 17th and 18th, 2023.
Rock of Ages will be performed live at Theatre Cedar Rapids, June 23rd – July 23rd, 2023. Performances take place Thu – Sat at 7:30 p.m. and Sun 2:30 p.m. SEE ALL DATES HERE
Rehearsals will start mid April, 2023. Rehearsals will typically be held four weeknights 6:30-10:00 and one weekend daytime rehearsal each week. Not all cast will be called to all rehearsals.
Directed by Chris Okiishi, music director Janelle Lauer, choreographed by Anna Slife, scenic design and lighting by Scott Olinger, costumes by Jess Helberg, with additional specialists in intimacy direction, and fight direction.
ABOUT AUDITIONS
Contact Courtny Rocarek (courtny.rocarek@theatrecr.org) with questions about auditions. If you cannot attend auditions on these dates we will accept a video audition. Email for more information.
- Audition Dates/Time: Friday March 17th, and Saturday, March 18th. Callbacks and dance call will be held Sunday, March 19th.
- Fill out an AUDITION FORM HERE (REQUIRED)
- Sign up for an AUDITION SLOT HERE (REQUIRED)
- On audition day:
- Arrive at the TCR lobby at least 10 minutes before your scheduled audition time and you will be directed to the audition space.
- Prepare part of a song: Prepare 16-32 bars of any 80s or 90s rock song. Sing something that showcases you and your talent. You may sing a song from the show. If you will only accept a specific role, it is recommended you choose a relevant song from the show.
- Bring sheet music or accompaniment: Bring marked sheet music for our accompanist to play, or bring a track on your phone to connect to our bluetooth speaker. No acapella auditions please.
- After you have finished your slot you will be done for the evening.
- Casting timeline We will let you know if you should attend callbacks by 10:00 a.m. Sunday, March 19th. Callbacks and a dance call will be held in the evening on Sunday, March 19th from 5:30-8:30pm.
ABOUT THE SHOW
It’s the tail end of the big, bad 1980s in Hollywood, and the party has been raging hard. Aqua Net, Lycra, lace, and liquor flow freely at one of the Sunset Strip’s last legendary venues, a place where sex machine Stacee Jaxx takes the stage and scantily clad groupies line up to turn their fantasies into reality. Amidst the madness, aspiring rock star (and resident toilet cleaner) Drew longs to take the stage as the next big thing (and longs for small-town girl Sherri, fresh off the bus from Kansas with stars in her eyes). But the rock ‘n’ roll fairy tale is about to end when German developers sweep into town with plans to turn the fabled Strip into just another capitalist strip mall. Can Drew, Sherri and the gang save the strip – and themselves – before it’s too late? Only the music of hit bands Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Whitesnake and more hold the answer.
ROLES AVAILABLE
The creative team seeks a diverse company of actors. Actors of all ethnicities will be equally considered for all roles and actors of color are encouraged to audition. All roles are open. Ages listed are “stage ages” so older/younger performers will be considered.
DREW: 20s (Vocal Range: Bb3-D5) – male identified An appealing rocker with great boyish charm and vulnerability. Drew works as a bar back at the legendary Bourbon Room hoping and waiting for his dreams to come true. He finds an instant attraction to Sherrie, the beautiful new arrival from the Midwest, who encourages him to go after his dreams.
SHERRIE: 20s (Vocal Range: G3-F5) – female identified A fresh faced, innocent Midwestern girl stepping right off the bus into a new world to pursue her dreams of stardom in LA.
LONNY: late 20s – 40s (Vocal Range: D3-D5) – male identified The narrator of the piece; charming, mischievous, welcoming, vibrant personality. A guy who would be fun to spend one drunken night with.
DENNIS DUPREE: 30s – 40s (Vocal Range: D3-G4) – male identified Classic stoner type guy who runs the famous Bourbon Room club on the Sunset Strip. Torn about whether he should sell the club to Hertz, a German businessman. A laid back, easy going, dude’s real dude.
STACEE JAXX/FATHER: 30s – 40s (Vocal Range: C3-Eb5) – male identified An oversexed rock star. He is at the top of his game and just left his very successful metal rock band to venture out on his own. Arrogant and charming, his life is a merry-go-round of good old sex, drugs and rock-n-roll.
JUSTICE/MOTHER: 40s – 50s (Vocal Range: G3-Db5) – female identified A commanding presence, with an easy sensuality about her. Once a performer, she now operates a strip club where Sherrie winds up working. Takes on the maternal role for the women that work for her. She is sultry, maternal and a sexy madam.
HERTZ KLINEMANN: 40s – 60s (Vocal Range: F3-G#4) – male identified An older German gentleman. Uptight, cold, intimidating businessman trying to buy up the Strip to develop it. He is our villain. Will use a German accent, and work with a dialect coach.
FRANZ KLINEMANN: 20s -30s (Vocal Range: Db3-E5) – male identified Hertz’s foppish son, young German male. Works for his father but not by choice. Pressured and intimidated by his father. Shy, gentle with a big heart. Will use a German accent, and work with a dialect coach.
REGINA: 20s – 30s (Vocal Range: A3-Eb5) – female identified A fun, hippie type, tree-hugging fighter who will stop at nothing to protect the Sunset Strip.
MAYOR/JA’KEITH/ENSEMBLE: 20s – 40s (Vocal Range: Tenor) – male identified A strong character actor with good comedic timing to play numerous roles, in shape, strong rock tenor and strong dance/movement ability.
JOEY PRIMO/ENSEMBLE: 20s – 40s (Vocal Range: Tenor) – male identified A young male with the rocker sensibility, in shape, strong rock tenor and strong/dance/movement ability.
ENSEMBLE: 18-40s – any gender A small group to play various characters. Strong dancers proficient in jazz and modern, comedic ability and strong rock vocals.