TCR announces auditions for TCR’s 2025 Summer production of Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience, script and lyrics by Mo Willems, music by Deborah Wicks, based on the book by Mo Willems.
Auditions will be held at Theatre Cedar Rapids Monday, May 12th from 6:30 – 9:00. Callbacks (acting/singing) and a group dance/movement call will be held Tuesday, May 13th between 6:30-10:00.
Rehearsals will begin in June. Rehearsals will typically be held five days a week, including potential weekend days dependent on cast availability. Not all cast will be called to all rehearsals.
ABOUT AUDITIONS
Contact Madi Knaack (madi.knaack@theatrecr.org) with questions about auditions. If you cannot attend auditions on these dates we will accept a video audition.
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- Audition Dates/Times: Monday, May 12th from 6:30pm-9:00pm. Callbacks (acting/singing) and a group dance/movement call will be held Tuesday, May 13th from 6:30pm-10:00pm.
- VIDEO SUBMISSIONS ACCEPTED: Video submissions will be accepted until 5:00pm on Friday May 9th. Email your song submission to madi.knaack@theatrecr.org or upload the link in the audition form.
- 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. You can leave after you are finished with your audition slot.
- WHAT TO PREPARE:
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- Prepare part of a song: Prepare 1 minute of a song from the style of the show (Broadway Rock). Sing something that showcases you and your talent and range. It is permitted to sing a song from the show.
- Bring track accompaniment: Bring an accompaniment track on your phone to connect to our bluetooth speaker. No acapella auditions, please.
- Sides will be provided for cold reads.
- Casting timeline After callbacks have been completed, we will be in contact with all auditioners about a timeline for the final cast announcements no later than Monday, May 19th.
ABOUT TCR’S PRODUCTION OF NAKED MOLE RAT GETS DRESSED: THE ROCK EXPERIENCE
Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience will be directed by Mic Evans, choreographed by Ellen Welch, with music direction by Brandon Burkhardt, costumes by Bre Kenney.
Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience is a rock ‘n roll parable with a significant message for today’s audiences, based on the hit children’s book by Mo Willems. Wilbur and all his fellow naked mole rats in the Tunnel have always been, well…naked. Wondering what other possibilities are out there, Wilbur discovers a love for clothing and style. When word of his new passion turns the Tunnel upside down, he proves to everyone that there’s no need to be just like everyone else.
Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience will be presented in the TCR Grandon Studio, July 10th – July 27th, 2025. Performances take place Thu – Fri at 6:30 p.m., Sat at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. and Sun at 1:30 p.m and 4:30 p.m.
NAKED MOLE RAT GETS DRESSED ROLES AVAILABLE
The creative team seeks a diverse company of actors. Actors of all ethnicities and gender identities will be equally considered for all roles.
Actor A: Plays Wilbur J. Mole Rat, Jr. Wilbur is the dreamer, always looking at the clouds when everyone else has tunnel vision. Sees the best (dressed) in everyone. Vocal Range: A4 to A2
Actor B: Plays the following characters: Grande Mole Rat, H&M Singer. Grande is the popular kid and, consequently, the one with the most to lose. Any shift in the culture could threaten Grande’s social dominance. Vocal Range: E5 to A3
Actor C: Plays the following characters: Venti Mole Rat, H&M Singer. Venti is the enforcer. The colony is a tricky place to understand, and now that Venti does, the mole rat is scared of having to re-discover a new place in it. Vocal Range: E4 to E2
Actor D: Plays the following characters: Tall Mole Rat, H&M Singer. Tall is a rule-follower with a heart of gold. Cannot reconcile the non-naked rules with her conscience and naked decency. Vocal Range: B5 to B3
Actor E: Plays the following characters: Grand-Pah Mole Rat, Buck Naked, Naked Mole Rat 4, H&M Singer, Announcer. Grand-Pah is the moral authority, who is less interested in pomp than in figuring out how to solve problems. Intimidating in the abstract, dyspeptic and really old in reality. Buck Naked is one of the panicked spreaders of information and misinformation. They represent the mood of the larger tunnel culture. Vocal Range: G4 to E3
Actor F: Plays the following characters: Weather Mole, Naked Mole Rat 5, H&M Singer, Potential Customer, Secret Service. Weather Mole is one of the panicked spreaders of information and misinformation. They represent the mood of the larger tunnel culture. Secret Service Mole is dead serious, who quickly and magically transforms into a Hendrix/Joplin rocker, then back to dead serious. Vocal Range: G5 to A#3
HONORARIA
TCR cast/crew members over 16 are offered an honoraria of $25/$20 (respectively) per performance.
CASTING
TCR casts, crew, and creative teams primarily reside in or have ties to our regional community and are non-union.