Playhouse 22 | AUDITIONS

Playhouse 22 is looking for individuals of various ethnic and cultural backgrounds to audition for our June production of “Memphis”. Auditions will be held on Sunday, March 17 and Monday, March 18, beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Callbacks, if needed, will be Sunday, March 24 beginning at 3 p.m.

“Memphis” is a musical about the underground dance clubs of 1950’s Memphis, Tennessee, a white radio DJ who wants to change the world and a black club singer who is ready for her big break. Music by David Bryan and Lyrics by Joe DiPietro.

Directed by Letitia D. Townes; Music Director Khy Garner and Choreographer Q.

The show will run June 7 - 23, 2024; Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.

Auditions will be held at the East Brunswick Community Arts Center, 721 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick, New Jersey.

Those auditioning should prepare 32 bars from a song in the style of a Jukebox musical and bring sheet music in the appropriate key. In addition, all those auditioning should be prepared to dance.

AUDITIONEES MUST BE AGE 18 OR OLDER

Character Descriptions:

HUEY CALHOUN (White, male presenting) Age range 25-35, vocal range C3-B4, excellent singer in the style of Pop/Rock/R&B. Motor-mouthed, Charismatic, frenzied and quirky. Touted as the first DJ to play R& B music on the mainstream radio. He falls in love with Felicia, which proves to problematic in a racially divided Memphis.
FELICIA FARRELL (Black, female presenting) Age range 20-30, vocal range G3-A5, excellent R&B belter, strong mover. Delray’s younger sister and the singer at his nightclub on Beale Street. She is the perfect mixture of headstrong and vulnerable. She is drawn to Huey instantaneously.
GLADYS CALHOUN (White, female presenting) Age Range 40-60, vocal range B3-A5, non-dancing role. Huey’s stern, traditional blue-collar, southern mother who has worked her entire life to be able to support herself and her rabble-rousing son.
DEL RAY (Black, male presenting) 30-40, vocal range Bb2-Bb4, excellent singer/strong mover- Felicia’s older brother who owns the club on Beale Street where she sings. Realistic, cautious, and protective of his sister.
GATOR (Black, male presenting) 20-40, vocal range F#3-A4, excellent singer/strong mover. Sweet, patient, and gentle. Bartender at Delray’s hasn’t spoken since age five, a man of silent but deadly expressions. As the story progresses, he finds his voice again.
BOBBY (Black, male presenting) 20-40, vocal range G3-C5, excellent singer/strong mover. Between work at the Radio Station and his time at Delray’s, Bobby quickly becomes one of Huey’s best friends. Requires a comedic actor full of personality, heart, showmanship, and must dance well.
MR. SIMMONS (White, male presenting) 35-50, light singing / non-dancing role conservative owner of the radio station where Huey gets his start. A strong southern businessman who takes a chance on Huey when he sees the money that Huey brings in.
Additionally, there will be a large and diverse ensemble of different backgrounds, ages, singing and dancing abilities. Some of these ensemble roles will include named featured parts.

Rehearsals may begin around late-March.

Please note on your audition form if you are going to be in another show running at the same time as rehearsals.

Rehearsal schedule will be determined once the show is cast and will be weekday evenings and possibly weekends.

Please note this is a non-union, non-paying production. Transparency and open communication are values that are extremely important to us; if you have any questions, please email us.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion, and as such, we are looking to cast performers of all races and ethnicities, gender identities, sexualities, and abilities.

Once you have signed up, we will contact you regarding your window to audition.