Summer Place Theatre in Naperville, IL is holding open auditions for actors aged 16 and up for their production of “Guys and Dolls!”

NOTE: This is an unpaid, non-Equity production.

Considered by many to be the perfect musical comedy, Guys and Dolls takes audiences from the bustling streets of Times Square to the cafés of Havana, Cuba, and even into the heart of the Save-A-Soul Mission. With music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and a book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, this Golden Age classic features beloved songs such as Luck Be a Lady, Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat, A Bushel and a Peck, and Adelaide’s Lament.

At the center of the story are high-rolling gambler Sky Masterson, mission worker Sarah Brown, perpetually engaged nightclub performer Miss Adelaide, and her longtime fiancé Nathan Detroit, who runs the city’s biggest floating crap game. With colorful gamblers, showgirls, and missionaries rounding out the world, Guys and Dolls is a lively and timeless musical comedy about luck, love, and redemption.

Music and Lyrics by: Frank Loesser
Book by: Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows

Audition Info
Who

Directed/Choreographed by: Julia Cooke
Music Director: Ali Kordelewski
Stage Manager: Madalyn Quitter
Assistant Stage Manager: Bre Sakalis
Sound Designer: Lexi Grueneberg
Production Manager: Adam Milne
Produced by: Matt Whalen

Sign up here: https://www.theaterforms.com/summerplace/GuysandDolls/auditionform/

If you would like to submit a video audition, please still sign up for a slot and indicate that you are submitting a video. Video auditions are due Monday, April 13th by 6:00pm and should be sent to auditions@summerplacetheatre.org
. Please make sure you have completed the audition form on TheatreForms prior to submitting.

When

Monday, April 13th – 6:00–9:00pm
Tuesday, April 14th – 6:00–9:00pm

Callbacks: Thursday, April 16th (by invitation only)

Where

Location: TBA

Audition Structure
Material to Prepare

In addition to a headshot and resume (if you have one and have not included it in the sign up), please prepare 32 bars of a musical theatre song. Your selection may be from Guys and Dolls, but it does not have to be.

Please bring sheet music for the accompanist. No acapella or recorded tracks.

There will not be a dance audition at the initial auditions, but there may be a dance component at callbacks if needed.

Time Commitment

Rehearsals begin the week of April 26th.

Typical rehearsal schedule:
Monday–Thursday evenings, 6:00–9:00pm

Beginning after May 10th, Sunday rehearsals from 6:00–9:00pm may also be added.

Rehearsals will take place at:

• Alfred Rubin Riverwalk Community Center
• Fort Hill Recreation Center
• Naperville Central High School Auditorium

Tech week begins Sunday, June 14th. Attendance at all tech rehearsals is required.

Performances

Naperville Central High School Auditorium
440 West Aurora Ave
Naperville, IL 60540

Friday, June 19th – 7:30pm
Saturday, June 20th – 7:30pm
Sunday, June 21st – 2:00pm

Friday, June 26th – 7:30pm
Saturday, June 27th – 7:30pm
Sunday, June 28th – 2:00pm

Call time is 1.5 hours before curtain.

Mandatory strike will take place immediately following the final performance on June 28th.

CASTING BREAKDOWN
The character descriptions below reflect how the roles are traditionally written and presented in the script. Summer Place Theatre welcomes performers of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, body types, and abilities to audition. Age ranges listed are approximate stage ages. We are open to flexible casting where appropriate while honoring the storytelling and character relationships within the production.

This production will cast approximately 18–26 performers, age 16 and up including principal roles and ensemble.

Sarah Brown 
A pretty, bright-eyed woman who serves as Sergeant of the local Mission. She fully believes in her worthy cause and wishes to convert the gambling sinners to saints. Falls unexpectedly in love with Sky along the way. She is prudish and uptight, but eventually lets go.

Gender: female
Age: late 20's-early 30's
Vocal range top: G#5
Vocal range bottom: Bb3

Sky Masterson 
A high-stakes gambler whose luck never seems to run out, and a wild card who surprises himself when he falls in love with the unlikeliest of women. Suave, smart, handsome.

Gender: male
Age: 30's
Vocal range top: Eb4
Vocal range bottom: B2

Nathan Detroit
A good-hearted gambler and craps game organizer who could never hit the bigtime. He loves Adelaide, but cannot quit his gambling ways. A broke schemer with unwitting ways.

Gender: male
Age: 30's-40's
Vocal range top: F4
Vocal range bottom: D3

Miss Adelaide
Nathan's fiancé and a lead performer at the Hot Box nightclub. She loves Nathan more than anything in the world and desperately wants to get married. Pretty, outspoken, stubborn.

Gender: female
Age: 30's
Vocal range top: Eb5
Vocal range bottom: Ab3

Nicely Nicely Johnson 
Just like his name suggests, he is the nicest and cheeriest of the gambling crooks. High-spirited and a bit naïve, but sincere and genuine. Nathan's loyal friend and lackey.

Gender: male
Age: 30 to 40's
Vocal range top: Bb4
Vocal range bottom: Db3

Benny Southstreet 
Nathan's right-hand man and a gambler himself. Smart, slick, always moving and shaking, but with what he thinks are Nathan's best interest at heart.

Gender: male
Age: 30's-40's
Vocal range top: G4
Vocal range bottom: Db3

Arvide Abernathy 

The bass drum and cymbal player in the Mission band, he is Sarah's loving grandfather. Wise and sweet, he wants nothing but the best for her.

Gender: male or female
Age: 50+
Vocal range top: E4
Vocal range bottom: D3

Lt. Brannigan 
A New York police officer who is on to Nathan's illegal craps games and is dead-set on catching him. A tough, no-nonsense character.
Gender: male
Age: 40s-50's

Big Jule
A big time craps player from Chicago who uses a gun and his own pair of rigged dice to bully his way into never losing. Tough looking. A bit of an oaf.
Gender: male
Age: 40's-50's
Vocal range top: G5
Vocal range bottom: F3

Harry the Horse/Joey Biltmore/Havana Guest 
A crook and gambler. He is a tough guy with dollar signs as his bottom line. Brings Big Jule into Nathan's craps game and backs his cheating, but is also a man of his word in the gambling community.
Gender: male
Age: late 20's and up
Vocal range top: G5
Vocal range bottom: F3

Ensemble
Rusty Charlie/Master of Ceremonies/Havana Guest 
Angie the Ox/Calvin/Havana Guest 
Scranton Slim/Waiter/Havana Waiter 
Allison/General Cartwright/Havana Guest
Ferguson/Martha/Crapshooter/Havana Guest
Vernon/Agatha/Crapshooter/Havana Guest
Mimi/Ensemble/Crapshooter/Havana Guest
Cindy/Ensemble/Crapshooter/Havana Guest
 

Auditions for "Rent" are tentatively scheduled for May 3rd and 4th with callbacks on May 7th by invitation only.

 

 

What type of theatre is Summer Place Theatre?

Summer Place Theatre, is a community theatre located in Naperville, IL (a suburb of Chicago).

Who can audition for shows at Summer Place Theatre?

Auditions are open to all performers, whether you’re a seasoned actor or exploring theatre for the first time. We encourage anyone with a passion for performing to consider auditioning or getting involved!

What is the rehearsal and performance schedule like?

Rehearsals typically begin 6-9 weeks before the opening of each show, with around 4-5 rehearsals per week. These usually take place on weekday evenings and occasionally on weekends, depending on the director’s schedule and cast availability. All rehearsals are held in Naperville, IL.

Are actors paid or provided with housing?

Actors participate on a volunteer basis, as we do not offer payment or stipends for performers. Additionally, we do not provide housing, so local residency or travel accommodations are the responsibility of each actor.