Auditions for "Chicago"

SCT's 2025-2026 season begins with the musical classic "Chicago".

In the Roaring Twenties, Roxie Hart murders a faithless lover and convinces her hapless husband to take the rap...until he finds out he’s been duped. Convicted and sent to death row, Roxie and “Merry Murderess” Velma Kelly vie for the spotlight and the headlines, ultimately joining forces in search of the “American Dream”: fame, fortune, and acquittal. This sharp-edged satire has dazzling music, big laughs, energetic dancing, and “all that jazz”.

"Chicago" will have 8 performances September 25 through October 4, 2025. The director is Gabe Smith, assisted by Emily Shand, with musical direction by Emily Jennings, and choreography by Jonette Shurden.

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Auditions will take place onstage at the Playhouse on Main on Monday, July 21 starting at 6:30 p.m. and again on Tuesday, July 22 starting at 6:30 p.m. Rehearsals will start in late July, potentially as soon as the weekend after auditions.

Auditions will consist of scene readings from the script, a short dance/movement audition, and a short musical audition. (A perusal copy of a script is available by request if you send an email to the assistant director at ZW1pbHlrYXRlMjE4IHwgZ21haWwgISBjb20=.)

Movement auditions will include your demonstration of a short piece of choreography - videos of which are available below. "Chicago" is a dance-heavy production, with some roles (like Velma, Roxie, and the Merry Murderesses) requiring strong movers. Be aware: due to the nature of the show, some roles may be asked to perform in revealing clothing or heels. Depending on your comfort and skill level, there are two demonstration videos - one more general and one more advanced.

GENERAL
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ADVANCED


For singing auditions, prepare a brief musical selection (no longer than 90 seconds) that can show off your vocal range. No acapella singing - a backing track of some kind is required, to help gauge ability to maintain tempo and stay on pitch. We will not provide an on-site accompanist, though you are welcome to bring your own live backup or accompany yourself on your own instrument. For playing your backing music (such as a karaoke track or an instrumental from YouTube), we will provide a Bluetooth speaker to connect to, and electric plug-ins will be available should you want to bring along and play a recording from a personal device.

In-person attendance is strongly encouraged, but for those who will be out of town on audition dates, we will accept digital submissions for singing, choreography, and (by pre-scheduled appointment) scene reading. Anyone wanting to submit digitally must be able to upload video and email it to Z2FiZSAhIHNtaXRoICEgd3JpdGVzIHwgZ21haWwgISBjb20= by July 21 at 5pm (Central time). Digital submissions must include a singing and movement demo, and once those are received, the director may work to schedule an online appointment to read scenes.

Since the show's content skews mature, anyone under 18 will need permission from a guardian before casting, and we feel the needs of the material are best served by performers late teens and older. We also strongly encourage anyone unfamiliar with the show to read the script before auditions.

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CASTING INFO
*Age ranges and genders mentioned are those ascribed to the characters in the script. Casting for this production can encompass (and is looking for) a broadly diverse range of performers.

MAIN ROLES ARE:

VELMA KELLY (Lead): Female, 20s-40s. Vocal Range: Alto, E3-D5.
Vaudeville performer who is accused of murdering her sister and husband. Hardened by fame, she cares for no one but herself and her attempt to get away with murder.

ROXIE HART (Lead): Female, 20s-30s. Vocal Range: Mezzo-Soprano, F3-B4.
Reads and keeps up with murder trials in Chicago, and follows suit by murdering her lover, Fred Casely. She stops at nothing to render a media storm with one goal: to get away with it.

BILLY FLYNN (Lead): Male, 30s-50s. Vocal Range: Baritone Bb2-G4.
Established lawyer who hasn’t lost a woman’s case yet. Master of media manipulation who will get a girl off the hook as long as she can fork up the hefty $5,000 fee.

MATRON "MAMA" MORTON: Female, 30s-60s. Vocal Range: Alto, F#3-Bb4.
Leader of the prisoners of Cook County Jail. The total essence of corruption. Accepts bribes for favors from laundry service to making calls to lawyers. “When you’re good to Mama, Mama’s good to you.”

AMOS HART: Male, 30s-50. Vocal Range: Baritone, C3-F#4.
Roxie’s faithful husband. Lies for her and tries to take the blame until he realizes that he has been two-timed by Roxie. Still in love with her, or misguided, he believes anything she says in her pursuit to get out of jail.

MARY SUNSHINE: Female or Male in Drag, any age. Vocal Range: Soprano, Bb3-Bb5 or Countertenor.
Sob sister reporter from the Evening Star. Believes there is a little bit of good in everyone and will believe anything she is fed that matches her beliefs.


ENSEMBLE ROLES INCLUDE:

FRED CASELY: Male. (Ensemble/Flexible)
Roxie’s short-lived lover. Murdered for trying to leave Roxie.

SERGEANT FOGARTY: Male. (Ensemble/Flexible)
Assigned to Roxie’s case. After asking the right questions, he manages to get Roxie to confess.

LIZ: Female, strong dancer. (Vocal Range: A3-C#5)
Prisoner at Cook County Jail. She is imprisoned after shooting two warning shots into her husband’s head.

ANNIE: Female, strong dancer. (Vocal Range: A3-C#5)
Prisoner at the Cook County Jail. Murder’s her lover after finding out he already has six wives. “One of those Mormons, ya’ know.”

JUNE: Female, strong dancer. (Vocal Range: A3-C#5)
Prisoner at Cook County Jail. After her husband accuses her of screwing the milk man, he mysteriously runs into her knife ten times.

HUNYAK: Female, strong dancer. (Flexible)
Hungarian Prisoner at Cook County Jail. The only English she speaks is the phase, “Not Guilty.” Which follows her to her grave.

MONA: Female, strong dancer. (Vocal Range: A3-C#5)
Prisoner at Cook County Jail. Murders her lover after he has a round of affairs with other woman, and an occasional man. I guess you could say it was “artistic differences.”

MARTIN HARRISON: Male. (Ensemble/Flexible)
Ensemble member who doubles as the Master of Ceremonies at times.

GO-TO-HELL-KITTY: Female. (Vocal Range: A3-C#5)
Steals the spotlight when she Murders her husband along with three other women. Her crimes are labeled the “Lake Shore Drive Massacre.”


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"Chicago" is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals. www.concordtheatricals.com.

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