Auditions

Into the Woods

AUDITIONS FEBRUARY 9, 10 & 11, 2025

Director: Alex Campbell
Producer: Katie Riegel
Choreographer/Assistant Director: Summer Moore
Vocal Music Director: Sarah Mitchell
Stage Manager: Laura Fisher
Associate Producers: Lauren Riley Sayles & Ashley Killam

About the Show

James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim take everyone's favorite storybook characters and bring them together for a timeless, yet relevant, piece... and a rare modern classic. The Tony Award-winning book and score are both enchanting and touching.

The story follows a Baker and his wife, who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King's Festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. When the Baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a Witch's curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse. Everyone's wish is granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results.

IMPORTANT INTO THE WOODS AUDITION INFORMATION (Please read in full.)

  • We are seeking performers of all races, ages, ethnicities, gender identities, body types, and abilities for 2nd Star’s production of Into the Woods.

  • This production will be cast age-appropriately and primarily with adults, with the exception of the roles of Jack and Little Red Ridinghood. For these two roles only, auditioners ages 15+ will be considered. Auditioners must turn 15 by the final night of auditions on February 11. No exceptions will be made to this policy. All auditioners under 18 will need permission from a parent or guardian to audition and participate, if cast.

  • 2nd Star is an all-volunteer organization and all performance roles are unpaid. Production Team members and 2nd Star personnel are also unpaid volunteers.

  • While not guaranteed to be needed, the production team and 2nd Star reserve the right to require masking and/or at-home COVID testing during rehearsals or performances for temporary periods to curb spread of illness that may affect the production. Auditioners should be prepared to accommodate these requests if needed.

REHEARSAL & PERFORMANCE DETAILS

Performances: There will be 14 performances over five weekends at the Bowie Playhouse (16500 White Marsh Park, Bowie, MD 20715). Performers are required to be in attendance for all shows. Performance dates/times are:
Friday, May 30, 2025 at 8pm, Saturday, May 31, 2025 at 8pm and Sunday, June 1, 2025 at 2pm
Friday, June 6, 2025 at 8pm, Saturday, June 7, 2025 at 8pm and Sunday, June 8 at 2pm
Friday, June 13, 2025 at 8pm, Saturday, June 14, 2025 at 8pm and Sunday, June 15 at 2pm
Friday, June 20, 2025 at 8pm, Saturday, June 21, 2025 at 8pm and Sunday, June 22 at 2pm
Friday, June 27, 2025 at 8pm and Saturday, June 28 at 2pm

Tech Weeks and Dress Rehearsals are required for all performers. The required tech schedule will be:
Sat 5/17/25 daytime (Load-In)
Mon 5/19/25 evening
Tues 5/20/25 evening
Wed 5/21/25 evening
Thu 5/22/25 evening
Fri 5/23/25 NO REHEARSAL
Sat 5/24/25 daytime
Sun 5/25/25 NO REHEARSAL
Mon 5/26/25 evening
Tues 5/27/25 evening
Wed 5/28/25 evening
Thu 5/29/25 evening

Rehearsals will take place from approximately February 20 (exact start date to be announced after casting) to May 15 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-10pm and Saturdays from 11am-3pm at at All Saints Lutheran Church (16510 Mt Oak Rd, Bowie, MD 20716). Not all performers will be required at every rehearsal and major holidays will be avoided in rehearsal scheduling. Occasional additional rehearsals may be added if needed, with plenty of notice to performers regarding time and location.

IN-PERSON AUDITIONS

Auditions: Sunday, February 9 from 5-8pm, and Monday, February 10 & Tuesday, February 11 from 7-10pm; Auditioners should be prepared to arrive approximately 15 minutes before your audition time slot and should be prepared to stay 30 to 60 minutes.

Location of Auditions and Callbacks: The Bowie Playhouse, 16500 White Marsh Park, Bowie, MD 20715

Music: Prepare a vocal piece that is 16-32 bars (or 1 minute) in length in the style of the show, that shows your vocal range. A piano accompanist will be provided for you to sing with, so please bring printed and annotated sheet music in the correct key. No songs from Into the Woods, please. (You will have an opportunity to sing from the show if you are asked to attend callbacks.)

Dance: There will be no movement or dance required at the initial auditions, but movement may be required at callbacks.

Callbacks: Thursday, February 13 starting at 7pm, by invitation only. Not all roles will require a callback, but all auditioners should keep Thursday clear in case you are needed. If you are needed for callbacks, you will be notified by email on Wednesday. Callback materials are available for advance review below. Please make use of these to familiarize yourself with the characters and the show. If we do need to call you back, the turnaround time from notification to callbacks will be very short, so we highly recommend that you spend some time with the materials provided prior to auditions. Music for callbacks can be accessed here.

Audition Signup & Form: Select your audition timeslot and complete our online Audition Form in advance of your audition. While timed audition slots are greatly preferred, we will see walk-in auditioners as time allows.

VIDEO AUDITIONS
In-person auditions are greatly preferred, but if you are unable to make the audition dates, you can submit a video audition. Please prepare a video of you singing 16 -32 bars (or 1 minute) of a song in the style of the show with accompaniment (not a cappella). No songs from Into the Woods, please. Submit our online Audition Form which has a spot for you to include your audition video before 10pm on the final night of auditions, February 11.

For questions concerning auditions, feel free to email us at info@2ndstarproductions.org.

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN

Ages and gender identities are those of the character. All listed identifiers are in accordance with the agreement with MTI and the options provided by the book writers in the script. This production will be cast age-appropriately and primarily with adults, with the exception of the roles of Jack and Little Red Ridinghood. For these two roles only, auditioners ages 15+ will be considered. Auditioners must turn 15 by the final night of auditions on February 11. No exceptions will be made to this policy. All auditioners under 18 will need permission from a parent or guardian to audition and participate if cast.

Narrator/Mysterious Man - These roles are played by one actor. The Narrator is an intellectual and pleasant story-teller who helps to orchestrate the show and illustrate lessons to the audience. The Mysterious Man presents as a mischievous vagrant and nosy meddler, but he is a good-natured protector and observer.
Gender: Male Identifying, Vocal Range: G2 to E4

Cinderella - A young, earnest maiden who is constantly mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters.
Gender: Female Identifying, Age: 20 to 30, Vocal Range: G3 to G5

Jack - The feckless Giant killer who is 'almost a man.' He is adventurous, naive, energetic, and bright-eyed.
Gender: Male Identifying, Age: 20 to 30, Vocal Range: B2 to G4

Jack's Mother - Browbeating and weary, Jack's protective mother who is independent, bold, and strong-willed.
Gender: Female Identifying, Age: 50 to 65, Vocal Range: Bb3 to b5

The Baker - A harried and insecure baker who is simple and loving, yet protective of his family. He wants his wife to be happy and is willing to do anything to ensure her happiness but refuses to let others fight his battles.
Gender: Male Identifying, Age: 35 to 45, Vocal Range: Ab2 to G4

The Baker's Wife - Determined and bright woman who wishes to be a mother. She leads a simple, yet satisfying life and is very low-maintenance yet proactive in her endeavors.
Gender: Female Identifying, Age: 35 to 45, Vocal Range: F3 to G5

Cinderella's Stepmother - The mean-spirited, demanding stepmother of Cinderella.
Gender: Female Identifying, Age: 40 to 50, Vocal Range: A3 to F#5

Florinda And Lucinda - Cinderella's stepsisters who are black of heart. They follow in their mother's footsteps of abusing Cinderella.
Gender: Female Identifying, Age: 25 to 25, Vocal Range: C4 to Ab5

Little Red Ridinghood - A spoiled young girl who is strong-willed, quick-wited, fearless, yet youthful and naive.
Gender: Female Identifying, Age: 16 to 20, Vocal Range: Bb3 to F5

The Witch - Sarcastic, ugly-then-gorgeous, obsessive protector of Rapunzel who is straightforward and aggressive.
Gender: Female Identifying, Age: 45 to 55, Vocal Range: F3 to G5

Cinderella's Mother - Deceased, with her soul guarding and aiding her daughter from a tree.
Gender: Female Identifying, Age: 40 to 55, Vocal Range: E4 to F4

Cinderella's Prince / Wolf - These roles will likely be played by one actor. Cinderella’s Prince is vain and gorgeous, he is a disloyal lover who is currently searching for the next new, exciting thing. The Wolf is a hungry and insatiable hunter who takes advantage of the weak by misleading and captivating his prey.
Gender: Male Identifying, Age: 30 to 40, Vocal Range: Bb2 to Gb4

Rapunzel - A loopy-but-lovely maiden who is sheltered by the Witch and terribly lonely. She yearns to experience the world.
Gender: Female Identifying, Age: 20 to 30, Vocal Range: B3 to A5

Rapunzel's Prince - Just as vain and gorgeous as his Prince brother, he is always chasing the newest, most exiting endeavor.
Gender: Male Identifying, Age: 30 to 40, Vocal Range: C#3 to E4

Steward - A surly and bureaucratic attendant to Cinderella’s Prince, full of self-importance.
Gender: Any, Age: Any, Non-Singing Role

Milky-White - Costumed physical Actor portraying Jack’s beloved cow.
Gender: Any, Age: Any, Non-Singing Role

Ensemble - The ensemble roles in Into the Woods will include small speaking roles, small singing roles, and on-stage costumed running crew. Roles such as Cinderella’s Father, Granny, the Giant, and others will be considered Ensemble in the audition process.

2ND STAR’s CASTING POLICIES

*These policies are taken from the 2nd Star Productions Operations Manual, which is a document that is continually updated to improve our practices. If you have any comments, please email info@2ndstarproductions.org.

2nd Star believes theatre should celebrate and reflect the diversity within our community and practices culturally appropriate and identity-conscious, expansive casting.

  • All roles are open to any performer (race, ethnicity, gender identity) unless stipulated otherwise by rights or if the plot of a show is contingent upon specific casting. These specifics will be listed in any casting breakdowns in audition notices. Shows will be cast in a way that considers race and ethnicity in an intentional manner. Directors and production teams are expected to have an understanding and be mindful of the implications that such casting has on the story being told.

  • For our 5-week run shows, 2nd Star specifically chooses grander scale shows, and expects production teams to cast at least 28 individuals unless granted an exception by the Board of Directors.

  • Due to spacing constraints a production team shall not cast more than 35 individuals in a show without consent from the Board of Directors.

  • No one outside the production team will be allowed to observe auditions or callbacks without prior permission from the Board of Directors.

FAQs

  • 2nd Star usually holds auditions 2.5 to 3.5 months prior to the opening of shows. That information will be posted on this page as soon as they are scheduled and more information is available.

  • 2nd Star is an all-volunteer run community theatre, and all acting (and production staff) roles are non-paid.

  • 2nd Star welcomes all levels of experience to audition for our shows!

  • Please email info@2ndstarproductions.org with your availability.

  • For our musicals there will usually be the following members of the production team: Director, Music Director, and Choreographer. Some productions will also have Assistant Director, Music Director, or Choreographers present. An accompanist will also be provided for auditioners.

    2nd Star’s Board representatives will include: Artistic Director, or designated representative, and the Producer. Artistic Director is there to ensure the production team is adhering to published casting policies (see above) and the Producer has no say in casting.