Daddy Long Legs Auditions
Daddy Long Legs Audition Notice
Book by John Caird
Music and Lyrics by Paul Gordon
Director – Austin Skibbie
Music Director – Darrington Clark
Stage Management – Haley Knudsen
AUDITIONS
500 East Loula St., Olathe, KS
Saturday, December 2nd, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sunday, December 3rd, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
AUDITION NOTES
1) Reserve an audition time via Signup Genius here
2) Complete your audition form via Google Forms here
Please complete your audition form prior to auditions. Each 30-minute slot has room for 6 people. Please arrive 5 – 10 minutes before your audition time. Virtual auditions will be accepted. Email daddyll.octa@gmail.com for virtual audition information.
WHAT TO PREPARE
Please prepare a 32-bar song selection in the style of the show. The music of Daddy Long Legs requires strong story tellers, so as you prepare, we recommend avoiding traditional rock/pop selections that showcase your belt. Instead, we recommend an acoustic style selection that is lyrical and melodic in nature. We are looking for balance and consistency in the actor’s voice that will showcase the clarity of their tone and their musicianship. Musical theatre is preferred but not a requirement, we look forward to hearing what you bring!
CALLBACKS: by director invitation only – Monday, December 11th, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
PRODUCTION DATES
February 16-18, 2023
Fri/Sat at 7:30 p.m. | Sat/Sun at 2:00 p.m.
*Potential Industry night will be added on February 19th
*Saturday Matinee may be moved to Sunday Evening, TBD
REHEARSAL
Please find the rehearsal schedule here. Rehearsals will be Sunday-Thursday, from 6 p.m to 10 p.m. and Sundays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Rehearsals will be held at OCTA, 500 East Loula, Olathe, KS. Tech Week rehearsals will be longer, specifics will be provided at a later date.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Daddy Long Legs is a stage musical based on the 1912 novel of the same name by Jean Webster. Set in turn-of-the-century New England, the musical tells the story of orphan Jerusha Abbott of the John Grier Home and the mysterious benefactor who agrees to send her to college. Jerusha dubs this man “Daddy Long Legs” after only seeing his elongated shadow upon exiting the Orphanage. We later discover this man to be the charmingly awkward philanthropist, Jervis Pendleton who finds himself impressed by her amusing satirical essays about life at the orphanage. Despite his usual practice of selecting young men, he devises a nine-point plan for Jerusha’s further education. As her trustee, he will be sending her to a local college with all expenses paid, with the intention that she educate herself to become a writer. The only condition is that Jerusha must write to him reporting on her progress and impressions of the college, and that he will remain anonymous, only to be addressed as “Mr. Smith”. Her letters will never be answered, nor will he pay the slightest attention to them. Under the conditions of her anonymous benefactor, Jerusha accepts and begins sending him a letter once a month, describing her new-found experiences with life outside the orphanage.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
NOTE: Adult actors of all ethnicities, abilities, age ranges (18 and over), and gender identities are welcome and encouraged to audition. Age ranges noted below are approximate and not intended to exclude actors from consideration.
Jerusha “Judy” Abbott (18 – Mid 20’s) The “Oldest Orphan in the John Grier Home”, Jerusha, is a deeply curious and imaginative young woman who is thrust into a new world of possibilities armed with only her pen, wit, sincerity, and optimism. She navigates the sudden and generous expansion of her world with grace and humility despite her uncertainty of the arrangement and her deep yearning to belong. The audience is endeared to her as we watch her evolve into the grounded, intelligent, and compelling young woman she was always capable of becoming.
Jervis (Early 20’s – Mid 30s): A wealthy, young, bachelor, Jervis is a metered businessman who has maneuvered his status with dignity and polite discretion. Despite his best attempts, he becomes enthralled with Jerusha’s humorous and free-spirited philosophy on life. We follow Jervis as he contends with the discovery of the more boyish, uncertain, compassionate and socially awkward sides of himself that Jerusha evokes as she unknowingly challenges his world view.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Cast members are required to assist with strike following the final performance. Cast members may also be asked to assist with costume pieces and set work days.
QUESTIONS
If you have any questions, please reach out to the directing team at daddyll.octa@gmail.com
ABOUT US
OCTA celebrates our cultural and intellectual richness and is committed to promoting diversity in all aspects of our organization. Non-traditional and equal-opportunity casting is encouraged.
OCTA is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) organization producing theatre in Olathe since 1974. Performing in the Buddy Rogers Family Playhouse, OCTA produces five high-quality, engaging, and thought-provoking theatre productions a year. Through the generosity of volunteers, season ticket holders, donors, the city, and the community, in addition to a dedicated board of directors, OCTA has grown into one of the most progressive community theaters in the entire Kansas City metropolitan area.