Casting Call: 'A Christmas Story'

Papermill Playhouse will hold open child auditions for their production of "A Christmas Story."

The theatre is looking for children ages 9 to 13 who sing well and tap dance.

Auditions will be held on Oct. 3 at Pearl Studios in New York City. Sign ups will start at 9 a.m. Bring sheet music, tap and jazz shoes, and a head shot and resume (stapled together). All children will be taught a section of a song from the show that they will then sing for their initial audition. Callbacks will be the same afternoon and will require dancing. You will also sing a song of your own at this point.

Roles are:

Flick/Ensemble	Boy, any ethnicity, to play 10–13. Children’s chorus with chorus part of Flick. He’s the kid who gets his tongue stuck to the pole. In this version, he will sing a song with his tongue “stuck” to a flag pole. Must also carry one or two production numbers. Tough on the outside but a little boy on the inside. He should be funny – has a lot of laugh lines – and he sings a lot. VOICE: Belter (unchanged voice) low B to high C#. Tap skills a plus.
Schwartz/Ensemble	Boy, any ethnicity, to play 10–13. Children’s chorus with chorus part of Schwartz. Seeking a young kid who is comfortable on stage but still real. He’s the kid who “double dog dares” Flick to stick his tongue to the flag pole. Tough on the outside but a little boy on the inside. He should be funny – has a lot of laugh lines – and he sings a lot. VOICE: Belter (unchanged voice) low B to high C#. Tap skills a plus.
Grover Dill/Ensemble	Boy, any ethnicity, to play 10–12. Children’s chorus with chorus part of Grover. Farcus’s sidekick. He is smaller than Scut and has a "Napoleon Complex." He compensates for his shortcomings with extreme meanness. Like Farcus, a bad egg. VOICE: Belter (unchanged voice) low B to high C#. Must be able to tap.
Mary Beth/Ensemble	Girl, any ethnicity to play 9–12. Children’s chorus. Must be a high belter. Sings from a low B to high D#. Must be a strong/engaging performer. Must be able to tap.
Esther Jane/Ensemble	Girl, any ethnicity, to play 9–12. Children’s chorus. Must be a high belter. Sings from a low B to high D#. Must be a strong/engaging performer. Must be able to tap.
Ensemble Girls	Females, all ethnicities, to play 9–12. Children’s chorus. Great voices, engaging performers. Must be able to tap.
Ensemble Boys	Males, all ethnicities, to play 9–12. Children’s chorus. Must have an unchanged voices; engaging performers. Must be able to tap.

Rehearsals begin on Oct. 25 and the show runs from Nov. 25 to Jan. 3. Everyone must be available for all rehearsals and performances.

The show will be directed by Brandon Ivie, choreographed by Mara Newbery Greer, musically directed by Ben Whiteley, and cast by Rachel Hoffman. The show is written by Joseph Robinette and Benj Pasek.