Directed by Luke Scattergood
Musical Direction by Kenny Lear
Choreography by Liz Baumgartner
If Interested: Email Patrick@blankcanvastheatre.com (include "RENT" in your subject line) to sign up for one of the below dates and include your ideal time for auditioning. Otherwise, we will just assign you the best available slot. We will do our best to accommodate you.
*If you cannot make auditions, please email us your headshot and resume for consideration. If possible, submit a video audition for consideration. We do our best to see and consider additional people, but attending auditions is always ideal.
Audition Date: Tuesday September 16 and Wednesday September 17
Time: 7:00pm-10:00pm (Time slots will be assigned every 5 minutes)
What to prepare: Please prepare two contrasting 32 bars or short musical theatre songs in the style of one of the shows. Please bring sheet music in the correct key. An accompanist will be provided. Please bring a headshot and resume to auditions. Headshots and resumes are appreciated, but not required.
Performance Dates:
December 5 - 20
Shows will be Thursday, Friday & Saturday at 8pm. Sunday performances will be at 7pm. (Show will open on a Friday night and close on a Saturday night.)
Rehearsals:
Begin November 3
Rehearsals will be Sundays-Thursdays. Typically 7pm-10pm, though Sundays are usually 6pm-10pm.
Pay: Blank Canvas Theatre dedicates 20% of the net profit to the cast of each show. The cast splits this evenly.
*At this time there are no AEA Contracts for these shows. However we may explore the option if needed.
Location:
(Click here for directions or visit our website at www.blankcanvastheatre.com)
The Story
Set in the East Village of New York City, Rent is about falling in love, finding your voice and living for today. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Rent has become a pop cultural phenomenon. with songs that rock and a story that resonates with audiences of all ages.
Based loosely on Puccini’s La Boheme, Jonathan Larson’s Rent follows a year in the life of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York’s Lower East Side, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS. The physical and emotional complications of the disease pervade the lives of Roger, Mimi, Tom and Angel. Maureen deals with her chronic infidelity through performance art; her partner, Joanne, wonders if their relationship is worth the trouble. Benny has sold out his Bohemian ideals in exchange for a hefty income and is on the outs with his former friends. Mark, an aspiring filmmaker, feels like an outsider to life in general. How these young bohemians negotiate their dreams, loves and conflicts provides the narrative thread to this groundbreaking musical.
Character Breakdowns
A Multi-Ethnic/Multi-Racial cast of ALL ages, genders, sizes, and races are needed.
*Gender-Nonconforming/Non-Binary Actors are welcomed and encouraged to audition for any and all of the roles below with the understanding that there are individual characters that may identify as a woman or man.
Mark Cohen (Male Presenting. Age: 20 to 35) Filmmaker and video artist. Knee deep in his own soul-searching, Mark is the typical young artist. He and Roger are roommates in the loft. A bit of a nerd. Vocal range top: G#4 Vocal range bottom: C3
Roger Davis (Male Presenting. Age: 20 to 35) A struggling musician and former drug addict. He is reminiscent of Kurt Cobain. Roommates with Mark in the loft and battles with being HIV-positive. Vocal range top: A4 Vocal range bottom: F#2
Tom Collins (Male Presenting. Age: 20 to 40) A computer genius and liberal professor. He is a nurturer with a smooth and relaxed disposition. Used to be a roommate in the loft and is HIV-positive. Vocal range top: A4 Vocal range bottom: F#2
Benjamin Coffin III (Male Presenting. Age: 20 to 35) The landlord of Mark and Roger's apartment building. A former roommate in the loft, Benny traded in his personal morals for power and wealth. Vocal range top: F#4 Vocal range bottom: D3
Angel Dumott Schunard (Trans/Non-Binary/Gender Non-Conforming Age: 20 to 35) The eccentric HIV-positive street drummer. A drag queen with an incredible gift of dance and a magnetic personality. He becomes Tom's lover. Vocal range top: D5 Vocal range bottom: C3
Joanne Jefferson (Female Presenting. Age: 20 to 40) A public interest lawyer and headstrong lesbian. She is smart and purposeful in all her decisions. Carries on a tumultuous relationship with Maureen. Vocal range top: E5 Vocal range bottom: G3
Mimi Marquez (Female Presenting. Age: 18 to 30) An HIV-positive stripper with drug addictions. Slender and sickly, she conceals it all at her job in the local strip club. She lives in the same building as the loft. Vocal range top: E5 Vocal range bottom: F#3
Maureen Johnson (Female Presenting. Age: 20 to 35) An unpredictably zany performance artist. Maureen oozes sexuality and used to live in the loft. She has recently dumped Mark for Joanne. Vocal range top: F5 Vocal range bottom: G3
Ensemble Cops; Vendors; Support Group (Paul, Steve, Gordon, Pam, Ali, Sue); Homeless People (Squeegieman, Blanket Person); Junkies; Parents (Mrs. Cohen, Mr. And Mrs. Jefferson, Roger's Mom, Mimi's Mother); "Leap Of Faith" Backups; Bohemians
If you have any questions feel free to contact us at patrick@blankcanvastheatre.com. We look forward to seeing you at auditions!