Open Call seeking non-equity performers to work as immediate replacement ensemble members of the cast of RENT Non-Union National Tour. RENT is a rock opera set in New York’s Lower East Side “amid poverty, homelessness, spunky gay life, drag queens and punk” in the shadow of AIDS in the late 80s/early 90s. We are seeking raw, quirky, interesting rock singers who can channel both punk rock rage and open-hearted Bohemian love.
Producer: Work Light Productions LLC
Composer/Lyricist: Jonathan Larson
Book: Jonathan Larson
Original Direction by: Michael Greif
Choreographer: Marlies Yearby
Music Supervisor: Tim Weil
Casting: Wojcik|Seay Casting
Tour is currently running. Seeking future replacements.
Rehearsals: TBD
USA Re-Opening: December 11, 2018
Contracted through: July 14, 2019
SEEKING:
- [ROGER] Any ethnicity, male, 20s to early 30s. Rock & Roll grunge voice, like Eddie Vedder or Kurt Cobain. Leader of a rock band. He is able to project raw pain with charisma. Playing guitar a plus. Strong tenor.
- [MARK] Caucasian, male, 20s to early 30s. Baritone/second tenor. Underfunded, underground filmmaker, he has turned his back on his affluent upbringing. Likable, if occasionally high-strung, he is almost the narrator of the show.
- [COLLINS] African-American, male, mid 20s to mid 30s. Low baritone, bluesy, gravelly voice. Philosopher, teacher, anarchist, AIDS activist. Sing a HUGE emotional gospel style ballad.
- [BENNY] African-American, Latin, or Asian, male, 20s to early 30s. Baritone/second tenor, can handle pop ballads. A striver, up from the projects to the Ivy League, wants to be the next Quincy Jones. Slick and cocky, a smooth operator.
- [ANGEL] African-American, Latin, or Asian, male, late teens to early 30s. High tenor with falsetto. Actor must be willing to play drag. A fun guy with lots of style. Extremely warm, loveable and nurturing. Playing drums a plus. Interested in seeing transgender actors.
- [MIMI] Latina, female, to play 19. Raw Rock & Roll voice with a high belt, Shakira with a touch of Ciara. Sexy and of the streets, with some dark secrets. Must convey innocence and vulnerability while being VERY savvy at the same time. Fragile drug addict.
- [MAUREEN] Caucasian, female, 20s to early 30s. Huge, versatile rock & roll sound. Sexy, funny, attractive and wild; a tacky Jersey girl turned East Village performance artist.
- [JOANNE] African-American, 20s to early 30s, great pop belt. Wry humor and sardonic wit, politically connected, a Harvard Graduate.
- [ENSEMBLE & SWINGS] All ethnicities, all genders, 20s to 30s. Must be great pop/rock singers and actors to play various characters throughout the show, including homeless people on the Lower East Side and parents of Mark, Roger, Mimi, Joanne, etc. Must move well. Seeking quirky, offbeat, interesting people of all types. Most will cover principal roles.
SALARY
$550/ensemble and $650/principals + per diem, housing and travel for all
Time & Date: October 4, 2018 at 10:00AM – Open Call for Male Singers ~AND~ October 5, 2018 at 10:00AM – Open Call for Female Singers
Where: Pearl Studios, 500 8th Ave, 4th Floor New York, NY
Please prepare 16 bars of a pop/rock, soul, or R&B/gospel song that reflects the style of the show and the style in which that character sings. (Example: Roger—90s grunge rock; Mark – 90s alt-pop; Mimi – Rock or R&B; Collins—gospel ballad; Maureen—Blue-eyed Soul). ABSOLUTELY NO MUSICAL THEATRE (songs written for a musical). Please bring sheet music in the appropriate key—an accompanist will be provided. Bring a headshot and resume stapled together.
Source: Playbill