Audition Notice:

THE MUSIC MAN (In Concert)
book, music & lyrics by Meredith Willson
Directed by Rachel Solomon
Musical Direction by Julie Covach

AUDITIONS: Sunday, Feb 22nd from 4pm-6pm
CALLBACKS: Monday, Feb 23rd from 6pm-9pm

THE AUDITION:
Please prepare TWO 16-bar cuts from the musical theatre genre that show vocal and emotional range. You may be asked for only one song. Bring a headshot or up-to-date photo, your resume, and your calendar with you to list any conflicts with the rehearsal schedule. If you are not available for callbacks, please let us know at the time of your audition. Please familiarize yourself with the score using the link at the bottom of this page.

THE PROCESS:
Rehearsals: minimal sporadic rehearsals beginning as early as April 7th, 2026; schedule will be built around performer/team conflicts
Tech: June 1st - 4th, 2026 (NO CONFLICTS)
Performances: June 5th & 6th at 7pm; June 7th at 2pm (NO CONFLICTS)
*hold date: June 6th at 2pm (NO CONFLICTS)

BT’s annual show in concert is part of our Concert Series. This is a fast-moving process which requires performers to work on their material at home and remain flexible regarding changes and creative problem solving during rehearsal.

SYNOPSIS:
Con man, Harold Hill, poses as a boys' band organizer and leader. He sells band instruments and uniforms to naïve Midwestern townsfolk, promising to train the members of the new band. Harold is no musician, however, and plans to skip town without giving any music lessons. Prim librarian and piano teacher Marian sees through him, but when Harold helps her younger brother overcome his lisp and social awkwardness, Marian begins to fall in love with him. He risks being caught to win her heart.

CASTING: Seeking 14-16 performers of varying ages, sizes, races, & ethnicities. Performers auditioning for Winthrop or Amaryllis must be 10+; all other performers must be 18+. Many secondary characters will be doubled with the Pickalittle Ladies and the School Board (barbershop quartet). Casting for the concert series is not as type-restricted as with a typical production (you’ll see a big age range for most roles). The primary consideration is the music.

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:
HAROLD HILL: 30s-40s, male, any ethnicity | A confidence man who pretends to be a traveling salesman and professor of music.

MARIAN PAROO: 20s-40s, female, any ethnicity | The town librarian and part-time piano teacher

MARCELLUS WASHBURN: 30s-40s, male, any ethnicity | Harold's old friend and former shill, who now lives in River CityMayor

GEORGE SHINN: 40s-70s, male, any ethnicity | A pompous politician who is suspicious of Hill

EULALIE MACKECKNIE SHINN: 40s-70s, female, any ethnicity | The mayor's wife

MRS PAROO: 40s-60s, female, any ethnicity | Marian's widowed, Irish immigrant mother

WINTHROP PAROO: 10-14, male, any ethnicity | Marian's shy, younger brother who lisps

TOMMY DJILAS: 18+ to play teens, male, any ethnicity | A young man "from the wrong side of town"; secretly dating Zaneeta Shinn

ZANEETA SHINN: 18+ to play teens, female, any ethnicity | The mayor's oldest daughter; secretly dating Tommy Djilas

CHARLIE COWELL: 20s-60s, male, any ethnicity | An anvil salesman who tries to expose Hill as a fraud and con man

CONSTABLE LOCKE: 30s-60s, male, any ethnicity | The town peace officer

AMARYLLIS: 10+, female, any ethnicity | Marian's young piano student

PICKALITTLE LADIES: 30s-60s, female, any ethnicity | Eulalie’s four gossipy friends: Alma Hix, Mrs. Squires, Ethel Toffelmier and Maud Dunlop

THE SCHOOL BOARD (Barbershop Quartet): 30s-60s, male, any ethnicity | Four bickering local businessmen united as singers by Hill: Olin Britt, Oliver Hix, Ewart Dunlop and Jacey Squires

Blackfriars practices color-conscious and body-positive casting. There can be no conflicts during tech week. If you are involved in another show that overlaps with any part of this process, please email us the conflicts at info@blackfriars.org prior to submitting for auditions. Auditions will take place at Blackfriars Theatre, 795 E Main St, Rochester 14605.

VIDEO SUBMISSIONS:
If you cannot make auditions and wish to submit a video audition, please email a video of two contrasting 16-bar cuts that show vocal and emotional range to info@blackfriars.org no later than Friday, February 20th at 12:00 noon. Late submissions will not be considered.

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Any questions, please email info@blackfriars.org.