The Stage is Set. Let Your Talent Shine.

Do you have what it takes to be part of a nationally recognized Theatre for Young Audiences? Children’s Theatre of Charlotte is looking for passionate, talented, and committed actors to bring our stories to life.
We create exceptional theatre experiences, inspiring generations to explore the wonder of their world. We invite you to join us in support of this mission. The Children's Theatre of Charlotte is searching for like-minded artists to perform in the 2023-24 season. Children’s Theatre of Charlotte only hosts auditions once a year. Our upcoming season will feature eight in-house shows and three touring companies. Below you will find an overview of shows we are casting. Please take note of which shows are touring productions.
We recognize theatre as a means of holding up a mirror to society, and that all people’s race, ethnicity, culture, background, and beliefs should be celebrated and reflected onstage, on staff, and in the audience. Employment opportunities are available to all, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender identity, veteran's status, age, marital status, sexual orientation or disability.

Unified Auditions for Adults are now closed.

Mainstage Productions
• Narnia the Musical
• The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical
• Pinocchio
• Catching the Moon: The Story of a Young Girl's Baseball Dream
• Elephant and Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!”
Touring Productions
• Schoolhouse Rock Live!
• Danny, King of the Basement
• Pigs is Pigs
• Third Grade Tour

Unified Auditions for Students (Ages 9 - Grade 12) are now closed.

Students will be cast in two shows:
• Narnia the Musical
• The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical

Mainstage Productions

Click on a title to view/hide rehearsal, performances dates, and roles for each show. Please confirm you are available for tech and performance dates prior to confirming your availability for a production - some conflicts during rehearsals may be considered. Performance dates include morning performances during most weekdays. Roles are listed in the following format:
Name | Age | Vocal Range | Character description
Narnia the Musical
Dates
1st rehearsal (Students): Mon Aug 7, 2023
1st rehearsal (Adults): Mon, Aug 21, 2023 (Evening/weekend rehearsals, may be called during day)
CMS start classes: Mon, Aug 28, 2023
1st tech: Sat, Sept 9, 2023
Performances: Fri, Sept 22 - Sun, Oct 22, 2023

Adult Roles
Aslan/Professor
White Witch/Mrs. Macready
Mr. Beaver
Mrs. Beaver
Dwarf/Ensemble
Fenris Ulf/Ensemble
Tumnus/Ensemble
Father Christmas/Ensemble
Ensemble
Student Roles
Peter Pevensie | 13 | an English boy
Susan Pevensie | 12 | Peter’s sister
Edmund Pevensie | 10 | their younger brother
Lucy Pevensie | 9 | their younger sister
Ensemble

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical
Dates
1st rehearsal (Students): Mon, Oct 9, 2023 (Evening and weekend rehearsals)
1st rehearsal (Grace): Mon, Oct 16, 2023 (Evening/weekend rehearsals, may be called during day)
1st rehearsal (Adults): Mon, Oct 23th, 2023 (Evening/weekend rehearsals, may be called during day)
1st tech: Tues, Nov 7, 2023
Performances: Fri, Nov 17 - Fri, Dec 22, 2023

Adult Roles
Grace Bradley | 30-40 | Mezzo with belt | Sweet, good-humored, slightly frazzled mom
Bob Bradley | 35-40 | Baritone | Easygoing dad, wry sense of humor
Reverend Hopkins | 40-50 | Occasionally befuddled, always well-meaning
Helen | 50 | Alto | Leader, steamroller, always in charge
Luanne | 35-40 | Mezzo | Sassy, tells it like it is
Betty | 30-40 | Alto | Sweet southerner, calls everyone “honey”
Connie | 30-40 | Soprano | Direct, no-nonsense type
Student Roles
Gladys Herdman | Little but fierce. Nothing scares her.
Ollie Herdman | A bit of a naïve urchin who follows the older boys’ leads
Teddy Shoemaker | Wimpy kid with glasses, asks too many questions
Elmer Hopkins | Preacher’s kid, which means he needs to behave and be nice
Charlie Bradley | Typical kid brother, says what he thinks
Claude Herdman | Scrappy and smart
Ivy Reed | Beth’s earnest friend who is sometimes a goody-goody
Alice Wendleken | Know-it-all. She thinks she’s perfect
Beth Bradley | Charlie’s older and wiser sister. She’s honest and kind
Leroy Herdman | Ralph’s backup. Very confident in the muscle department
Imogene Herdman | Leader of the Herd2mans. She’s loud, bossy, and crafty
Ralph Herdman | The oldest and coolest. He’s the enforcer

Pinocchio
Dates
1st rehearsal: Tues, Jan 2, 2024
1st tech: Tues, Jan 23, 2024
Performances: Wed, Jan 31 - Sun, Feb 18, 2024

Adult Roles
Painter #1: plays The Cricket/The Showman/A Fairy/The Coachman/An Old Man
Painter #2: plays Gepetto/The Fox/A Donkey
Painter #3: plays The Policeman/The Cat/Lampwick
Painter #4: plays Pinocchio
The Musician: plays as many instruments as possible

Catching the Moon: The Story of a Young Girl's Baseball Dream
Dates
1st rehearsal: Mon, Feb 5, 2024
1st tech: Tues, Feb 27, 2024
Performances: Wed, Mar 6 - Sun, Mar 24, 2024

Adult Roles
Marcenia Lyle | Soprano with belt | Our protagonist. All she wants to do is play baseball. She is always trying to prove herself. Her best friend is the moon.
Papa Lyle | Baritone | Marcenia’s father is a hardworking barber. He wants to support his daughter’s dreams but knows how hard it is because of lack of money and societal expectations.
Moon/Mama Lyle/Teacher/Nurse | Mezzo with belt | The actual moon. She is Marcenia’s best friend. She is a source of support. She would bring an element of magical realism into the show.
Mr. Street | Tenor | The manager of the St. Louis Cardinals. Once caught a ball thrown off the Washington Monument. He runs a camp for baseball prospects and initially doesn’t think girls should play baseball.
Clarence | Tenor | A boy that Marcenia is friends with and plays baseball with.
Harold | Baritone | A boy that Marcenia is friends with and plays baseball with.

Elephant and Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!”
Dates
1st rehearsal: Mon, Mar 11th, 2024
1st tech: Tues, Apr 2, 2024
Performances: Wed, Apr 10 - Sun, May 5, 2024

Adult Roles
Gerald | Tenor | A lumbering, somewhat formally attired elephant; prone to melancholy. Best friends with Piggie.
Piggie | Soprano | An ebullient, inquisitive pink pig. Best friends with Gerald.
Squirrel 1/Ensemble | Soprano/Mezzo-Soprano | Part of a trio of back-up singing squirrels; friends with Gerald and Piggie.
Squirrel 2/Ensemble | Soprano/Mezzo-Soprano | Part of a trio of back-up singing squirrels; friends with Gerald and Piggie.
Squirrel 3/Ensemble | Soprano/Mezzo-Soprano | Part of a trio of back-up singing squirrels; friends with Gerald and Piggie.

Resident Touring Company

Dates of employment from Mon, Aug 7, 2023 - Fri, May 10, 2024, members of the Resident Touring Company will embark on a nine-month van tour throughout the Carolinas. There will be early morning calls and overnight trips - four actors in a van pulling a trailer filled with two shows worth of sets, costumes, puppets and props. The Company members are not just actors, but CTC ambassadors. Each day, they will load-in, set-up, strike, move to a second venue, and do it all again. Company members will drive the van, communicate with venue contacts, do show laundry and fix minor repairs. It is hard work, but incredibly rewarding. CTC touring shows will reach more than 100,000 students throughout the Carolinas. This tour is a standing tradition for many school communities and the interactions actors provide are the source of inspiration for thousands of students.

Schoolhouse Rock Live!
Dates
1st Rehearsal: Tues. Sept 5th-Wed, Sept 20th, 2023
Tour: Mon, Sept 25, 2023 - Fri, May 10, 2024
In-House Performances: Wed, Jan 10 - Sun, Jan 28, 2024
**Actors cast in Schoolhouse Rock Live! must commit to both the tour, and the in-house run.

Adult Roles
Tom | A young teacher who has just received his degree. He has a good heart and is excited about the future, but still unsure and nervous.
George | Tom's romantic side. Typically sweet and caring.
Dina | Tom's goofy side. Endearing, cute, and very playful.
Shulie | Sweet and genuine.

Danny, King of the Basement
Dates
1st Rehearsal: Mon, Aug 14, 2023
Tour: Mon, Sept 25, 2023 - Fri, May 10, 2024
In-House Performances: Wed, Apr 17 - Sun, Apr 28, 2024
**Actors cast in Danny, King of the Basement must commit to both the tour, and the in-house run.

Adult Roles
Danny “Delco” Carter | A young boy with a wild imagination and a big heart
Penelope | Danny’s “mean girl” neighbor
Angelo | Danny’s neighbor and friend
Louise | Danny’s mother

Preschool Tour

Dates of employment from Tues, Jan 29 - Sun, June 9, 2024, members of the Pre-K Touring Company will embark on a six-week van tour in the Charlotte area. This performance will feature original puppets and serves our youngest audience group. We are looking for actors who are excited to share their passion for storytelling and performance with children 3-5 years old. The schedule can be taxing, but there is also so much joy. Three actors in a van with a set, costumes, puppets and props - the Company members are not just actors, but CTC ambassadors. Each day the actors will load-in, set-up, strike, move to a second venue, and do it all again. Company members will drive the van, communicate with venue contacts, do show laundry, and fix minor repairs. It is hard work, but incredibly rewarding. CTC touring shows will reach more than 100,000 students throughout the Carolinas. In the case of the Pre-K Tour, this is likely the audience’s first and only exposure to live theatre.

Pigs is Pigs
Dates
1st Rehearsal: Tues, Jan 29
Tour: Mon, Feb 19 - Fri, Mar 29, 2024
In-House Performances: Wed, May 29 - Sun, June 9, 2024
**Actors cast in Pigs is Pigs must commit to both the tour, and the in-house run.

Adult Roles
Three actors (a Worker, a Farmer, and Mike Flannery) perform in this fast-paced, energetic show invoking the broad physical comedy of the silent film era.

TBD - CMS Tour

This tour is a part of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) Front and Center Series which is designed to support mental and emotional wellness through theatre. It is currently being developed with third grade students. Next school year this new production will tour every third grade classroom in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District. Audition and tour details will be updated when the script has been finalized.

Audition Guidelines

Unified Auditions for Mainstage Productions and Touring Productions - Adults
NOTE: Adult Audition applications are now closed.
Unified Auditions for Mainstage Productions - Students (NO CHILDREN UNDER AGE 9, PLEASE)
NOTE: Student Audition applications are now closed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are actors paid?
Adult actors (age 18+) are compensated at a weekly rate. Student actors gain valuable stage experience rehearsing and performing alongside working professionals.
Do you provide housing?
Unfortunately no, we are only able to hire actors who are able to work local to Charlotte.
What material do I need to prepare?
Please prepare a maximum of 90 seconds of material – your choice of a combination of monologues and/or music. We ask that your music selections be from a musical (no pop music, please), and that you provide sheet music for our accompanist.
Do I need a headshot (photograph) and a resume?
Yes. Please fill out the online audition application form (link provided above) prior to the audition. Any applications submitted without a headshot and resume will not be considered. The deadline for submitting the application is one week prior to the audition date.
Can I submit a video audition?
Actors are encouraged to audition in person. Casting priority will be given to actors attending auditions. Please contact us to request an exemption if necessary. Should you choose to submit a video audition here are a few submission tips: Your video must be one continuous take, including a slate at the beginning in which you state your name, and that you are "auditioning for Children's Theatre of Charlotte's 2023-24 Season". Please include a monologue, not to exceed one-minute in length, and, if you choose to sing, 16-bars of a song from a musical. Your song must be accompanied, either live or with a recording. Do not sing a capella.
Can my parents watch my audition?
No. Parents are welcome to accompany you before and after the audition. There will be a place for them to wait while you are auditioning.
What happens if I cannot make the audition dates?
We are not able to set up individual auditions. See above for submitting a video.
What should I wear?
An audition is much like a job interview; you should try to look professional.
Will I have to audition in front of anyone else who is auditioning?
Sometimes, yes. If asked to do a cold reading, you may be asked to read with other people for the scene.
What is a callback?
The "callback" is a second (sometimes third, fourth or even fifth) audition during which the selection process becomes more specific. At a callback, you will usually be asked to read additional scenes from the show, prepare music from the score, or learn a dance combination. The callback is also an opportunity for the director(s) to see and hear different combinations of performers.
What if I am not called back?
Not being called back does not always mean that you aren’t being cast in a show. Sometimes a callback is needed for a director to look at the way specific groups of people fit together, sometimes not.
What if I can’t make all rehearsals?
A calendar with all the possible rehearsal dates and all performances is located above. We are often able to work around the minor conflicts in the availability of the actors we cast. Sometimes however, the availability of an actor is the final deciding factor in casting. It is wise to always be honest about your availability.
How will I know if I am cast in the show?
If you are cast in a show, you will receive a phone call or email from Stage Management or director(s). Callbacks may be scheduled on an as needed basis throughout the season, sometimes several months after the initial audition. If your availability changes for a production or you are being considered for a role at another company, call Stage Management to check on your current consideration status.
Children's Theatre of Charlotte is proud to be an organization where a diverse mix of talented, committed, and enthusiastic people gather to do their best work. We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
Photos (L-R) Annie, My Wonderful Birthday Suit, and Allie Kazan and the Magic Mansion - Photos by John Merrick