Auditions for Something Rotten! will be held at Hickory Theatre on Friday, June 4th from 6:30 pm & Saturday, June 5th from 11 am with possible callbacks on Sunday, June 6th.

All roles are available.

Hickory Theatre encourages people of all races, ethnicities, identities, body types and physical & cognitive abilities to audition. Theatre is for everyone and HCT believes in representation and equity for all.

Auditions will consist of both a dancing and singing portion. Please come dressed comfortably for your dance audition.

Please prepare 16-bars; preferably from (but not limited to) Something Rotten!

Specific selections for each principle role are available here: 16-bar Principle Selections

An accompanist will be provided. Do not bring your own accompanist.

Director: Eric Seale
Music Director: Jeff Hartman
Choreographer: Leanna Bodnar

Performance Dates:
August 27-September 11

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Character Breakdown

Minstrel
A charismatic actor with a thousand faces. Sings the opening number, but also appears throughout the show in various character roles.
Age: Mid-20’s to 50
Vocal range top: A4

Nick Bottom
A struggling renaissance writer at the end of his rope. Nigel’s older brother. Incredibly jealous of the success of William Shakespeare and will do anything to beat him. Tap dance a plus.
Age: Mid-20’s to 40
Vocal range top: G4

Nigel Bottom
Nick’s younger brother. A naïve writer and poet who falls in love with Portia.
Age: 18 to 30’s
Vocal range top: A4

Shakespeare
Presented in this show like a renaissance rock star. Larger than life and over the top. Tap dance a plus.
Age: Mid-20’s to 30’s
Vocal range top: Ab4

Nostradamus
A soothsayer who almost sees the future correctly. Not quite in the same world as everyone else.
Age: 40’s to 60+
Vocal range top: A4

Bea
Nick’s wife and “Right Hand Man.” Supportive, smart and very funny.
Age: Mid-20’s to 40
Vocal range top: D5

Portia
A quirky Puritan girl whom Nigel meets on the street and shares his love for Shakespeare and poetry.
Age: 18 to 30’s
Vocal range top: F#5

Brother Jeremiah
Portia’s father. A very repressed Puritan who despises playwrights, poets and all things ungodly.
Age: 40 to 50+
Vocal range top: G4

Ensemble
Various ages and vocal ranges. Roles include Townspeople, Actors, Puritans, Crowds and many, many more. Tap dance a plus.

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“There are no small parts, only small… Shakespeares?”

I’m sure I got that quote wrong, but with auditions for The Hickory Community Theatre’s production of “Something Rotten! a week away, let’s talk ENSEMBLE.

Before you circle “No” at “Would you accept any role?”—consider what it means to be part of THIS ensemble.

NICK BOTTOM’s acting TROUPE consists of TOM SNOUT, ROBIN (who loves a great dress), PETER QUINCE, SNUG, FRANCIS FLUTE and, of course, the MINSTREL. The TROUPE performs more than most of the principle actors!

The MINSTREL welcomes the audience to the Renaissance and the world of Something Rotten! With a merry and ironic disposition, the Minstrel sets up the scene for the audience to enjoy all the show’s twists and turns.

The FEMALE ENSEMBLE has more stage time than the principle females, playing various characters like HELENA and MIRANDA, who throw a baby shower for BEA.

Both MALE and FEMALE Ensembles could double and perhaps triple in a variety of roles that includes several solos, Shakespeare’s Bard Boys, Townspeople, Shakespeare’s Announcer, the Astrologer, the Gypsy Woman, the Eyepatch Man, Shakespeare’s Valet, the Reapers, the Renaissance Writers, the 3 Chefs, the Royal Family, the Puritans, the Sad Little Egg that gets to show off her Dreamgirls chops—and SO MUCH MORE!

LORD CLAPHAM begins as the Bottom brothers’ primary patron, but that changes quickly once he hears that Shakespeare is performing the same play. Clapham is excited by the arts and certainly not ashamed to share his sometimes zealous opinions about the Bottoms’ shows.

SHYLOCK is a Jewish money lender who wants nothing more than to be considered a patron of the arts but by law, can’t be considered an official investor. Regardless, he continues to help Nick because he can’t stand to be anywhere else besides the theater.

This isn’t your average ENSEMBLE. So, no, there are no small parts—there are MANY parts for good actors and singers. Circle “Yes!”