The Dio – Dining & Entertainment, Livingston County’s award winning professional theatre company, is excited to announce auditions for their upcoming production of Alice By Heart, music by Duncan Sheik, lyrics by Steven Sater, book by Steven Sater and Jessie Nelson, directed by Steve DeBruyne, music direction by Frank E. Pitts. Video submissions only, through January 6. In-person callbacks will take place in January by invitation only at The Dio, 177 E. Main Street, Pinckney MI, 48169, exact date and time TBD.

All roles available. Seeking a diverse cast of strong singer/actor/movers over the age of 18, must be capable of speaking with a British accent, non-Equity. NOTE: We will consider actors under the age of 18 for the role of Nigel/Dormouse.

CASTING THE FOLLOWING ROLES:

Alice Spencer / Alice – To play mid to late teens; full of questions and wonder; very driven for what she wants; very in love with Alfred and will do anything for him; entering a confusing time of transition in her body; living in a distressed situation, in a tube station; displaced from her family; wonderful imagination that allows her to escape her present situation; contemporary pop/rock singing voice. Vocal range top: D5. Vocal range bottom: G3. All ethnicities.

Alfred Hallam / White Rabbit / March Hare – To play mid to late teens; attractive; manic; running from something he doesn’t understand, also plays the role of “Alfred Hallam,” Alice’s ailing friend and the boy Alice loves who had lived on the streets and contracted tuberculosis; a great contemporary pop/rock singing voice. Vocal range top: A4. Vocal range bottom: B2. All ethnicities

Red Cross Nurse / Queen of Hearts – A young Judi Dench feel; tough; funny; take-charge; dominates her husband; gets what she wants; also plays “Red Cross Nurse”; big singing voice; authority figure. Vocal range top: D5. Vocal range bottom: F#3. All ethnicities.

Harold Pudding / Mad Hatter – To play late teens to early 20s; preening; demanding; full of riddles; also plays “Harold Pudding,” a soldier who has lost his wits in the war who is manic, funny, charming and nuts; a great contemporary pop/rock singing voice. Vocal range top: F4. Vocal range bottom: C3. All ethnicities.

Tabatha / Cheshire Cat – To play late teens to early 20s; smart; streetwise; has gravity; also plays “Tabatha”; contemporary pop/rock singing voice. Vocal range top: D5. Vocal range bottom: Bb3. All ethnicities.

Dodgy / Duchess – To play late teens to early 20s; male/gender non-conforming; a drag role; very funny and flamboyant; also plays “Dodgy”; contemporary pop/rock singing voice. Vocal range top: E4. Vocal range bottom: C3. All ethnicities.

Clarissa / Mock Mock Mock Turtle – To play late teens to early 20s; a proper and well brought up young woman who finds herself stuck in the tube station with the other survivors. Vocal range top: D5. Vocal range bottom: B3. All ethnicities.

Nigel / Dormouse- A young boy who has been traumatized by the bombs and the loss of his family. Doubles as Dormouse and Knave of Clubs. Vocal range top: Bb4. Vocal range bottom: E3. All ethnicities.

Angus / Caterpillar 1- A working class youth with a penchant for opium and escapism. Doubles as Caterpillar. Vocal range top: B4. Vocal range bottom: F3. All ethnicities.

Dr. Butridge / King Of Hearts / Jabberwocky- Falling apart and anxious to a comic extent, a la Larry David. A nervous yet somehow still threatening doctor tasked with managing the Underground station; Authority figure. Doubles as Jabberwocky, King Of Hearts, Mock Turtle. Character singing voice abilities a plus. Vocal range top: G4. Vocal range bottom: C3. All ethnicities.

Caterpillar 2- The role of Caterpillar 2 can be cast according to the needs of each production. An additional actor can be cast or perhaps the actor playing Tabatha or Clarissa (or another role) can play the part. Vocal range top: C5. Vocal range bottom: Ab3. All ethnicities.

ENSEMBLE: Looking for 2 additional dynamic ensemble members, one male-identifying, one female-identifying, who will be students in the tube, as well as play the following roles in Wonderland:

CATERPILLAR 2

KNAVE OF SPADES

MOCK MOCK TURTLE

MOCK MOCK MOCK MOCK TURTLE

VIDEO SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:

Prepare two contrasting pieces, no more than 2 minutes each, one pop song and one contemporary musical theatre. Please film one from shoulders up, and one full body. Use an accompanist or karaoke track – no a cappella singing please. Email video link to steve@diotheatre.com. Private YouTube links are preferred. Please include the following in your submission email: your headshot and resume, photo proof of full Covid-19 vaccination including booster(s) if eligible, as well as a list of all conflicts from March 2 to May 19, 2024. Video submissions due no later than Saturday, January 6. In-person callbacks will be held in January by invitation only at The Dio, 177 E. Main St. Pinckney MI, 48169, exact date and time TBD.

PAY:

All actors receive a one-time stipend of $690*, plus a meal following each performance and two complimentary tickets. Actors with previous serving experience may choose to serve tables on select nights for additional tip money. Servers are scheduled on an alphabetic rotation.

*If any of the performances are cancelled for any reason, stipend will be reduced by $30 per cancelled show.

REHEARSAL INFO:

Rehearsals will begin March 2, 2024 and take place at The Dio, 177 E. Main, Pinckney MI, 48169, Mondays through Fridays from 6pm to 10pm and Saturdays from noon to 6pm. Tech Saturday will take place from noon to midnight on March 30. Please be aware that rehearsal may run later than 10pm during tech week, April 1 through April 4. Can work with rehearsal conflicts if necessary, however, conflicts are a deciding factor in casting. All conflicts must be communicated at the time of auditions. The Dio reserves the right to require masking during the rehearsal process depending on the health of the cast, and the state of spread of Covid-19 in the community.

PERFORMANCE DATES AND TIMES:

*Call for evening performances is 7pm.

*Call for matinee performances is 1pm.

Friday, April 5 – evening

Saturday, April 6 – evening

Sunday, April 7 – matinee

Friday, April 12 – evening

Saturday, April 13 – evening

Sunday, April 14 – matinee

Friday, April 19 – evening

Saturday, April 20 – evening

Sunday, April 21 – matinee

Friday, April 26 – evening

Saturday, April 27 – evening

Sunday, April 28 – matinee

Friday, May 3 – evening

Saturday, May 4 – evening

Sunday, May 5 – matinee

Thursday, May 9 – evening

Friday, May 10 – evening

Saturday, May 11 – evening

Sunday, May 12 – matinee

*Thursday, May 16 – evening

*Friday, May 17 – evening

*Saturday, May 18 – evening

*Sunday, May 19 – matinee

*indicates potential added performances/buffer weekend in case any performances are cancelled due to Covid infection within the cast and crew.

SHOW SYNOPSIS:

From the Tony® and Grammy® award-winning creators of Spring Awakening, Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik, and co-written by Jessie Nelson (Waitress), Alice by Heart is a touching musical inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

In the rubble of the London Blitz of World War II, Alice Spencer’s budding teen life is turned upside down, and she and her dear friend Alfred are forced to take shelter in an underground tube station. When the ailing Alfred is quarantined, Alice encourages him to escape with her into their cherished book and journey down the rabbit hole to Wonderland.

As they travel through the tale, Alice by Heart explores the poignancy of first love, coming to terms with loss, and finding the courage to move forward. This world premiere musical encourages us all to celebrate the transformational power of the imagination, even in the harshest of times.

IN THE SPIRIT OF SHARED HUMANITY AND A CONCERN FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND THE WORLD AT LARGE, WE AT The Dio CELEBRATE DIVERSITY AND AFFIRM OUR SOLIDARITY WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS MOST AT RISK. WE DISAVOW ALL RACISM AND HATE SPEECH OR ACTIONS THAT ATTEMPT TO SILENCE, THREATEN AND DEGRADE OTHERS. WE ENCOURAGE AND WELCOME BIPOC, AAPI, Latinx AND LGBTQ+ PERFORMERS TO ATTEND OUR AUDITIONS, AND TO JOIN OUR DIO FAMILY.

Theater Type: community