Auditions
Be part of the magic of Starlight! Explore the audition process for future shows.
2025 Starlight Auditions
The 58th season of Starlight is HERE! We’ve got brand new, fantastic shows, a beautiful sound system, a theatre that opens up to the stars, and memories to last a lifetime! So, come on everyone, let’s "Open it Up" together!
When:
- Auditions: February 27 – March 2 and March 6-8, 2025
- Callbacks: March 9-11, 2025
- All auditioners will be emailed by Friday, March 14, 2025 regarding casting decisions
- An organizational meeting and primary costume measurements with the entire Starlight Company (all five casts and all staff) will take place on Saturday, March 15, 2025 from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Where:
Auditions will take place at our Bengt Sjostrom Theatre on Main Campus. Parking is available in Lot #1 or Lot #9b. The audition check-in table is inside the southeastern entrance of the stage house (behind the theatre). Once on campus, follow the signs that lead to the audition entrance! View the Campus Map.
Contact Us
- Starlight Box Office
- (815) 921-2160
- Tuesday-Friday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Audition Options
Schedule an Audition
Note: This is the preferred method. Appointments may be scheduled online in 15-minute blocks. Be prepared to stay about an hour and a half due to dance call, to sing, and read sides.
Walk-Ups Welcome
You may also choose to walk-up for an audition. However, please be prepared to wait a while for an audition slot to open. View the audition schedule date/time options.
Submit a Video
Alternatively, you can submit an audition video via email that includes your singing, acting, and dance auditions. Review the video entry details below.
About the Audition Process
In-Person Auditions
The preferred audition method is to schedule an appointment in advance. Appointments may be scheduled online in 15-minute blocks. Be prepared to stay about an hour and a half due to dance call, to sing, and read sides. With one appointment, you may audition for one or all productions. Walk-ups are also welcome during the dates/times below.
Note: If you want time to work on callback material, schedule your audition for the first weekend!
In-Person Audition Schedule
Auditions for Adults
- Friday, February 28 (5:45-9 PM)
- Saturday, March 1 (9:45 AM - 5 PM)
- Sunday, March 2 (9:45 AM - 5 PM)
- Thursday, March 6 (7-9 PM)
- Friday, March 7 (5:45-9 PM)
- Saturday, March 8 (9:45 AM - 5 PM)
Auditions for Youth (16 & Under)
- Thursday, February 27 (4-9 PM)
- Friday, February 28 (4-5:30 PM)
- Sat., March 1 (8:30 AM - 9:30 AM)
- Sunday, March 2 (8:30 AM - 9:30 AM)
- Thursday, March 6 (4-7 PM)
- Friday, March 7 (4-5:30 PM)
- Sat., March 8 (8:30 AM - 9:30 AM)
Dance Call Schedule
- Thursdays: 5:30 and 8 PM
- Fridays: 5:30 and 8 PM
- Saturdays and Sundays: 9:30 AM, 11:45 AM, 1 PM, 2:30 PM, and 4 PM
Video Auditions
Alternatively, you can submit an audition video. Audition videos MUST be received before 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 8, 2025.
The singing, acting, and dance portions of the auditions should be on the same video. If you are not tech savvy enough, don’t worry – you may submit multiple videos. You may submit the video(s) as files (MP4, WebM, 3GPP, MOV, AVI) or link(s) (YouTube, Google Drive, or Dropbox) via email to RVCStarlightTheatre@gmail.com and also complete the Video Audition Form. If possible, please include your first and last name when saving/naming files. Files will only be accepted with the completed audition form.
At the end of your audition day, or at a later date, we will email you (with the email you gave us) if we need to see anything further. This is not an indication of final casting.
- Note: Auditioning the first weekend gives you more time to study the sides/songs than auditioning the second weekend.
- It is strongly advised that you attend the callbacks if called back. Also, we prefer that you be discreet about your callback, if you get one.
- Video Auditions: we will still invite you to a callback if we need to, but if you cannot attend, you will still be considered for roles.
2025 Callback Schedule
| Show | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| The Spongebob Musical | Sunday, March 9 | 8 AM - 12 PM |
| Grease | Sunday, March 9 | 12:30-4:30 PM |
| Ragtime | Sunday, March 9 | 5-9 PM |
| The Wedding Singer | Monday, March 10 | 5:30-9:30 PM |
| StarBright Show: Disney's Mary Poppins | Tuesday, March 11 | 5:30-9:30 PM |
Warning: Daylight Savings begins March 9, 2025!
We know that for some, being on stage for a production is no longer a viable option, whether that’s due to an aging body, a surgery, extraordinary scheduling conflicts, or simply a rough summer. However, we are absolutely aware that Starlight is more than just a theatre, more than just a community; it is a family! We wanted to make sure that there was a way for people to participate in a major way, be a part of the family for the summer, but not necessitate their being on stage; and so, we thought of the Legacy Ensemble!
For a select show, we will be looking for an ensemble of singers to augment the voices that we have onstage by:
- Attending the musical rehearsals throughout the summer
- Attending every show and singing backstage during the show
This year's Legacy Ensemble shows are: Ragtime and The Wedding Singer
The Legacy Ensemble is still an auditioned role, so... audition!
Prior to auditions, you must complete:
- Before auditions, complete the Waiver of Liability Form. You may download it online to print and complete it or call the Box Office to request a copy be mailed to you. This form is required to be considered for a role.
- After you reserve your audition slot, you will receive a confirmation email containing the Audition Form. This form must be completed prior to auditions as well. Be honest about your conflicts and audition information. We will do everything we can to accommodate pre-existing conflicts within the published rehearsal schedule, but no one may be excused from "must dates" (review rehearsal schedules).
NOTICE: In addition to “Must Dates,” we are adding “Preferred Dates.” These are dates that we feel are very important to the quality of the show (dates when we know we’re running the full show or dates where we know we will have the full set/stage). While missing these dates won’t exclude you from casting, they are a factor in it.
Rehearsal Schedules by Show:
- The Spongebob Musical (Google Calendar)
- Grease (Google Calendar)
- Ragtime (Google Calendar)
- The Wedding Singer (Google Calendar)
- StarBright | Disney's Mary Poppins (Google Calendar)
Your audition must/will include three parts:
- Performance of a Song: Select 16 measures of a song to feature your range and vocal skills. You may choose
a song from this summer’s musicals, or you may sing from another musical song from
your repertoire. While we prefer musical theatre songs, you may sing from another
genre if you are more comfortable. The song does not need to be memorized, but it’s
preferable.
An accompanist is provided for in-person auditions, but if you're recording your song, please try to find backing tracks or accompaniment to sing to in your video. We will have attachments for typical lightning and USB-C cables to connect to our sound system. We will accept acapella, but we certainly prefer you to sing with instrumentation. - Performance of a Monologue or Side: You must read a scene/monologue for your audition, regardless of the role desired.
Sides are available for specific roles, which are linked within this page. They do
not need to be memorized.
In many of the sides, multiple characters speak. If you are recording, try to have someone off-camera speak the other lines or even combine different characters’ lines so that you can be featured more. Be creative to give us a better understanding of your abilities. There is no roadmap. For in-person auditions, the production team will select the side and ask you to read a specific character and the other lines will be read by Stage Management.
Access the Sides. Scripts will be made available for reading in the RVC Box Office between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays. - Performance of a Dance: You must perform a dance as well. For in-person auditions, you must attend a dance
call listed in the dance call section. So, either be prepared to wait or show up early
to your audition to attend one!
Dances have been pre-recorded for you to learn ahead of your audition. Choose one of the dances (Beginning or Advanced) and perform it. If you are auditioning for a taping role (see show descriptions), you should ALSO learn the tap combination. At in-person auditions, there will be a half-hour beginning dance instructional/warm-up period before all dance calls! Those who have a difficult time learning the dance or have questions about the dance can learn and ask at these times.
There are over 200 people cast a season who require sets to be built, multiple costumes constructed, props created, etc. We simply do not have the staff to create all of this AND appropriately staff the shows as well. As this is a community theatre, it will take a community to accomplish the task.
- We require 8-10 hours of volunteer hours in and above being in the show for all who are cast.
- Volunteer hours can take place with costumes, set, props, box office, crew, concessions, ushering, house managing, almost anything!
- We will also be setting up shifts to clean after rehearsals and shows. Expectations are that you will pitch in when needed.
The 2025 Season
Disclaimers for all auditioning: Theatre, at its core, deals with humans, human emotions, and human interactions. Human interaction is intimate by its nature. All actors auditioning should expect that normal human interactions and touching are likely to occur throughout the course of the summer, especially, but definitely not restricted to, within areas of dance. However, all areas of staging deemed “intimate” through dialogue between actors and the artistic team will be designed and directed by an intimacy designer.
Explore the Magic of Starlight
Here are some highlights from previous season:
Producing Artistic Director's Note
If you haven’t lived it, you don’t know. Starlight summers are extraordinary! We live musical theatre, family, and fun all summer! This year will be more of it! The community, comradery, and the work we do documents our lives. It’s powerful and fulfilling, and until you’ve experienced it, you cannot fully grasp how it can change your life.
Be a part of it. Audition. The very worst that can happen is that you will be asked to audition again. The very best thing that can happen is that your life will become richer, fuller, and more adventurous than ever before!
Take a chance. Join our legacy. Give us 16 bars, and we’ll give you a summer to remember!
– Christopher D. Brady,
Producing Artistic Director, Starlight