Our
Auditions
Are you a high school student with a passion theatre? Auditioning for our Rising Stars theatre program is the perfect to showcase your talent and take your skills to the next level. Our friendly and professional team of instructors will guide you through the audition, providing valuable feedback and support along the way.
Anastasia
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Inspired by the beloved films, Anastasia transports audiences from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman sets out to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her, Anya enlists the aid of a dashing conman and a lovable ex-aristocrat. Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love, and family.
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Auditions: November 3rd
Callbacks: November 5th-7th
Production Dates: February 20th-March 7th
Youth Auditions
HHS Rising Stars seeks youth actors for the roles of Little Anastasia and Alexei in Anastasia.
Little Anastasia
Female presenting
Playing age: 5-7
Featured role
Range: C4-C5, a sweet child soprano
Dance Requirement: Very little.
Character Description: Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanov as a young child. Strong singing and acting skills needed. Little Anastasia is the willful, brave, proud, and precocious youngest daughter of the Tsar. She has a special bond with her grandmother (whom she calls Nana).
Tsarevich Alexei
Male presenting
Playing age: 7-12
Featured role
Range: N/A
Dance Requirement: Moderate.
Character Descriptions: Anastasia's brother. Strong movement and acting skills needed. Alexei was the Tsarevich (Heir to the throne) and only boy of the Romanov siblings. He suffered from debilitating hemophilia that often left him bed-ridden. Anya mentions that he was her best friend.
HOW TO AUDITION
All interested actors must submit an audition video according to the guidelines below. Videos are due by Friday October 24th. In the event additional in-person callbacks are needed, families will be notified via email.
VIDEO AUDITION GUIDELINES
Little Anastasia
-Prepare the song "Prologue: Once Upon A December" (measure 9-33- from “Far away” to “a December” - CLICK HERE for sheet music). Memorization is strongly encouraged.
-Song should be sung acapella (with no music). The music track for this cut is difficult to find online, but you are welcome to use one if you prefer.
-Please have your actor slate at the beginning of the video, stating their name and age.
-Have fun! In the show, Anastasia loves singing this song with her Grandmother.
-Send your video to Director Amanda Moore via email- moorea@luhsd.net with the subject line "Little Anastasia Audition" no later than Wednesday November 5th.
Alexei
-Prepare a poem of your choosing. Shorter poems (like Shel Silverstein) work great. Memorization is strongly encouraged.
-Please have your actor slate at the beginning of the video, stating their name and age.
-Have fun! We are looking for an Alexei with lots of personality and great stage presence that can show a range of emotions.
-Send your video to Director Amanda Moore via email- moorea@luhsd.net with the subject line "Alexei Audition" no later than Wednesday November 5th.
Performers must be available for all following dates and times. (Additional rehearsals will be required. Final schedule will be provided at the Family Meeting on November 15th.)
February 10th 3:30-6pm Rehearsal
February 11th 3:30-6pm Rehearsal
February 13th 3:30-9:30pm Tech Rehearsal
February 17th 3:30-9:30pm Dress Rehearsal
February 18th 3:30-9:30pm Dress Rehearsal
February 19th 8am-4pm Dress Rehearsal
February 20th 7pm Performance
February 21st 1:30pm Performance
February 26th 7pm Performance
February 27th 7pm Performance
February 28th 1:30pm Performance
March 5th 7pm Performance
March 6th 7pm Performance
March 7th 1:30pm Performance
Character Breakdown
Anya/Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanov
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Playing age: 26
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Range: G3-F5, Belt to D5. Disney-esque Soprano or Mezzo
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Dance Requirement: Some movement
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Anya is brave, fiery, witty, and above all determined. With no memory of her life before age 17 and having lived through the horrors of the Russian Revolution, Anya jumps at the sound of gunshots and is distrustful of strangers, but there is steel hiding just beneath the surface. Anya is strong-willed and compassionate. Her mantra, “Home, love, family” is her goal. All she knows is her family is in Paris and she will find them however she can.
Dmitry Sudayev
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Playing age: 28
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Range: A2-G4. “Baritenor”
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Dance Requirement: Some movement
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Dmitry is a scoundrel with a heart of gold. A street rat who grew into a conman, Dima does all he does to get out of poverty and is not above lying, cheating, and stealing to do so–that is until he meets Anya. What starts as just another scheme (albeit much bigger than anything he’s tried to pull off before) turns into the adventure of a lifetime that requires Dimitry to look inward and figure out how to put the one he loves before himself.
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Vladimir “Vlad” Popov
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Playing age: Mid 40s-Early 50s (No age really specified)
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Range: A2-F4. Comic Baritone
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Dance Requirement: Strong mover
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Vlad is Dmitry’s partner in crime (literally) and surrogate father. Before the revolution he scammed his way through society pretending to be a count. Vlad is dramatic, crafty, and a big softie at heart. While he, like Dmitry, is not above lying, cheating, and stealing, he cares greatly for his loved ones and is generally affable, though he can be calculating when he needs to be.
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Deputy Commissioner Gleb Vaganov
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Playing age: Mid 30s
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Range: A2-Gb4. Baritone with a strong upper extension.
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Dance Requirement: None.
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Gleb is the villain of the show, though not a bad person. He fully believes in the Communist ideals he follows. Loyal, honest, and hard working, Gleb almost has the potential to be a hero (he’s very much the hero of his own story). A deeply conflicted person, Gleb’s infatuation (and borderline obsession) with Anya leads to his battle with the idea of doing one’s duty vs. doing what is right.
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Countess Lily Malevsky-Malevitch
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Playing age: ~40 (She’s based on Lili Dehn- a real life Russian countess who was a family friend of the Romanovs)
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Range: G3-C5. Jazzy Mezzo with an upper extension.
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Dance Requirement: Dancer (Ideally a strong dancer)
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Lily is the lady in waiting to the Dowager Empress. She has been by the Dowager’s side since before the revolution. Lily is clever, dutiful, and above all fun (when not working for the Dowager). She deals with her exile from Russia with a sort of resigned dark humor…and a LOT of vodka. She and Vlad were once an item (unbeknownst to her oblivious husband) and rekindle their romance upon re-uniting.
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Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna Romanov
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Playing age: 60-80
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Range: F3-Bb4. A regal Mezzo
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Dance Requirement: None
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The Dowager Empress has lost everything she once held dear and must now put up with imposter upon imposter never allowing her to grieve in peace. She is icy, proud, and regal (not to mention intimidating) to all but her family. Though, she does have a very shrap wit. She is especially warm with Anastasia both when a child and after it’s revealed that Anya really is the princess. She commands authority and attention the minute she enters a room.
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​The Ensemble
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The ensemble has a TON to do in this show and plays a vast array of featured characters (listed below).
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Townsfolk, Royal Servants, Bolshevik Officers and Soldiers, Parisians, Reporters, and Aristocrats
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Featured characters include:
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Olga, Tatiana, and Mariya Romanov
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Paulina, Dunya, Marfa
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Odette and Swans (in Swan Lake sequence)
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Commissioner Gorlinsky
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Count Leopold
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Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna
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Countess Gregory
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Tsar Nicholas II Romanov
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Count Ipolitov
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Siegfriend (in Swan Lake sequence)
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Von Rothbart (in Swan Lake sequence)
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Young Anastasia/Alexei
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Young versions or Anastasia and Alexei Romanov- the youngest children of the last Tsar.
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See info in "Youth Audition" section above.
