Auditions: Away In The Basement

Actors are asked to have a solo less than 2 minutes prepared. We recommend using a backing track, but if none are available, they may sing a cappella. A bluetooth speaker will be provided. Actors will be asked to do a simple movement audition, and cold readings from the script.

If asked to call backs on Oct 6th at 6pm, actors will be emailed a short piece of music to sing.

Note: Auditions will be held at Trinity Lutheran but performances will be at Dakota Stage.
Use the North doors from the parking lot and we will be in The Lower Youth Room.

Audition Information

Auditions:
24-36 measures (1-2 min) song prepared
1 min. comedic monologue prepared

Callbacks:
A light choreographed piece and 3-part harmony piece will be briefly taught and showcased.
Some readings from scenes and light improv movement scenarios will also be held.

About the show:
Away in the Basement: A Church Basement Ladies Christmas is a nostalgic and humorous musical comedy set on December 19, 1959, during the frantic day of the annual Sunday School Christmas program.

While children rehearse upstairs in the sanctuary, the dependable women of the church kitchen work below. As things inevitably go slightly off-script, the ladies rely on their down-to-earth grit, humor, and faith to step in and save the holiday program.

Director’s notes:
This show is based in the Minnesota area, set in the 1950’s, with some references to Norwegian heritage. We will be looking for people who are willing to make some bold physical comedic choices and interact with castmates to create relatable scenarios and relationships.

Available Roles

The Pastor – (Baritone/tenor 2: A2-E4) Of indeterminate age. He has been the Pastor at this church for some time. The ladies have a great deal of respect for him and were very fond of his late wife who died 2 years
ago. Now the Pastor has begun to show interest in the new parish worker, and some of the ladies
are struggling with that. He is a nice man, if perhaps not a terribly dynamic preacher. He lives
a life of service and humility.

Mrs. Elroy Engelson (Karin) – (Mezzo soprano: G3-D5) In her late 30’s/early 40’s. Karin is Beverly’s mother and is the most fashionable of the ladies and the best cook in the kitchen. She married young and has
always strived to be a good wife and mother. Although she appears happy, had she been born in
another time her life might have turned out quite different. She understands the hierarchy of the
kitchen and graciously allows Vivian to retain some control.

Beverly Signe Engelson – (Mezzo soprano: G3-D5) Blond, age 15, she will be confirmed this year and can’t wait to finally be “an adult”. She has grown up in this kitchen and has a great deal of affection for the women
of the basement but, typically teenaged, is embarrassed by everything her mom says and does.
Although she is strong willed, she has a good head on her shoulders.

The Widow Snustad (Vivian) –(Mezzo soprano: A3-E5 (optional F5) Late 50’s/early 60’s. Her husband died very early in their marriage. As the matriarch of the kitchen she barely needs to lift a finger in order for folks to
rush to assist her. She holds tightly to tradition with both hands. The other women get a kick out
of her and secretly enjoy watching her squirm when she is challenged. As she gets older,
however, she is starting to lose control of the kitchen and that bothers her.

Mrs. Gilmer Gilmerson (Mavis) – (Alto: G3-B4)  Late 40’s/early 50’s, she is an able-bodied farm wife. Mavis is
extremely good-natured and often tries to dispel any tension in the kitchen by changing the
subject or telling a joke. She knows the lineage of every family in town, and is always willing to
pitch in and fix someone’s tractor, peel a potato, or scrub the lutefisk pot. She believes hard
work is good for the soul.