Waitress - Call for Submissions
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At the Grand we are committed to creating and practicing a company culture that ensures an accessible, equitable, inclusive, and welcoming space for artists, audiences, donors, board members, and staff. We actively encourage submissions from artists who self-identify as being part of underserved communities. It is our mission to reflect the diversity of our community on and off our stages. If you can imagine yourself in the role, then so can we!
Access and inclusion are important to us. If you have any questions regarding the Grand’s accessibility policies and initiatives, or any requests, we encourage you to reach out to Christine Gruenbauer, Company Manager, at cgruenbauer [at] grandtheatre.com (cgruenbauer[at]grandtheatre[dot]com)
The Project
A co-production with Theatre Aquarius
WAITRESS
Music & Lyrics by Sara Bareilles
Book by Jessie Nelson
Based upon the motion picture by Adrienne Shelly
Directed by: Rachel Peake
Music Directed by: Patrick Bowman
Choreographed by: Genny Sermonia
Jenna lives a small slice of life, in a small town – baking punny pies at work and trying not to think about her troubled marriage at home. Caught off guard by another type of bun in the oven, a thrilling affair, and nowhere else to turn, Jenna wonders if her pie-making talents are her ticket to finding a soft place to land.
With music baked-to-perfection by Grammy Award-winner Sara Bareilles (“She Used to be Mine”, “When He Sees Me”), a story based on the indie cult-classic film starring Keri Russell, and the presence of a pretty cute OB/GYN, Waitress is a musical that has charmed its way across Broadway, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
PRODUCTION DATES
London, ON
Rehearsals Begin: February 25, 2025
First Preview Performance: March 25, 2025
Opening: March 28, 2025
Closing: April 12, 2025
Hamilton, ON
Rehearsals Begin: April 21, 2025
Performances: April 29 – May 18, 2025
AVAILABLE ROLES:
JENNA (She/her) - Age Range: Late 20s / early 30s; All ethnicities – Mezzo-Soprano – F#3-F5
A woman stuck in her life as an unhappily married waitress in a small town. Finds some happiness and expression through her meticulous baking of pies and her friendships with her co-workers. Lives her life paycheck-to-paycheck, day by day, and wants nothing more than a fresh start, unbeknownst to her destructive husband, Earl. Strong pop/folk vocalist. Needs a strong mix/belt to Eb4 as well as a flexible head voice.
DAWN (She/her) – Age Range: 20s; All ethnicities – Mezzo-Soprano – G3-Eb5
Youngest of the waitresses. Eccentric, slightly unusual. She sets the tables, ensuring each salt and pepper-shaker is equidistant from the napkin holder. Strong pop/folk vocalist. Often sings in a head-dominant mix, needs a strong mix/belt to C5.
BECKY (She/her) - Age range: early 40s / early 50s; All ethnicities – Mezzo-Soprano/Alto - Eb3-Eb5
Oldest of the waitresses. Wicked sense of humour with excellent comedic timing. Been there, made it back, and kept moving forward. Strong pop/rock vocalist. Needs a strong mix/belt to Db5.
DR. POMATTER (He/him) – Age Range: Late 30s / 40s; All ethnicities – Tenor – Bb2-Ab4
Handsome, endearing, and neurotic. Has a warm, if clumsy, matter. Jenna’s gynecologist with whom an unexpected extramarital affair is born. Quirky sense of humor with a big heart. Strong pop/musical theatre vocalist. Needs a chest-dominant mix or full chest to Ab4, as well a strong head voice/head-dominant mix to Ab4
EARL (He/him) – Age range: Late 20s / 30s; Caucasian – Tenor/Baritone - Eb3-G4
Jenna’s husband. Handsome in a gruff way, but his face is clouded with broken dreams, and drowned with cheap beer. Narcissism mixed with stupidity and can explode into unexpected anger or uncontrollable sobbing. Strong pop/rock vocalist. Needs a chest-dominant mix or full chest to G4
OGIE (he/him) – Age range: 30s; All ethnicities - Tenor – C3-Bb4
Strange, yet oddly loveable. Quirky, incredibly persistent, and odd, yet kind. Strong pop/country vocalist. Tessitura is high, speech quality is needed around Eb4-G4. Needs a chest-dominant mix or full chest to Bb4.
JOE (he/him) – Age range: 60s / 70s; All ethnicities – Tenor/Baritone - B3-G#4
The owner of the diner. A seemingly old, curmudgeonly man who has a soft spot for Jenna. Warm at heart with a keen ability to read people. Sings in a classic country style. Chest-dominant mix or full chest to G#4 is an asset, but not absolutely necessary.
CAL (he/him) – Age range: 40s; All ethnicities – Baritone – D3-F4
Chef at the diner. Brash, impatient, unsentimental, but somehow charming.
HE/HIM ENSEMBLE – Age range: late 20s to 40s; All ethnicities – Various ranges
SHE/HER ENESEMBLE – Age range: late 20s to 40s; All ethnicities – Various ranges
Auditions:
Please submit a resume and headshot for consideration via Casting Workbook or through our form located here: https://forms.gle/MXPCmg6ifWkn9kfP7. Please only submit once. Email submissions will not be considered.
The deadline for submissions to be received is Friday, April 26 at 5:00 pm. Priority will be given to Equity artists, and they will be seen first at all auditions.
