AUDITIONS FOR 2026 SEASON AT University of La verne
JanUARY 31 & FebRUARY 1
Season auditions for IVRT performances at Morgan Auditorium, The Secret Garden and Footloose.
AUDITIONS TAKE PLACE AT TAYLOR HALL, 1775 N. INDIAN HILL BLVD., CLAREMONT
OPEN CALL - NO APPOINTMENTS
THE SECRET GARDEN
DIRECTOR Chrissy Harding
MUSIC DIRECTOR Ronda Rubio
Auditions for Secret Garden: Character Breakdowns: Seeking a cast of 16 with outstanding voices. (11 adults and five performers that are under 17 years of age needed). See character description for SPECIFIC AGES. Please send questions to Hope Kaufman, Casting Director. Hope@ivrt.org
OPEN CALL Saturday January 31 from 10am - 3pm and Sunday February 1 from 1-5pm. Taylor Hall 1775 Indian Hill Blvd., Claremont. Prepare to sing up to 32 bars of a Legit Broadway Song in the style of the show. Accompanist provided. Bring sheet music – no recordings. Bring headshot and resume. Accompanist provided. Note: if you are auditioning for both Secret Garden and Footloose, have both styles of songs prepared, legit and pop.
PERFORMANCE DATES: (4) March 28- April 4, 2026
REHEARSALS BEGIN: Feb.15, 2026 (follows a Sat & Sun, Mon & Tues. schedule for the most part until tech.)
TECH WEEK: (Mon- Fri. (6:30-11) and Friday final dress possibly is at 11AM.
CALLBACKS UPON DIRECTOR’S REQUEST for Sunday, February 1 at 7PM.
PAY is based on $20/hr and varies among contracted requests for specific rehearsals. Under 17 performers will receive a small scholarship for participating.
All characters require a British accent unless otherwise specified. All are required to sing as several performers will be playing multiple roles.
MARY LENNOX - Female, age 10 (Range: Young Voice, Ab3-D5) A ten year-old girl sent to live with her uncle, Archibald, when her parents die from cholera in India. Quite the curious explorer, and often finding herself in trouble. Stubborn and always fighting for what she believes in. Must be a strong actress capable of carrying a show. British accent required. (Possible Double cast)
DICKON - Male, age 14-17 (Range: Tenor, D3-G4) Martha's younger brother. Looks after the sick plants and animals within the Misselthwaite grounds—including Mary. He is a young man who is between the world of child imagination and adult reasoning. Open, honest, and energetic. Befriends Mary and convinces her to take care of the Garden. (Also plays Major Shelley)
COLIN CRAVEN - Male, age 10 (Range: Young Voice, A3-E5) Archibald's ten year-old son. Spent his life in bed due to a heart condition. He is very stubborn and throws temper tantrums to get what he wants. He believes his father hates him for causing Lily’s death. (Possible Double cast)
MARTHA - Female, age 16-30 (Range: Mezzo-Soprano Belt, G3-D5) A young and spunky housemaid. Grew up near Yorkshire and has the accent to prove it. Although she is from a lower class family, her wisdom is often far beyond her age. (If cast as an adult, then also plays Mrs. Shelley)
LILY - Female, age 28-38 (Range: Soprano, Bb3-D6) Mary's aunt and Archibald Craven's wife. Died of a tragic accident within her garden and haunts the walls of Misselthwaite Manor. A passionate woman who followed her own instincts, she reaches from beyond the grave to ensure the happiness of those she cares for.
MRS. MEDLOCK – (also plays Mrs. Winthrop) Female, Age Flexible (Range: Ensemble/Part Flexible) Archibald’s housekeeper. As cold as the Misselthwaite Manor.
MRS. WINTHROP – (also plays Mrs Medlock) Female, Age Flexible (Range: Ensemble/Part Flexible) Headmistress of a private school. Prides herself on nurturing girls with tempers. Mary seems to be more than she can handle.
DR. NEVILLE CRAVEN - Male, age 35-45 (Range: Baritone, C3-F#4) Archibald’s younger brother. Trapped by the idea that he is responsible for the caretaking of Colin and his brother. Even though he was never loved back by Lily, he is still in love with her. This adds to his unwillingness to move on and leave Misselthwaite.
ARCHIBALD CRAVEN - Male, age 30-45 (Range: Baritone, C3-A4) Mary's uncle and lord of Misselthwaite Manor. He has a hunch-back. Haunted by the past and afraid of the future, he locks himself away both physically and mentally. Mary painfully reminds him too much of his wife, Lily, who died ten years ago.
BEN WEATHERSTAFF – (also plays Lt. Shaw) Male, Age Flexible (Range: Ensemble/Part Flexible, E3-D#4) Head gardener. Secretly entrusted to take care of the garden after Lily’s death. Knows a great deal about the history of the garden and the grounds it sits on. He has worked for the family for many years. He calls himself “an old man.”
The Following characters, referred to collectively as the Dreamers, are people from Mary's life in India, who haunt her until she finds her new life in the story.
ROSE LENNOX - Female, age 28-38 (Range: Soprano, A3-D6) Mary's mother. A “dreamer” from the past who doesn’t understand how her sister Lily could truly love Archibald. Very loyal to her husband and refuses to leave India during the cholera outbreak that takes her life.
CAPTAIN ALBERT LENNOX - Male, age 30-40 (Range: Tenor, D3-A5) Mary's father. Tries to send Rose out of India during the cholera outbreak.
MAJOR HOLMES - Male, Age Flexible (Range: Ensemble/Part Flexible) Officer.
CLAIRE HOLMES –(age 16-17) Female, Age Flexible (Range: Ensemble/Part Flexible) Major Holmes' wife.
FAKIR –Male, Age Flexible (Range: Tenor, C3-B4) Itinerant Hindu ascetic.
AYAH – (Also plays Alice) Female, Age Flexible (Range: Ensemble/Part Flexible) Mary's Indian nanny
ALICE – (Also plays Ayah) Female, Age 16-17 (Range: Ensemble/Part Flexible) Rose's friend.
LIEUTENANT SHAW - (Also plays Ben) Male, Age Flexible (Range: Ensemble/Part Flexible) Fellow officer.
MRS. SHELLEY – (Also plays Martha) Female, Age Flexible (Range: Ensemble/Part Flexible) Major Shelley's wife.
MAJOR SHELLEY - (Also plays Dickon) Male, (Range: Ensemble/Part Flexible) Officer.
LIEUTENANT WRIGHT - Male, Age 16-17 (Range: Ensemble/Part Flexible) Officer in Mary's father's unit.
FOOTLOOSE
DIRECTOR Frank Minano
CHOREOGRAPHER Chrissy Harding
MUSIC DIRECTOR Ronda Rubio
Auditions for Footloose: Character Breakdowns: Seeking a cast of 28 with great voices and the ability to move well. (20 adults needed and 8 performers between the age of 14- 17). Please send questions to Casting Director, Hope Kaufman Hope@ivrt.org
OPEN CALL Saturday January 31 from 10am - 3pm and Sunday February 1 from 1-5pm. Taylor Hall 1775 Indian Hill Blvd., Claremont. Prepare to sing up to 32 bars of a Broadway Song that shows your pop range. Accompanist provided. Bring sheet music – no recordings. Note: if you are auditioning for both Secret Garden and Footloose, have both styles of songs prepared, legit and pop. Bring headshot and resume.
CALLBACKS UPON DIRECTOR’S REQUEST for Weds., Feb 4 at 7PM.
PERFORMANCE DATES: (6) July 18- August 1, 2026
REHEARSALS BEGIN: June 10, 2026 (follows a Sat & Sun, Mon., Weds., Thu. schedule for the most part until tech.)
PAY is based on $20/hr and varies among contracted requests for specific rehearsals. Under 17 performers will receive a small scholarship for participating.
All characters are required to sing with legit voices and the ability to belt. All young performers will be required to dance during the auditions, while ‘seasoned’ performers will have a modest movement routine to learn.
Please take note for the dance audition:
• Tumbling is a plus – be prepared!
• Youths can be in flats or dance sneakers
• All adults dance at the prom. Artists auditioning for female roles should wear heels.
Character Description:
Ren McCormack (Lead): Male, 18-25. Tenor. Energetic, emotional, rebellious, likeable; emotes his pain through quirky sarcasm and dance; strong dancer.
Reverend Shaw Moore (Lead): Male, 35-55. Baritone. The powerful, traditional local churchleader; strict, stern, and solemn, still struggling with the death of his son.
Ariel Moore (Lead): Female, 18-25. Mezzo-Pop. Smart, a bit of the bad girl with an edge, sweet, the rebellious minister’s daughter; role requires strong belt, must be a strong singer/dancer.
Vi Moore (Supporting): Female, 30-50. Soprano. Reverend Moore’s loving, supportive, resilient wife.
Rusty (Supporting): Female, 18-25. Great soprano/pop voice. Ariel’s friend; a bit scatterbrained, sweet, fun, knows everything about everything; role requires strong belt, strong comedic timing and dance.
Willard Hewitt (Supporting): Male, 18-25. Tenor. A simple country bumpkin with a warm heart and a big smile; comedic timing and dance a must.
Ethel McCormack (Supporting): Female, 35-45. Soprano. Ren’s mother; had a tough go, just trying to make it…would do anything for her son.
Chuck Cranston (Supporting): Male, 18-25. Tenor. The local bad boy and Ariel’s boyfriend.
Urleen (Supporting): Female, 18+. Mezzo/Alto. Ariel’s friend; the smart one of the group; role requires strong belt, comedic timing, and dance.
Wendy Jo (Supporting): Female, 18-25. Mezzo. Ariel’s friend; strong belt, comedic timing, and dance required.
Ensemble (Chorus / Ensemble): Males & Females, 15-70. Townspeople, students; need strong character people (all age ranges) for many roles (listed below); teenage through adults; chorus singing, dancing parts; all teens dance, all adults dance at the prom.
Lulu Warnicker – Ren’s aunt
Wes Warnicker – Lulu’s husband
Coach Roger Dunbar – Gym teacher
Eleanor Dunbar – Roger’s Wife
Lyle – Chuck’s buddy
Travis – Chuck’s buddy
Principal Harry Clark
Betty Blast – Owner of the Burger Blast
Jeter – Ren’s friend
While certain productions may include pre-cast roles from company members and guest artists, IVRT conducts open auditions annually for the majority of its shows. Unless specified on audition call, all roles are open to all experienced performers.