Audition: A Christmas Carol

AUDITION NOTICE: A Christmas Carol (2026) at the Williamsburg Players

AUDITION NOTICE: A CHRISTMAS CAROL (2026)

Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4
Children under the age of 12 will audition at 2:00 to 2:45 PM and then will be dismissed. Auditions for anyone ages 13 and up will begin at 2:45. Anyone auditioning should arrive approximately 15 minutes prior to the start time to register. You may also fill out an audition form prior to arriving and bring it with you to the audition
(https://williamsburgplayers.org/wp/files/ACC%20Audition%20Form%202026.pdf).

Audition Information

Story by Charles Dickens.
Theatrical adaptation by Brink Miller
Directed by: Jason Kriner and Brink Miller
Performances: Thursday, Friday at 8 PM and Saturday at 2 PM and 8 PM, Sunday at 2 PM on December 10,11,12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20

A Christmas Carol is the classic Charles Dickens Christmas ghost story of the miser, Ebenezer Scrooge, who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley, and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future leading to his subsequent redemption. This unique adaptation is true to the Dickens story in content and language. This heart-warming story will have the theatre goers leaving the theatre full of the Christmas Spirit and ready for their own Christmas celebrations.

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION:
Williamsburg Players has proudly presented A Christmas Carol as an annual production since 2017. What began as a small production with just nine cast members has grown over the years into a beloved holiday tradition and a larger ensemble production.

Although A Christmas Carol is performed annually, casting is conducted each year through an open audition process. All actors—both returning company members and those new to the production—are expected to audition for the roles they wish to be considered for. Returning to the production in a previous year does not guarantee a particular role or place in the cast. Each year, we also make a point of welcoming new actors into the company. We are always looking for talented performers who are excited to become part of the A Christmas Carol troupe and contribute to the continuing tradition of this production.
The only pre-determined casting is the role of Ebenezer Scrooge, which will once again be played by Brink Miller.

All other roles are open for consideration through the audition process. We encourage both returning and new actors to audition. Every year brings a new interpretation of this classic story, and we look forward to seeing what each actor brings to the production

ABOUT THE CAST:
Scrooge – Played by Brink Miller (director and playwright)
Additional roles include: Adult Narrator (primary storyteller throughout), School Boy Narrator( also plays Tiny Tim, young Ebenezer, Poulterer’s Boy), Mr. Cratchit, Mrs. Cratchit, Peter Cratchit, Martha Cratchit, Marley’s Ghost, Fred (Scrooge’s nephew), Alice (Fred’s wife), Mr. Fezziwig, Mrs. Fezziwig, Gentlewomen (two), The Ghost of Christmas Present, The Ghost of Christmas Past, The Ghost of Christmas Future (non-speaking role), Mr. Thomas Shelley, Mrs. Shelley, Belle, Older Belle, Older Belle’s husband, Old Joe, Undertaker’s Man, Charwoman, Laundress, Fan (young Ebenezer’s sister), Dick Wilkins, Poulterer, Topper, Simon, Mimsi

Children’s Ensemble: Approximately 8 to 10 children will be selected for ensemble roles. They play a variety of parts including: younger Cratchit children, Shelley children, additional students at Ebenezer’s boarding school, Ignorance and Want (two symbolic children who appear with the Ghost of Christmas Present), young apprentices at Mr. Fezziwig’s, guests at Mr. Fezziwig’s party, guests at Fred’s party

ABOUT THE MUSIC:
All cast members will participate in singing throughout the production. Some musical numbers will be performed by the entire cast, while others will feature a selected adult ensemble.
The music in this production consists primarily of traditional Christmas carols, presented in the style of sacred hymns and choral music rather than traditional musical theatre styles. Singers should be comfortable singing as part of an ensemble and blending their voices with the group. Formal vocal training is not required, but the ability to sing in 4-part harmony is required for participants in the selected adult vocal ensemble.

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS:
Auditions will consist of the following:
1. Individual Singing
All auditionees should prepare one traditional, sacred Christmas carol. A list of suggested songs is available here: https://williamsburgplayers.org/wp/files/ACC%20Audition%20Songs.pdf

Please sing one verse only, melody line only (no harmony parts). A memorized selection is preferred, but sheet music or lyrics may be used if needed.

2. Group Singing
Auditionees will also participate in a group singing exercise to help us hear how well each singer blends with an ensemble.
• Adults: Groups of approximately 6–8 adults will sing Silent Night. If possible, adults should be prepared to sing a soprano, alto, tenor, or bass part.
• Children: Children will sing one verse of We Wish You a Merry Christmas as a group.

3. Script Reading & Theatre Exercises
• Adults: All adult auditionees will participate in readings from the script. Depending on the needs of the audition group, you may be asked to read for a role other than the character for which you are being considered. This allows us to create complete scenes and hear actors interacting with one another.
• Boys auditioning for the role of School Boy/Narrator/Tiny Tim will be asked to read from the script.
• Other children will participate in a brief, age-appropriate theatre exercise designed to help us see how they interact with adults and other young actors, respond to direction, and engage with the world of the play.

4. Accents
All actors will be expected to use a British accent in the production.
Actors auditioning for characters in the Old Joe scene (Old Joe, the Undertaker’s Man, the Charwoman, and the Laundress) should read their audition material using a Cockney accent.
If you are not experienced with these accents, please do not let that discourage you from auditioning. Do your best to demonstrate what you are capable of. We are not expecting everyone to arrive with a perfect accent at auditions. We are interested in seeing your effort, willingness to take direction, and ability to develop the accent during the rehearsal process.

Please note: Being asked to read a particular role during auditions does not necessarily indicate that you are being considered only for that role. Casting decisions will take into account each actor’s overall performance, as well as the needs of the production. Roles as detailed above may be adjusted depending on casting. Some actors may play multiple roles, while others may only play a single role.

ABOUT THE REHEARSALS:
Rehearsals will be scheduled throughout October and November based on cast availability. Until the completion of performances of The Play That Goes Wrong, rehearsals will generally take place at an off-site location or in the lobby of Williamsburg Players. During this period, rehearsals will typically be scheduled in small groups according to individual scenes. Cast members should expect to be scheduled for 2–3 rehearsals per week, Sunday through Thursday, October 12th through November 15th. During this time rehearsal will not run any later than 9:00 PM. Beginning November 16th, the rehearsal schedule will transition to a more traditional full-company schedule. At that point, cast members should expect to be called for rehearsals Sunday through Thursday, with specific rehearsal times and attendance requirements communicated by the Directors or Stage Manager. Beginning Sunday, November 29th, through Wednesday, December 9th, the entire cast will rehearse the full production in preparation for opening night. All cast members are expected to attend every rehearsal during this period. Rehearsals during this final period may run later than the regularly scheduled dismissal time as we work to ensure that the cast and production are fully prepared for Opening Night on Thursday, December 10.

ABOUT THE PERFORMANCES:
Players must be available for all performances.
Performances are:
• Weekend 1: Thursday (12/10) at 8 PM, Friday (12/11) at 8 PM, Saturday (12/12) at 2 PM and 8 PM, Sunday, (12/13) at 2 PM.
• Weekend 2: Thursday (12/17) at 8 PM, Friday (12/18) at 8 PM, Saturday (12/19) at 2 PM and 8 PM, Sunday, (12/20) at 2 PM.

A cast meet and greet and script read-through will be held on Sunday, October 11th from 2 PM to 6 PM at Williamsburg Players in the lobby. All cast members are expected to attend.

PARENT VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENT:
Parents or guardians of children under the age of 12 who are cast in the production are expected to volunteer for a minimum of two performances.
Parent volunteers will help support the young performers backstage and in the green room. Responsibilities may include:
• Assisting children with costume changes
• Making sure children are ready and in position for their entrances
• Helping children remain safe, supervised, clean, and appropriately occupied in the green room when they are not on stage
• Providing general assistance and support as needed
A volunteer schedule will be coordinated with the directors and our children’s cast manager prior to performances. Parents should plan to remain available for the duration of the performance(s) for which they are scheduled. This support is an important part of creating a safe, organized, and enjoyable experience for our youngest cast members and helps ensure that the production runs smoothly for everyone.

For questions, please contact director Jason Kriner at jasonkriner@hotmail.com 
More info