CASTING BRIEF – AUSTRALIA
Jagged Little Pill LLC, Trafalgar Entertainment Group and GWB Entertainment are excited to announce the international debut of the latest Broadway hit JAGGED LITTLE PILL, premiering in Sydney in September, 2021. Inspired by Alanis Morissette’s Grammy Award®-winning album, JAGGED LITTLE PILL is the electrifying new musical that brings to the stage an exhilarating, fearless look at what it means to be alive in the 21st century today. Featuring a book by Academy Award® winner Diablo Cody (Juno, Tully), music and lyrics by Alanis Morissette and Glen Ballard, and direction by Tony Award® winning Broadway director Diane Paulus (Waitress, Pippin), the show took New York by storm and has been nominated for 15 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Through powerful energy and dynamic story-telling, explosive choreography by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and the raw power of an onstage band playing orchestrations and arrangements by Pulitzer Prize winner Tom Kitt (Next to Normal), JAGGED LITTLE PILL creates an exhilarating musical experience.
The Original Broadway Cast Recording won the 2021 Grammy Award® for Best Musical Theater Album. To listen, click this link: Original Broadway Cast Recording on YouTube
PRODUCTION DATES
Rehearsals (Sydney): On or about July 26, 2021 Sydney Season Commences: September 2021
Additional touring dates to be added.
The submission process is detailed below, along with the breakdown of roles. Jagged Little Pill is seeking versatile performers with strong movement abilities and powerhouse rock voices.
SHOW INFORMATION
Like the album that inspired it, Jagged Little Pill The Musical seeks to encourage its audience to face the realities and struggles of modern life. Over the course of our narrative, our characters are forced to acknowledge within themselves or to help a loved one handle intersecting realities including opioid addiction; sexual assault; transracial adoption; coping with professional, familial, and societal pressures and expectations; sexuality and the questioning of gender identity. Our creative process was dedicated to telling the story authentically and with care, so the production consulted with individuals and organizations with expertise, activists, counsellors and others to do our best to craft a narrative that is both responsible and authentic. As Alanis sang, "you live, you learn"-- so living through the story of our musical, our characters learn the importance of being both strong and vulnerable; they learn the importance of balancing self- care with supporting loved ones; they learn the importance of healing in relationship to each other; and they eventually learn how to heal one another. For more details on each character's individual journey, see the Character Breakdowns.
This production contains material related to sexual violence that some may find upsetting and disturbing, and therefore as a duty of care we encourage all candidates to research the issues raised in this show to ascertain their comfortability in exploring this content throughout the process.
AUDITION INFORMATION
First round auditions will be a video submission via the submission link below.
Requirements:
- INTRODUCTION – preferably full body shot. Please introduce yourself, your song, and why you chose that material. Feel free to include any other information that you may feel is suitable for your submission.
- VOCAL - preferably torso shot. Please submit no more than 3 mins of a rock song – any rock genre is appropriate.
- For DANCERS submitting for the ensemble, you can add or substitute a 2-3 minute dance video, showcasing your contemporary, freestyle and/or hip hop abilities.
- Please provide only one link with Introduction followed by Vocals (and/or Dance if relevant).
Please note: this production contains strong language, adult themes, drug use, and moments of sexual violence that some may find upsetting.
If you are successful for further auditions, you will receive information on the second-round requirements after submissions close. This may be another video submission, online workshop or in-person audition. Further information will be confirmed as the process develops.
Jagged Little Pill auditions are at the risk and sole financial responsibility of the auditionee.
All candidates must be 17 years of age or over as at August 1, 2021.
SUBMISSION PROCESS
All video submissions to be submitted individually via this SUBMISSION LINK.
Please make sure that all files attached are clearly labelled with the Name of Performer on CV file name and Headshot file.
Video links must be able to be streamed online (no files that need downloading).
Please use Unlisted YouTube (preferable) or Public Vimeo links (if Password protected, please remember to provide password). Further technical instructions below.
SUBMISSIONS CLOSE WEDNESDAY MAY 12th, 2021
VIDEO REQUIREMENTS
Some useful references below on privacy settings:
YOUTUBE Go to Edit button in Video settings then navigate to the Privacy section. Select “Unlisted” and then “Save Changes”. You can now share the link to the video that is unlisted to public searches.
VIMEO With Plus membership (or higher) use setting “Only people with a password” for the privacy setting and then remember to include the password in the submission form when submitting your form; or choose the setting “Only people with the private link” and then share the link – this will set the video as unlisted and alleviate the need for a password.
Please note: this production contains strong language, adult themes, drug use, and moments of sexual violence that some may find upsetting.
CASTING NOTES
Jagged Little Pill is committed to equal employment opportunities and welcomes diversity and inclusion across race, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, religion and experience. We encourage submissions from First Nations artists, people of colour, culturally & linguistically diverse backgrounds, neurodiverse artists, and artists with disability.
Jagged Little Pill is committed to providing a respectful, inclusive and safe environment for the audition process free from harassment, discrimination or bullying.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
MARY JANE HEALY Playing age: 40-49 The “Perfect Mother” - a polished suburban housewife whose main priority in life is presenting a perfect image to the world; inwardly, she is struggling with processing trauma from her past and battling an addiction to prescription pills. Virtuosic, multiple octave range and strong rock belt.
STEVE HEALY Playing age: 40-49 A partner at a successful law firm, this workaholic husband and father is struggling with staying present for his family as the pressures of his job and being the breadwinner of the family consume him. He feels his wife Mary Jane slipping away from him. Must be a strong rock singer.
FRANKIE HEALY Playing age: 16-18 An African-American transracial adoptee growing up in an affluent white family, Frankie aspires to be a writer and is passionate about social justice. She is not afraid to stand up for what is right, which creates tension in the Healy home. Extremely strong, dynamic, powerful rock singer, also comfortable with lighter pop style singing.
NICK HEALY Playing age: 17-18 The “perfect” son, Nick is an athlete and star student; he often feels like he can’t be his true self because his parents are living vicariously through him; Nick guards his reputation carefully; he fears being exposed and losing everything. Strong rock tenor.
Please note: this production contains strong language, adult themes, drug use, and moments of sexual violence that some may find upsetting.
JO Playing age: 16-18 Jo has been best friends with Frankie since preschool. Jo is a lesbian who is currently on a gender expansive journey. Her sense of humor is a defence mechanism, a way of hiding her vulnerability. The production is intentional in offering space for people from a variety of gender identities to see themselves in Jo. Must have a strong, powerful, dynamic rock voice.
BELLA Playing age: 16-18 One of Nick’s friends, Bella Fox is an aspiring artist, and has to hold a job in order to make ends meet. Bella has a party girl reputation at school, but there is pain beneath her fun-loving facade. Through the course of the story, she is sexually assaulted by a classmate. Strong rock voice with dynamic range.
PHOENIX Playing age: 16-18 The new boy at school, Phoenix is charismatic and quick-witted with an off-beat/mysterious quality. Phoenix has a complicated home life and connects strongly with Frankie. Must be a strong pop/rock tenor.
ENSEMBLE / UNDERSTUDIES / FEATURED ROLES Playing ages: 20s – 30s Incredibly strong singer/actor/dancers to play various members of the community including a doctor, pharmacist, therapist, teacher, students, and parents, etc. Most ensemble roles will cover principal tracks. The ensemble is the conscience of the story. Ensemble members must have powerhouse rock vocals and move expressively.
ENSEMBLE (DANCERS) / FEATURED Playing ages: 20s – 30s Ensemble (may understudy other roles) – especially interested in strong dancers with expertise in contemporary dance, hip hop, floor work and freestyle to play various roles within the ensemble plus featured dance pieces. Strong rock vocals an advantage.
Please note: this production contains strong language, adult themes, drug use, and moments of sexual violence that some may find upsetting.