CASTING BRIEF – ASIA AND SOUTH AFRICA

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Broadway and West End smash hit rock musical, School of Rock is gearing up to tour Asia and South Africa and will shortly be casting in South Africa.

Please read the information below carefully, as it provides important details for each season.

Also note that, for particular roles, it is imperative to be able to match the musical/instrumental requirements specified on the brief.

AUDITION LOCATION AND DATES

Auditions will be held in late August / early September 2019. More information will follow if your submission is taken forward. Final auditions will be filmed and sent to the UK creative team and Producers.

SUBMISSIONS

This casting brief is applicable to child roles only. A brief for adult auditions will follow. All parents or guardians must submit their child’s application using the online audition form and upload links to videos of the child playing instrument/s, and/or singing as well as reading lines from the script.

The casting office will be in contact with all applicants regarding the progress of their application. Not all submissions will be guaranteed an audition.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS – FRIDAY 23 AUGUST 2019

TOUR DATES

All children cast will be required for the full rehearsal period and all performances according to the following schedule: Rehearsals in Cape Town: March 16 - April 18 2020 Technical Rehearsals in Adelaide: April 20 – May 3 2020 Hong Kong for Performances: May 4 – June 8 2020 Further tour dates to Singapore, Manila, Taiwan, South Africa until: February 28 2021

EDUCATION Children cast for the tour will be a requirement to enroll in Distance Education. School of Rock will engage tutors to work with the children whilst contracted on the production. Should your child receive a formal offer in School of Rock the Musical the above educational requirements will need to be agreed to by the guardians and necessary paperwork completed before contracts can be finalised.

FILMING, PHOTOGRAPHY AND RECORDING OF AUDITIONS The audition and rehearsal process for School of Rock will be filmed at various points throughout. By submitting this application to attend auditions you agree that the Producer may: • Film, photograph and record my child’s voice during auditions and rehearsals of the Production; • Make copies of the any recordings or photographs so made; • Use my child’s name and likeness for the purposes of education, promotion or advertising of the Production; • Broadcast any of the footage, photographs or recording taken via television, radio, digitally or online. Further to this, all recordings, footage and photographs remain the property of the Producer and that there will be no restrictions on the number of times that they may be used. No compensation is due and the Producer shall have complete ownership of any material produced. The Producer will have the right to use names, likeness and biographical material to publicize the Production and any broadcast of the footage, recordings or photographs.

CASTING BRIEF School of Rock the Musical follows dropout Dewey Finn, a failed rock star forced to earn some extra cash by posing as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. But Dewey isn’t going to teach his straight-laced students algebra or arithmetic. These kids are going to learn what it takes to become the most awesome rock ‘n’ roll band of all time. Now he just needs to get his students to the Battle of the Bands, dodging strict teachers and pushy parents on the way to teaching these pint-sized prodigies what it means to truly rock.

With a new score from Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by three-time Tony nominee Glenn Slater, book by Downton Abbey‘s Oscar winning Julian Fellowes, and all the original songs from the movie, School of Rock features an incredible cast of kids scorching riffs, pounding drums and rocking out live.

CASTING GUIDELINES • HEIGHT: ALL CHILDREN MUST BE UNDER 5’ (152cms) TALL. Your child will be measured on the day of their audition, so please ensure the height submitted on the application is accurate. • AGES: 9 – 12 years as at March 16 2020 (Older years may apply but must be within height restrictions and must look younger). • Children of all ethnicities and cultural backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

CHARACTER NOTES Please refer to the character descriptions below for role requirements. You are welcome to submit for a particular character, however the audition team may request that you audition for another role.

INSTRUMENTALISTS • ZACK - PLAYS GUITAR. Zach is angry that his dad doesn’t listen to him and has a passion for music ready to burst out from inside of him. He knows he has more in him than he has ever been able to show. Pop/Rock Singer who moves well. Needs to seriously ‘shred’ on guitar, with exceptional solo skills. • LAWRENCE - PLAYS PIANO. A shy, under confident boy, but a genius on the keyboard, who needs a free spirit like Dewey to lead him into the light. Pop/Rock Singer who moves well. Serious piano skills needed. • FREDDY - PLAYS DRUMS. Freddy has lots of energy ready to be let out. He’s not as posh as some of his classmates and his Dad always reminds him how lucky he is to go to such a good school. KILLER DRUMMER with a LOT of personality. Pop/Rock Singer who moves well.

• KATIE - PLAYS BASS GUITAR. A cool, collected girl, Katie is distinguished by her talent for the bass. Pop/Rock Singer who moves well. Guitarists, cellists and violinists encouraged to apply.

NON-INSTRUMENTALISTS • TOMIKA New to the school, Tomika struggles to make friends despite her two Dads’ pushing her forwards. Tomika barely speaks until she finally summons the courage to open her mouth and sing out, so we have to be blown away by her sound. This character is typically African American, however candidates of all ethnicities may apply. Pop/Rock Singer who moves well. KILLER VOICE. • SUMMER Summer is top of the class and things always go her way – she can’t imagine it will ever be any other way. She helps organize the band and keeps Dewey on his toes. Pop/Rock Singer who moves well.

• MARCY Clever and sassy girl. Back up singer with style. Pop/Rock Singer who moves well. • SHONELLE Clever girl. Back up singer with style. Pop/Rock Singer who moves well. • BILLY An artistic boy with a flair for fashion but who wrestles with other challenges at home. Pop/Rock Singer who moves well. • MASON As eager as the others to enjoy school instead of dreading it. He is a whizz on the technical side. Pop/Rock Singer who moves well. • SOPHIE Pop/Rock Singer who moves well. May also understudy others. • JAMES Pop/Rock Singer who moves well. May also understudy others.

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION If offered a role, a child may not be able to be in the show if their education provider does not approve for periods as required. This approval will need to be sought by the parent with the support of the production prior to the child being contracted for the show.

Please note that the children’s roles in School of Rock The Musical have particular physical requirements including, but not limited to height and vocal requirements. Should a child cast in the show mature beyond the physical parameters of the role, they may no longer be able to remain in the production.

Successful candidates will be offered two contracts, one with Pieter Toerien Productions for South Africa and the other with GWB Entertainment for the international legs of the tour.