Auditions for A CHRISTMAS CAROL 2023!

The Three Ships Collective, with our support, is holding auditions for the upcoming remount of A CHRISTMAS CAROL, directed by Sare Thorpe and written by Justin Haigh!

Now in its fifth year, A CHRISTMAS CAROL is a highly original, immersive, and critically acclaimed adaptation of Charles Dickens’ story, staged in the historic Campbell House Museum at Queen and University in downtown Toronto. Our production invites audiences to step into the world of Victorian London and follow flinty miser Ebenezer Scrooge on his ghostly journey of redemption. For more information about the show, please visit the show’s website and/or read past reviews (including NNNNN from NOW Magazine) here (photo of 2022 cast by Laura Dittmann).

We are actively interested in seeing Union and Non-Union artists from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds, all gender identities and expressions, all abilities, all body types, and ages 20 and up. All actors will be playing multiple roles (except for Scrooge and Marley). Ability to do a British accent is a must. Experience performing Shakespeare/other classical texts, and ability to sing are both assets. The casting of the characters below is open to artists of all genders. In accordance with our Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression Initiative, we welcome all submissions but strongly encourage IBPOC artists to apply.

PLEASE NOTE: characters not listed below have already been cast with actors returning from previous productions.

ROLES TO BE CAST

YOUNG EBENEZER / ENSEMBLE – Scrooge as a young man; reserved, but more vulnerable and less hardened than his elder self.

BOB CRATCHIT / ENSEMBLE – A modest and good-humoured family man pained by his son’s illness.

JACOB MARLEY – The wry spectre of Scrooge’s deceased business partner; a supernatural guide and constant observer. Also acts as the audience guide through the house.

EMILY CRATCHIT / ENSEMBLE – Bob’s Wife; a loving wife and mother. A practical woman not afraid to speak her mind.

MRS. DILBER / ENSEMBLE – Scrooge’s housekeeper; a no-nonsense woman with steely resolve and a champion of the less fortunate.

VIOLINIST / TBD / ENSEMBLE – In addition to supporting the musical elements of the show, the actor-violinist will also play at least one narrative character; in past iterations that has often been the ‘Ghost of Christmases Past’ but may be any open part depending on the fit.

GHOST OF CHRISTMASES PAST / ENSEMBLE – A calm and gentle ethereal presence.

GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT / ENSEMBLE – Jolly, boisterous, and larger than life.

FEZZIWIG / ENSEMBLE – Young Scrooge’s boss and a fatherly figure; kind, joyful, and the life of the party.

LYDIA BERRYMAN / ENSEMBLE – The bold and headstrong teenage daughter of a man indebted to Scrooge.

Ensemble Roles include business associates, party guests, ghosts, and voices of the past.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Please send your headshot and resume to ThreeShipsCollective@gmail.com with “A Christmas Carol – 2023 Auditions” in the subject line. We are accepting submissions from both Union and Non-Union artists. Please note in your email your union status, and what role(s) you are interested in regardless of gender. The deadline to submit is Tues Oct 3rd at 11:59pm. Submitting early is encouraged.

Selected candidates will be sent sides and details on the audition time, date, and location. Auditions will be held in person between Oct 10-15th. Arrangements can be made to audition via Zoom if necessary.

While we greatly appreciate everyone’s interest in this production, due to time constraints, only those selected to audition will be notified.

CONTRACT & PAYMENT

This production will operate under an open-book profit share. We are accepting both Union and Non-Union artists under a CAEA Artists Collective Policy. Actors will receive a minimum guaranteed fee of $500 plus 1 share of the profit; last year actors received approximately $825 in total compensation. We recognize that this is less than the compensation of other CAEA agreements, but the intimate nature of this show limits the revenue we can generate from ticket sales (even with a sold-out run) and we want to be transparent about expectations. Having said that, we are actively pursuing sponsorships and will be running a fundraising campaign in an effort to boost our anticipated revenue.

PLEASE NOTE: in the event the run needs to be cancelled or cut short due to factors outside of our control (such as Covid-19), artists will receive a guaranteed fee of $100/ea plus a share of any profit.

REHEARSALS

We are planning to start rehearsals in late October, held 3 times per week in Toronto (aiming for one weekday daytime, one weekday evening, and one weekend daytime). We may schedule 4 rehearsals/week in the lead up to opening (depending on need). We will do our best to take your availability into consideration when crafting the rehearsal schedule, but due to the size of the cast and team, we may not be able to accommodate every conflict.

PERFORMANCE DETAILS

Audiences will follow the characters throughout all three floors of Campbell House. Please note that the floors are connected with stairs only. The running time is approx 85 mins, and there will be two performances per night with a 40-45 minute break in between for rest and reset.

IMPORTANT DATES (Subject to Change)

Dec 1-4: Tech and Dress Rehearsal Period (tech times would probably be daytime, dress rehearsal(s) in the evening)
Dec 5: Break day for cast and crew
Dec 6-10: Public performances
Dec 11-12: Dark days
Dec 13-17: Public performances
Dec 18: Dark day
Dec 19-22: Public performances

Performance Times: 6:30pm and 8:45pm (weeknights and Saturdays), 4:30pm and 6:45pm (Sundays)

COVID 

All cast and crew members must be fully vaccinated against Covid 19 in order to participate in this production.

MASKING: Masking will not be mandatory during rehearsals and performances, but any cast or crew member wishing to wear a mask will be welcome and encouraged to do so. PLEASE NOTE: we reserve the right to update our masking policy in line with Covid case numbers and/or the recommendations of public health authorities.

COVID-CAUTIOUS PERFORMANCES: For the Sunday 4:30 pm performances, all patrons will be required to wear masks while in the venue.

ABOUT US

THE THREE SHIPS COLLECTIVE is an artists’ collective formed in 2018 for the purpose of creating and staging this production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Past and present members include accomplished, critically-acclaimed, and Dora Award-winning artists and production team members; credits include (among many others) Mirvish Productions, Soulpepper, Crow’s Theatre, as well as notable film and TV productions ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’,  ‘Murdoch Mysteries’, ‘The Umbrella Academy’, and ‘The Expanse’.

SOUP CAN THEATRE is a Toronto-based company that explores and comments on contemporary issues and societal challenges, offering audiences a theatrical experience that is both entertaining and enriching. Founded in 2009, Soup Can Theatre has been producing truly independent theatre, garnering critical acclaim, multiple awards and accolades, and a dedicated following of theatre-goers. Shows have included ambitious and immersive musical productions (‘Love is a Poverty You Can Sell’ I & II), contemporary re-imaginings of iconic works (‘Marat/Sade’, ‘Antigone’, ‘A Hand of Bridge’, ‘No Exit’, ‘The Threepenny Opera’ in Concert), intimate original creations (‘Heretic’) and unique and daring collaborative concepts (‘Circle Jerk’).

Both the Three Ships Collective and Soup Can Theatre operate on a not-for-profit basis. The Three Ships Collective and Soup Can Theatre do not tolerate harassment of any kind; including, but not limited to, harassment based on race, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, or disability. Our Anti-Harassment Policy can be found here.  We will also be adhering to CAEA’s Not In OUR Space program.

#ChristmasCarolTO