We’re Casting! Be a Part of A CHRISTMAS CAROL!
24 Sep
The Three Ships Collective, with the support of Soup Can Theatre, is holding auditions for our upcoming remount of A CHRISTMAS CAROL.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL is an original and immersive adaptation of Charles Dickens’ story, set in the historic Campbell House Museum located at the corner of Queen and University in downtown Toronto. This production invites audience members to step into the world of Victorian London and follow flinty miser Ebenezer Scrooge on his ghostly journey of redemption.
This site-specific adaptation was written by Justin Haigh (writer of ‘Love is a Poverty You Can Sell I & II’ and “The Session”, part of ‘Circle Jerk’; writer/director of Spoon Vs. Hammer’s ‘Behold, The Barfly!’), directed by Sarah Thorpe (writer of ‘Heretic’; director of ‘No Exit’ and ‘Marat/Sade’), and music directed by Pratik Gandhi (music director of ‘A Hand of Bridge’, ‘Marat/Sade’, ‘The Threepenny Opera: In Concert’), all of whom will be returning for this remount.
We are actively interested in seeing artists from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds, all gender identities and expressions, all abilities, and all body types. For adult roles, we will accept submissions from artists ages 20 and up. All actors will be playing multiple roles. Ability to do a British accent (RP, Cockney) is a must. Ability to sing is an asset. PLEASE NOTE: We are also looking for an actor who can play the violin.
ROLES TO BE CAST
Jacob Marley – the ghostly spectre of Scrooge’s deceased business partner; a supernatural guide and constant observer
Ghost of Christmas Past / Ensemble – a calm and gentle ethereal presence
Ghost of Christmas Present / Ensemble – jolly, boisterous, and larger than life
Bob Cratchit / Ensemble – a modest and good-humoured family man pained by his son’s illness
Mrs. Dilber / Mrs. Fezziwig – Scrooge’s housekeeper; a hard woman with steely resolve and a champion of the less fortunate / Mr. Fezziwig’s wife – just as jolly and amiable as her husband.
Fred – Scrooge’s nephew / Augustus – Scrooge’s Father / Ensemble – a cheerful young man impervious to his uncle’s curmudgeonly ways (Fred) / a loving and well-meaning father (Augustus)
Belle / Ghost of Christmases Yet to Come / Alice – Scrooge’s fiancé, a kind and forward woman with big dreams (Belle) / a silent deathly figure (Ghost) / nephew Fred’s wife (Alice).
Emily Cratchit / Ensemble – Bob’s wife, fiercely devoted to her family, doing her best to make do with what little they have
Martha Cratchit / Lydia Berryman / Ensemble – Bob and Emily’s daughter (Martha) / the bold daughter of a man indebted to Scrooge (Lydia)
Peter Cratchit / Mr. Bailiwick – Bob and Emily’s son (Peter) / an upper class gentleman collecting donations on behalf of the poor.
Ensemble Roles include party guests, business associates, etc.
SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
Please send your headshot and resume to ThreeShipsCollective@gmail.com with “A Christmas Carol – Auditions” in the subject line. We are accepting submissions from both Union and Non-Union artists. The deadline to submit is September 29th at 11:59pm.
Please note in your email your union status, and what role(s) you are interested in regardless of gender. Also please note if you are able to play the violin. While we greatly appreciate everyone’s interest in this production, due to time constraints, only those selected to audition will be notified.
Selected candidates will be sent sides and details on the audition time, date, and location, and asked to prepare a brief monologue. Auditions will be held between October 2nd and 6th.
CONTRACT & PAYMENT
This production will operate under a profit share. We are accepting both Union and Non-Union artists under a CAEA Artists Collective Policy. Artists will receive a minimum guaranteed fee of $400 before profit share. PLEASE NOTE: This minimum is based on a cautious estimate of box office revenue. We are actively pursuing other revenue streams, including two pending grant applications, sponsorships, and fundraising initiatives.
REHEARSALS
Rehearsals will begin the week of October 20th, held 3 times per week in Toronto. Those auditioning will be asked to fill out a form indicating their availability for rehearsals. The schedule will be created based on the availability of all actors, stage management, and the director.
SHOW DETAILS
Audiences will follow the characters throughout all three floors of Campbell House. Please note that the floors are connected with stairs only. There is a ramp leading to the back door that provides access to the main floor.
Tech – Fri Nov 29 11am-8:30pm
Dress – Sat Nov 30 4:30-10:30pm
Preview Performances – Sun Dec 1, Tues Dec 3 (dark Dec 2)
Opening Night – Wed Dec 4
Performances – Dec 5-8, 10-12, 14-15, 17-22 (dark Dec 9, 13, 16)
The running time is approx 85 mins, and there will be two performances per night. On weeknights and Saturdays, the performances will be at 7pm and 9pm. On Sundays, the performances will be at 5pm and 7pm.
There may be a possible daytime performance for schools on a weekday during the run. Details TBD and actors’ personal schedules will be taken into consideration before confirming.
2018 REVIEWS
NOW Magazine – NNNN “Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol is so ubiquitous at this time of year that it’s hard to approach it with any sort of freshness. Thankfully the ingenious folks at the Three Ships Collective and Soup Can Theatre have done just that. … Brilliant … Impeccable … A one-of-a-kind production which deserves to become an annual event.”
MGT Magazine – ⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Delightful … Charming … Taut and propulsive … I had a tear in my eye … This production is extravagant in ways that a Scrooge would not approve of.”
Slotkin Letter “One of the best productions on offer … Uses the gift of setting the story in the Campbell House Museum to its full advantage … Exemplary and magical.”
My Entertainment World “Director Sarah Thorpe and her cast can be truly proud of what they’ve accomplished here … With any luck, this will be a fixture of the Christmas season at Campbell House and spread festive joy to even more audiences in Christmases Yet to Come.”
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 and critically-acclaimed artists and production team members; credits include (among many others) the Off-Broadway musical ‘Ride the Cyclone’, notable film and TV productions ‘Murdoch Mysteries’, ‘The Umbrella Academy’, ‘Reign’, and ‘The Strain’, and blockbuster video game franchise ‘Assassin’s Creed’.
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’). Soup Can Theatre is a member of the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts.
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.
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