Auditions

Audition Notice — Tiny Beautiful Things

Old Academy Players is pleased to announce auditions for its 2026 production of Tiny Beautiful Things, based on the book by Cheryl Strayed, adapted for the stage by Nia Vardalos, at the Old Academy Players theater located at 3544 Indian Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA .  The show runs from March 7–22, 2026. The director is Jane Jennings.

Audition Date & Time:  Saturday, October 25, 1–3 pm.  Auditioners must arrive at the theater no later than 2:30 pm.

Location:
Old Academy Players, second floor Club Room
3544 Indian Queen Lane
Philadelphia PA 19129 (Parking in the rear of the theater)

Audition Requirements:

Actors will be asked to read from the script.

Audition Sides >

Performance Dates:

March 5 (preview performance), March 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 2026

*Additional performances may be added

Rehearsal Dates:

Rehearsals will generally be held on two week nights and Sunday afternoons, depending on availability of the cast, with additional rehearsals scheduled as we approach Opening Night.

Cast members will be required to attend the Old Academy Players Club Night performance of Dog Sees God, which will be held on Wednesday January 7.

Cast members will also be required to assist with the set build and set strike on January 25 and 26^th, and set strike on March 22.

Cast members will be required to assist with Hospitality for one performance of Dog Sees God.

Synopsis of Show:

Based on the best selling book by Cheryl Strayed and adapted for the stage by Nia Vardalos, Tiny Beautiful Things personifies the questions and answers that “Sugar” was publishing online from 2010–2012.  When the struggling writer was asked to take over the anonymous position of advice columnist, Strayed used empathy and her personal experiences to help those seeking guidance for obstacles both large and small.  Tiny Beautiful Things is a play about reaching when you’re stuck, healing when you’re broken, and finding the courage to take on the questions which have no answers.

Contains adult themes and adult language and is not suitable for children.

Roles:

We are seeking accomplished actors of any gender or ethnicity, age 30–70,  to fill the following roles:

Letter writer #1

Letter writer #2

Letter writer #3

*The role of Sugar has been cast.

Contact: Jane Jennings at janejenn@comcast.net with any questions.

Audition Notice — Carrie: The Musical

Old Academy Players is pleased to announce the audition date for its 2026 production of Carrie: The Musical with book and lyrics by Lawrence D. Cohen and music by Michael Gore. Carrie: The Musical will be performed at the Old Academy Players theater located at 3544 Indian Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA  from April 24-May 10, 2026. The show is directed by Josh Tull (recent: Catch Me If You Can, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time) and produced by Steve Hnatko (recent: Disenchanted!, Crimes of the Heart).

Audition Date & Time: Saturday January 10^th, 2026 at 10:00 AM

*All roles are non-union, non-paying*
Please read all information carefully

Location of Auditions: Old Academy Players located at 3544 Indian Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA. There is free parking onsite, located behind the theater.

Note: Auditions will be seen on a first come-first serve basis in the order in which individuals arrive. If you would like to audition, you must arrive and check-in no later than 12:30 p.m.

Callbacks: At the discretion of the director, callbacks may be issued by invitation and seen later that same day (1/10/2026) if needed.

Note: if needed, we anticipate callbacks to begin in the early afternoon and run no later than 5PM. Individuals who are called back should be prepared to stay for the duration. We are unable to provide an exact start time for callbacks. Specific timetables will be provided the day of. Callbacks will be utilized only in specific cases, if at all.

Audition Requirements:

• Audition in person onsite, on the listed date and time (NO VIDEO AUDITIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED)
• Prepare a 16–32 bar cut of a song in the style of the show (you MAY sing a song from Carrie: The Musical)
• Bring a printed copy of your song’s sheet music with start and stop points clearly marked (an accompanist will be provided, no acapella or pre-recorded tracks are permitted)
• Some individuals may be asked to cold read sides from the show
• Bring an UP TO DATE headshot (the photo will not be returned)
• Bring your theatrical resume
• A list of any conflicts with the rehearsal schedule (see below). 
  • Please be aware, due to the high demands of this show, conflicts may not be accepted. Reasonable conflicts will be considered.

Rehearsals: All rehearsals will take place onsite at Old Academy Players. Rehearsals will begin with an in-person table read/sing at 6:30 p.m. on February 2^nd, 2026. A full rehearsal schedule can be found here: Carrie Rehearsal Schedule

Note: specific character call dates will be provided after the show has been cast. Not all roles will be called to every rehearsal.

Performance Dates: April 22^nd (preview performance), 24^th, 25^th, 26^th; May 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 8^th, 9^th, 10^th 2026 (Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., Sundays at 2:00 p.m.)

Note: Additional performances may be added

Musical Information: Carrie White is a teenage outcast who longs to fit in. At school, she’s bullied by the popular crowd, and virtually invisible to everyone else. At home, she’s ridiculed by her cruelly controlling mother. What none of them know is that Carrie has unique abilities and, if pushed too far, it could spell disaster for all of those around her. Based on the best-selling novel by Stephen King, Carrie: The Musical takes you through a coming of age journey like no other.

Characters:
*All roles are non-union, non-paying* 
Please note that Carrie: The Musical is an ensemble heavy show. Supporting and ensemble roles will be HEAVILY involved in helping to tell this story.

Carrie White (Female, 18–22 or 22–27 TPY): A painfully shy outsider who, in spite of her best efforts to belong, has been the victim of her classmates’ cruel jokes since childhood, as well as her mother’s strict control at home.
Vocal range: G3-E5

Sue Snell (Female, 18–25 or 25–30 TPY): A straight‑A student who’s been popular her entire life, she’s remarkably level headed for her age. Her unthinking participation in a cruel act of bullying causes a crisis of conscience that leads her on a journey to try to right things.
Vocal range: A3-E5

Tommy Ross (Male, 18–25 or 25–30 TPY): Popular star athlete, valedictorian, and all around stand-out, he’s the boy that all the girls want to be with, and all the boys want to be. He also has unexpected, quirky sensitivity and is just starting to mine his personal life and feelings.
Vocal range: A2-C5

Chris Hargensen (Female, 18–25 or 25–30 TPY): Rich and spoiled-rotten, Chris is a popular student whose arrogant self-assurance makes her believe that the rules don’t apply to her. Chris hates Carrie, bullying her at every opportunity and feels no remorse. After Chris is banned from the prom as punishment for bullying Carrie, she vows revenge.
Vocal range: A3- E5

Billy Nolan (Male, 20–27 or 27–32 TPY): Now in his sixth year in high school, Billy’s a stupid bad boy whose wise mouth troublemaking has led him to spend more time in detention than in class. Chris manipulates him to do her bidding.
Vocal range: A2-C5

Miss Lynn Gardner (Female, 30–55+): The girls’ P.E. teacher, can be a strict disciplinarian if necessary, but when Carrie strikes her internal maternal instinct, she surprises herself by also revealing a protective side.
Vocal range: E3‑C#5

Mr. Stephens (Male, 30–65+): This well-intentioned English teacher and guidance counselor struggles to help his students realize their potential. A dedicated educator, he’s stretched thin in his duties, woefully underpaid, and a bit overwhelmed as to how to handle the Billy Nolans of the classroom combat zone. This role may be cast to double as Reverend Bliss.
Vocal range: A2-G4

Reverend Bliss (Male, 30–65+): A religious figure who reinforces Margaret White’s extremism. This role may be cast to double as Mr. Stephens.

Frieda (Female, 18–25 or 25–32 TPY): Sue’s brainy pal, she’s an easy-going, get-along follower and a tireless extracurricular committee volunteer.

Norma (Female, 18–25 or 25–32 TPY): Gossipy and a shameless suck-up to authority, Norma is second-incommand to Chris’ queen bee.

Helen (Female, 18–25 or 25–32 TPY): Giggly and easily shocked, her immaturity and need to belong make her an example of the herd mentality.

George (Male, 18–25 or 25–32 TPY): Tommy’s jock wingman since childhood, George idolizes him. 

Stokes (Male, 18–25 or 25–32 TPY): A bit of a nerd, he’s happy to be included as one of Tommy’s posse.

Freddy (Male, 18–25 or 25–32 TPY): The wise-cracking class clown and official yearbook photographer, he can’t believe any girl would ever give him the time of day.

Ensemble (Any Gender, 18–25 or 25–32 TPY): Casting up to 6, there are MANY ensemble numbers and scenes.

*Note: the role of Margaret White has already been cast.

Contact: Director, Josh Tull (josht@oldacademyplayers.org)