Oliver Auditions

January 29th 3:30-5:30 and 30th at 6:00

at 1303 Mountain Page Road, Saluda, NC

Callbacks: Immediately following open auditions, as necessary.

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Please Register Below

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The streets of Victorian England roar to life as Oliver, an orphan, escapes his workhouse life and heads to London where finds acceptance amongst a group of petty thieves and pickpockets led by the elderly Fagin. When Oliver is captured for a theft that he did not commit, the benevolent victim, Mr. Brownlow, takes him in. Fearing the safety of his hideout, Fagin employs the sinister Bill Sikes and the sympathetic Nancy to kidnap him back, threatening Oliver’s chances of discovering the true love of a family. This Tony and Olivier Award-winning show is one of the few musicals to win an Academy Award for Best Picture and is widely hailed as a glorious theatrical masterpiece by actors and audience members alike!

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Performance Dates: 2025 November 6th - 19th

Director: Corinne Gerwe

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WHAT TO PREPARE: Auditions sides and suggested songs will be available by December 1. 

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Characters:

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OLIVER TWIST_________________Stage age 8-10. Vocal range A3/F5
Orphaned and abandoned from an upper-class family, Oliver ends up in the workhouse. He is innocent and good-hearted, with a strong spirit.
Tip: The actor must have strong ability to convey real emotions.

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ARTFUL DOGER _______________ Stage age 12. Vocal range A3/F5
The cleverest of Fagin's pickpockets, he introduces Fagin to Oliver. He is a good soul in spite of his “occupation.” Dodger is lively and self-assured.
Tip: The actor must have a dynamic stage presence

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FAGIN _______________________ Stage age 60s. Vocal range Baritone or Tenor B3/Fb5
A conniving career criminal and conman. He takes in homeless children and teaches them to pick pockets for him.
Tip: The actor must have strong ability to convey a man of many dimensions: a leader, a vagrant, a father, a teacher, a lost soul and an eccentric.

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NANCY ______________________ Stage age Late 20s to mid 30s. Vocal range Alto E3/B4
A graduate of Fagin's “school of thieves” and tragically involved in an abusive relationship with Bill Sikes. She is a career thief, hardened and streetwise beyond her years, but also intelligent, caring and good-hearted. She longs for a better life. A mother figure to Fagin's gang.
Tip: The actor must have strong ability to convey real emotions.

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BILL SIKES ____________________ Stage age 35. Vocal range Bass C#3/C4
Perhaps the most infamous graduate from Fagin's gang. Nancy's brutal and abusive boyfriend. Tip: The actor must be fearsome.

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BET _________________________ Stage age 9. Vocal range C4/C5
One of Fagin's former pickpockets. Nancy's sister. Bet looks up to Nancy and is caring and good-natured. Tip: The actor must be able to portray her devotion to Nancy

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MR. BUMBLE _________________ Stage age 50. Vocal range Baritone C3/A4
The domineering Beadle (a minor official who carries out various civil, educational or ceremonial duties) who runs the workhouse. Pompous and self-absorbed, greedy and uncaring. He preaches Christian morality, but behaves without compassion towards the paupers in his care.
Tip: The actor must be able to be pompous and appear to over-power the other characters on stage. Good comedic timing.

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WIDOW CORNEY ______________ Stage age 50. Vocal range Soprano C4/E5
The sharp-tongued, domineering matron of the workhouse. A widow, she will do anything to get Mr. Bumble’s attention. Tip: A comical role.

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MR. SOWERBERRY _____________ Stage age 40. Vocal range Baritone Bb3/F4 The Undertaker. Lives up to his name. He is stingy and ruled by his wife. Slimy. Tip: Good comedic timing.

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MRS. SOWERBERRY ____________ Stage age 40. Vocal range Alto or Soprano Bb4/F5
The Undertaker's wife. She rules the roost and is stingy and mean-spirited. Along with her husband, she provides some comic relief.
Tip: Good comedic timing.

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MRS. BEDWIN_________________ Stage age 55-60. Vocal range Alto C4/Bb5
The Brownlow's housekeeper. She cares for everything and everyone and is wise and kind-hearted. Tip: Motherly and kind.

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CHARLEY BATES _______________ Stage age 10-12, non-singing role One of Fagin's pickpockets. He is Dodger's sidekick.
Tip: Strong in reacting to scenes.

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CHARLOTTE___________________ Stage age 11-13, non-singing role The rude but also flirtatious daughter of the Sowerberrys.
Tip: Her focus is solely on Noah Claypole

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NOAH CLAYPOLE ______________ Stage age 11-13, non-singing role
The Sowerberrys' apprentice, he bullies Oliver about his mother and enjoys a flirty relationship with Charlotte. A downright bully.
Tip: Is jealous of Oliver possibly taking over his position

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MR. BROWNLOW ______________ Stage age 45-50, non-singing role
A distinguished older gentleman of wealth and breeding.
Tip: The actor must be able to convey authority with gentleness and compassion.

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DR. GRIMWIG _________________ Stage age 45-50, non-singing role A silly doctor who thinks he knows more than he actually does. Tip: Good comedic timing.

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OLD SALLY____________________ Stage age 70-80, non-singing role A pauper with an important secret.
Tip: The actor must be able to convey a frail and old woman.

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MATRON _____________________ Stage age 60-70, non-singing role A friend of Old Sally’s. Works in the Workhouse.
Tip: Must be able to convey concern.

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CHAIRMAN AND GOVERNORS _______ Stage age 60s
 All vocal ranges – you will have song lines in “Oliver” and chorus songs.

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WORKHOUSE CHORUS__________ Stage age 8-10
 Orphans, abandoned children and pickpockets. Some will double as Town’s kids.

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FAGIN’S KIDS CHORUS __________ Stage age 7-13
 Orphans, abandoned children and pickpockets.

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TOWNSPEOPLE CHORUSES: POSH (Upper Class) and COCKNEY (Lower Class)

Stage age 13 and up, all vocal ranges

 Workhouse assistants, street vendors, townspeople, merchants, bar keepers, pub patrons, policemen, night

watchman. Some individual lines. Singing and dancing in ensemble numbers.

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“Who Will Buy” featured Soloists

•   THE ROSE SELLER (mezzo - D3/C5)

•   STRAWBERRY SELLER (soprano - Eb4/Eb5)

•   MILK MAID (soprano - Eb4/F5)

•   KNIFE GRINDER (baritone - Bb3/C4)