Director: Dave Olmsted
Music Director: Mitchell Sensenig
Stage Manager: Laura Dugan

Dad’s an architect; Mom rushes to pack lunches and pour cereal; their daughter and son are bright, wise-cracking teens, appearing to be a typical American family. And yet their lives are anything but normal because the mother has been battling bipolar disorder for 16 years. Next to Normal takes audiences into the minds and hearts of each character, presenting their family’s story with love, sympathy and heart.

Seeking a multi-generational, diverse cast for this show. All actors age 16 and up are welcome and encouraged to audition. All roles may be played by actors of any identity who can sing the voice part listed in the character description. Please review the breakdown of roles and prepare to audition for the one that speaks to you the most.

CHARACTER BREAKDOWNS

Please review the breakdown of roles and prepare to audition for the one that speaks to you the most.

DIANA

Female 40-45 Delusional, bipolar, and depressed. The sexiness of her yesterdays has only recently begun to soften. She is determined to make her family perfect but is tortured by a death in the family. (F#5-G3)

GABE

Male 18-21 Diana & Dan’s son. Dashing, athletic, and bright. He is a playful man and everything a mother could imagine. (C5-B2)

DAN

Male 40-45 Diana’s husband. He is handsome and genuine. Though a constant in Diana’s tumultuous life, he has grown tired and weary of her antics. (B4-Ab2)

NATALIE

Female 16-19 Diana & Dan’s troubled daughter. An accomplished pianist and hardworking student, her struggles are exacerbated by her mother’s behavior. She greatly admires Henry. (G5-G3)

HENRY

Male 17-19 Natalie’s classmate. The all-around musician, philosopher, and slacker. He has an intoxicating capacity for sympathy and romance. (B4-G#2)

DR. MADDEN/DR.FINE

Male 30-40 Diana’s handsome psychiatrist. Quite assured in his practice and considered somewhat of a rock star. (A4-A2)

Audition Requirements:

Please prepare 16-32 bars of music from a contemporary musical that best shows your voice and range. Legible sheet music must be provided for the rehearsal pianist/music director. Recorded accompaniment or a cappella auditions are not allowed. A reading will be provided. If you are invited to call backs, music cuts and sides from the show will be provided.
There are two forms you will need to fill out for this audition: the Theatre Harrisburg audition form and the NEXT TO NORMAL supplemental audition form. You may print and complete them ahead of the audition to save time. Have your conflict calendar handy when completing these. Please note! No conflicts are allowed during tech week or for any of the performances.
If you are under 18 years of age, a parent or guardian will need to also sign your audition form.

Callbacks:

Callbacks will be held on Saturday, October 14 from 3-5 by invitation only.

Reach out to [email protected] with questions.

PLEASE NOTE:

Auditions are by sign-up ONLY. Please sign up through the following form:

AUDITION FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS):

Who may audition?

Anyone may audition! Theatre Harrisburg is committed to identity-conscious casting. This means the casting committee will consider an auditionee's identity in relation to that of a character. Thus, you may audition for any character you wish to, but please be aware that the casting committee must consider licensing restrictions and other such factors when casting. In some cases, casting notices will be very specific with regard to character (gender-presenting, race, ethnicity, etc.) in others, open to anyone. Regardless of casting notices, everyone is welcome to audition for any show, unless age specific requirements are noted (some shows may not be suitable for minors).

How do I audition?

Each show director will set their requirements for audition day. Standard requests will be that you bring your upcoming scheduling conflicts to share with the casting committee, fill out an audition form (parents/guardians will need to sign this form as well for minors), and have fun! Musicals typically ask you to prepare 16-32 bars of a song to sing for the committee. Some plays ask for a prepared monologue, others give you something to read at the open call. Many musical auditions will have a movement or dance call. Please see individual shows below for more information!

What is an open call?

An open call audition means anyone is welcome to attend that day. There may be sign-ups in advance for time slots, but beyond that, open means just that! Please be aware that our sign-ups fill up quickly, so consider signing up ahead of time.

What is a callback?

Callbacks are closed, invitation only auditions. During a callback, individuals are selected from open calls and other means to attend a second audition. This second audition gives the show director and casting committee an opportunity to have you read from the show script, sing from the show, and work with other auditionees so that we can put together the best cast possible for a show. Please note that for musicals any readings will happen at callbacks. In some cases this is where the dance call will happen as well. If you are not available for callbacks for a musical we may not be able to consider you for any roles soley on you vocal audition. Please make sure you clear your schedule for callback ahead of time. Please email [email protected] if you will not be available.

How will I know if I get the part?

Everyone who auditions is notified either by e-mail or a call if they are being offered a role in a show. Typically, an email is sent to those who did not fit the director’s vision for that particular show to let them know they should try again for a different production. Calls are made within a few days of callbacks for role offers. Everyone will be contacted within 2 weeks of auditioning.

Do you pay actors?

Theatre Harrisburg is a non-profit Community Theatre. Our actors, crew, ushers, and box office personnel are all volunteers...and we love them for giving their time and talents to us!

Are any of your shows pre-cast?

Theatre Harrisburg does not pre-cast shows. Some directors and other production members may invite community members to audition, but no one is ever offered a role before the auditions are completed. Each show has a committee attached to it for casting that includes the Artistic and Production Director to insure our inclusive and conscious policies are being adhered to in a manner befitting our stance of being the home where “community takes center stage.”

When are rehearsals?

Rehearsal schedules will vary per director, but generally rehearsals are in the evenings during the week and may include a weekend rehearsal, as well.

What is a conflict?

A conflict is anything that is scheduled during the rehearsal period that might affect your attendance at rehearsals or performances. All of our audition forms will ask you for any conflicts that you might have from auditions through the last performance of the show. We request that you are as upfront with us as possible and that no conflicts are added after the first rehearsal. Theatre Harrisburg has a No Conflict Policy from the Sunday the week before tech through the last performance of the show. We ask that you be considerate of the other people involved with the production as not being available for multiple rehearsals can affect the entire process for everyone. Please note that if you are involved with another show at the time of auditions you must talk to both production teams before auditioning or we will not consider you for our show due to too many conflicts.

Next to Normal

CHARACTER BREAKDOWNS

Audition Requirements:

Callbacks:

PLEASE NOTE:

AUDITION FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS):

SAVE WITH SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS