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Soul Train the Musical Auditions

January 9 and 10, 2023
A.C.T. Studios—30 Grant Ave.

TO SIGN UP FOR AN AUDITION SLOT, PLEASE FILL OUT THE ACTOR INFORMATION FORM HERE

For our Fall 2023 world premiere of Soul Train—The Musical, A.C.T. is seeking BIPOC Singers and Dancers, any gender identity/ non-binary, who specialize in popping, locking, waacking and are well versed in African-American social dances through time with a strong handle on contemporary dance. 

Soul Train—The Musical will be produced as part of A.C.T.’s mainstage season next fall 2023, and will be performed at our historic, newly-renamed 1,000-seat Toni Rembe Theater in San Francisco’s Union Square.  

Performers contracted will work in NYC and SF throughout 2023 and be paid at a LORT A rate ($1,207/week).

No professional experience or union affiliation is required to audition, but all performers will need to sign an Actors’ Equity Association agreement. Some auditionees may be asked to attend callbacks on Wednesday, January 11 or Thursday, January 12 at A.C.T.’s Studios at 30 Grant Ave, 8th Floor.  

Virtual submissions will be received until January 5, 2023, using the link provided. Please do not email submissions.

Audition Information

WORKSHOPS, REHEARSALS, AND PERFORMANCE DATES

All performers, with the exception of 3 local SF/Bay Area swings, will be contracted for workshops in NYC during Spring ’23, and the world premiere production at A.C.T. in summer/fall 2023. 

SCHEDULE (subject to change):


DEVELOPMENT SESSION DATES:

NYC Development Session 1: Approximately, February 6, 2023 - March 5, 2023 (dates TBD)

NYC Development Session 2: Approximately, April 10, 2023 - April 30, 2023

NYC Development Session 3: Approximately, June 19, 2023 - July 9, 2023


PRODUCTION DATES (all in SF/A.C.T.):

First Rehearsal: July 11, 2023

First Preview: August 25, 2023

Opening: September 6, 2023

Closing: October 1, 2023

Possible Extension through: October 15, 2023

ABOUT THE SHOW

Get ready for “the hippest trip in America” with the world premiere of Soul Train, the Broadway-bound musical based on the iconic TV show that brought Black music, dance, and style into every living room in America. Journey back to 1971’s Chicago, when Black entrepreneur and radio DJ Don Cornelius transformed the pop culture landscape by recognizing the lack of Black musical artists on television. Within a year, his local dance show went national and became one of the longest-running shows in television history. Elegant, determined, and complicated, Cornelius set trends for nearly 40 years by giving a stage—and a camera—to the artists who created the soundtrack of multiple generations, and to the dancers, including Rosie Perez and Jody Watley, who became superstars. Launching fall of 2023 at A.C.T.’s historic Toni Rembe Theater, the acclaimed creative team of Soul Train includes Tony Award–nominated playwright and MacArthur Genius Dominique Morisseau (Broadway’s Ain’t Too Proud; The Detroit Project), Tony Award–nominated choreographer Camille A. Brown (A.C.T.’s Toni Stone; Broadway’s Once on This Island), and the Apollo Theater’s acclaimed executive director Kamilah Forbes. Don’t miss this world-premiere musical event that will have you dancing in the aisles and leave you with “love, peace, and soul” in your heart. 

CASTING BREAKDOWN

SEEKING:

10 Principal, 10 Chorus tracks, 3 Swings*
*Swings will be local to SF/Bay Area and will not travel to NYC for the spring workshops
[DON CORNELIUS] - 40s-50s, Black, male-identifying. Has the voice of God. Voice can be tenor or rich baritone, but it is definitely deep, rumbling and seductive. Takes himself too seriously, has a dark brooding side but underneath is starving for love and recognition of his genius. Sometimes funny, sometimes harsh, but always always cool.
[PAM BROWN] - 30’s-40s, Black, Mezzo Soprano, female-identifying, crazy belt queen, has to bring us home with an Oleta Adams number. She is the Mother Hen to the dancers. No-nonsense, compassionate, understated presence, fierce defender of the youth. Don’s confidante and also the only one who can hold his feet to the fire. Every dancer loves Pam Brown.
[TONY CORNELIUS] - 20’s, Black, Tenor, male-identifying. Don’s eldest son. The only one who came around Soul Train, and shares a similar presence. Loyal, ambitious, on his way to being the next Don Cornelius, if only his father would let him. Wants his father’s love and respect most of all.
[DELORES] - 30’s-40s, Black, Alto, female-identifying. Don’s ex-wife. Mother of Tony. Strong, independent, unapologetic. Weary from all the games with Don, but not broken. Fully accepts things as they are, and only wants Don to step up where he’s needed most.
[DAMITA JO] - 20’s, Black, Soprano, female-identifying. Star dancer. Energetic, grounded yet ambitious. Might’ve been a ballerina if not for the call of Soul Train. Striving to be noticed… achieves it, and then some. Cannot take your eyes off of her.
[ROSIE PEREZ] - 20’s, Latina, Puerto Rican, Soprano, female-identifying. Fierce, takes-no-shit, warrior dancer. Moves to her own drum and isn’t concerned if her moves are “polite” for a young woman. Not interested in anybody’s rules or boxes, but has a breaking point where she will risk it all for her own salvation.
[JODY WATLEY] - 20’s, Black, female-identifying, sultry Alto with power, real vocal pop sensibility. Sweet, hopeless romantic, believes in the purest sense of “making it”. Can be easily wilted by harshness or rejection.
[JEFFREY DANIELS] - 20’s, Black, Tenor, male-identifying. Specialty dancer. Slim, tall dancer who does the backslide/moonwalk while popping, waving and miming effortlessly across the floor. One of Don’s “surrogate sons”. Confident, determined, and sometimes blinded by his own ambition.
[DON CAMPBELLOCK (DC)] - 20’s, Black, male-identifying, any vocal part, dance specialist: locking. Shy, self contained and highly athletic. Creator of locking, believed in personal freedom in movement. Another one of Don’s “surrogate sons”, but never let it go to his head. Without the presence of his own father, Don was everything. 
[TYRONE “THE BONE” PROCTOR] - 20’s, Black, male-identifying, any vocal part, dance specialist: waacking. One of the original Soul Train dancers, incorporated waacking; featuring rotating arms, dynamic poses and a strong emphasis on self expression; this style came from gay clubs in Los Angeles. Joyful, free, and unapologetic about his sexual identity in an otherwise gray world. 
[COMPANY MEMBERS 1-5] - 20s-40s, Black, Asian, Mexican, Afro-Latino, Indigenous, Person of Color, male identifying or non-binary, Alto/ Soprano/ Tenor/ Bass. Flexible between a rotating group of Soul Train personalities. Voice, presence, and humor are helpful for all.
[DANCERS 1-5] - Black, Indigenous, Person of Color, any gender identity/ non-binary, well versed in African-American social dances through time, and a strong handle on contemporary dance. Popping, locking, waacking a plus. Must have a strong sense of rhythmic sensibility. 
[SWINGS 1-3] - 20s-40s, Black, Indigenous, Person of Color, male identifying, female identifying, or non-binary. Dancer. Flexible between a rotating group of Soul Train personalities. Voice, presence, and humor are helpful for all.

VIDEO AUDITIONS

If you can’t audition in-person but are interested in the production, you are welcome to submit a video audition HERE. Video submissions will be received until January 5, 2023.

COVID SAFETY 

In compliance with AEA guidelines for in-person auditions, those attending auditions in person are required to provide one (1) of the following:

  • Proof of vaccination (defined as "more than 14 calendar days following receipt of a final dose of an FDA or World Health Organization authorized or approved vaccine")
  • A negative PCR test result taken no earlier than 48 hours prior to entry into the audition venue
  • Two negative antigen test results (e.g., the first taken the night before and the second taken no less than 2 hours) prior to entry into the venue

Masks will be required except when actively auditioning, and all attendees will be asked to complete a symptom check upon arrival. For COVID safety reasons, we ask that you arrive no more than 20 minutes prior to your slot. 

Please note that A.C.T. is a fully vaccinated workplace. All hired actors will be required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination (including all eligible booster shots) prior to their first day of in-person work.

QUESTIONS?

Email Victor Vazquez, CSA at X Casting: Victor@xcastingnyc.com

Team

Dominique Morisseau

Playwright

Kamilah Forbes

Director

Camille A. Brown

Choreographer

Adesola Osakalumi

Choreography Team

Rickey Tripp

Choreography Team

Victor Vazquez

Casting Director

PeopleExtra