Auditions

Surfside Playhouse is thrilled to announce auditions for our upcoming production of PARADE, the Tony Award-winning musical by Jason Robert Brown and Alfred Uhry.

Powerful, sweeping, and deeply human, Parade tells the true story of Leo Frank and the people whose lives become caught in a storm of prejudice, politics, love, and public opinion in 1913 Georgia. Featuring one of the most extraordinary scores in contemporary musical theatre, Parade calls for a company of exceptional singers, actors, and storytellers.

We are seeking a diverse company of performers for principal, featured, and ensemble roles.

AUDITION INFORMATION

Sunday, September 13 | 6:00 PM–9:00 PMMonday, September 14 | 6:00 PM–9:00 PMSurfside Playhouse

Auditions are by appointment.

Actors should email Artistic Director Chris Ikner at cikner.surfside@gmail.com to request an audition appointment. Audition times will be sent beginning two weeks prior to auditions. Actors will receive an assigned audition time along with the songs and sides for their initial audition.

Actors will be given a choice of three songs from the score of Parade to prepare for their initial audition. All audition material and accompaniment will be provided in advance.

Callbacks will be held on Wednesday, September 16 where invited actors will showcase additional vocal work, a movement call, and readings from the script.

CASTING BREAKDOWN

LEO FRANKMale, 25–40 | Tenor | Bb2–G4A Jewish factory superintendent originally from Brooklyn who has relocated to Atlanta with his wife, Lucille. Intelligent, precise, socially uncomfortable, guarded, and often unable to communicate what he is feeling. After being accused of the murder of Mary Phagan, Leo finds himself at the center of a sensational trial. Requires an exceptional actor with a strong contemporary musical theatre voice.Please note: The role of Leo involves onstage intimacy, including kissing, with the actor portraying Lucille. All moments of intimacy will be approached professionally, collaboratively, and with clear boundaries established throughout the rehearsal process.LUCILLE FRANKFemale, 25–40 | Mezzo-Soprano | G3–E5Leo’s wife and one of the emotional centers of the musical. A Southern Jewish woman who begins the story frustrated by her husband’s emotional distance but discovers enormous strength as she fights for him. Warm, intelligent, determined, and deeply compassionate. Requires a powerful actor-singer.Please note: The role of Lucille involves onstage intimacy, including kissing, with the actor portraying Leo. All moments of intimacy will be approached professionally, collaboratively, and with clear boundaries established throughout the rehearsal process.HUGH DORSEYMale, 30–50 | Baritone | B2–F4The ambitious prosecutor in Leo Frank’s trial. Confident, commanding, politically savvy, and keenly aware of public opinion. He sincerely believes in his case while also understanding exactly what a conviction could mean for his career.BRITT CRAIGMale, 30–50 | Tenor/Baritone | Db3–G4A hard-drinking newspaper reporter who recognizes the Leo Frank case as the story of a lifetime. Charismatic, opportunistic, funny, cynical, and dangerous in his ability to shape public opinion.JIM CONLEYMale, 20s–40s | Tenor | D3–Bb4A Black factory worker who becomes the prosecution’s star witness. Charismatic, unpredictable, clever, and an extraordinary storyteller. One of the show’s most demanding featured vocal and acting roles. Requires tremendous presence, rhythmic ability, and command of the stage.GOVERNOR JOHN SLATONMale, 35–60 | BaritoneGovernor of Georgia. Intelligent, measured, principled, and increasingly troubled by the case against Leo. His decision regarding Leo’s sentence becomes one of the major turning points of the story.TOM WATSONMale, 35–60 | Tenor/BaritoneA populist political figure and newspaper publisher who helps inflame public anger surrounding the case. Charismatic, forceful, persuasive, and unsettling. Requires a performer capable of commanding a crowd.FRANKIE EPPSMale, late teens–20s | Tenor | C3–Bb4A young man who knew Mary Phagan. Energetic, emotional, impulsive, and representative of the young working-class Atlantans whose grief becomes entangled with the public frenzy surrounding the case. Featured heavily in “The Picture Show” and “It Don’t Make Sense.”YOUNG SOLDIER / FRANKIE EPPSThe Young Soldier opens the musical in 1862 before the actor later appears as Frankie in 1913. These roles are traditionally doubled. Requires an excellent young tenor and compelling storyteller.MARY PHAGANFemale, teen/young adult playing approximately 13 | Mezzo/Soprano | Eb4–D5The young factory worker whose murder sets the events of the musical into motion. Spirited, playful, youthful, and full of life. Though her stage time is limited, her presence hangs over the entire musical.OLD SOLDIER / JUDGE ROANMale, 50s–70s | BaritoneTraditionally doubled. The Old Soldier represents the lingering memory of the Confederacy, while Judge Roan presides over Leo Frank’s trial. Requires authority, gravity, and strong character work.MINOLA McKNIGHTFemale, adult | Alto/MezzoThe Frank family’s Black domestic worker who is drawn into the investigation. A featured character role requiring a grounded actor with strong dramatic instincts.MRS. PHAGANFemale, 30s–50s | MezzoMary’s mother. A working-class Southern woman devastated by the loss of her daughter. Her grief contributes to the emotional intensity surrounding the trial.LUTHER ROSSERMale, 35–65 | BaritoneLeo’s defense attorney. Intelligent, experienced, forceful, and pragmatic. A strong character role for an actor who can bring authority and specificity to the courtroom scenes.FIDDYFemale, adult | Character Mezzo/SopranoA memorable witness during the trial. A featured character role requiring strong comic instincts, specificity, and confidence.RILEYMale, adult | Baritone/TenorA Black Atlantan featured prominently in “A Rumblin’ and a Rollin’.” Requires a powerful singer with excellent rhythmic instincts and stage presence.ANGELAFemale, adult | Mezzo/AltoFeatured Black female vocalist in “A Rumblin’ and a Rollin’.” Requires a strong, soulful singer and actor with excellent musical instincts.IOLA STOVERFemale, teen/young adult | Soprano/MezzoA factory girl and featured witness during the trial. Bright, youthful, and impressionable. Strong character singing and acting are important.MONTEENFemale, teen/young adult | Soprano/MezzoOne of the young factory girls who testifies during Leo’s trial. A featured ensemble role requiring youthful energy, strong characterization, and confident singing.ESSIEFemale, teen/young adult | Soprano/MezzoAnother of the factory girls involved in the trial testimony. A featured ensemble track requiring excellent character work and musicality.NEWTONMale, adult | BaritoneA detective involved in the investigation of Mary Phagan’s murder. Featured character/ensemble role.OFFICER IVEYMale, adult | BaritoneA police officer involved in the investigation. Typically part of a larger featured ensemble track.MR. PEAVYMale, adult | Baritone/TenorA featured character within the Atlanta community and ensemble.ENSEMBLE / ATLANTA COMMUNITYAll genders | Various ages and vocal ranges

The ensemble is essential to the storytelling of Parade. Ensemble members portray factory workers, reporters, police officers, jurors, townspeople, politicians, guards, and members of the Atlanta community.Throughout the musical, the ensemble becomes the world surrounding Leo and Lucille and, at times, functions almost like a Greek chorus as public opinion shifts and the pressure surrounding the case intensifies.

We are especially seeking strong actor-singers who are comfortable with complex ensemble music and musicianship. The score demands confident harmonization, excellent rhythm, strong storytelling, and performers capable of creating distinct characters throughout the production.

A NOTE ABOUT THE PRODUCTION

Parade dramatizes historical events involving antisemitism, racism, violence, and the 1913 murder of a child. Surfside Playhouse is committed to approaching this material with care, honesty, and respect for the history and people represented.We strongly encourage performers of all backgrounds and experience levels who connect with this extraordinary material to audition.