RENT - Audition notice
Directed by West End MD Karl Pendlebury with his original band.

‘Rent’ is a rock opera inspired by Puccini’s La Boheme, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for drama as well as 4 Tony awards including best musical, best book and best score for Jonathan Larson. Set on the lower east side of New York City, RENT is the story of young bohemians, Mark, Rodger, Maureen, Collins, Angel, Mimi, Joanne and their friends all struggling to create and survive during the rise of a mysterious deadly disease – AIDS. Socially relevant, youthful and moving, Rent lives on, and shows us how much changes or doesn’t change in the 525,600 minutes that make up a year affirming that there is ‘No Day But Today.’

Show Dates: 19 – 27th June 2009 @ 7:30pm, show down 10pm approx, including interval. (possibility of one matinee on 27th June @ 3pm).

Audition Date: 18th January 2009


Females: 10:30am Registration Males: 2:30pm Registration

Please note auditions could go on till 6pm approx

Character Breakdown & Song Requirement:

Because of the nature of this piece ALL Actors MUST be aged over 16 and be able to deliver the piece in a New York accent.

Mark: Playing Age range: 22-30 Song Required: Halloween (Download PDF)
Caucasian, male. An underfunded and underground filmmaker who has turned his back on an affluent upbringing. Quirky but cool, likeable and highly strung. He is the narrator of the show. A high baritone/tenor, strong acting skills with the ability to move well.

Roger: Playing Age Range 22-32 Song Required: Your Eyes (Download PDF)
Caucasian male. Rock grunge voice, a cross between Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi. He is very sexy, a front man able to project raw pain with charisma. Lover to Mimi. His character is HIV and struggling to write a hit before he dies. High tenor up to A flat. Strong acting skills with the ability to move well.

Mimi: Playing Age Range 19-25 Song Required: Out Tonight (Download PDF)
Ideally Hispanic, mixed race female. This character needs to be very slim, because of the HIV and drug related addiction she suffers from. A really raw rock voice, cross between Tina Turner and Neneh Cherry. She is an optimist not a quitter, with some very dark secrets. Lover to roger. A dangerous yet appealing druggie. The ability to move well is essential. Must be flexible and willing to learn to pole dance.

Collins: Playing age range 24-35 Song Required: Cover You (Download PDF)
Male, ideally African American or mixed ethnicity. A gay man who’s just contracted HIV with tons of soul, Lenny Kravitz meets Marvin Gaye vocally. Philosopher, teacher, anarchist and AIDS activist. A great open personality, an extremely sincere and loving individual. Low baritone, bluesy and gravely voice. Good mover.

Maureen: Playing age range 25-35 Song Required: Take Me Or Leave Me (Download PDF) & Over The Moon (Download PDF)
Caucasian female. A spunky singer like Alanis Morrisette/ Tori Amos. She has an ambiguous sexuality and everyone, male and female wants to love. She is a performance artist from the East Village. An enormous acting ability required for this role with strong movement. Mezzo-soprano.

Joanne: Playing age range 25-35 Song Required: Seasons Of Love (including riffs) (Download PDF)
Caucasian or mixed ethnicity. A high rock belter voice like Aretha Franklin. A politically active Harvard graduate lesbian lawyer with a wry sense of humour and sardonic wit.

Angel: Playing age range 18-25 Song Required: Contact (Download PDF)
Asian, Latin or white male in his late teen/mid20’s. He must dance well and dress in drag without being an obvious drag-type. A loveable and sincere, impetuous guy who can play hard when he needs to. Lover of Collins and truly young at heart. A high tenor to falsetto range.

Benny: Playing age range 25-35 Song Required: Halloween (Download PDF)
Caucasian or mixed ethnicity. A slick hustler who has sold out his principles, married into money and becomes the others landlord. A baritone, second tenor voice with some soul for pop ballad.

Ensemble Members: Playing age range 18- 40 Song Required: Will I (Download PDF)
4 Men & 2 Women
The ensemble work around the eight leads as community members, parents and the homeless. Vocally dynamic and an ability to move well on stage. One man needs to be high tenor with a range up to a top A.

All songs presented must be off book. During the audition as well as your singing ability your acting of the song will be taken into consideration as the show is sung through with very little spoken libretto. All the above songs will be seen, though not necessarily in full and must be presented in the original key, no need to bring sheet music as the Musical Director has copies of these.
Please bring a contrasting piece (not from Rent) this music MUST be supplied by yourselves, which may also be asked for.

A group dance audition will be held for all actors recalled on the day.

Rehearsals will commence 23rd March 2009 every Monday & Wednesday 7:30pm – 10:30pm.
Over the Easter period there will be no rehearsals after Wed 8th April until Wed 15th April. However there will be an extra rehearsal on Sun 19th April. From the 20th April rehearsals will be Monday, Wednesday and one other evening tbc. From 4th May rehearsals will be held each week on Wednesday and Friday 7:30pm – 10:30pm and Sundays from 1pm – 6pm.

This is a demanding piece, which requires 100% commitment from the entire cast, however, these times are approximate and you may find you are not required for every rehearsal.
At registration you will be required to fill out a form to let us know of any holidays you may have booked.

We will endeavour to work around these where possible but we will take these into consideration when casting.

All songs required from Rent can be obtained by emailing karlpendlebury@mac.com


Everybody cast in this show will be required to become members of CADOS at a cost of £12.50 (£5.00 for students)