The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Book, Music & Lyrics by Rupert Holmes

Directed by Kate Carson-Groner

Music directed by Evan Wang

Choreography by Rachel Conway

​

AUDITION DETAILS

Auditions: Monday, March 30 & Tuesday, March 31 from 6-8 pm

Callbacks (if needed/by invitation): Saturday, April 4 at 1 pm

at The Little Theatre Center, 4015 Brownsboro Rd., Winston-Salem

 

Roles are available for 11 actors, plus ensemble (ages 16+).

Character descriptions are listed below.

 

Please prepare 32 measures of a song that shows off your voice and technical ability (something from a classical operetta or musical theatre show, i.e. Gilbert & Sullivan, Sondheim, Rogers & Hart, etc.). Please bring sheet music in the correct key; an accompanist will be provided. Auditionees may also bring recorded accompaniment. A cappella is permitted but discouraged.

 

The audition will include choreography, so please dress comfortably. Feel free to bring dance shoes, if you have them. An audition dance instruction video will be available soon; please check back. Watch it (& practice!).

Note: not all roles require dancing.

 

Actors who play acoustic instruments are strongly encouraged to audition and bring their instrument(s) and short pieces of music to perform that show off their musical skills.

Even if you are a beginner, the director would love to see what you can play, and no instrument is too unusual or silly.

 

Actors with improvisation experience are also strongly encouraged to audition.

 

Rehearsals will begin Tuesday, April 7, and will generally be held Monday-Friday evenings from 7-10 pm and Saturday afternoons.

This is subject to change depending on the cast’s availability and the creative team’s discretion.

 

PERFORMANCES

June 5-7, 11-14 & 18-21, 2026

Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30 pm

Sundays at 2 pm

All performances will be held at Hanesbrands Theatre

209 N. Spruce Street, Winston-Salem

​

SHOW DESCRIPTION

Based on Charles Dickens’ final unfinished novel, this hilarious whodunit invites the audience to solve its mystery by choosing the identity of the murderer. The tale is presented as a show-within-a-show, as the Music Hall Royale - a delightfully loony Victorian theatre company - presents Dickens’ brooding mystery.

 

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS

All characters can be portrayed by any ethnicity, unless specified otherwise. The show will be performed with British accents, so bring yours (dialect is not important)!

 

All doubling of parts listed here are from the Broadway version. We may choose to divide these roles differently.

 

Mr. William Cartwright, Chairman / Mayor Thomas Sapsea: The leader of the music hall troupe. The Chairperson carries much of the dialogue and must be quick with a joke and able to improvise. He is in charge of keeping the pace of the show moving. This part can be any age over 40ish. Male-Presenting/Baritone.

 

Mr. Clive Paget / John Jasper: The Royale’s male lead, a devilishly attractive cad, and he knows it. In Drood, he is the antagonist. Choirmaster of Cloisterham Cathedral, and uncle of Edwin Drood. In love with Rosa Bud. Madness lurks beneath his smooth exterior. 35-50ish. Male-Presenting/Bari-tenor.

 

Mr. Victor Grinstead / Neville Landless: Victor is enjoying his premiere performance with the Music Hall Royale. His character, Neville, is Helena’s twin brother. Very passionate and often angry. Non-Caucasian. 20-35ish. Male-Presenting/Bari-tenor.

 

Mr. Cedric Moncrieffe / Reverend Crisparkle: This troupe member is a bit of an open book who plays an archetypal vicar, who is also a bit of a lurker, and was in love with Rosa’s mother. Must be significantly older than Rosa. Male-Presenting/Baritone.

 

Mr. Phillip Bax / Waiter / Bazzard: Devotee of the theatre, the everlasting understudy, who finally gets his moment. May have quite a major part if the evening turns out that way. Any age. Male-Presenting/Bari-tenor.

 

Mr. Nick Cricker, Sr. / Durdles: “Clown Prince of the Royale” who makes the most of every line and plays the drunkard sexton in Drood. Over 30. Male-Presenting/Baritone or Tenor.

 

Master Nick Cricker, Jr. / Satyr / Deputy: Boy, any age younger than Cricker, Sr. As the Deputy, lowest in the pecking order, and very funny. Male-Presenting/Any voice range.

 

Miss Deirdre Peregrine / Rosa Bud: The not-so-innocent ingenue of the Music Hall Royale, Deirdre portrays the love interest of Drood, the young, beautiful and apparently fragile Rosa Bud. 16-30ish. Female-Presenting/True Soprano.

 

Miss Alice Nutting / Edwin Drood / Dick Datchery: Prima donna and London’s leading male impersonator, charming but, as you might expect, with determination and a lot of ego. Must command the stage. As Edwin Drood, she is an attractive, rich, and popular young man who has everything. 25-45ish. Female-Presenting/Mezzo-Soprano.

 

Miss Janet Conover / Helena Landless: Janet is a long-standing member of the acting troupe, asked to play the mysterious Helena Landless, who is driven by a fierce loyalty to her brother. Non-Caucasian. 20-30ish. Female-Presenting/Mezzo-Soprano

 

Miss Angela Prysock / Princess Puffer: Angela has been a favorite of London audiences forever, a staple of the stage. As the mysterious Princess Puffer, Madam, opium dealer, and general purveyor of vice of all kinds, she is glamorous in her ruin. Over 50. Female-Presenting/Serious Low Alto – must have a big chest voice and lots of rapport with the audience.

 

Mr. James or Miss. Joyce Throttle / Stage Manager

 

Miss Isabel Yearsley / Wendy

 

Miss Violet Balfour / Beatrice / Maid

 

Miss Florence Gill / Flo (speaking)

 

Mr. Harry Sayle / Shade of Drood

 

Mr. Montague Pruitt / Shade of Jasper

 

Mr. Alan Eliot / Client of Puffer

 

Mr. Christopher Lyon / Client of Puffer

 

Miss Gwendolen Prynn / Succubae / Maid

​

Miss Sarah Cook / Succubae

 

Mr. Nicholas Michael / Horace

 

Plus: Citizens of Cloisterham [ensemble]