Announcing auditions for RMT's production of Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, directed by Karen Fleming, vocal directed by Keith Edward, orchestra directed by Stuart Weich, choreographed by Rikki Howie Lacewell, and produced by Dana Robinson and Hayley North. Performances are November 1 through 17, 2024, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm, and Sunday at 2:00 pm. Actors must be available for all performances and tech week. Rehearsals will be 2 – 3 days a week in August, and then 4 – 5 days a week after Labor Day, typically Monday through Thursday from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm and a weekend rehearsal on either Saturday or Sunday although all actors may not be called for every rehearsal.
Auditions will be held on Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday, July 22 - 24, from 6:30 pm - 9:30pm at Beverly Farms Elementary School (8501 Postoak Road, Potomac, MD). ALL ROLES ARE OPEN AND UNPAID.
*Update: We are thrilled with the overwhelming interest in auditions for our upcoming production of Sweeney Todd. At this time all advanced registration audition slots have been filled. However, there are still 3 options for interested auditionees:
1) Check the SignUp Genius from time to time as availability may change.
2) Join us as a walk-in auditionee. Walk-in auditionees will be seen in order of arrival, as time and space allows. We recommend arriving early in the evening and being prepared to wait.
3) Send in a virtual audition. Virtual audition recordings must be submitted by 11:59 pm on Saturday, July 20. Please read below for more information on what to include in your virtual submission. Please Note: Virtual auditionees must be available for callback auditions on Saturday, July 27th in order to be considered for a principal role.
To audition, it is recommended that actors sign up in advance for a 30-minute slot.
Walk-ups are permitted, but will only be accommodated as time allows.
Please print and fill out audition forms in advance to ensure a smooth audition process.
Actors will need to note their conflicts throughout the rehearsal process and run of the show, August 17 – November 17. Actors must be available for tech week, which includes Halloween, and all performances (October 28 – November 17).
We would prefer that you audition in person. However, if you are unable to attend auditions and would like to submit an audition virtually, please email the following to SweeneyTodd@r-m-t.org: video of 16-32 bars of a song accompanied by a track with you slating your name and the song at the beginning, your resume and headshot, and a completed audition form. Virtual auditions must be submitted by Saturday, July 20 at 11:59pm.
Callbacks will be held by invitation only on Saturday, July 27 from 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm. Further details will be provided to those invited to callbacks. Rehearsals will begin mid-August.
Audition Procedures
Singing: Auditionees should prepare 16-32 bars of a song in the style of the show. Please bring sheet music in the correct key. Accompanist will be provided. If you prefer, you can use your own track – cut to the correct section, instrumental only, using your own method of playing (phone and Bluetooth speaker), and ready to go with no technical issues.
All roles are available; see below for descriptions of characters and ensemble tracks. British accents, mostly cockney, will be used.
We encourage anyone who is interested in the show to audition even if you don't think you perfectly fit any of the roles/tracks. This show requires a broad range of ages, types, gender identities, and talents. We are actively looking to build a cast diverse in race, body types, gender identities, and ages reflected throughout the cast on all levels. Due to the subject matter of the show, all actors must be at least 16 years old. If you have any questions, please email SweeneyTodd@r-m-t.org
Character Descriptions
Please Note: The age ranges and gender identities listed indicate the age or gender that the character should appear onstage and does not need to match the age/gender identity of the performer. All roles are open to actors of any race or ethnicity. We are actively seeking to cast in a racially-conscious manner.
Sweeney Todd - A wrongfully imprisoned barber seeking to right the wrongs committed against him. He is Johanna's father, singularly focused on taking bloody revenge.
Gender: Male / Age 30-55 / Baritone-Bass / Vocal range: Bb4 – F2
Mrs. Lovett - An entrepreneurial and amoral meat pie shop owner. She falls in love with Todd and turns his desire for revenge into a profitable business venture.
Gener: Female / Age: 30-50 / Mezzo with belt / Vocal range: E5 – G3
Anthony Hope – A naive and youthful sailor returning to London. He helps Todd return to London and unexpectedly falls in love with Johanna.
Gender: Male / Age: 20-30 / Tenor / Vocal range: F4 – Bb2
Johanna – A spritely girl, full of innocence, constantly yearning for freedom. Todd's long-lost daughter and Turpin's ward.
Gender: Female / Age: 18-25 / Soprano / Vocal range: A5 – Bb3
Tobias Ragg - A poor youngster apprenticed to Pirelli. He finds a surrogate family in Todd and Lovett. Actor will need to have short hair.
Gender: Male / Age: 15-20 / Tenor / Vocal range: Ab4 – Bb2
Judge Turpin - A lecherous public official who portrays himself as a sanctimonious authoritarian. He takes advantage of his position in the city and is responsible for imprisoning Todd. NOTE: the song, Johanna (God Deliver Me), may be cut from this production.
Gender: Male / Age: 40-65 / Bass-Baritone / Vocal range: Gb4 – E2
Beadle Bamford - A pompous public official. He is deeply loyal to the corrupt Turpin.
Gender: Male / Age: 30-55 / Tenor with falsetto / Vocal range: D5 – D3
Beggar Woman - A deranged and schizophrenic woman who harbors a dark, surprising secret.
Gender: Female / Age: 30-50 / Mezzo / Vocal range: F5 – Ab3
Adolfo Pirelli - A flamboyant Italian rival barber; a charlatan with a secret past. Speaks with both Italian and Irish accents. NOTE: the song, Contest, Part 2, may be cut from this production.
Gender: Male / Age: 30-45 / High Tenor / Vocal range: C5 – B2
Jonas Fogg - The owner of Fogg's Asylum. Fogg sells the hair of inmates to wigmakers. Speaking role who sings with the ensemble.
Ensemble - The ensemble, essential to the storytelling, acts as a Greek Chorus, commenting on the action and participating in the tale. They play roles of customers, townspeople, police, inmates at the insane asylum, Sweeney’s thoughts, and Sweeney’s victims. Ensemble members may also be understudying principal roles.
If you have any questions, please email SweeneyTodd@r-m-t.org