AUDITION INSTRUCTIONS, AUDIO TRACKS, MONOLOGUES, ANDREHEARSAL EXPECTATIONS

PARENTS AND PERFORMERS, PLEASE read all the instructions below.
We want your performer to have every opportunity to do their best.

(All song links can be found in the downloaded PDF!!)

When performers are unfamiliar with the audition selections, they are at a disadvantage. Preparation is key and will help them to feel confident. We are excited to see each performer’s unique style! Below, you will find the audition song selections we will be using, as well as monologues. We have selected song clips for the auditions. You will be singing to the exact same accompaniment (without guide vocals) you hear on this page, so please become familiar with them. Each performer should choose two different song selections to sing. You will be considered for all the characters in the show, regardless of which  songs you choose. Each selection is a combination of 2 audio tracks (Guide Vocals and
Accompaniment only). The lyrics are provided directly below the audio tracks. Learn the song using the Guide Vocals, then use the Accompaniment to prepare for the audition.

To practice the song, just click the <CLICK HERE TO PLAY SONG>, and it will take you to the audio file. You can also download the tracks. It is preferred that lyrics be memorized so we can see the performer act as well as sing, but you may audition with the lyrics, if absolutely necessary. It is in the actor’s best interest to have the song  memorized. It is not necessary to copy the styles of the singers on the guide vocals. Feel free to sing in your own style! You will also select and perform a monologue for the audition. Choose one from the ones listed below. It is not necessary to memorize the monologue.

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CHARACTERS

ANNIE

Annie is a complex, tough, streetwise urchin who is nevertheless vulnerable when she thinks she might lose what has become most important to her: a newfound “family” who loves her. She has to be motherly, independent, overwhelmed, needy, and hopeful for the future. The actor who plays Annie must be extremely strong vocally and musically. She must be capable of vocal projection without strain. Although she is at times aggressive or crafty, the audience should never doubt Annie is a friendly and caring person; she will go to any extent to gain the love of a family to which she can belong.
 

OLIVER “DADDY” WARBUCKS

He must appear middle-aged, self-assured and confident. At first awkwardly affectionate toward Annie, he soon finds himself completely charmed by her. The actor who plays Warbucks will need to be extremely focused throughout the show. His posture, walk and speech patterns are very important. Capable of showing emotional transformation and maturity. Warbucks is required to sing.
 

GRACE FARRELL

Warbucks' assistant is classy, sophisticated, mature, calm, cool and "together." She is businesslike when dealing with Miss Hannigan and Warbucks, yet maternal toward Annie. The actor playing Grace can set herself apart from the other characters simply by the sophisticated way she walks. Grace should seem ready with an answer for just about anything. Each dramatic situation should seem to come "under control" the moment she glides into a scene.
 

MISS HANNIGAN

This woman is definitely a "has-been." Her distaste for her job and the children that are part of it should be obvious in every line she speaks, every song she sings and every move she makes. The person who plays her must have a very strong voice and an excellent sense of comedic timing. The acrid delivery of her lines and the torch-like rendition of her songs must distinguish her from the other characters in the show.
 

LILY ST. REGIS

Distracted airhead, a bit bumbling, girlfriend to Rooster.
 

ROOSTER HANNIGAN

Flashy, self-assured, brother to Miss Hannigan.

Hardened con-man always looking for a quick buck.
 

ORPHANS

These girls are gritty, neglected and vulnerable,

yet basically honest and potentially lovable.
 

ROOSEVELT

an impersonation of President FDR who sings and has lines.
 

ENSEMBLE

Great roles abound for singers/dancers and because these numbers don’t overlap - one person could do all! ... including the orphans, NYC (big production number) with chorus/dance numbers,

Warbuck’s house staff

4 songs with dance; AND Roosevelt’s Cabinet - men who appear in two scenes in Act II, and many other small speaking parts (Bert Healey, Boylan Sisters, Dog Catcher, street people, etc.)

 

AUDITION SONG CLIPS:

PLEASE COME PREPARED TO SING TWO OF THESE
 

EASY STREET (Rooster, Lily, Hannigan)
(SING THE WHOLE SONG AS A SOLO)

<CLICK HERE TO PLAY SONG>

It ain't fair how we scrounge for three of four bucks
While she gets Warbucks. The little brat!
It ain't fair this here life is drivin' me nuts!
While we get peanuts she's livin' fat!
Maybe she holds the key, that little lady to gettin' more bucks
Instead of less... maybe we fix the game with something shady
Where does that put us? Give you one guess...Yes!
Easy street Easy street Annie is the key
Yes sirree Yes sirree Yes sirree
Easy street Easy street
That's where we're gonna... Be!

 

HARD KNOCK LIFE (Annie, Orphans)

<CLICK HERE TO PLAY SONG>
It's the hard-knock life for us! It's the hard-knock life for us!
'Steada treated, We get tricked! 'Steada kisses, We get kicked!
It's the hard-knock life! Got no folks to speak of, so, It's the hard-knock row we hoe
Cotton blankets, 'steada wool Empty Bellies 'Steada full! It's the hard-knock life!
Don't it feel like the wind is always howlin? Don't it seem like there's never any light?
Once a day, don't you wanna throw the towel in? It's easier than putting up a fight.
No one's there when your dreams at night are creepy!
No one cares if you grow or if you shrink!
No one dries when your eyes get wet and weepy
From the crying you would think this place would sink! Ohhhh!!!!!!!

I DON'T NEED ANYTHING BUT YOU (Annie, Warbucks)
(SING THE WHOLE SONG AS A SOLO)

<CLICK HERE TO PLAY SONG>
Together at last! Together for ever!
We're tying a knot, they never can sever!
I don't need sunshine now, to turn my skies to blue
I don't need anything but you!
Yesterday was plain awful. You can say that again
Yesterday was plain awful But that's Not now That's then!
I'm poor as a mouse I'm richer than Midas.
But nothing on earth Could ever divide us!
And if tomorrow, I'm an apple seller, too
I don't need anything (anything, anything)
I don't need anything but you!

 

THINK I'M GONNA LIKE IT HERE (Grace, Annie, Servants)
(SING THE WHOLE SONG AS A SOLO)

<CLICK HERE TO PLAY SONG>
Cecille will pick out all your clothes (Green is her best color, no blue I think.)
Your bath is drawn by Mrs. Greer. (Soap...no, bubbles, I think.)
Annette comes in to make your bed. (The silk, no the satin sheets, I think.)
I think I'm gonna like it here!
When you wake, ring for Drake, Drake will bring your tray
When you're through Mrs. Pugh comes to take it away.
No need to pick up any toys
That's okay, I haven't got any anyway.
No finger will you lift my dear
We have but one request Please put us to the test
I know I'm gonna like it here!

 

LITTLE GIRLS (Hannigan)

<CLICK HERE TO PLAY SONG>
Little Girls, little girls...everywhere I turn, I can see them.
Little girls, little girls... Night and day I eat sleep and breathe them.
Some women are dripping with diamonds.
Some women are dripping with pearls.
Lucky me, lucky me! Look at what I'm dripping with!
Little girls!
Someday I'll step on their freckles
Some night I'll straighten their curls
Send the flood, send the flu-anything that you can do to
Little girls!
 

MAYBE (Annie, Orphans)
(SING THE WHOLE SONG AS A SOLO)

<CLICK HERE TO PLAY SONG>
Maybe far away,
Or maybe real near by.
He may be pouring her coffee.
She may be straightening his tie.
Maybe in a house,
All hidden by a hill.
She's sitting playing pian-a.
He's sitting paying a bill.
Betcha they're young.
Betcha they're smart.
Bet they collect things like ash trays and art.
Betcha they're good.
Why shouldn't they be?
Their one mistake was giving up me...
So... maybe now it's time
And maybe when I wake
They'll be there calling me baby
Maybe...

 

 

NYC Star (s)To Be, Annie, Grace, Orphans)
(SING THE WHOLE SONG AS A SOLO)

<CLICK HERE TO PLAY SONG>
N.Y.C The shimmer of Times Square
The pulse The beat The drive! N.Y.C
You might say that I'm square But wow, I come alive
The city's bright as a penny arcade
It blinks, it tilts, it rings
To think that I've lived here all of my life
And never seen these things
N.Y.C The whole world keeps coming
By bus By train
You can't explain their yen for... (NO NEED TO SING THE LAST "NY...")
 

 

TOMORROW (Annie, Orphans)

<CLICK HERE TO PLAY SONG>
When I'm stuck with a day that's grey and lonely
I just stick up my chin and grin and say, oh
The sun will come out tomorrow So you gotta hang on 'til tomorrow,
come what may! Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya tomorrow
You're always a day away
Tomorrow, tomorrow I love ya tomorrow
You're always a day away …

 

STAR-TO-BE (NYC) (SOLOISTS)
(SING THE WHOLE SONG AS A SOLO)
(Don't sing "By bus, by train" etc.... just start at "NYC, Just got here...")

<CLICK HERE TO PLAY SONG>
N.Y.C Just got here this morning Three bucks Two bags One me
N.Y.C I give you fair warning Up there In lights I'll be
Go ask the Gershwins or Kaufman and Hart
The place they love the best
Though California pays big for their art
Their fan mail comes addressed to N.Y.C
Tomorrow a penthouse That's way up high
Tonight The "Y" Why not? It's N.Y.C!

 

 

MONOLOGUES:

(Please choose one)

Annie:

No….no please! I don’t want a new one. This locket, my Mom and Dad left it…when
they left me at the Orphanage. And a note too. They’re coming back for me. I know I’m real
lucky, being here with you for Christmas. But…the one thing I want in all the world…(crying) is to find my mother and father. And to be like other kids, with folks of my own.
 

All other Orphans:

(the orphans are all woken up by Molly crying) Pipe down, all of ya.
Go back to sleep. It’s all right, Molly. I’m here. (giving her a hanky) Blow. It was only a dream honey. Now, you gotta go back to sleep. It’s after three o’clock. Read you my note? Again? OK Molly, but only if you go back to sleep! (reading note) Please take good care of our little darling. Her name is Annie. She was born on October 28th, and we will be back to get her soon. (reacting to others laughing) All right –do you wanna sleep with your teeth inside your mouth or out?
 

Lt. Ward (Policeman):

Hey you, little girl…. Come over here. That dog there, haven’t I seen him running around the neighborhood? Ain’t he a stray? You say he’s your dog? Hmmmm. So what’s his name? Sandy, huh? Okay. Let’s see him answer to his name. Call him by his name and if he comes to ya - then maybe he is your dog. But the next time I want to see him with a leash and a license, understand?

Bert Healy:

Well, I see by the old clock on the wall that another of our Thursday-night
gettogethers has gone by faster than you can say Oxydent! Yes, this is your old softie, Mrs.
Healy's boy, Bert, saying - until next week, same time, same station! Bon soir, buenas noches, guten nacht, buona sera, and gosh, I almost forgot, - good night!
 

Pepper (an orphan):

Shut up Molly! Can’t anybody get any sleep around here? Don’t
feel sorry for HER. We’re the ones who ain’t getting any sleep! And quit telling me to pipe
down. You’re just beggin’ for a black eye, pal!
 

Miss Hannigan:

(catching Annie as she is trying to leave the orphanage to run away)
Aha! Caught you! I hear ya, brat. I ALWAYS hear ya. Get up. Get up! Turn around. I said turn
around. Now, what do you say? What... do... you... say? (pause) Rotten orphan. Your parents left you here. That was 1922; this is 1933. Now, for your shenanigans, you'll get down on your knobby little knees and clean this dump until it shines like the top of the Chrysler Building! (laughs cruelly) Now, get to work. Now! Why any kid would want to be an orphan, I'll never know.
 

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IF AUDITIONING FOR LILY, PLEASE DO BOTH MONOLOGUES!
Lily #1 (Rooster's girlfriend):

Hi, I’m Lily St. Regis from Jersey City. You know, I’m named
after the hotel! So, you live in this dump? The city may foot your bill but this ain't exactly
Buckingham Palace. (she laughs) Your pearls ain't even real. Rooster? I thought you said your big sis was livin’ in clover? She’s living’ in the skids!
 

Lily #2:

(in disguise as Shirley Mudge - this is all a lie) Honey, we’re your Mom and Dad. You
never knew it, dear, but you’re Annie Mudge. We was sick and broke, honey, and didn’t know which way to turn, and a man give us a chance to work on his farm up in Canada. But we couldn’t bring along no baby. Oh, Annie, all the years I dreamed of holdin’ you in my arms again. (to her fake husband) Ralph, look! Annie’s wearin’ the locket we left with her! Oh, thank God, Ralph, she’s our Annie!

 

IF AUDITIONING FOR ROOSTER, PLEASE DO BOTH MONOLOGUES
Rooster #1

(Miss Hannigan’s conniving brother): Sure enough. They finally let me out. This
time some old geezer said I swindled him out of eleven hundred bucks??? Why did he say I
swindled him out of eleven hundred bucks? Cuz…. (with pride), I swindled him out of eleven hundred bucks. But I’m not about to sit here while some crummy orphan is living in the lap of luxury and the two Hannigan kids have ended up on the skids. I got a plan.
 

Rooster #2:

(in disguise as Ralph Mudge - this is all a lie) (To Annie) We was sick and
broke, honey, and didn’t know which way to turn, and a man give us a chance to work on his farm up in Canada. But we couldn’t bring along no baby. We loved you, Annie, but we had to leave you behind. We got in on the Greyhound this afternoon and went straight to the orphanage to fetch our Annie. And the lady there said our baby was up here.
 

 

IF AUDITIONING FOR WARBUCKS, PLEASE DO BOTH MONOLOGUES!
Daddy Warbucks #1

(Annie’s adoptive father): Been away six weeks. Where is
everybody? Oh hello, Grace! Ah… it’s good to be home. I didn’t like what I saw out there.
Factories shut down. My factories shut down. You’re darn tootin'. When I’m not makin' money nobody is. The flight wasn’t too bad. Only took eleven hours and we had to land four times. Now, first thing’s first. Has the painting arrived from Paris? Let me see it before they hang it. HMPH! And any messages? Ahh…the president. I’ll get back to him tomorrow. Anyone else? Grace, if you’ll get your notebook and -- Who is that? The orphan? But... that’s not a boy. Orphans are supposed to be boys.
 

Daddy Warbucks #2:

(to Annie) Annie, I was born into a very poor family and both of my parents died before I was ten. So I made a promise to myself - someday, one way or another, I was going to be rich. Very rich. But, I've lately realized something. No matter how much money you've got, if you have no one to share your life with, if you're alone, then you might as well be broke. I was in Tiffany's yesterday and picked this up for you. It's a silver locket, Annie. I noticed that old, broken one you always wear. I hope you like it, my dear. 

 

 

IF AUDITIONING FOR GRACE, PLEASE DO BOTH MONOLOGUES!
Grace Farrell #1:

(Warbucks' Assistant) Good afternoon. …Miss Hannigan? I'm Grace
Farrell, private secretary to Oliver Warbucks. Mr. Warbucks has decided to invite an orphan to spend the Christmas holidays at his home. She should be friendly… intelligent… and cheerful. And oh! I almost forgot. Mr. Warbucks prefers red-headed children.

Grace #2:

(she’s been handling the search for Annie’s parents) Drake, look at all these
questionnaires. Do you realize that I’ve talked to 617 women who’ve claimed to be Annie’s
mother and 619 men who’ve said that they were her father. That makes...a lot of liars. Drake, I never realized that there were so many dishonest people on the island of Manhattan. They were all liars and fakes, after nothing but the $50,000. None of them knew about the locket. 

 

Drake/Pugh/Cecille/Annette (All house staff):

Good afternoon, Miss Farrell. Mr. Warbucks hasn’t arrived yet, but we're expecting him any minute. (to Annie) May I take your coat, miss? … oh no, my dear, you don’t have to do any cleaning… I think you’re going to like it here!

 

EXPECTATIONS

1. Because we are a Christian theater group, we will have a time of prayer, and a quick devotional before we begin each rehearsal. We do not expect everyone to be a Christian, but we do expect respect during this time.

2. Rehearsals will begin and end on time stated, so please have your child here on time and picked up on time. Also, there will be no one allowed in the theater except those that are rehearsing. This will keep the kids focused so that our rehearsals can run more smoothly.

3. Shine Theater has a policy of three unexcused absences means your part is given to someone else. If your child is sick, PLEASE don’t send them to rehearsal, just let me know before rehearsal begins and it will be excused.

4. If you need to notify me that your child will be out, please do so in a text message to (228) 341-2135. As soon as the cast is set, we will have a group chat for announcements, but please send private messages to me personally.

5. There is a $75 show fee for this show. This covers all scripts, music tracks, and props. This is due at the first rehearsal, unless you’ve made payment arrangements with Shine.

6. I will have a script for everyone. Remember, we PRACTICE at home, and REHEARSE at the theater. Learn your lines and lyrics at home, then come ready to put it all together at the theater.

7. Most rehearsals will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays. As we get closer to the show, these will be more frequent. The week before the show is called “tech week” and we will rehearse all week. These are MANDATORY rehearsals.

8. The adults working with this show are to be respected and are the authority. The children will be expected to follow directions, respect others, and pay attention.
Failure to do so will result in being asked to leave the show.