top of page

The mystery of edwin drood

Book, Music, and Lyrics by Rupert Holmes

Director & Choreographer: Stacy Hawking
Music Director: Brandon Tanner

NO GOOD CAN COME FROM BAD. . .

A hilarious, interactive whodunnit mystery musical that asks the audience to enter the action and become the ultimate detectives. Based on Charles Dickens' final unfinished novel, everyone on stage is a suspect in the murder of young and charming Edwin Drood. Is it John Jasper, Edwin's protective and maniacal uncle? Rosa Bud, his reluctant betrothed? The debauched Princess Puffer? Or someone else even more dastardly and villainous?

 

This play-within-a-play, presented by a delightfully loony Victorian theatre company, is sure to intrigue as the ending of each performance is different every night!

DroodAuditionsPage.png

Audition Information

  • Saturday, November 15, 9am-4:15pm, by appointment.​

    • Some performers may be asked to attend callbacks on Sunday, November 16th.​
       

  • Open to performers 18 and older. 
     

  • Performers should bring a headshot with resume stapled to the back.
     

  • Auditions are open to the community and parts may be cast with actors of any ethnicity.

​

  • Performers will need to complete both a singing audition as well as a dance audition.

    • ​Performers with an audition appointment between 9am-9:55am will have a Dance Audition Call at 10am and will be done by 10:45am.

    • Performers with an audition appointment between 10:45am-11:40am will have a Dance Audition Call at 11:45am and will be done by 12:30pm.

    • Performers with an audition appointment between 12:45pm-1:40pm will have a Dance Audition Call at 1:45pm and will be done by 2:30pm.

    • Performers with an audition appointment between 2:30pm-3:25pm will have a Dance Audition Call at 3:30pm and will be done by 4:15pm.
       

  • SINGING AUDITION
    Actors should prepare 32 bars of a song in the style of the show, that shows both their range in voice as well as acting. Musical accompaniment tracks should be brought on a device with Bluetooth capabilities (a Bluetooth speaker will be provided in the audition space).  No a capella songs, please.
     

  • DANCE AUDITION
    Performers should dress comfortably in clothing that is easy to move in. A short dance combination will be taught and then performers will auditions in small groups.

rehearsals

​​​

  • Rehearsals

    • December 15-18

      • Mon-Thurs @ 7-10pm

    • January 1-February 5

      • Mon-Thurs @ 7-10pm

      • Sun @ 1pm-5pm

    • Monday-Thursday @ 7pm-10pm​

    • Saturday & Sunday @ 1pm-5pm

  • Tech Rehearsals​​

    • February 7 @ 10am-6pm

    • February 8 @ 1pm-9pm

  • Dress Rehearsals

    • February 9-12 @ 6-10pm

Not all actors will be called to all rehearsals. Conflicts will be worked around when possible. 

performances

Thursday pick-up rehearsals may be required once the show has opened.

  • February 13 @ 7:30pm

  • February 14 @ 7:30pm

  • February 15 @ 2:00pm

  • February 20 @ 7:30pm

  • February 21 @ 7:30pm

  • February 22 @ 2:00pm

  • February 27 @ 7:30pm

  • February 28 @ 7:30pm

  • March 1 @ 2:00pm

  • March 6 @ 7:30pm

  • March 7 @ 2:00pm

  • March 7 @ 7:30pm

  • March 8 @ 2:00pm

Copy of drood background.png

character breakdowns

​​​​The actors in this production have two parts: their actor-self as a member of the Music Hall Royale, and the part they play in the Music Hall’s production of "The Mystery of Edwin Drood." In the descriptions below, the acting company member is listed first, with the actor's role in "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" listed second.

​

  • CHAIRMAN/MAYOR THOMAS SAPSEA - (30s-50s, any gender) The leader of the music hall troupe. The Chairperson carries the majority of the dialogue and must be quick with a joke and able to improvise. In charge of keeping the pace of the show moving. (Vocal Range: D#3 – F#4).
     

  • CLIVE PAGET/JOHN JASPER - (30s-50s) The Theatre 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. (Vocal Range: A2 – A4).
     

  • ALICE NUTTING/EDWIN DROOD - (20s-40s,) 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. (Vocal Range: B3 – E5).
     

  • DEIRDRE PEREGRINE/ROSA BUD - (18-30s) 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. (Vocal Range: A3 – B5).
     

  • ANGELA PRYSOCK/PRINCESS PUFFER - (50s+) 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.  Must have a big chest voice and lots of rapport with the audience. (Vocal Range: F3 - D5)
     

  • JANET CONOVER/HELENA LANDLESS - (20s-50s) Janet is a long-standing member of the acting troupe, asked to play the mysterious Helena Landless who hails from a mysterious foreign colony not unlike India. (Vocal Range: G3 – D5)
     

  • VICTOR GRINSTEAD/NEVILLE LANDLESS - (20s-30s) Victor is enjoying his premier performance with the Music Hall Royale. His Drood character, Neville, is Helena’s twin brother. Very passionate and often angry. Strong ensemble singer. (Vocal Range: C3 – G4).
     

  • CEDRIC MONCRIEFFE/REVEREND CRISPARKLE - (40s+) 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. Strong ensemble singer. (Vocal Range: C3 – G4).
     

  • PHILLIP BAX/BAZZARD - (Any Age) Devotee of the theatre, the everlasting understudy, who finally gets his moment. May have quite a major part if the evening turns out his way. (Vocal Range: A2 – Eb4).
     

  • NICK CRICKER SR./DURDLES - (30s+) “Clown Prince of the Royale” who makes the most of every line and plays the drunkard sexton in Drood. (Vocal Range: B2 – F4).
     

  • NICK CRICKER JR./DEPUTY - (18-20s) As the Deputy, lowest in the pecking order, and very funny. (Vocal Range: B2 - F4)
     

  • WENDY AND BEATRICE - Drawn from the company, these characters are contemporaries of Rosa Bud. (Vocal Range: C4-D5)

bottom of page