AUDITIONS
Hickory Community Theatre encourages people of all races, ethnicities, identities, body types, physical and cognitive abilities to audition. Theatre is for everyone, and HCT believes in representation and equity for all.
WHEN
Sunday, April 6th at 3:00pm
Monday, April 7th at 7:00pm
Potential Callbacks Tuesday, April 8th
SEEKING
Singers and dancers 16 - 70+
(plus one role to play 4-5 years old)
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WHAT
Those wishing to audition should prepare 32 bars from one of the provided WAITRESS selections only HERE. There will also be a dance audition so please come dressed prepared to move. Cold readings will take place (time permitting/as needed).
An accompanist will be provided. Do not bring your own accompanist. Do not accompany yourself unless you are auditioning for the role of Earl with a guitar. Please bring sheet music with you if needed.
Those auditioning for the role of Jenna will also be required to sing "What Baking Can Do" and "Bad Idea" at callbacks.
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ABOUT THE SHOW
WAITRESS
Music and Lyrics By Sara Bareilles
Book By Jessie Nelson
Performance dates: June 6th - 21st, 2025
Directed by Eric Seale
Music Directed by Jeff Hartman
Choreography by Gina Duckworth
Jenna, a waitress and expert pie maker, is stuck in a small town and a loveless marriage. Faced with an unexpected pregnancy, Jenna fears she may have to abandon the dream of opening her own pie shop…until a baking contest in a nearby county and the town's handsome new doctor offer her a tempting recipe for happiness. Supported by her quirky crew of fellow waitresses and loyal customers, Jenna summons the secret ingredient she's been missing all along — courage.
WAITRESS
CHARACTER BREAKDOWNS
JENNA - (20s-30s - Mezzo / F5-C6, Strong Belt with Pop/Rock Experience)
A woman stuck in her life as an unhappily married waitress in a small town. Finds some happiness and expression through her meticulous baking of pies and her friendships with her coworkers, Dawn and Becky. Lives her live paycheck-to-paycheck, day by day, and wants nothing more than to get away and start fresh, unbeknownst to her destructive husband, Earl. Must have a fantastic Pop/Rock voice with great range. Dynamic, mature acting range.
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BECKY - (40s-50s - Alto / E5, Strong Belt and the ability to handle tricky Alto lines)
The oldest of the three waitresses. Irreverent, irascible, been there, made it back, and somehow kept her forward and sometimes wicked sense of humor with excellent comedic timing. Must have a soulful pop voice with an excellent Pop belt.
DAWN - (20s - Mezzo / E5-C6, Quirky Voice)
She is the youngest of the waitresses. Thick glasses, hair parted 14 centimeters to the left — eccentric is the nice way to say she’s slightly unusual, and not so slightly OCD. She sets the tables, painstakingly ensuring each salt and pepper shaker is equidistant from the napkin holder. Must have an excellent Pop/Rock/Folk voice.
DR. JIM POMATTER - (30s-40s - Tenor / Bb4, Strong Falsetto Necessary)
Handsome, endearing, and neurotic. Has a warm, if clumsy, matter. Jenna’s gynecologist with whom an unexpected extramarital affair is born. Has a quirky sense of humor and a big heart, despite the fact that he’s contributing to the affair. Must have impeccable comedic timing and must move well. Should have a very strong Pop/Rock Tenor that can navigate the musical style of Sara Bareilles with ease.
EARL - (20s-30s - Baritone / G4, Southern Rock Sound)
Jenna’s husband. Peaked in high school, handsome in a gruff way, but that face is clouded with broken dreams, drowned with cheap beer. Just enough narcissism mixed with stupidity, to be a potent Molotov cocktail that can explode into unexpected anger one second and then turn into a sobbing mess the next. Guitar playing a plus.
CAL - 40s-50s - Baritone / F4)
A chef at the diner. A “Salt of the Earth” guy’s guy surrounded by gals. Brash, impatient, unsentimental, but somehow charming. Should have a strong Pop/Rock voice with great comedic chops. Must have a strong contemporary Baritone singing voice in the style of Sara Bareilles and have excellent comedic timing.
OGIE - 20s-30s - Tenor / Bb4)
Strange, yet oddly lovable. Becomes slightly obsessed with Dawn (in a hilarious yet endearing way) after she goes on a 5-minute date with him. Quirky, incredibly persistent, and odd, yet kind. Should have excellent comedic timing. Must have an excellent Pop/Rock BariTenor sound.
JOE - 60s-70s - Baritone / G#4)
The owner of the diner where Jenna, Dawn, Becky, and Cal work. A seemingly old, curmudgeonly man who has a soft spot for Jenna (and her pie), warm at heart. A sarcastically funny and no-nonsense guy with a keen ability to read people. Very funny.
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ENSEMBLE - 16 and up* - SATB
The Ensemble plays the rest of the characters. All will be required to sing and move. More or less doubling may occur pending auditions/casting.
*plus the role of Lulu to play 4-5 years old)
