Work With Us

Thank you for your interest in the 24/25 season at Porchlight Music Theatre! At this time, casting for Fun Home and New Faces Sing Broadway NOW is in process and no further submissions will be accepted.

All auditions will take place at 4200 W. Diversey Ave. More information below on parking and arriving at the audition space.

(Information below for Non-Equity Performers; Equity Performers — please refer to the Equity portal.)

Audition Dates:

Wednesday, Sept.18, 2024 – EPA: 9AM – 5PM (Lunch 1 – 2PM)

Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024 – EPA: 10AM – 2PM

Friday, Sept. 20, 2024 – ECC:

Vocal #1 (All Genders) – 9 – 11AM

Dance #1 (All Genders) – 11AM – 1PM

Lunch 1 – 2PM

Dance #2 (All Genders)- 2 – 4PM

Vocal #2 (All Genders) – 4 – 6PM

SEEKING

Open to all ethnicities, genders and ability (18+). Seeking Chicago local hires only. We encourage Trans and Gender Non-Conforming performers to submit for any roles they are interested in; genders listed are those of the character, not the performer.

Seeking strong comic actor/singers. (See Character Breakdown.)

AUDITIONS – 

Please prepare one (1) one-minute pop/rock cut in the style of the show. An accompanist will be provided. Please bring your book in case the team would like to hear more and a physical headshot/resume.

We do not accept video submissions for these productions.

Arriving at Porchlight: 

All auditions will take place at 4200 W. Diversey Ave. There is free parking on the street and in the adjacent lot. Please do not park in front of the loading dock. The #76 Diversey bus stops directly in front of the building (Tripp Ave.) in both east and west bound directions. Enter through the black door on the S/E corner of the building off the parking lot near the loading dock.

Personnel:

Tye Blue; Director/Co-Author

Kasey Alfonso; Choreographer

Scheduled to be in person with casting authority:
Michael Weber; Artistic Director
Frankie Leo Bennett; Producing Artistic Associate
Michael McBride; Music Director

Rehearsals: Porchlight Studios, 4200 W. Diversey Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60639
Tech/Performances: Broadway Playhouse, 175 E Chestnut St, Chicago, IL 60611

PAY: 

AEA – Tier 5: $908.50 weekly minimum

Non-Union: $400.00 weekly minimum

TIME COMMITMENT for Titanique:

Week of March 3, 2025 – First Rehearsal

Tuesday, March 25, 2025 – First Performance

Wednesday, April 2, 2025 – Press Opening

Sunday, May 18, 2025 – Closing

Character Breakdown:

All roles will be understudied.

CÉLINE DION – Female, 30s-40s, the greatest singer in da whole world, Céline Dion is an angel descended from her own beautiful French-Canadian planet. Charming, charismatic and endlessly kooky, she approaches life with the whim of a quirky ingenue that just arrived to Earth. Convinced she was actually on the Titanic in 1912 (and not just the singer of the movie’s iconic theme song), Céline takes the audience on a journey, insisting she was there the whole time and knows the real story. A love letter to…herself, Céline uses her glorious voice and incredible catalogue of music to narrate one of greatest love stories of all time. (VOCAL RANGE: Belts to a D, Mix to an F#)

JACK DAWSON – Male, 20s-30s, Jack Dawson is one of the star-crossed protagonists aboard the Titanique and hell bent on living his life like it’s golden. An artistic genius with not a penny to spare, he winds up on the Titanique after winning a hand of poker and making a dorm room out of his third class bunks. He meets Rose Dewitt Bukater, and within only a few days, falls madly in love with her, paints her naked, ruins her marriage etc. Jack is effervescent, can talk to a bag of rocks and is a walking poster for living, laughing and loving. He is an old fashioned sk8er boi and Rose is a vintage Avril Lavigne. (VOCAL RANGE: Baritenor, belts to a G)

ROSE DEWITT BUKATER – Female, 20s-30s, Rose Dewitt Bukater is the beautiful ingenue and star-crossed lover aboard the Titanique. She is gorgeous, poised, elegant – but underneath her corset bubbles a fire of rebellion. When she meets her extremely hot yet extremely poor polar opposite, Jack Dawson, she knows she must break off her engagement to her fiancé, Cal Hockley – even if it costs her her life. Nothing will stop her from loving Jack, not even the Titanique sinking, or a full blown murder attempt by Cal. Rose can be stubborn, wily, and a borderline psychopath, but everything she does is for love. (VOCAL RANGE: Belts to an E, mix to an F)

CAL HOCKLEY – Male, 30s, Engaged to Rose DeWitt Bukater, this aristocrat will stop at nothing to marry Rose. He can’t stand the thought of Rose falling in love with Jack Dawson, a sewer rat in the lower class bunks. The rivalry between the two continues to worsen until, eventually, Cal goes crazy with jealousy and puts a hit on Jack’s life. Cal is Jack’s nemesis and the epitome of a refined douchebag with a creepy, Count Dracula vibe. A leading man with strong pop vocals and improv chops. (VOCAL RANGE: Tenor, to Bb)

UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN/IRISH LADY – Female, 30s-40s. Brassy, sassy and only sometimes classy, Molly Brown’s got a big heart and bigger personality. As the mother figure of the Titanique, she offers Rose and Jack sage wisdom to bring them together. A total know-it-all, Molly’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but she darn well spills it whenever she pleases. (VOCAL RANGE: Belts to a D, Mixes to a G)

VICTOR GARBER – Male, 30s-50s. Victor Garber is the polished and perfected designer of the Titanique. Handsome, refined and proud of his baby, he believes it will be no problem at all to speed the ship up and get to Fire Island a few days early. A true leader, he takes over all duties aboard the Titanique and ends up steering the ship straight into the Iceberg, where he meets …The Iceberg Bitch. A prideful man, he insists upon staying on the boat until the bitter end. Excellent comedy chops. (VOCAL RANGE: Tenor, Belts to a Bb)

SEAMAN / TOUR GUIDE / PEABO / ICEBERG – Black, 20s-40s, any gender. The Iceberg Bitch is the personified Iceberg on the Titanique and The Iceberg Bitch came here to slay. Literally. A Tina Turner/RuPaul hybrid of fierceness ready to take the ship down with vocal prowess. The Iceberg Bitch portrays multiple distinct characters in Titanique, including a Tour Guide, Seaman and Peabo Bryson. Excellent comedy and improv chops. (VOCAL RANGE: Tenor who belts to a D and beyond; High strong Pop Mix).

RUTH DEWITT BUKATER – Male, 30s-50s. any ethnicity. The cold, unflinching mother of Rose Dewitt Bukater, Ruth is hanging by a thread. On the brink of financial ruin, she is desperate to marry off her daughter to keep the family name out of the dirty, peasant mouths of those within her social circle. Ruth is a consummate pretender, desperate to stay relevant and rich on the Titanique, no matter the cost. She’ll do WHATEVER it takes to be on top, including delivering the most dramatic, Meryl Streep-esque monologues about the sacrifices of being a woman. Strong improv, sketch and classical acting skills a must.  (VOCAL RANGE: Baritone, belts to an F#).

BGV #1  (ONSTAGE) – Black, Female, 20s-40s. Onstage background vocalist of Céline who will also understudy SEAMAN / TOUR GUIDE / PEABO / ICEBERG and MOLLY BROWN (VOCAL RANGE: Soprano, Belts to an F, mix/head to high A)

BGV #2  (ONSTAGE) – Any ethnicity, Female, 20s-40s. Onstage background vocalist of Céline who will also understudy CELINE DION, ROSE and possibly other roles. (VOCAL RANGE: Soprano, Belts to an E, mix/head to a High A)

BGV #3 (ONSTAGE) – Any ethnicity, Male, 20s-40s. Onstage background vocalist of Céline who will also understudy JACK ,CAL , and VICTOR GARBER (VOCAL RANGE: Tenor, belts to a Bb, head to high D)

Job Postings

ARTISTIC & PRODUCTION

Associate Production Manager

Porchlight seeks a motivated individual to assure the success of all Porchlight Music Theatre productions and events. Reporting to the Director of Production, the Associate Production Manager (APM) will assist in the coordination and execution of all production needs for artistic programs which includes but is not limited to the development and communication of the production schedule,  the maintenance of production budgets, scheduling and execution of production meetings, management of director/design teams, supervision of Production Department Heads, collaboration with the Production Management Team to manage the logistics of planning, organization and scheduling for load in, tech, run and load out of each production, availability during performance run, providing technical trouble-shooting and support, contracting, hiring and onboarding of artistic and production personnel,  payroll processing and budget reconciliation.

Detailed Responsibilities

Production Management

• Assist in the coordination and execution for all production needs for artistic programming.
• Assist in the development and communication of the production schedule.
• Assist in the maintenance of the budgets with approvals from the Director of Production.
• Assist in the scheduling and execution of Production meetings through opening. Ensure timely communication among team members and adherence to deadlines.
• Assist with the management of director/design teams through the design process to guarantee the on-time completion of all designs and the feasibility of execution within the allotted budget of time, money and personnel available.
• Assist with the supervision of  the Production Department Heads to ensure the adherence to their contractual duties.
• Collaborate with the rest of the Production Management Team to ensure communication between all production related parties in regard to the implementation of design and production related elements.
• Attend pre-first rehearsal production meetings and first AEA rehearsal/designer presentation “Meet & Greet” for all productions and events..
• Collaborate with the Production Management Team to manage the logistics of planning, organization and scheduling for load in, tech, run and load out of each production.
• When needed, represent Porchlight in all venue spaces and relationships.
• Work with the rest of the Production Management team to prep the theater space for installation and strike while managing the maintenance of the integrity of the production.
• Assist with the management of the construction and installation of all technical and physical elements of productions.
• Be present during tech rehearsals and previews, providing technical trouble-shooting and support, as needed.
• Coordinate transportation from rehearsal space to theater of any items that require assistance.
• Attend designer run-throughs, load-ins, technical rehearsals and preview performances of the production as needed.
• Be reasonably available during performance run, providing technical trouble-shooting and support, as needed.
• Assist in assuring that all work is being performed in accordance with all safety procedures based upon union agreements and company agreements.
• Responsible for ensuring Production related resources are available and maintained for the production.
• Assist in overseeing basic maintenance and scheduling of repairs of all production assets.

Administration

• Collaborate with the Director of Production in contracting and management of all production staff and contractors.
• With the Company Manager, support the hiring and onboarding of all artistic and production personnel, including creating and sending contracts in Docusign, emailing onboarding information and materials, and monitoring the completion of all documents and procedures for new personnel.
• Support the Company Manager with the execution and ensuring the timely return of all agreements/contracts and other paperwork.
• Process payroll payments and weekly payroll to artistic staff members, stage management, crew and cast, code payments accordingly and submit to the Finance Department and Director of Production on a weekly basis, as needed.
• With the Director of Production, manage the reconciliation of all budgets and expenditures with Production Department Heads in a timely fashion, no later than four weeks after each closing.
• Assist in providing a consistent review of all present and future needs of each Production Department.
• Participate in PMT and departmental staff meetings as needed.
• Assist in compliance with all union, OSHA and safety rules.
• Have extensive knowledge of the company’s code of conduct, including Sexual Harassment and Anti-Racism policies, and the path to resolution.
• Responsible for the creation of  all production folders in the shared drive.
• Responsible for the creation of  all contact sheets using imported data for the contract log.
• With assistance from the Company Manager/SM, distribute rehearsal/performance materials in an efficient and trackable manner; make additional copies of and/or source materials as needed; collect materials and return per deadlines.

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS

• At least two (2) years’ experience of production in live professional theatre. Knowledge of all areas of technical theatre needed; experience as crew member and supervisor a plus.
• Proven leadership and production management experience; diplomacy and calmness under stress, and excellent communication and organizational skills are required.
• Must be able to handle numerous tasks at the same time and coordinate all aspects of production.
• Ability to work a mixture of business hours, nights and weekends as dictated by the production schedule.
• Comfort and proficiency with computers and software. An understanding of budgeting and scheduling is required.
• Previous supervision and oversight of in-house Scene Shop is desirable.
• Must be able to physically access all technical spaces in the theater.
• Valid driver’s license and vehicle are required.

COMPENSATION

$59,000 annually

• Optional individual PPO health insurance with at least 80% employer contribution for individual coverage; optional dental/vision coverage
• Generous paid time off (PTO) and 10 paid holidays annually
• Flexible hybrid work setting

CLOSING & APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Please send a cover letter and resume via email to employment-intern@porchlightmusictheatre.org. No phone calls, please. Resumes will be accepted through October 2, 2024, after which the application process is closed. Initial virtual screening interviews will be held September 23 – October 4, with live interviews for final candidates from Oct 5 – Oct 16.

Porchlight Music Theatre is an equal opportunity employer. We respect and seek to empower each individual and support the diverse cultures, perspectives, skills and experiences within our workforce. Applicants from populations underrepresented in the theatre field are strongly encouraged to apply.

EDUCATION

Teaching Artist

Porchlight is hiring Teaching Artists for all youth programs – specifically for in-school residencies and after-school programs. 

Responsibilities:

• Work with Education Director and teaching team to plan, prepare, and execute classes upon agreed schedule 
• Attend teachers’ meeting prior to the start of the teaching session and agreed upon number of continuing training and professional development sessions 
• Arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of class and be ready to receive students at class time 
• Not miss more than two classes per session 
• Communicate the need for a sub as soon as possible to Education Director 
• Participate in self evaluation and provide feedback on teaching team and class experience
• Restore the classroom space after class each day 
• Communicate the need for all printing and supplies as soon as possible, or purchase and submit reimbursement
• Adhere to all deadlines for class communications including newsletters and programs 

How to Apply:

Please send your teaching resume to Education Director, Rebeccah Singer, at rebeccah@porchlightmusictheatre.org. Porchlight Music Theatre is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants from populations underrepresented in the theatre – especially residents of Chicago’s south and west side and Spanish speaking teaching artists – are strongly encouraged to apply.

INTERNSHIPS

Join the Team. Be a Porchlight Intern.

Porchlight Music Theatre’s Internship program is an opportunity for qualified college students, graduates and young professionals to learn in a hands-on environment as part of the staff of a non-profit theater. Porchlight offers internships in different categories: Artistic Administration, Education & Outreach, Development & Special Events, Marketing & PR/Publicity, and Artistic/Casting.

Porchlight Interns work closely with their departments on special projects and ongoing work. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age. Porchlight Music Theatre is an equal opportunity employer. You can find more information about each internship in “more info”.

Questions? Email rebeccah@porchlightmusictheatre.org

Porchlight is NOT accepting applications for internships at this time. Thank you for your interest.

MORE INFO

Be a Part of Our Team As a Volunteer*

Porchlight Music Theatre welcomes volunteers to assist our staff on a variety of projects and events.

• Volunteer benefits include complimentary tickets to Porchlight Music Theatre productions and events, as available.
• Volunteers must complete and submit an application, and an interview will be conducted either in person or via phone.

For more information, please email info@porchlightmusictheatre.org, subject: Volunteer.

*Please note that theatre ushers are provided by The Saints, Volunteers for the Performing Arts. For information on how you can become a Saint, call (773) 529-5510.

I Want to Volunteer!

Script Submissions

Porchlight Music Theatre accepts full length scripts year-round from literary agents and theatre professionals with whom we have an existing professional relationship. We invite unrepresented writers to submit a brief bio, short synopsis, and ten pages of sample dialogue and music on CD or sent electronically.

More Info