Rise Above Performing Arts

Auditions Season 11

Carrie is up next. Audition for one of the most electrifying productions of the season and be part of another bold performance opportunity at Rise Above.

Scroll for quick audition dates, Carrie signup details, and full character breakdowns for the rest of the season.

Before You Audition

  • Bring: current headshot and resume
  • Prepare: 30 seconds to 1 minute of a musical selection with sheet music
  • Monologue: not to exceed 2 minutes unless otherwise noted
  • Dance: choreography may be part of the audition depending on the show
  • Location: Rise Above, next to Connors, 3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 1175, Sarasota, FL 34239
  • Note: actors understand they may be cast in any role when auditioning

Quick Audition Guide

Season 11 Audition Dates

A fast top-level look so families and performers can see the full season at a glance.

Carrie

Auditions: August 8

Callbacks: August 9

Signups begin: July 8

A Christmas Story

Auditions: October 10

Callbacks: October 11

Signups begin: September 10

The Crucible

Auditions: December 5

Callbacks: December 6

Signups begin: November 5

The Addams Family

Auditions: January 9

Callbacks: January 10

Signups begin: December 8

Note: Show Choir Only

Mean Girls

Auditions: March 6

Callbacks: March 7

Signups begin: February 6

Sweeney Todd

Auditions: Video submissions only

Deadline: March 1

Note: Alumni Show

Into the Woods

Auditions: Completed

Callbacks: Completed

Status: Cast / In Production

Character Breakdown

Carrie

October 8–11 & 15–18, 2026

Featured Audition

Synopsis

Carrie: The Musical follows Carrie White, a bullied teenage outsider abused by her deeply religious mother, who discovers telekinetic powers and reaches a devastating breaking point after public humiliation at prom.

Dark, emotional, and vocally demanding, this show offers standout opportunities for actors ready to take on bold storytelling and intense character arcs.

Carrie White

Female, Mezzo-Soprano

A shy outsider who longs to belong and discovers an extraordinary power within herself.

Margaret White

Female, Soprano

Carrie’s mother; severe, fanatical, emotionally volatile, and one of the show’s most demanding roles.

Sue Snell

Female, Mezzo-Soprano

Popular, remorseful, and trying to make things right after seeing Carrie mistreated.

Tommy Ross

Male, Tenor

Popular athlete with sincerity, kindness, and emotional openness.

Chris Hargensen

Female, Mezzo-Soprano/Belt

The cruel and magnetic queen bee whose bullying helps drive the story toward disaster.

Billy Nolan

Male, Tenor/Baritone

Dangerous, impulsive, and easily manipulated by Chris.

Miss Lynn Gardner

Female, Alto/Belt

P.E. teacher with toughness, authority, and flashes of real care for Carrie.

Mr. Stephens

Male, Tenor/Baritone

A teacher/counselor trying to hold the school together amid growing tension.

Norma / Frieda / Helen / George / Stokes / Freddy

Various

Featured students with distinct personalities and important moments throughout the show.

Ensemble

All vocal ranges

Strong actors, singers, and movers who will build the world of Chamberlain High.

Show Breakdown

A Christmas Story

Auditions October 10 • Callbacks October 11

December 10–13 & 17–20, 2026

Synopsis

Based on the holiday film classic, this musical follows Ralphie Parker and his quest for the ultimate Christmas gift: a Red Ryder BB gun.

Ralph Parker

Male

The older narrator version of Ralphie, still a kid at heart.

Mother

Female, Mezzo-Soprano

Warm, protective, and deeply loving.

The Old Man

Male, Baritone

Grumpy, funny, and heartfelt.

Miss Shields

Female, Alto

Ralphie’s teacher; comic character actress role.

Ralphie Parker

Male, Boy Alto

The dreamer and schemer at the center of the story.

Randy / Flick / Schwartz

Male

Important featured youth roles with strong comic moments.

Esther Jane / Helen

Female

Classmates with charm and featured moments.

Scut Farkus / Grover Dill

Male or Female

The neighborhood bullies.

Mary Beth / Nancy / Ensemble

Various

Student and featured supporting roles; tap experience is a plus.

Show Breakdown

The Crucible

Auditions December 5 • Callbacks December 6

February 18–21 & 25–28, 2027

Synopsis

Arthur Miller’s classic drama tells the story of Salem’s witch trials and the terrifying consequences of fear, accusation, and moral failure.

John Proctor

Male

A stern farmer with a hidden sin that becomes central to the story.

Abigail Williams

Female

Smart, manipulative, and vindictive.

Reverend Hale

Male

An expert on witchcraft whose certainty is challenged.

Elizabeth Proctor

Female

Virtuous, wounded, and emotionally complex.

Reverend Parris / Judge Danforth / Judge Hawthorne

Various

Authority figures driving the trials forward.

Thomas Putnam / Ann Putnam / Rebecca Nurse / Francis Nurse

Various

Major Salem townspeople with strong dramatic weight.

Giles Corey / Martha Corey / Mary Warren / Tituba

Various

Vital supporting roles central to the play’s emotional and political tension.

Betty Parris / Ruth Putnam / Susannah / Mercy / Cheever / Willard / Herrick / Hopkins

Various

Featured supporting roles throughout the trial scenes.

Show Breakdown

The Addams Family

Auditions January 8 • Callbacks January 9 • Show Choir Only

April 11–14 & 18–21, 2027

Synopsis

Wednesday Addams has fallen in love with a nice, normal boy, and Gomez is asked to keep it secret from Morticia. Chaos follows when both families meet for dinner.

Gomez Addams

Male, Tenor/Baritone

Suave, funny, and caught between daughter and wife.

Morticia Addams

Female, Mezzo-Soprano/Alto

Elegant, dry, sexy, and emotionally grounded.

Wednesday Addams

Female, Soprano/Mezzo

Darkly iconic, strong-willed, and newly in love.

Pugsley Addams

Male, High Tenor

Funny, anxious, and missing his sister’s attention.

Uncle Fester

Male, Tenor/Baritone

Lovable narrator with big comic energy.

Grandma / Lurch

Various

Highly featured comic characters with strong physicality.

Mal / Alice / Lucas Beinecke

Various

The “normal” family bringing conflict and comedy.

Thing / Cousin It / Ancestors

All vocal ranges

Featured ensemble roles woven throughout the show with singing and dancing.

Show Breakdown

Mean Girls

Auditions March 6 • Callbacks March 7

May 13–16 & 20–23, 2027

Synopsis

Cady Heron moves from Africa to suburban Illinois and learns the social rules of North Shore High while taking on Regina George and the Plastics.

Cady Heron

Female, Mezzo-Soprano, Strong Mix/Belt

Bright, warm, and the emotional center of the show.

Regina George

Female, Mezzo-Belt

The magnetic and ruthless queen bee.

Janis Sarkisian

Female, Mezzo-Belt

Bold outsider with humor and edge.

Damian Hubbard

Male, Tenor

Fiercely loyal, funny, and high-energy.

Gretchen Wieners / Karen Smith

Female, Mezzo-Soprano

Two core Plastics with very different comic energies.

Aaron Samuels

Male, Tenor

Charming, grounded, and more than just the cute guy.

Mrs. Heron / Mr. Heron / Mrs. George / Ms. Norbury / Mr. Duvall

Various

Strong featured adult roles with comedy and presence.

Kevin G / Martin / Ensemble

Various

Students, Mathletes, party guests, show choir, dance team, and many featured lines.

Character Breakdown

Sweeney Todd (Alumni Show)

Video submissions only • Due March 1

June 4–6 & 11–13, 2027

Synopsis

Stephen Sondheim’s dark masterpiece follows Sweeney Todd, a barber driven by vengeance after losing everything he once loved. Returning to London, he partners with Mrs. Lovett in a chilling tale of obsession, justice, and moral collapse.

This alumni production demands exceptional vocal ability, acting depth, and a strong command of storytelling. It is one of the most musically and dramatically challenging works in the theatrical canon.

Sweeney Todd

Male, Baritone/Bass

A former barber, husband, and father consumed by vengeance after years of wrongful imprisonment. Charismatic yet volatile, terrifying yet deeply human. Requires strong vocal control and emotional range. Estuary/London dialect.

Mrs. Lovett

Female, Mezzo/Belt

A cunning pie shop owner who turns survival into opportunity. Sharp, comedic, and ambitious, she masks desperation with charm. Deeply in love with Todd. Requires excellent comedic timing. Cockney accent.

Anthony Hope

Male, Tenor

A hopeful young sailor who falls in love with Johanna. Romantic, idealistic, and occasionally reckless. His journey reveals the darkness beneath London’s surface.

Johanna

Female, Soprano

Sweeney’s daughter, held captive by Judge Turpin. Intelligent, observant, and yearning for freedom. Carries both innocence and hidden strength.

Tobias Ragg

Male, Tenor

A young apprentice who evolves from loyal and naive to deeply traumatized and unstable. Emotionally complex with strong storytelling moments. Cockney accent.

Judge Turpin

Male, Bass/Baritone

A corrupt authority figure masking cruelty with righteousness. Driven by obsession and hypocrisy. A powerful and unsettling presence.

Beadle Bamford

Male, Tenor / Strong Falsetto

A theatrical and pompous official who enjoys power and control. Darkly comedic with a polished exterior hiding unsettling tendencies.

Beggar Woman / Lucy Barker

Female, Mezzo

A mysterious figure living on the streets. Haunting, prophetic, and tragic. Holds the emotional key to the entire story.

Adolfo Pirelli

Male, Tenor

A flamboyant con artist posing as a world-famous barber. Over-the-top, comedic, and dangerous when threatened. Requires strong character work.

Jonas Fogg

Male or Female

The eerie owner of an asylum. Cold, detached, and disturbingly fascinated by his patients. A dark, atmospheric role.

Ensemble

All vocal ranges

Functions as a Greek chorus, shaping the world of the show. Highly featured throughout with complex vocals, harmonies, and storytelling responsibility.