Audition Information / Announcements
Auditions: School of Rock
Raleigh Little Theatre is seeking youth and adult performers for its upcoming production of School of Rock, based on the Paramount movie by Mike White, book by Julian Fellowes, lyrics by Glenn Slater, new music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. This show will be presented in the Cantey V. Sutton Theatre.
School of Rock features four fearless young musicians who can rock, wail, and tear it up live onstage as part of the show. If you play guitar, bass, drums, or keyboards, this is your chance to be part of the action. Find out how below!
About the show
Based on the hit movie, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s School of Rock – The Musical follows Dewey Finn, a failed, wannabe rock star who decides to earn an extra bit of cash by posing as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. There he turns a class of straight-A pupils into a guitar-shredding, bass-slapping, mind-blowing rock band. But can he get them to the Battle of the Bands without their parents and the school’s headmistress finding out?
Based on the Paramount movie by Mike White
Book by Julian Fellowes
Lyrics by Glenn Slater
New Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
SCHOOL OF ROCK is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of The Really Useful Group. www.concordtheatricals.com
Directed by Susannah Hough
Music Directed by Diane Petteway
Choreographed by Freddie Lee Heath
Costume Designed by Denise Schumaker
Stage Managed by Elaine Petrone
Important dates
Audition Information Session: January 26, 2026 (Monday) 7-8pm [Register on Zoom here]
- This information session will include an overview of the audition process, forms, and guidance on how to prepare. This is a great session to attend if you have never auditioned for a show before, never volunteered at RLT, or if you would like to hear more from the creative team about the process and show.
Adult Auditions: January 31, 2026 (Saturday) 6-8pm; and February 1, 2026 (Sunday) 3-6pm
Youth Auditions: January 31, 2026 (Saturday) 2-5pm; and February 1, 2026 (Sunday) 11am-2pm
Callback List: posted on RLT’s website by February 2, 2026 (Monday) at 3pm
Adult Callbacks: February 3, 2026 (Tuesday) 7-10pm
Youth Callbacks: February 4, 2026 (Wednesday) 5pm-8pm
Cast List: February 9, 2026 (Monday) by 5pm
Rehearsals: April 20 – May 28, 2026; Mondays, Tuesday, Thursdays, and Fridays 7-10pm, with some flexibility on Wednesdays and weekends.
Tech rehearsals: May 30, 2025 (Saturday) and May 31, 2026 (Sunday), typically 10:00am-6:00pm, exact times TBD
Tech dress rehearsals: June 1-3, 2026 (Monday through Wednesday)
Preview: June 4, 2026 (Thursday) 7:30pm
Performances: 8:00pm Fridays and Saturdays, and 3:00pm Sundays; June 5-28, 2026; and 8:00pm Thursday, June 11, 2026
Student Matinee: 10:30am Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Strike: Immediately following the last performance on June 28. All cast members are expected to stay for strike.
About the roles
Raleigh Little Theatre encourages actors of any ethnicity, identity, ability, etc. to audition for any role. If the script requires strict adherence to any characteristic(s), those will be listed in the character description. The characteristics describe the characters in the play.
Roles for Youth (actors ages 10-14 years old)
We are looking for actors, singers, and real-life student musicians to form our on-stage band! Not all youth roles require playing an instrument, but all require strong acting and singing abilities.
- Auditions for youth actors: January 31, 2026 (Saturday) 2-5pm; and February 1, 2026 (Sunday) 11am-2pm
- Callbacks for youth actors: February 4, 2026 (Wednesday) 5-8pm
We are looking for enthusiastic, confident, and talented young performers for the following principal student roles. The roles below do involve playing an instrument:
ZACK MOONEYHAM - Vocal Range: A3-D5 (Onstage Guitar): Zack is the band’s lead guitarist and also a talented songwriter. He desperately wants to impress his father, who’s usually too busy with work to take an interest in his family. Requires an actor who can play electric guitar on stage.
FREDDIE HAMILTON – Vocal Range: A3-D5 (Onstage Drums): Freddie loves a bit of rowdiness and noise and has a natural rhythm, making him a great drummer. His own father doesn’t see his ability, constantly belittling his son. Requires an actor who can play the drums on stage.
KATIE – Vocal Range: A3-D5 (Onstage Bass): A quiet, serious girl who normally plays the cello but easily masters the bass guitar. Requires an actor who can play bass guitar on stage.
LAWRENCE – Vocal Range: A3-D#5 (Onstage Piano/Keyboard): Awkward and lacking in confidence, Lawrence is hesitant to attempt something “cool” like joining a band, but he soon turns out to be a fantastic keyboardist with a flair for improvising. Requires an actor who can play keyboard/piano on stage.
What to prepare for the above roles:
- Vocal Selection: Please prepare 16-32 measures of a song in the style of the show (rock/pop musical theatre). Please do not sing a song from School of Rock. Please bring sheet music for the provided accompanist.
- Instrumental Portion: Please prepare a short piece on your instrument that showcases your proficiency. You may be asked to jam along with a provided track. RLT will provide a drum kit, keyboard and amp and an amp for guitarists and bassists. Actors can accompany themselves if they’d like to sing with their instrument.
The roles below for youth actors do not involve playing an instrument:
TOMIKA - Vocal Range: A3-G5: New girl Tomika is struggling to fit in at Horace Green. She conquers her shyness to reveal her phenomenal singing ability, and becomes a lead vocalist alongside Dewey in the band.
SUMMER HATHAWAY - Vocal Range: A3-D5: Confident and outspoken, Summer is the ideal manager for the band. Ambitious and very clever, she hopes that winning Battle of the Bands will look good on her college application.
MASON - Vocal Range: A3-D5: Mason is a total whiz with technology, and creates special effects and fantastic lighting designs for the band’s performances using his laptop.
BILLY – Vocal Range: A3-D5: Flamboyant and artistic, Billy has a passionate interest in fashion, even though his father wants him to be a footballer like the other men in his family. He designs the band’s costumes.
JAMES – Vocal Range: A3-D5: James is tough and reliable, making him a good security guard for the band. Mostly, he keeps an eye out for anyone coming while the band is secretly rehearsing!
MARCY – Vocal Range: A3-G5: A quiet girl with an angelic voice, with SHONELLE, Marcy is one of the band’s backup singers and dancers.
SHONELLE – Vocal Range: A3-G5: A quiet girl with an angelic voice, with MARCY, Shonelle is one of the band’s backup singers and dancers.
SOPHIE – Vocal Range: A3-D5: Sophie and Madison are technically the band’s roadies, but also serve as backup dancers during performances.
MADISON – Vocal Range: A3-D5: Sophie and Madison are technically the band’s roadies, but also serve as backup dancers during performances.
What to prepare for non-musician youth roles:
- Vocal Selection: Please prepare 16-32 measures of a song in the style of the show (rock/pop musical theatre). Please do not sing a song from School of Rock. Please bring sheet music for the provided accompanist. If auditioning for TOMIKA, please prepare to sing Amazing Grace a cappella.
Click here to sign up for an audition day for YOUTH roles for School of Rock!
Roles for Adults (actors ages 25+ years old)
- Auditions for adult actors: January 31, 2026 (Saturday) 6-8pm; and February 1, 2026 (Sunday) 3-6pm
- Callbacks for adult actors: February 3, 2026 (Tuesday) 7-10pm
DEWEY FINN Age Range: 30-45, Vocal Range: Rock Tenor, B2-E5: An overly ambitious, rock-obsessed, under achiever. A highly energetic and comedic role. Improvisation skills desirable. Must be able to play guitar competently. A wannabe rock star with big dreams. Dewey finds himself in urgent need of some cash after getting kicked out of his band. He impersonates a teacher to land a job at the prestigious Horace Green prep school, where he turns his class of straight-A students into a rock group and enters them in the Battle of the Bands. In addition to the vocal selection for this role, please come prepared to play a section from your favorite classic rock song on guitar. RLT will provide a guitar amp.
ROSALIE MULLINS Age Range: 30-45, Vocal Range: Soprano, A3-D6: An uptight and highly strung headmistress of the elite Horace Green School. Driven by success and prestige. However, inside lives a caged, rock and roll lover. Secretly yearns to recapture the carefree spirit of her youth. Strong belt required.
NED SCHNEEBLY Vocal Range: Baritone, C3-F#4: Ned is an old friend of Dewey’s, and the two currently share a flat with Ned’s girlfriend Patti. He used to play in Dewey’s band but is now a substitute teacher – who Dewey impersonates to get the job at Horace Green. Ned is still passionate about his music but tends to let his bossy girlfriend Patty tell him what to do.
PATTY DI MARCO Vocal Range: Mezzo-Soprano Belt, Range B3-E5: Ned’s domineering girlfriend who lives with Ned and Dewey. She calls the shots in their relationship and isn’t too happy about Dewey’s presence in their flat – or his influence on Ned.
ADULT ENSEMBLE (ensemble tracks involve multiple roles)
NO VACANCY (Dewey’s old bandmates): Theo (D3-D5), Doug (G3-G4), Bob (G3-D5), Snake (G3-G4). Looking for adults with strong rock band vocals who also have the confidence and swagger of true rockers! The ability to play an instrument is a plus but not a requirement. These roles are doubled with other adult ensemble roles.
TEACHERS: Mr. Sanders (B2-F4), Ms. Gordon (D4-E5), Ms. Sheinkopf (B3-E5), Gabe Brown (D3-F4), Mr. Green (D3-F4), Mr. Noble (E3-F4), Ms. Bingham (D4-E5), Mr. Woodard (D3-F4), Mr. Janes (C3-F3), Ms. Macapugay (B4-E5), Mr. Wagner (B3-F4). These roles are doubled with other adult ensemble roles.
PARENTS: Mr. Sandford (Eb4-Ab4). Doubled with other adult ensemble roles.
What to prepare for adult roles:
- Vocal Selection: Please prepare 16-32 measures of a song in the style of the show (rock/pop musical theatre). Please do not sing a song from School of Rock. Please bring sheet music for the provided accompanist.
- If auditioning for DEWEY FINN, please also come prepared to play a section from your favorite classic rock song on guitar. RLT will provide a guitar amp.
Click here to sign up for an audition day for ADULT roles for School of Rock!
About the auditions
All auditionees should arrive ten minutes before the time they are signed up to help with check in. There are TWO general audition days for youth and adult actors. You need only attend ONE in your particular age group.
A callback list will be posted by 3pm on February 2. All auditionees that are called back will be asked to read and sing from provided selections of the script and to dance a piece of choreography that will be taught at the callbacks.
Youth actors called back for the roles of “Zach.” “Freddie,” “Katie,” and “Lawrence” may be asked to play their respective instruments.
Please fill out the following paperwork to bring with you to the auditions:
In addition to the paperwork, please email Cari@nullRaleighLittleTheatre.org with a recent picture of yourself with head and shoulders by 4pm on Friday, January 30. The purpose of the picture is to help the director remember your amazing performance during auditions, so an informal picture is ideal, as long as it shows who you are and is recent.
Questions about auditions? Contact Info@nullRaleighLittleTheatre.org
If you need any specific accommodations to audition, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Info@nullRaleighLittleTheatre.org to make your request. Examples of accommodations made in the past are: wheelchair accessible audition space, large print materials, prompters in the audition room, and volunteers to help fill out forms.
Volunteer Access Fund
If you face financial barriers related to transportation to the theatre, please check out our Volunteer Access Fund program!