Countdown To Opening Night!

THE CHRISTMAS SCHOONER AUDITION INFORMATION

All those cast in THE CHRISTMAS SCHOONER are required to become a KVTA member at some level (minimum $30) by the initial cast meeting/read-thru. One parent/guardian being a member of KVTA does cover the membership requirement for all family members 17 and under. Failure to complete this requirement will result in the cast member being removed from the production.

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Director: Sharla Ronchetto

Assistant Director: Beth Sutter

Vocal Director: Mike Snyder

Choreographer: Jordyn Clark

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​​​​PERFORMANCE DATES / LOCATION:

December 5, 6, and 7, 2025

KVTA Studios Black Box Theatre  1 Stuart Dr  Kankakee, IL 60901

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AUDITION AND CALLBACK DATES / LOCATION:

AUDITIONS: Thursday, September 25 time slots beginning at 6:00 pm

CALLBACKS: Friday, September 26 starting at 6:00 pm

LOCATION: KVTA Studios  1 Stuart Dr  Kankakee IL 60901

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Questions regarding auditions, callbacks, or casting, may be emailed to the Director, Sharla Ronchetto, at: kvta.sharla@gmail.com​​

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All auditioners must be 8 and older by auditions on September 25, 2025. Proof of age may be requested. and actors of any ethnicity / race are encouraged to audition for any part. All auditioners must complete an audition form, a conflict calendar, and sign KVTA's policy acknowledgement form. Cast members are required to provide the following personal items: shoes, socks, and stage makeup. In addition, cast members may be asked to supply other items such as: leotards, tights, etc. Optional expenses include: a digital download from the production, a picture CD, apparel items, production party attendance, cast/staff chill times, etc. PLEASE NOTE: Child care is not available during rehearsals and performances. Cast and staff members are not permitted to bring their children, or any additional family members, to rehearsals. ​All rehearsals are closed to the public unless otherwise stated. All KVTA facilities are smoke-free, alcohol-free, and drug-free. Anyone found to be in violation of these policies may be removed from the production.​​​​​​​​

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If you have already signed a policy acknowledgement form during our 2025-2026 Season, you do not need to sign this form again.

KVTA Policies: PDF

KVTA Policy Acknowledgement Form to be signed: PDF

All participants, on-stage or off-stage, will be required to sign KVTA's Social Media, Sexual Harassment, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policies. If said participant is under the age of 18, a parent or guardian will sign for the participant. Any parent or guardian signing for their auditioner agrees to instruct and provide information to their auditioner regarding KVTA's policies. An Emergency Card and Waiver of Liability must also be completed and signed in order to participate. These forms will be distributed when you first volunteer with KVTA. If you have any questions please email: kvta@kvta.org

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AUDITION INFORMATION:

Please sign up for an audition time HERE.
-  Time slots are currently limited to 10 auditioners per time slot. 

-  Additional time slots may be added and/or the number of auditioners per time slot may be increased, if needed.

-  If you cannot attend any of these audition time slots, please email the Director at kvta.sharla@gmail.com and we will come up with a suitable option for everyone involved.

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Audition Form can be downloaded here: Microsoft Word    PDF

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Conflict Calendar can be downloaded HERE.

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ANTICIPATED REHEARSAL TIMES:​​

Rehearsals will start the week of September 29, 2025. During October, individual cast members can expect to have rehearsal no more than four times per week. During November and December, individual cast members can expect to have rehearsal up to five times per week. While we are learning vocals, choreography/movement, and blocking, not all actors will be needed at all rehearsals. Once we begin running the acts, rehearsals will be full cast.

 

Please list all conflicts that you have Monday-Friday, from 6:00-9:00, and Saturday from 9:00 am-4:00 pm, September 30 through November 29. We will not rehearse during all of those time slots every week; those are simply the possible time slots. Conflicts will not preclude you from being cast; they are needed for us to develop a rehearsal schedule, which will be based on cast and staff availability. Attendance for the Sitzprobe (November 21) and during Tech Week (December 2-7) is mandatory.

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Rehearsal dates are subject to change. We want to have all of the cast at ALL of our final tech rehearsals, so please be open and honest when completing your conflict calendar. Please be sure to list all of your conflicts from the audition date through the final performance date. If you have any questions about the information provided here, please email the Director, Sharla Ronchetto, at kvta.sharla@gmail.com.

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CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS (ages listed are stage ages):
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Karl Stossel (male; age 9; Vocal range: G3-E5)

An adventurous and curious boy who admires his grandfather and father greatly and wants to grow up to be sailors just like them. He is a proud boy, but not without a certain sensitivity.

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Gustav Stossel (male; age 55 to 65; Vocal range: G2-F4)

Peter's father and Karl’s grandfather. He, too, is proud to be part of the American landscape, but does not want to forget where he came from. He is a hardworking sailor, a wise, calm and kind man, but very stubborn. A slight German accent may be used when portraying this character.

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Peter Stossel (male; age 35-45; Vocal range: G2-F4)

The quintessential husband, father, and son. He loves his family very much. Has a strong sense of obligation to the other immigrants who have been less fortunate that he has, which ultimately leads to his demise. A hardworking sailor.

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Rudy & Man #1 (male; age 20-35; Vocal range: B2-G4)

The goofier of the two between himself and Oskar, he is also a skilled sailor who deeply respects Captain Stossel. Loves food and has a biting sarcasm.

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Oskar & Man #2 (male; age 20-35; Vocal range: B2-G4)

A hotheaded, know-it-all with a big heart. He likes to pick fights with Gustav and is one part of a dynamic duo with Rudy. A sailor who deeply respects Captain Stossel.

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Steve & Man #3 (male; age 35-45; Vocal range: Bb2-F4)

Although he is a man of indulgence, he is all business. Perhaps the most mature and most serious of Captain Stossel's three right-hand men. Has a deep respect for Peter and would probably be second in line to captain the schooner.

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Karl Stossel (age 15) & Young Man (male; age 15; Vocal range: C#3-E4)

The same boy as he was at 9, but stronger, more mature, and on the verge of becoming a man like his father. Has a strong sense of obligation to honor his father's legacy following his death.

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Hans & Officer Wells & Man #4 (male; age 20-60; bass)

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Alma Stossel (female; age 25-35; Vocal range: G3-F5)

Peter's wife and Karl's mother. She is motherly and caring but very strong, and very proud to now call herself an American. She holds down the house while her husband is at sea.

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Enid & Woman #1 (female; age 20-40; alto)

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Martha & Kate & Woman #2 (female; age 30-50; mezzo-soprano)

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Olive & Rose & Woman #3 (female; age 40-60; mezzo-soprano)

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Mary Claire Daugherty & Young Girl (female; age 9-12)

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INITIAL AUDITION FORMAT:

At the initial audition, everyone will read one monologue of their choice from the options provided. Due to the nature of the music in this show, the audition vocal excerpt is a duet. Please learn the part relevant to your vocal range. Everyone will sing the vocal excerpt with another auditioner and then again with a different partner. Then the group will perform the pre-learned dance together. The dance will not be taught at the auditions; you must learn it beforehand.

 

Audition materials may be accessed at: AUDITION

 

DANCE:

All auditioners will perform the audition dance within their small group. The audition dance has been recorded for the auditioners to learn on their own before the auditions. There is a front view of the dance and a back view of the dance, as well as an instruction video. We will not teach the dance at the auditions. All auditioners are expected to learn their audition dance before the audition and perform their dance without instruction at auditions. Please wear loose, comfortable clothing to move in, as well as appropriate shoes for dancing.

 

Dance videos can be accessed HERE.

 

CALLBACKS:

Friday, September 26, 2025, starting at 6:00 pm
• For anyone new to the audition process, callbacks are only for select auditioners that the show staff members (i.e. Director, Assistant Director, Vocal Director, Choreographer) would like to see again. If you are not called back, this does NOT mean that you will not be cast in the show.

• We will use your audition number when we post the callbacks. Please take note of what number you are given at the initial audition.

• We will post a callback list on the KVTA website at http://www.kvta.org and on the KVTA Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/kankakeetheatre on Thursday, September 25, after all initial auditions have been completed, so it will be late in the evening. Your patience is greatly appreciated! 
• If for any reason you cannot make this callback date, PLEASE email the Director before your audition, or tell the board member working the check-in table at auditions. 
• If you are called back, it is highly encouraged that you make every effort to attend the callbacks. 

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Callback materials may be accessed at: AUDITION

 

POSSIBLE SONGS FOR CALLBACKS (only as needed):

The Letter from the Initial Audition

Young Karl with Alma = Loving Sons m. 26-50 - spoken parts too

Alma = Questions m. 5-50

Peter = When I Look at You m. 36-59

Teen Karl = Hardwater Sailors m. 7-32

Storytellers, Gus, and Teen Karl = What is it About the Water (Reprise) (whole song)

 

POSSIBLE SCENES FOR CALLBACKS (only as needed):

Monologues from the Initial Audition

Peter and Alma = p. 28-30

Peter and Steve = p. 34-36

Peter and Young Karl = p. 44-45

Gustav, Young Karl, Steve, Oskar, Rudy = p. 38-40

Peter, Alma, Gustav, Teen Karl = p. 103-105

Alma, Enid, Kate, Olive = p. 54-55

Alma and Young Karl = p. 79-82

Alma and Mary Claire = p. 124-126

Alma and Gustav = p. 127-128

 

CAST LIST:
The cast list will be posted on the KVTA website at http://www.kvta.org and on the KVTA Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/kankakeetheatre on Friday, September 26, after all callbacks have been completed, so it could be very late in the evening. Thank you in advance for your patience as we will have many difficult decisions to make! 
 

For those cast in the show, our CAST MEETING and READ THRU will be on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, 6:00 pm, at the KVTA Studios.

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Further questions regarding auditions, callbacks, or casting may be emailed to the Director, Sharla Ronchetto, at: kvta.sharla@gmail.com  Please include The Christmas Schooner Auditions in the subject line.

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Break a leg!

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Sincerely,

The Staff of The Christmas Schooner​