- Mowgli: Jungle boy.
- Nyra: An old lady, storyteller.
- Chitra: Woman of the village.
- Rikki-Tikki: Mongoose.
- Baloo: Kindly bear.
- Bagheera: Panther.
- Father Wolf: Leads the pack.
- Mother Wolf: Father wolf’s mate.
- Tabaqui: Jackal.
- Kaa: Python.
- Mang: Bat.
- Mor: Peacock.
- Wolf #1: Runs in a pack.
- Wolf #2: Runs in a pack.
- Wolf #3: Runs in a pack.
- King Monkey: Silly simian.
- Monkey #1: Another silly simian.
- Monkey #2: Another silly simian.
- Shere Khan: Fierce and villainous tiger.
- Messua: Mowgli’s mother.
- Toomai: Village elder.
- Cobra: Guardian of the great treasure.
- Margie: Bookshop owner; scatterbrained, eternally hopeful.
- Bombalurina: Margie’s cat; likes to steal things.
- Mom: Bored bookshop customer.
- Timmy: Kid. Hates books.
- Robin Hood: Vain Medieval English outlaw.
- Tom Sawyer: Mischievous Missouri schoolboy.
- Sherlock Holmes: Brainy English detective.
- Toto: Dorothy’s dog; not as brave as he thinks he is.
- Dorothy: Kansas farm girl; fearless, clever.
- Heidi: Swiss mountain girl; melodramatic.
- Pollyanna: New England schoolgirl; annoyingly optimistic.
- Book Fairy: Brings the book characters to life; overbearing.
- Lady in Red: Mysterious bookshop customer.
- Fagin: English pickpocket; sneaky.
- Long John Silver: English pirate; treacherous.
- Officer Ketchum: Confused police officer.
- Fingers: Jewel smuggler; dumb.
- Eddie: Another jewel smuggler; bossy and dumb.
- Doctor Dolittle: English veterinarian; talks to animals.
- Queen of Hearts: Ruler of Wonderland; hothead.
- Frankenstein: Monster; grunts a lot.
- Wicked Witch of the West: Dorothy’s nemesis; smart aleck.
- Hopalong Cassidy: Noble cowboy.
- Scarlet Mays/Ms. Polly:
Diva actress who demands that things go her way; does not get along with the director. 107 lines. - Holly Hanover/Mrs. Margaret Polk:
Level-headed and logical, but snarky actress. 128 lines. - Sandy Smith/Gertrude Polk:
Young actress who’s excited about the world of theatre. 96 lines. - Misty Gere/The Maid:
Drama queen who overplays her part as well as everything in reality. 89 lines. - Richard Green/Mr. Frederick Polk:
Experienced actor who tries to direct and has some pretty good ideas. 130 lines. - Tom Baines/Mr. Humphrey Black:
Sleepy, hungry actor who plays the dead guy. 42 lines. - Gary Ferguson/Inspector Bradshaw:
Serious method actor. 40 lines. - Erica Stone:
Put-upon but reliable stage manager/house manager. 82 lines. - Brett Donahue:
Director who’s lost all control. 175 lines. - Susan Wells:
Slightly batty accompanist; plays intense and dreadful mood music. 31 lines. - Inspector Wright:
Cheboygan’s finest. 28 lines. - Inspector Fuller:
Wrighter’s partner. 14 lines. - Adele Sears:
Drama critic. 13 lines. - Brian D. Taylor:
The playwright. 41 lines.
Dates & Times
January 2021
Dates to be announced
Actors only need to attend one audition. Auditions start promptly at 4:30pm.
Audition Location
Jackson’s First Presbyterian Church
743 W. Michigan Ave. Jackson, MI 49201
Please park behind the church and follow the signs to the southwest door.
Production Team
To be announced.
Any persons interested in directing with our Youth Theater program should contact Youth Theater committee chair Doug Meyers at [email protected]
About this Play
Come hear the incredible tale of Mowgli, a young boy raised by wolves. With the help of his friends — the bear Baloo, the panther Bagheera and the python Kaa — Mowgli learns the ways of the jungle. Some of the jungle boy’s adventures are gripping, like the time he encounters the hooded cobra who guards the treasure vault in the Deserted City. Others, like the coconut-tossing monkeys who take him prisoner, are hysterical. But the jungle is also dangerous, for it is the home of Shere Khan, the man-eating tiger who has vowed to destroy Mowgli. With his fawning jackal follower, Shere Khan plots to take control of the jungle. Mowgli must use all his strength and courage to stop Shere Khan before it is too late.
Performances
March 2021, dates to be announced
Friday and Saturday at 7:00pm, Sunday at 2:00pm
The Middle School at Parkside Kiesel Auditorium
2400 4th St, Jackson, MI 49203
This production calls for…
Center Stage Jackson’s Youth Theater program is for Jackson County students that are in 3rd through 9th grade (no exceptions). See our Frequently Asked Questions page for more info about the Youth Theater program.
What actors should prepare for auditions
No preparation necessary. Newbies welcome!
What actors can expect at auditions
Actors will do short vocal and dance auditions (no prep needed) as well as a cold reading from the script with other actors.
A “cold reading” means reading from a script without being able to practice it beforehand. Please note that the production team will not have actors read for every character (or even the character the actor might want to play). The purpose of the reading is to find out how much volume and expression the actor can read with, as well as how they adjust to direction.
Character List – TRIO
Ensemble
Wolves
Monkeys
Jungle Creatures
Villagers
Rough Rehearsal Schedule
To be announced, 4:30pm-6:00pm at Jackson’s First Presbyterian Church.
“Tech week” rehearsals will be held from 5:30pm-9:00pm. Performances will be held at the Middle School at Parkside, 2400 4th St, Jackson, MI 49203.
Contact
Youth Theater Committee Chair Doug Meyers at [email protected] or 517-539-4118.
**POSTPONED**
Dates to be determined
COVID-19 Update
As of June 27, 2020 the Center Stage Jackson Board of Directors has voted to indefinitely postpone this production. This difficult decision was made based on the practicality of holding rehearsals and performances under pandemic circumstances, availability of venues for rehearsals and performances, financial feasibility with reduced capacity restrictions, and most importantly concern for the safety of all involved in a production.
We will continue to provide updates on our website, social media accounts, and email list, and you may continue to reach us at [email protected]
We deeply appreciate your support and understanding in this unusual time. We are excited to make it through this intermission and back to the stage! If you would like to help keep theatre alive in Jackson, you can donate to our 501c3 organization online or by mail: Center Stage Jackson, PO Box 822 Jackson, MI 49204.
Audition Location
Jackson’s First Presbyterian Church
743 W. Michigan Ave. Jackson, MI 49201
Please park behind the church and follow the signs to the southwest door.
Director
To be announced
Any persons interested in directing with our Youth Theater program should contact Youth Theater committee chair Doug Meyers at [email protected]
About this Play
During the day, A Likely Story may look like any other used bookstore. But at night, it’s a place where magic happens. That’s when the characters inside the books come alive!
Six of those characters — Dorothy Gale, Robin Hood, Pollyanna, Sherlock Holmes, Heidi, and Tom Sawyer — long to help Margie, the scatterbrained owner, save her struggling store. But they’re not allowed to leave the building or be seen by human eyes. So when a pair of smugglers comes looking for a stolen necklace hidden inside one of the books, the characters are torn. Should they warn Margie and risk disappearing forever? Or can they find a way to defeat the crooks without being seen?
Featuring additional appearances by such beloved literary characters as the Queen of Hearts, Long John Silver, and Doctor Dolittle, this charming comedy celebrates the joy of reading in a fresh, fun-filled way.
Performances
**POSTPONED**
Dates to be determined
Friday and Saturday at 7:00pm, Sunday at 2:00pm
Jackson’s First Presbyterian Church
743 W. Michigan Ave. Jackson, MI 49201
This production calls for…
Center Stage Jackson’s Youth Theater program is for Jackson County students that are in 3rd through 9th grade (no exceptions). See our Frequently Asked Questions page for more info about the Youth Theater program.
What actors should expect at auditions
Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script. A “cold reading” means reading from a script without seeing it or being able to practice it beforehand. Please note that the production team will not have actors read for every character (or even the character the actor might want to play). The purpose of the reading is to find out how much volume and expression the actor can read with, as well as how they adjust to direction.
What actors should prepare for auditions
No preparation necessary. Newbies welcome!
Character List – TRIO
Rough Rehearsal Schedule
To be announced.
All rehearsals and performances will be held at Jackson’s First Presbyterian Church, 743 W. Michigan Ave. Jackson, MI 49202.
Contact
Youth Theater Committee Chair Doug Meyers at [email protected] or 517-539-4118.
Dates
**POSTPONED**
Dates to be announced
Actors only need to attend one audition and are welcome to drop by when they are able!
Audition Location
Jackson’s First Presbyterian Church
743 W. Michigan Ave. Jackson, MI 49202
Actors should use the parking lot behind the church and follow the yellow signs to the southwest door (left of the playground).
Director
A director for this production will be selected once dates are set for performances. If you are interested in directing this production please contact Katie Meyers at [email protected] for more information and/or to be put on the list to schedule an interview.
About this Play
The players at The Murder Mystery Playhouse are rehearsing a new show, “Putting a Little English On It.” It’s a not-so-good attempt at a British murder mystery, complete with cheesy dramatic music and British accents. As expected at the final dress rehearsal, the lights go out and a character dies onstage — only this murder wasn’t in the script! The authorities are quickly called, and soon the company finds themselves replaying the death scene. When yet another person dies at the end of the same scene, the cast finds themselves replaying the same scene over and over for other investigators, a theatre critic, and even the playwright himself! But every time they get to the end of the scene, someone else ends up with a fire poker in the chest. The actors are left scratching their heads at the strange circumstances and also worried that they could be next. It all culminates in a wild surprise ending in which the actors must work together to defeat the murderer before he murders them all.
Performances
**POSTPONED**
Dates to be determined
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:00pm, Sundays at 4:00pm
Sandhill Crane Vineyards
4724 Walz Rd. Jackson, MI 49201
This production calls for…
5 males
6 females
3 roles that can be either
Actors must be at least 18 years of age to audition.
See below for character list.
Character List
What actors should prepare for auditions
To be announced.
What actors should expect at auditions
To be announced.
Rough Rehearsal Schedule
To be announced.
Rehearsals will be held either at Jackson’s First Presbyterian Church until early February when rehearsals will move to the Sandhill Crane Vineyards (4724 Walz Rd. in Jackson).
Contact
Katie Meyers at [email protected] or (517) 539-4118.
