Produced by BUZZ at The Hive Collaborative
Director: Eric Morris
Choreographer: Abby Magalee
Music Directors: Kyle Baker, Jenessa Iverson & Maxwell Emmett Ward
Audition Date: Monday, June 8, 2026 - 1-8pm
Possible Callback Date: Monday, June 15, 2026 - late afternoon/evening
Rehearsal Dates: November 1-November 19, 2026*
Performance Dates: November 20 - December 5, 2026
Stipend: $800
*We are hoping to build the rehearsal schedule to best accommodate the availability of the whole company. That means there will be the option of both daytime and evening rehearsals. We will provide a potential calendar to review at the auditions, and it can also be found HERE.
Please upload your headshot and resume HERE. No hardcopy will be required.
Please sign up for one 30 minute time slot. We will see 6 performers per slot. We ask that you be respectful, and not arrive too early, as our space has limited holding room, and the audition room is not sound proof.
SIGN UP HERE
Audition requirements:
Please prepare 32 bars of a contemporary song, from either the musical theater or pop music canons. Ideally the piece will showcase both your vocal ability and comedic chops. An accompanist will be provided.
Please also prepare to disclose your preferred pioneer name, and what your non-negotiable wagon item would be.
The team will ask about what instruments, if any, that you play. You may be asked to play them, and potentially accompany yourself if applicable, at the callbacks.
Synopsis: The Trail to Oregon! is a wild, irreverent, and interactive musical comedy inspired by the classic Oregon Trail video game. A dysfunctional American family journeys westward in search of a better life, facing bandits, dysentery, starvation, snakes, and their own terrible choices. With the audience deciding key plot points — including the characters’ names and who ultimately dies — no two shows are ever the same! Full of outrageous comedy, improvisation, catchy songs, and over-the-top characters, this is a high-energy ensemble piece for bold, versatile performers.
- Roles are gender-inclusive
- Strong comedy, improv, and character versatility are essential.
- Looking for performers ages 21-60
Seeking 5 versatile performers. One performer has been precast, but their role has yet to be decided. Their specific role will be decided based on audition results.
Available Roles/Character Breakdown:
- Father (35–55) The overconfident, stubborn, and wildly incompetent head of the family. He accidentally burned down their farm in Illinois and is determined to lead his family safely to Oregon to make up for it. Think pioneer Clark Griswold. Sings pop, rock and patter. Vocal Range: Baritone/Tenor
- Mother (35–50) The protective, capable, and exasperated backbone of the family. She is highly pragmatic and holds the family together, while constantly rolling her eyes at her husband's poor decision-making. Featured song is a sweeping pop ballad. Vocal Range: Mezzo-Soprano/Alto
- Daughter (15–25) A delightfully strange and unpredictable teenager. She sets out on the trail feeling misunderstood and actively searches for romance, often flirting with dangerous outlaws. Featured song is folk uptempo opener of Act 2. Vocal Range: Mezzo-Soprano
- Son (10–16, often played by female performer) A mischievous, high-energy 7-year-old boy with a sharp sense of humor. He has a running gag of trying to eat random objects (including guns and dead birds) and an intense, inexplicable desire to go skinny-dipping. Vocal Range: Tenor (unchanged/light voice acceptable)
- McDoon / The Bandit King (and others) (25–50) The flamboyant and unhinged leader of a group of bandits who terrorize the pioneers. He frequently crosses paths with the family and develops a complicated relationship with the Daughter. Sings a lot of patter, and a rock song. Vocal Range: Baritone/Tenor
- Grandpa/ Cletus Jones (and others) (25–60) The cranky, opinionated, and physically exaggerated grandfather. He claims to have won a personal war against lobsters in 1812, which landed his face on a million-dollar bill. Sings comedic patter and pop rock. Vocal Range: Any voice type