Cratchit audition page

Tides

What a special happy time of year

We all know the holidays are near

Merriment and joyous times are finally here.

Christmas tides to you and you and you

Family, friends and cherished neighbors too

Happy moments, jingling all of the way, it’s true!

Stop

Tides Guide (Bill)

Tides Track

Give me a break

Trixie:

Back when I was eight years old

My Daddy said to me

Be a good girl and work hard

And happy days you’ll see.

So I tried to do my best

But school was awfully tough

So I quit and went to work

Which also I found rough

Every job I had was bad

My bosses were so lame

Always late they docked my pay

And said I was to blame.

Give me a break …Give me a break.

I’ve still got dreams and my future is at stake.

Give me a break. Don’t be a obtuse.

Won’t you help me put my many skills up to good use.

Stop

Give Me A Break Guide

Give Me A Break Track

Mia And Sophia

Please don’t cry Sophia

I’ll take care of you.

Just hold tight…together we’ll get through

It looks dark Sophia

But pretty soon you’ll see

We’ll find our way, and be okay

Just stay close to me

Dad made us a promise

Said we’d be okay

But he’s gone—I miss him everyday.

Dad will not forget us

He’ll come home you’ll see

We’ll find our way, and be okay

Just stay close to me

Mia and Sophia Track

Mia and Sophia Guide (Bill)

Solitude

Cratchit:

Why am I here all by myself

Yearning for understanding

Working all day. fighting the fray

Downhearted guilt expanding

Not asking much I meet the test

Yet nothing seems to matter

Children and wife don’t seem to care

Forcing my pride to shatter.

Solitude Guide

Solitude Track

Different Times

In my childhood life was bad

Working class..we lived real sad

Few hot shots owned all the land

Rest of us walked hat in hand.

If you worked and tried your best

You could be rich like the rest

It’s my guess that all your clan

-Lazy clods to every man

Different times, different times.

We grew up in different times

Upstairs Downstairs ’twas no doubt

Were you in or were you out?

STOP

Different Times Guide

Different Times Track

Bunk The Skunk

Here’s the song of Bunk the skunk

He was born on Christmas day.

Made him kinda mad and also kinda sad

Caused his tail to lift and spray (SFX)

Bunky’s Mom, she felt so bad

His birthday, was overlooked.

Brothers had a party every single year

Bunky’s day was double-booked..

Bunk the skunk

His birthday was on Christmas day.

Bunk the skunk

“Happy Birthday” did no one say.

STOP

Bunk The Skunk Guide

Bunk The Skunk Track

That’s The Way of The World

Archibald:

Sometimes life throws you off guard

This and that all seem so hard

Easy just to pitch the towel

Whine and moan, complain and growl

But don’t do it… stay the course

Just when things could not seem worse

Gusting winds begin to blow

All good things commence to show

That’s the way of the world, Sweety

That’s the way of the world

Up and down and side to side

Everyone abides-

Good times, bad times even strides

That’s the way of the world

STOP

That’s The Way of The World

Guide

Track

All:

We wish you a Merry Christmas,

And a Happy New Year!

Good tidings we bring

To you and your kin;

Good tidings for Christmas

And a Happy New Year!

Now bring us some figgy pudding,

And bring some out here!

We Wish You A Merry Christmas ALL

Guide

Track

Mia and Sophia Guide (AI voice)

All auditioners will be asked to sing these two selections. At the auditions, we'll practice first with the guide version, then audition with the "track" version

Those auditioning for principle adult female roles will be asked to sing this selection. At the auditions, we'll practice first with the guide version, then audition with the "track" version

Those auditioning for principle youth female roles will be asked to sing this selection. At the auditions, we'll practice first with the guide version, then audition with the "track" version

Those auditioning for principle adult male roles will be asked to sing either of the two following selections. At the auditions, we'll practice first with the guide version, then audition with the "track" version

Those auditioning for principle youth male roles will be asked to sing either of the two following selections. At the auditions, we'll practice first with the guide version, then audition with the "track" version

Please review the monologues below.

Those interested in auditioning for principal roles should prepare one of these monologues. Even though there may not be a specific monologue for all principal characters, please choose one that feels appropriate to you.

The monologue audition may be either read or memorized.

CRATCHIT

Timothy Cratchit — controlled, irritated, self-assured; with just a hint that something underneath is beginning to crack

Do you know what my problem is? Apparently, I’m unreasonable. Me! I work all day. I provide for this family. I make sure there’s food on the table, a roof over our heads, heat in the house—and nobody seems particularly interested in that. No. What matters is some ridiculous Christmas play! Rehearsals and costumes and singing skunks! And when I say enough is enough, suddenly I’m the villain. Well, I’m sorry. Somebody around here has to behave like an adult. Somebody has to make decisions. And if that makes me unpopular...fine. I can live with that. (Beat.) At least...I think I can.

EMILY

Emily Cratchit — loving but increasingly unwilling to tolerate Tim's behavior

Tim, I have defended you more times than you will ever know. To the children. To our friends. Sometimes even to myself. “He works hard,” I say. “He loves us. He just has trouble showing it.” But lately I'm beginning to wonder if that's true. These children adore you, Tim. They don't want your money. They don't care about your work. They want you. Peter wants his father to notice him. Belinda wants you to be proud of her. And I...I would simply like to remember what it feels like to have a husband instead of an employer. I love you. But I need you to understand something: loving someone doesn't mean allowing them to make you miserable.

ARCHIE

Archie Archibald — comic streetwise exterior masking a father's genuine fear

Hey, look at me. Look at your old man. Everything's gonna be okay. Have I ever lied to you? All right—don't answer that. Bad question. The point is, I got everything covered. Every Monday, there's gonna be money for you. You stick together, you look out for each other, and before you know it, your old man's gonna be home. (Beat.) Girls...I know I made mistakes. Big ones. Whoppers. Maybe I thought I was smarter than I was. But there's one thing I never made a mistake about—and that's you two. You're the best thing I ever did. So don't worry about me. You hear? Things have a way of working themselves out. That's the way of 'da world.

TRIXIE

Beatrix “Trixie” Bunderbubble — tough, conniving, none too bright, and completely convinced of her own cleverness

Okay, kid, listen up and listen good. My name is Beatrix Bunderbubble. My friends call me Trixie. You can call me Miss Bunderbubble. Or Aunt Trixie. Yeah—I like that. Aunt Trixie. Sounds warm, don't it? Because that's what I am. Warm. Nurturing. Maternal. Ask Mugsy. He'll tell ya. Well...he'll grunt, but that's basically the same thing. Now, while your Pop is away, me and Mugsy are gonna take care of everything. The house, the money...you kids. Especially the money. So there's absolutely nothing for you to worry about. As long as everybody does exactly what Aunt Trixie says, we're gonna get along just fine. Capisce, pumpkin?

TINY TIM (TT)

Tiny Tim Cratchit — playful, irreverent, but ultimately the moral center of the story

Would you look at you! Timothy Cratchit, Esquire. Successful lawyer. Beautiful home. Lovely wife. Three children who adore you—and you haven't got the sense God gave a Christmas goose! I had one good leg, a wooden cane, and barely two shillings to rub together, and somehow I was happier than you! You've got everything, Guv'nor, except the ability to see it. That's why I'm here. And believe me, I didn't travel through all of eternity on Christmas Eve just to admire your furniture. You've got some things to see tonight, Timmy boy. Some of 'em you won't like. But if there's still a heart beating underneath all that “blah, blah, blah” of yours...maybe there's hope for you yet.

PETER

Peter Cratchit — funny and youthful, but more perceptive than his father realizes

Dad, I know you think the play is stupid. And maybe “Bunk the Skunk” isn't exactly Shakespeare. I don't even know who Shakespeare is, really. I mean, I know he's dead. And I think he wore those funny pants. But I like being Bunk. Everybody laughs when I do it. Not laughing at me—laughing because I'm making them laugh. It feels good. Mr. Stanley says I'm funny. Mom says I'm good at it. I just thought...maybe you'd think I was good too. You don't have to like the play, Dad. You don't even have to like Bunk the Skunk. I just wish you'd come see me do it before you decide it doesn't matter.

MIA

Mia Archibald — the more forceful of Archie's daughters; frightened but determined

Dad, stop telling us everything's going to be okay! You keep saying that like saying it enough times will magically make it true. You're talking about going away for years. What happens to us? An envelope full of cash under a flowerpot? That's your plan? Dad, that's insane! (Beat.) I know you think you're protecting us by keeping quiet. Maybe you are. I don't understand any of this. But I understand you. You're my father. And even when you make me absolutely crazy, I trust you. So if you tell me we have to be strong, I'll be strong. But don't pretend you're not scared. Because I'm scared too. And maybe...we can be scared together.

SOPHIA

Sophia Archibald — younger, gentler, trying very hard to be brave

Everybody keeps telling me I'm old enough to understand what's happening. Well...I understand it. That's the problem. I understand that my dad might be going away. I understand that Mia and I might have to take care of ourselves. And I understand that I'm supposed to be brave because crying isn't going to fix anything. But what if I don't want to be brave? What if I just want my dad home? (Beat.) He says I have to trust him. And I do. I trust him more than anybody. So I'm going to believe him when he says everything will be okay. I just wish “okay” didn't feel so scary right now.

BELINDA

Belinda Cratchit — strong-willed, theatrical, and very much her father's daughter

Yes, I snuck out. I know I wasn't supposed to. And yes, technically that means I disobeyed you. But what was I supposed to do? The show is tomorrow! Everybody is counting on me. Mr. Stanley is counting on me. And I worked really hard for this part. You can't just decide something is stupid because you don't like it. Mom says being in the play has given us confidence. She's right. When I'm on that stage, I feel like I can do anything. And then you come barging in and make me feel like none of it matters. (Beat.) Well, it matters to me, Dad. I matter. And I really wish that mattered to you.

If you'd like to read the "Cratchit" script you can find it here.