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BUDDY: THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY

Music & Lyrics by Buddy Holly and others

Book by Alan Janes
Directed & Choreographed by Keith Andrews
Music Directed by Ryan O’Connell

 

PRODUCTION DATES

First rehearsal: Thursday, June 26th, 2025
Preview: Friday, July 11th, 2025
Opening: Saturday, July 12th, 2025
Closing: Sunday, July 27th, 2025

AUDITION DATES

For this show, we are currently only seeking virtual submissions.  As of now, we have no in-person auditions scheduled.

LOCATIONS

Rehearsals will be held at the MTW rehearsal hall: 4350 E 7th Street, Long Beach, CA 90804 

Performances for BUDDY: THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY will be held at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center: 6200 E Atherton St, Long Beach, CA 90815

CONTRACT

AEA rate: $1,004/wk (COST Tier 2+)

Non-AEA rate: $16/hr for all rehearsal and performance hours worked.

Priority is always given to those with local housing. Non-AEA members are always encouraged to attend all auditions.

AUDITION MATERIAL

Please prepare a 16-32 bar vocal selection in the style of the show.  Additionally, please include an instrumental cut, in the style of the show.  These cuts can be independent, or you can sing and play in the same cut. Singing/performing from the show is welcomed.  If you can play more than one instrument, please showcase all applicable instruments.

We are specifically seeking actor/musicians who can play the following band parts: Acoustic Electric Guitar, Banjo (or Banjo-tar), Bass upright, Drums, Percussion, Piano, Violin/Fiddle, Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Trombone, and/or Trumpet.

Additionally, please prepare the Audition Side cut(s) for the role that you are auditioning for.  Those Audition Sides can be found HERE.

AUDITION APPOINTMENTS

For this show, we are currently only seeking virtual submissions.  As of now, we have no in-person auditions scheduled.

Deadline to virtual submit for BUDDY: THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY is March 31st, 2025.

To submit virtually: please complete the form below, which includes:

• HEADSHOT

• RESUME

• VOCAL VIDEO – 16-32 bar vocal selection in the style of the show.
• INSTRUMENTAL VIDEO – video(s) of you playing any/all applicable instruments, in the style of the show.  This video can be combined with your VOCAL VIDEO, or they can be separate.  You may also choose to submit a pre-existing instrumental video/reel.
• ACTING VIDEO – please prepare the Audition Side cut(s) for the role that you are auditioning for (Audition Sides can be found HERE). 
• Feel free to include your REEL as well!

**Note: please make sure that your headshot/resume/videos have their permissions ‘unlocked’ so that anyone with the link can view them**

MTW 2025 SEASON VIRTUAL SUBMISSIONS

HEALTH & SAFETY

MTW operates under an Infection Control Policy which has been filed with AEA. All company members must be Fully Vaccinated for COVID-19, or have a Bona Fide Health or Religious exemption. 

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS

Musical Theatre West strives to reflect its community, and welcomes and encourages all performers of any gender identity, age, religion, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, language, physical ability or diverse viewpoints to audition.

*All roles will be cast 18+ to play the ages listed below

**The role of BUDDY HOLLY has been cast.  Seeking potential understudies/swings.

BUDDY HOLLY: (Male, 20-25) Singer-songwriter from Lubbock, Texas, Buddy is intelligent, charismatic, and at least 6’ tall. Must play guitar, sing and act and have a feel for Rock ’n’ Roll. Must play Guitar.

JOE B. MAUDLIN: (Male, 20-25) Double Bass player from Lubbock, Texas. A serious and ‘square’ young man with musical ability. Must be able to sing and act. Must play Upright Bass and Bass Guitar. Proficiency at secondary musical instrument(s) is a plus.

JERRY ALLISON: (Male, 20-25) Drummer from Lubbock, Texas. A good looking guy with irrepressible cheeky humor and musical ability. Must be able to act and sing. Must play drums. Proficiency at secondary musical instrument(s) is a plus.

MARIA ELENA HOLLY: (Female, 20-25, Latinx) Classy and well-educated with musical ability. Must be able to act and sing. Ability to play an instrument is a plus, but not necessary.

J.P. RICHARDSON aka THE BIG BOPPER: (Male, 25-30) A former DJ, he is a Texan with an irrepressible larger-than-life character and 6’ tall or over. Must have the ability to command the stage on his own. Best known for his 1958 recording of “Chantilly Lace”. Must be able to act, sing and play a musical instrument.

RITCHIE VALENS: (Male, 20-25, Latinx) He is a handsome boy with serious charisma, a dedicated eye for the ladies and the ability to hold the stage on his own. Best known for his 1958 hit “La Bamba.” Must be able to sing and act. Ability to play an instrument is a plus, but not necessary.

HIPOCKETS DUNCAN: (Male, 30-45) An exuberant hometown radio DJ from Lubbock, Texas, with an air of authority and keen sense of humor. Must be able to act, sing and play a musical instrument.

NORMAN PETTY: (Male, 30-45) A record producer from Clovis, New Mexico with a business-like manner and a love of making records. Must be a strong actor. Must be able to sing and play a musical instrument.

VI PETTY: (Female, 30-40) Norman’s wife with a heart of gold and a good sense of humor. Must be able to act, sing and play keyboards.

MURRAY DEUTCH: (Male, 40’s) a longtime music industry executive who helps propel Buddy Holly and the Crickets to stardom. VERY New York. Must act, sing and play a musical instrument. Especially seeking a performer who plays horns.

MARLENA (APOLLO PERFORMER): (Female, African-American): Must have good comic timing and hold the stage on their own during the song “Shout.” Must be able to sing and act. Ability to play an instrument is a plus, but not necessary.

TYRONE (APOLLO PERFORMER): (Male, African-American): Must have good comic timing and hold the stage on their own during the song “Shout.” Must be able to sing, act and play a musical instrument. Especially seeking a male performer who can play sax and/or trombone and/or trumpet.

ENSEMBLE GUITARIST/TOMMY: (Male, 20s-30s) Will play a Cricket and sometimes lead guitar throughout the show.

MALE & FEMALE ENSEMBLE: (Various ages) Must be able to sing and play a musical instrument. Ability to play horns, fiddle, keyboards a plus. Smaller roles are cast from the Ensemble. Ensemble may cover leads.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are Musical Theatre West auditions held?

All auditions take place at the MTW rehearsal halls and offices, located at 4350 East 7th St, Long Beach, CA 90804. You can enter through one of two gates on 7th Street. 

Where should I park?

Parking is available directly in front of the offices in our parking lot. If the lot is full, there is street parking available on Ximeno, as well as in the surrounding neighborhoods.

When should I arrive?

If you have an audition appointment or are attending a chorus call, arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled time to allow for plenty of time to check-in. If you are attempting to audition without an appointment, our offices will be open an hour before our posted audition start time.

What should I wear?

For a vocal call, wear a comfortable outfit that you would wear to a job interview. If you would like to dress in the style of the show, feel free to do so.

For a dance call, wear form fitting clothing that you are comfortable dancing in and bring any shoes that could potentially be used in the show you are auditioning for. This could include jazz shoes, character shoes, or tap shoes, depending on the show. If you identify as female, character heels are usually required. 

What do I do when I get to the audition?

After you park, walk to our green room and check in with the audition monitors. If the audition is listed as an Equity Principal Audition (EPA) or an Equity Chorus Call (ECC), there will be an Equity monitor on site and all auditioners, regardless of union status, will need to check in with this monitor first. The MTW monitors will then have paperwork and additional check-in information for all auditioners. If you are a member of Actors’ Equity, remember to bring your Equity card.

How does the check-in process work?

There will be a Google Form for each auditioner to fill out when they arrive. This form will ask about basic contact information, union status, and any conflicts you may have with the rehearsal schedule provided. Bring a smartphone to fill out this form, plus your calendar to note any potential conflicts. The form may ask you to sign into your Google account, so have any login information ready. There is also a spot on the form that asks if you would accept an understudy role or an ensemble role, and we ask that you answer as truthfully as possible so we can cast the show appropriately.

What should I prepare?

For a vocal call, we typically ask auditioners to prepare a 16-32 bar cut of a song in the style of the show. This may change based on the individual shows, so always check the section of the audition notice called “Audition Material” for the most accurate information. Bring sheet music in the proper key; we do not allow tracks. 

For a dance call, arrive warmed up and in the proper attire. 

For all auditions, bring a physical headshot and resume.

What do I do after I check in?

Once you’ve confirmed with the audition monitors that your check-in form has successfully gone through, you can relax in our green room or right outside the green room. Don’t go too far away, because our audition monitors will call your name when it’s time for you to audition. 

For a vocal call, we will call you into the hallway as a part of a small group where you will wait to go into the audition room. One of our monitors will then take your group in one by one, and you will then have the chance to audition.

For a dance call, we will bring in groups of up to 50 at a time into the audition room at once.

How does the audition work once I am in the audition room?

For a vocal call, you will walk to the accompanist and go over your sheet music with them. Then, you can walk to the X marked on the floor in front of the audition panel and slate for the panel. Slating is where you say your name, the name of the song you will sing, and the name of the musical it is from or the name of the artist who sang it. You can then sing your song. Once you have finished, the panel will either thank you and you can leave, or they may ask you to sing another song. If you are asked to sing something else, you can return to the accompanist and go over the sheet music for the next song, and then return to the X to sing. Once you are finished, take a seat in the hallway outside the room once again and the audition monitor will have more information for you there.

For a dance call, the choreographer will teach the routine, then break the group into groups to practice. We will then organize you into smaller groups and you will perform the routine for adjudication.

How do callbacks work?

If the casting team needs to see more from you, then we will ask you to come back either later in the day or on another day, depending on what the team needs to see. The audition monitors will let you know before we dismiss you for the day and will let you know when to come back and what to prepare. All current callback material can be found here.

How will I know if I’m cast in the show?

All auditioners will receive an email stating whether or not they were cast in the show. We try to get this email out as soon as we can, but sometimes it can take up several weeks to fully cast the show. This MTW audition page will also be updated when all offers have been sent out.

It’s my first time auditioning, any advice?

Yes!  Always be yourself when auditioning. You never know what the casting team is looking for, so the more you can let yourself shine through in your audition, the better. When you do your best, you make our job easier because we want to find the right people for each role. Make sure you arrive on time and come prepared for anything the team may throw your way. Try not to compare yourself to others and most importantly, have fun! And if you have an off day, there are always more auditions around the corner. We’re excited to have you!