Casting Call: A Christmas Carol

General Information

LBMT is looking to cast its upcoming production of A Christmas Carol: A Play with Carols, adapted and directed by local artist Rebecca Russell, based on the novella by Charles Dickens. This brand-new, ensemble-based show will be presented from December 10-13, 2026 for five performances at St. Brigid’s Centre for the Arts (310 St. Patrick Street). The show features a cast of approximately 10-16 performers, with a range of roles for singers, actors, and puppeteers of all ages and backgrounds.

Rehearsals for the show will start the week after auditions on September 29 and will be held at Lost Baggage Musical Theatre (480 Avalon Place). Rehearsals will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and Saturday daytimes, with Friday evening rehearsals being added in November closer to the show date.

Auditionees are encouraged to attend the Info Night on the evening of Friday, September 11 at 7pm at LBMT (480 Avalon Place) to learn more. 

Audition Information

Dates and Times:

• Wednesday, September 23: 6:30, 7:30, 8:30pm
• Friday, September 25: 6:30, 7:30, 8:30pm
• Saturday, June 27: 10:30, 11:30am, 12:30pm

All auditions will be taking place at Lost Baggage Musical Theatre (480 Avalon Place) and are by appointment only. If you are not available these audition dates but would like to still audition, please select “Not Available/Video Audition” on the audition form. You will be asked to submit a short video no later than Friday, September 25 by 9:00pm following the same requirements as the audition format. 

As the casting requirements of this show are different from a traditional musical, please review the following requirements closely.

The “A Christmas Carol” artistic team is looking for talented, collaborative performers – including singers, actors, and puppeteers – with a strong sense of play, generosity, kindness, dedication, and teamwork, who can contribute their unique talents to the creation of this world premiere. All cast members (except the actor portraying Scrooge) may play multiple characters as well as potentially serving as puppeteers. Performers will often work as an ensemble, with the opportunity for featured roles and moments. This is a unique opportunity to be a part of the creation of a new show right here in Ottawa!

As additional information, Swings and/or Understudies may also be cast (please indicate if you do not wish to be considered for a swing or understudy role). Whether the production will use a British dialect is not yet decided: please prepare sides in your standard dialect. If you have a British dialect in your repertoire, please let the artistic team know during your audition.

Please note that performers choosing to audition only for Scrooge or as puppeteers may forgo any singing requirements.

LBMT is committed to diversifying musical theatre performance in Ottawa: performers of all ages, genders, physical types, and backgrounds are warmly invited to audition. Please let us know if you require any accommodations for the audition process.

Carolers: This production will feature traditional carols as might have been heard in 1843 London. If you would like to audition for the role of the “Carolers,” including Caroler 1 (Soprano), Caroler 2 (Alto), Caroler 3 (Tenor) or Caroler 4 (Baritone), you will be asked to prepare the “Caroler” musical audition cut. At the audition, you will be asked to sing the musical cut alone and also in harmony with one of the music team. 

Please also prepare a 1-minute (or less) a cappella traditional carol, folk song, or classical piece, which you feel demonstrates your storytelling ability through song. Please see the ranges below for more information on the Caroler roles (ranges may be checked at the audition). For a better understanding of the type of carols to be featured in the show, you are welcome to listen to the playlist here. As the artistic vision for this production of A Christmas Carol is primarily a cappella voices, auditions will be unaccompanied. However, if you do play a hand-held instrument, please do indicate this.

Carolers serve as the narrators for the show and acting/storytelling ability will also be a key component of casting. Please note that printed sides will be provided at the audition: memorization of sides is neither required or expected.

Please note: Performers auditioning solely for the roles of the Carolers are encouraged to participate in the movement session, but have the option to forgo this portion of the casting process if they do not wish to be considered for other roles.

Scrooge: The classic role of Scrooge is a demanding and rewarding acting role for an experienced male-presenting actor. The directing team may also choose to explore the character of Scrooge with the performer through additional exercises in the audition, such as improv.

Please note: Performers auditioning solely for the role of Scrooge may choose to forgo singing and movement requirements; memorization of sides is not required. 

Puppeteers: Puppeteers will be asked to prepare a side (script excerpt) on your choosing with a focus on a character you are interested in (a reader will be provided). Please also review all sides, which will be sent to you after submitting your audition application (found at the bottom of the page).

In addition, please bring to the audition a puppet or object that you wish to animate, and prepare a one minute, wordless puppetry piece demonstrating your skills as a puppeteer, your ability to create a believable character, and your storytelling (no mouth puppets, please).

Puppeteers will also take part in the movement session – please see details below in the Ensemble section. Those choosing to audition solely as puppeteers may choose to forgo any singing auditions.

Cratchits, Marley, Fred (Winnifred), Tiny Tim, Belle, Young Scrooge, and all other characters, including Ensemble: A wide variety of roles are available in A Christmas Carol for performers of all ages and backgrounds. You will be asked to please prepare the “Ensemble” musical audition cut. As the artistic vision for this production of A Christmas Carol is primarily a cappella voices, auditions will be unaccompanied. Ranges may be checked at the audition. If you do play a hand-held instrument, please do indicate this on your audition form. 

Movement: A movement segment of the audition will be required for those auditioning. Please come wearing movement appropriate clothing, as you will not be able to change at the audition. No advance preparation is required for the movement session, as auditionees will be led through movement and puppetry exercises by the creative team. Auditionees are encouraged to sign up for the free workshop on September 11 to gain a better understanding of the style of rod and pole puppetry that will be used in A Christmas Carol. Those with a strong dance background will be given the opportunity to demonstrate any special skills at the audition. 

Please note: Carolers and Scrooge auditionees are encouraged to attend the movement session, but may choose to forgo this portion of the audition if they do not wish to be considered for other roles.

A session of callback auditions may be required on Saturday, September 26, 2026 at 2pm at the discretion of the artistic team and may only require certain individuals. Please note that callbacks are not an indication of whether you will be cast in the show, or if you are being considered for a specific role in the production. Callbacks may not be required if the artistic team does not feel they are necessary for casting the production.

Please submit the audition application at the bottom of the page if you would like to audition for the show. Auditions by appointment only. The minimum age to audition for this production is 8 years old at the time of auditions. Those under the age of 18 must be accompanied by only one parent or guardian at the audition.

Please submit the audition application at the bottom of the page, if you would like to audition for the show.

Show Synopsis

This holiday season, rediscover the magic of A Christmas Carol in a unique theatrical adaptation by local writer and artist Rebecca Russell.

Originally written by Charles Dickens, the beloved story follows the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, a man whose bitterness and greed have left little room in his heart for kindness or celebration. On Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his former business partner, who warns him that he must change his ways. Over the course of the night, three spirits (the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come) guide Scrooge on a journey through memories, present-day joys and struggles, and a chilling glimpse of the future that awaits if he does not choose to change. Through these encounters, Scrooge discovers the true meaning of generosity, compassion, and the spirit of Christmas.

In this stage adaptation, traditional Christmas carols are performed a cappella, allowing the voices of the performers to fill the theatre with the warmth and beauty of the season. Adding to the magic, the three spirits appear through beautifully, locally-crafted puppetry. The mystery of shadow puppetry creates a striking and atmospheric theatrical experience that captures both the spookiness and wonder of the season.  

Heartwarming, inventive, with a touch of ghost story, and rich with the sounds of beloved carols, this ensemble-based production invites audiences of all ages to celebrate the season and reflect on the power of kindness, community, and redemption.

Characters

• EBENEZER SCROOGE: Male, 50-70s (Range: N/A – Non-Singing) – A housewares employee who turns into a chainsaw-wielding hero.
• BOB CRATCHIT: Male, 30-40s (Range: N/A – Non-Singing) – Scrooge’s clerk
• WINIFRED (FRED): Female, 20-40s (Range: N/A – Non-Singing) – Scrooge’s niece
• TINY TIM: Male, 8-10 (Range: N/A – Non-Singing) – The child of the Cratchits with a physical disability
• MRS. CRATCHIT: Female, 30-40s (Range: N/A – Non-Singing) – Bob Cratchit’s wife
• JACOB MARLEY: Male, 60-70s (Range: N/A – Non-Singing) – This character will be an actor integrated with Puppet elements. Scrooge’s business partner who died seven years ago
• CAROLER 1: Female, Any Age (Range: Soprano) – Helps to narrate story and provides music. Must be a skilled solo singer with a strong ability to sing harmony (high voice)
• CAROLER 2: Female, Any Age (Range: Alto) – Helps to narrate story and provides music. Must be a skilled solo singer with a strong ability to sing harmony (medium-high voice)
• CAROLER 3: Any Age (Range: Tenor) – Helps to narrate story and provides music. Must be a skilled solo singer with a strong ability to sing harmony (medium-low voice)
• CAROLER 4: Male, Any Age (Range: Baritone) – Helps to narrate story and provides music. Must be a skilled solo singer with a strong ability to sing harmony (low voice)
• [PUPPET] GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST: (The Puppet Is Gender Neutral – One or Two Puppeteer[s]) – The first of the spirits foretold by Marley who shows Scrooge his past Christmases
• GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT (HUMAN ON PLATFORMS/STILTS, WITH MASK/PUPPET ELEMENTS): (Tall Adult – Age and Gender Variable) – The second of the spirits foretold by Marley that shows Scrooge Christmas celebrations in the present time
• [PUPPET] THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS YET TO COME: (The puppet is gender neutral. Menacingly faceless tall figure which does not speak – one or more puppeteers) – The third spirit foretold by Marley that shows Scrooge Christmases in the Future. (The puppet is gender neutral. Menacingly faceless tall figure which does not speak – one or more puppeteers)

SUPPORTING CHARACTERS

• FUNDRAISER 1: (Any Gender) – An experienced person raising money for the poor
• FUNDRAISER 2: (Any Gender) – An inexperienced person raising money for the poor
• BOY SCROOGE: (Male) – Ebenezer Scrooge as a child 8 or 10 years old
• YOUNG SCROOGE: (Male) – Ebenezer Scrooge seen at about age 19 and then at age 24
• MR. FEZZIWIG: (Male) – Scrooge’s jolly first employer
• MRS. FEZZIWIG: (Female) – Mr. Fezziwig’s wife, a great hostess
• BELLE: (Female) – A kind, but penniless, young woman Scrooge had been engaged to in his youth
• PETER CRATCHIT: (Male) – The Cratchit’s eldest son
• BELINDA CRATCHIT: (Female) – The Cratchit’s eldest daughter
• LITTLE BOY AND/OR LITTLE GIRL CRATCHIT: (Any Gender) – the youngest Cratchit child/children
• CLARENCE: (Male) – Fred’s husband
• BUSINESS PEOPLE 1, 2 & 3: (Any Gender) – Business people acquainted with Scrooge
• OLD JOE: (Any Gender) – A pawnshop owner
• CHARWOMAN: (Female)
• LAUNDRESS: (Female)
• CHILD CAROLER: (Any Gender)
• MERCHANT: (Any Gender) – The person who brings the turkey to Bob Cratchit
• VARIOUS OTHER LONDONERS AND SHADOW PUPPETRY

Please Note: These are volunteer positions.