Audition Dates:
- January 18th (1p-4p)
- January 19th (1p-4p)
- Callbacks if needed January 19th (4p-6p)
Performance Dates:
- April 3rd 6p-10p
- April 4th 6p-10p
- April 5th 12:30p-4:30p
- April 11th 6p-10p
- April 12th 6p-10p
- April 13th 12:30p-4:30p
- Strike Following the performance April 13th from roughly 4:30p-6:30p
About the Show
Music and Lyrics by Jimmy Buffett, Book by Greg Garcia and Mike O’Malley
Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville is a musical comedy featuring the most-loved Jimmy Buffett classics, including “Cheeseburger in Paradise”, “Margaritaville,” “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” “Fins,” “Volcano,” and many more. This hilarious and heartwarming musical follows a group of (mostly) hard working people who love deeply, fight for what they believe in, and value their friendships above all. This is a show about building something special and working hard to keep it that way while finding that perfect balance of work and leisure; all packaged in between iconic songs and hilarious dialogue. This show will have audiences singing along and feeling like they’re also on the beaches at Margaritaville!
General Audition Information
Quad City Music Guild is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of our organization. We encourage people of all races, ethnicities, religions, orientations, and creeds, to apply/audition/volunteer. The board is committed to increasing our ability to accommodate individuals who are differently abled.
**All auditioning must be 21 by the start of the rehearsals (born before Feb 10th, 2004)**
What to Prepare For In-Person Auditions
- All: Fill out an AUDITION SHEET prior to or upon arrival at the theater.
Virtual sheets are found on our website. Please fill out accurately and include all known conflicts with the above rehearsal schedule as this will be used by the directing staff to finalize scheduling if casted.
- All: Learn the CHOREOGRAPHY prior to or upon arrival at the theater.
We will be providing a choreography video for you to learn in advance if you choose. All performers will learn/review and then perform the short routine at the audition. If you are a tapper, please bring tap shoes as you may be asked to perform brief step combinations. Please dress for movement.
- All: Please prepare a MUSIC SELECTION prior to arrival at the theater.
All who audition will prepare 16-32 bars of a song that best suits their voice and desired role(s). Songs from the show are welcome, but not necessary. Please bring sheet music for the accompanist, no recorded music or acapella singing will be allowed. If no music is prepared for auditions and/or no sheet music is provided for the accompanist, auditioners will be asked to perform a provided excerpt from The Star Spangled Banner. Bringing energy and comedy is always advised for upbeat shows like Escape to Margaritaville.
What to Prepare For Video Auditions
In-person auditions are preferred. If auditioners are not able to make either of the audition times, we will accept video auditions of them singing, with accompaniment, up to 32 bars of a song that best suits their voice and roles(s). (Please do not submit videos of previous performances, concerts or recitals.) They may include a 1 minute or shorter monologue. Dancers, please include a short dance of up to 1 minute in length. Tappers may include tap combinations.
Send your video audition and your completed audition form no later than 3pm on Sunday, January 19th. Submissions that are either incomplete or received after that date and time will not be accepted.
A Note on IntimacyJimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville is a fun-loving, high energy show with lots of physical movement and some partner dance. As such some level of physical intimacy/touch is a part of most roles. Intimacy occurs between multiple characters including kissing, embracing, and other moments of physical touch. Characters who engage in specific scripted moments of physical intimacy and kissing are noted in character descriptions.
Character Descriptions
Tully- (Male presenting, plays 25-40, Tenor, any ethnicity)
A smooth-talking playboy, Tully is content with the life he’s built for himself here on the island. He’s a singer/bartender at the Margaritaville resort and though he’d never admit it, he has a real soft spot for the locals. Cool and confident, he meets Rachel and learns that life might be about more than one vacation at a time. Guitar skills are useful. Feel free to prepare and/or demonstrate guitar play abilities at your audition.
This role requires onstage physical intimacy/kiss.
Rachel- (Female presenting, plays 25-35, Mezzo-Soprano, any ethnicity)
Some might call her a work-aholic, but Rachel loves her work and is committed to doing whatever it takes to further her research and help the world. She expects high achievement from all the people she surrounds herself with and often finds herself picking up the pieces when she feels they’ve fallen short. Realistic, hard-working, and stubborn, love doesn’t come easily to Rachel until she meets Tully. Guitar skills are useful. Feel free to prepare and/or demonstrate guitar play abilities at your audition.
This role requires onstage physical intimacy/kiss.
Tammy- (Female presenting, plays 30-40, Mezzo-Soprano, any ethnicity)
Tammy has a larger-than-life sense of humor and finds joy in the world wherever she goes. Her fiance, Chad, doesn’t always see things her way and she often makes herself smaller to keep their relationship steady. A loyal friend and lover of puns, Tammy really needs this vacation!
The role requires onstage intimacy/kiss.
Brick- (Male presenting, plays 30-40, Tenor, any ethnicity)
The Island bartender. Brick is the bartender at the island resort. He also acts as Tully’s dim-witted wingman, helping to disentangle Tully from female travelers hoping for more than a holiday romance. Brick also enjoys flirting with the female tourists, although he’s not as much of a playboy as Tully. Brick has a big heart and is a loyal friend. Tap skills are useful.
The role requires onstage intimacy/kiss.
Marley- (Female presenting, plays 40-49, Soprano, written as a native islander but open to any ethnicity)
The owner of the resort, Marley has put her life and soul into this place. She works hard and tries to keep everyone in line, but she loves her employees and all the island gossip. She’s no-nonsense, knows what she needs from others, and knows exactly how to get it.
JD- (Male presenting, plays 60-79, Baritone, any ethnicity)
A funny, endearing older man. He looks something of a washed-ashore pirate, but he knows his place at the resort so he doesn’t get in trouble with Marley. A good-natured drunk who’s losing his hearing and his vision. He talks a big talk about his life, but no one really knows if it’s true.
Jamal- (Male presenting, plays 25-40, Tenor, written as a native islander but open to any ethnicity)
Jamal is the busboy and Marley’s right-hand man at the Margaritaville Hotel and Bar. He may have a broken arm, but he doesn’t let it stop him working his way around the bar and his customers.
Chad- (Male presenting, plays 30-45, any ethnicity)
Chad is Tammy’s fiance. He is lazy, self-absorbed, and sports-obsessed. Although he claims to love Tammy, he is possessive and always putting her on a diet to “help” her to lose weight.
Ensemble- (All genders, ages, vocal parts, and ethnicity)
Chad’s friends, vacationers, wedding guests, resort employees, and insurance salesman zombies. Tap experience is helpful but we can work with anyone. There will be lots to do within this ensemble and many folks will still have featured dialogue and vocal lines. They are the heart and soul of the show that help keep all of the action moving!
