Audition Information

Music & Lyrics by Paul Gordon

Book by John Caird

Director & Music Director: Michael Macri

Producer: Christine Robinson

Synopsis:

Jerusha Abbott is the “Oldest Orphan in the John Grier Home” until a mysterious benefactor decides to send her to college to be educated as a writer. Required to write him a letter once a month, she is never to know the benefactor’s identity—so she invents one for him: Daddy Long Legs. Although she knows that he will never respond to her letters, she grows more and more fond of this elusive and kindly “old” gentleman. Yet, there is one startling fact that Jerusha has yet to uncover—a fact that will change her life forever. Based on the 1912 novel of the same name by Jean Webster.

Important notes about this production: Only actors ages 18 or older will be cast in this production. The production staff is interested in casting two of each character so that we have two casts, 5 performances to each cast, depending on audition turn out and pairings.  

Audition Dates/Times:

Sunday, June 8, 2025 - 7 pm

Monday, June 9, 2025 - 7 pm

Auditionees only need to attend ONE night of auditions.

Wednesday, June 11 -7 pm- Callbacks by invitation only

Audition Location:

810 North Whitford, Lionville, PA 19353

Parking is available only at Marsh Creek Community Church (101 Crump Rd, Exton, PA 19341) down the street. Auditionees with mobility issues may park in the small lot behind the theater.

Rehearsal Dates:

📅 Sundays at 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm, Mondays, and Wednesdays at 7 pm until 9 or 10 pm

🛠️ Set Building - Saturdays August 16th, 23rd, 30tht - 10am - ?? (must attend at least two)

🎭 Tech week will be September 7, 8, 9, 10 (Sunday 12 pm - Wednesday 6pm until finished) 

Performance Dates:

Weekend 1: Friday, 9/12 8pm; Saturday, 9/13 8pm; Sunday, 9/14  2pm

Weekend 2: Thursday, 9/18 8pm; Friday, 9/19 8pm; Saturday, 9/20 8pm;  Sunday, 9/21 2pm* (*Relaxed Performance) 

Weekend 3: Thursday, 9/25 8pm; Friday, 9/26 8pm; Saturday, 9/27 2pm

Audition Information:

All roles are open. The Barley Sheaf Players encourage anyone who is interested to audition and is always eager to welcome new faces and fresh talent to its stage. We invite members of diverse backgrounds and abilities to audition for our productions. Resumes and headshots are welcomed but not required. 

The Barley Sheaf Players is a volunteer non-profit community theater. All production staff, cast, and crew are volunteers.

Please RSVP using this link. This is very helpful for planning purposes. 

Auditioners should arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled audition time to complete audition forms or fill out and bring the audition form (Click here) with them. Conflicts will be submitted on the audition form.

Auditioners should arrive quietly through the sliding basement door located along the entrance side of the driveway. Hang out in the basement-green room and we’ll call you up when we’re ready. Please note that the basement is shared with other shows. DO NOT touch anything down there as it could be a prop, costume, or personal item; we want to respect their show while we share the space. 

Auditionees should plan on staying for 30 to 60 minutes depending on turnout. 

All auditioners will be asked to prepare the song selections for the character they are interested in (see below- Songs by Character for Auditions). If you need access to the sheet music, you can find it here.

All auditioners should also choose one of the monologues (linked here) to memorize and perform at the audition after singing their audition song. 

If invited to callbacks, performers will be asked to audition with readings from the script. No advance preparation is required. Sides will be emailed to performers prior to callbacks. Performers may also be taught parts of a song with harmony as part of callbacks. 

Character Descriptions: Daddy Long Legs requires strong story tellers and actors who portray the story through more than just the words presented. 

Jerusha Abbot: Aged 18 years, the oldest orphan in the John Grier Home. Witty and intelligent,

received funding for college from an anonymous benefactor whom she dubs Daddy Long Legs.  Jerusha, is a deeply curious and imaginative young woman who is thrust into a new world of possibilities armed with only her pen, wit, sincerity, and optimism. She navigates the sudden and generous expansion of her world with grace and humility despite her uncertainty of the arrangement and her deep yearning to belong. The audience is endeared to her as we watch her evolve into the grounded, intelligent, and compelling young woman she was always capable of becoming.

Gender: female presenting: Age: 18 to 25; Vocal range top: Bb5; Vocal range bottom: G3

Jervis Pendelton: Jerusha’s anonymous benefactor. A shy, highly educated East Coast aristocrat. A wealthy, young, bachelor, Jervis is a metered businessman who has maneuvered his status with dignity and polite discretion. Despite his best attempts, he becomes enthralled with Jerusha’s humorous and free-spirited philosophy on life. We follow Jervis as he contends with the discovery of the more boyish, uncertain, compassionate and socially awkward sides of himself that Jerusha evokes as she unknowingly challenges his world view.

Gender: male presenting: Age: 25 to 40; Vocal range top: G#4; Vocal range bottom: G3

Note: only actors aged 18 or older will be considered for these roles and actors must agree to a stage kiss. 

Songs by Character for Auditions 

Please choose a song for the character you are auditioning for. Sheet music as well as tracks that play the melody and backing track can be found here. These tracks will be used at auditions so you can prepare with them in mind. Choose the song that you feel can do your best “Jerusha” or “Jervis” with; there is no “correct” song to sing out of these choices.

Jerusha: I’m a Beast m. 38 - m. 54; Like Other Girls m. 32 - m. 47

Jervis: Charity m. 60 - 90; What Does She Mean m. 52 - m. 92