Posted by NAGs Players
Audition Notice for Follow the Yellow Brick Road
Writer & Director: Lina M Blue
Co-Producers: Pamela Barker; Barbara Dragicevic
Stage Manager: Natalie Ira-Gould
Choreographers: Erica Elias; Simone Nathalia
All those interested are encouraged to audition with us, regardless of experience!
THIS PRODUCTION IS NON-PAYING/NON EQUITY
TO AUDITION, PLEASE REGISTER AT bit.ly/ybrauditions
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS MIDNIGHT ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2026
Audition dates: Tuesday October 13, and Thursday October 15, 2026 from 6 to 9 pm
(please arrive between 5:30 and 6 as auditions will start promptly at 6!)
Audition Location: The Church of the Redeemer (Basement)– 162 Bloor Street West (at Avenue Road), Toronto
Rehearsal days: Sundays from 1 to 5 pm and Tuesdays/Thursdays from 6 to 9 pm starting November 1, 2025.
Rehearsal locations:
Tuesday/Thursday: Church of the Redeemer
Sundays: The Practice Room ( 688 Richmond St W, Toronto)
Show location: Tranzac Stage, 292 Brunswick Avenue, Toronto (Bloor St W between Bathurst & Spadina).
Show dates: This is a three-week run (Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays) with matinées as well as evening shows on two Saturdays. We end with a Saturday matinée to allow time for set strike and cast/crew celebrations. Evening shows are at 7:30 pm on January 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30 and February 5, 6, 2027. Matinée performances are at 1:30 pm on January 23, 30 and February 6.
Actors must be available for all performances, plus other key dates listed below.
Other key dates:
Technical/Technical Dress Rehearsals on January 17 and January 19, 2026. These are likely to be full afternoon or longer evening sessions.
Audition format: This is an open call audition consisting of cold readings from the script. There will also be a dance/movement audition for everyone and a very short singing audition for many. Please wear comfortable clothing and shoes that you can easily move in.
Brief synopsis: The classic story of Dorothy, a Kansas girl and her dog, who find themselves lost in a mystical land. On the advice of Gwenda, a Good Witch, and Lance, a similarly misplaced soul, she embarks on a journey to seek help from the Wizard of Oz. Along the way she encounters new friends, talking trees, flying monkeys and an enemy in the Wicked Witch of the West. Will the Wicked Witch get the best of Dorothy? Is the Wizard powerful enough to help Dorothy get home? And who is Lance…really? This is a traditional English pantomime, with singing, dancing, topical jokes and audience participation. Cheer on the good guys, and boo/hiss the baddies.
Learn more about traditional English pantomime on our website: https://nagsplayers.com/2024/02/09/what-is-panto/.
Cast of characters and descriptions/requirements:
DOROTHY: (20s female): Principal female. She’s not just a pretty face. Determined, feisty and smart, but also kind, loyal and compassionate. She thinks she wants more in life than a farm in Kansas. (This role is demanding as Dorothy appears in most scenes.)
TOTO (age flexible, plays male): The panto animal – a dog that travels on two legs (like a human) in an animal posture with “paws” at his chest, and responds with human gestures. A non-speaking role, he must have an expressive face.
PRINCE LANCE (20-30 male): Principal male, Lance is a kind, handsome man who falls for Dorothy. As a result of a Wicked Witch’s spell cast seven long years ago with, he has lost his memory and his sense of direction.
AUNTIE EM / QUEEN OF OZ (40-50 female): Auntie Em: Small part in Act 1, scene 1, she’s a no-nonsense farm woman, aunt to Dorothy / Queen of Oz: Mother to Prince Lance. She wears the Royal pants, and adores her missing son.
UNCLE HENRY / KING OF OZ (40-50 male): Uncle Henry: Small part in Act 1, scene 1 – Dorothy’s uncle, a hen-pecked, comfortable farmer / King of Oz: Father to Prince Lance. A kind, compassionate and good King.
GWENDA, THE GOOD WITCH (30-50, male): The Dame, she is the polar opposite of the Witched Witch. She’s silly and lovable, and all that is good with the land of Oz. (male, plays female – key pantomime tradition.)
MISS GROUCH / GRIZELDA, THE WICKED WITCH (30-50, female): Miss Gulch: the town’s mean, nasty bully. Only appears in Act 1, scene 1/ Wicked Witch of the West: As in the movie, the villain who seeks the ruby slippers and the power contained in them. Expressive face.
PROFESSOR MARVEL / THE WIZARD OF OZ (35-60, male): Professor Marvel: a grifter who takes kindly to Dorothy. Only appears in Act 1, scene 2. / The Wizard of Oz: outspoken and sarcastic until he is uncovered.
HAYWOOD, THE SCARECROW (20’s-35, plays male): Sweet, innocent and brave, he forms an instant bond with Dorothy. All he wants is a brain.
TIN LIZZIE, THE TIN WOMAN (20’s-35, female): A strong, ballsy, feminine Tin woman, who quickly becomes Dorothy’s gal pal. All she wants is a heart.
FREDDY THE COWARDLY LION (20’s-35, plays male): Big or tall, and threatening in appearance, but child-like. All he wants is courage. Like Toto, he walks on two legs, but more like a human.
SIMEON (20s-35): One of the Wicked Witch of the West’s Hench-Monkeys. A bit dim.
APE-ALLONIA (20s-35): The other Hench-Monkey. The smarter of the two.
THE GATEKEEPER (age flexible): Smaller role. A fun, “oddball” character. Could also be in the chorus before their appearance.
CHORUS: Roles for 6-8 chorus members of any age and gender who can sing and dance well and are prepared to happily change among various costumes and take on any extra activities identified as rehearsals. The Chorus will be portraying: Farmhands, Storm elements, Munchkins, Crows, Trees, Winged monkeys, Emerald City Townsfolk, Sign carriers, Oz screen “silhouettes”. Singing and dancing/coordinated movement required.
If you have any additional questions, such as questions on audition accessibility, please email nagsauditions@gmail.com. For a PDF version of detailed show/audition information, please click here.