AUDITIONS: Music Hall 2027 "A Riff In Time"
AUDITION CALL - Music Hall 2027 "A Riff In Time"
ABOUT MUSIC HALL 2027 - A RIFF IN TIME
A WORD FROM MARK ROTIL
Time. We measure it. Chase it. Waste it. You wish it would stop—and sometimes wish it would hurry up or slow down. Conceived and compiled by Mark Rotil, A Riff in Time explores the strange way we experience time. An instant can feel like an eternity; years can disappear in a moment. One person's ending can be another's beginning—and people travelling in different directions can somehow meet in between. Through music, comedy, movement and storytelling, we'll journey through beginnings and endings, past and future, anticipation and memory. It's still the Music Hall audiences have loved for more than four decades—but with a new theatrical focus:
Every number has a reason. Every performer has a purpose.
This year, medleys aren't simply collections of great songs. We're asking: Where are we? Why are we here? What do we want? Why are we sharing this moment? It's about more than stage presence. It's about stage purpose.
A WORD FROM STAGE DIRECTOR DANNY HARVEY
“If you've ever wondered whether Music Hall is for you, this is the year to find out. We're honouring what people love about Music Hall while introducing changes, new ideas and a stronger sense of story.
We will be excited to invite back Music Hall veterans, but we are also interested in performers who haven't been part of Music Hall before. Bring us your voice, personality, sense of humour and willingness to play. You don't need to know what Music Hall has been—we want you to help us discover what it can become.” Bring an energy and become a part of an amazing ensemble cast.
WHO WILL BE OUR NEXT MUSIC HALL CHAIRPERSON?
The Chairperson is the Emcee, storyteller, comedian and personality at the heart of Music Hall—welcoming the audience, sharing stories and jokes, introducing musical numbers and helping guide everyone through the evening. For A Riff in Time, we're exploring new possibilities of how this role will be “cast”, and interact with the cast. This year, we are asking those interested in being The Chairperson to audition as well. If you have been a Chairman in the past - please DO come out for an audition! New to the idea? Come on out.
ONE CHAIR? TWO CHAIRS? WHY NOT?
We're interested in a woman or man with terrific personality and stage presence—or a Chairperson Duo with the chemistry and comic interplay of classic partnerships like Lucy & Ricky, George Burns & Gracie Allen, or Abbott & Costello. We're not looking for an imitation. We're looking for what YOU can bring to the role. The Chairperson(s) command the attention of the audience from beginning to end of the show.
AND THE CHAIRPERSON GETS A FEATURED MOMENT!
Show us what makes you entertaining: A Song • Comic Monologue • Comedy Routine • Magic Act • Character Piece • Story • Musical Specialty • Novelty Act • Duo Routine—or surprise us with something we haven't thought of. The role isn't defined by gender, age or performance style. Singing and dancing are welcome but not prerequisites. We're looking for personality, timing, spontaneity, humour and the ability to connect with an audience and hold the room.
Make us want to spend an evening with you!
IMPORTANT LINKS:
SIGN-UP GENIUS Register and select an audition date and time (if you haven't already done so)
AUDITION CALL INFORMATION PACKAGE/RESOURCE Read this before you fill out the audition form below.
AUDITION FORM LINK Must filled out and submitted to be on the Audition List
46th ANNUAL MUSIC HALL — AUDITION NOTICE
A RIFF IN TIME
A Journey Through Time Told in Song — Every Moment Fresh, New & Full of Surprise!
The clock is ticking and Music Hall is evolving - Come be a part of the magic!
AUDITIONS
Friday, September 11, 2026 | 7:00–10:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 12, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
DANCE CALL: Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 4:00 p.m.
Drury Lane Theatre | 2269 New Street, Burlington
Performances: February 12 – March 7, 2027 (16 shows in total)
Rehearsals will be Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays (Wednesdays in November)
Rehearsals begin November 9th, 2026
Some rehearsals during December will take place at Aspects of Dance Studio
- Please be aware that we are not an Equity Production House. All performers are volunteers, and all acting roles are NON-PAID.
- Drury Lane is committed to diverse and inclusive casting, welcoming applications from all performers without regard to age, sex, race, gender identity, ability, or any other basis.
- If you are cast in the show, you will be required to purchase a DLTP membership (or renew your membership). ($25.00)
- If cast in the show, we will ask you to contribute some volunteer hours - options to fit everyone’s style, skills and schedules.
MEET YOUR AUDITION PANEL - THE CREATIVE TEAM
Danny Harvey — Stage Director
Donna Dunn-Albert — Music Director
Mark Rotil — Choreographer / Apprentice Director / Librettist (show curator and compiler)
Rick MacKenzie — Producer
Bill Everett — Stage Manager
Carol MacKenzie - Artistic Director for Drury Lane
Once you have selected your Audition time on Sign-Up Genius, you are required to complete your Audition Form.
The link for the Audition Form will be available on Sign-Up Genius, along with a full Information Package. Audition Forms must be sent in at least 48 hours in advance of the Audition time. You are also encouraged to send us a head shot/recent photo if available (especially if you are new to Drury Lane).
WHO SHOULD AUDITION?
You should!
Drury Lane is looking for singers, dancers, actors, comedians, storytellers and specialty performers for our
46th Annual Music Hall - A Riff In Time. Whether you're a Music Hall veteran, or you have performed at Drury Lane but never tried Music Hall, or are completely new to Drury Lane—we want to meet you. We're looking for different combinations of singing, acting, dancing, comedy, character work and stage presence. You don't have to be equally strong in every discipline.
If you're a returning Music Hall performer, come on back! If you've never tried Music Hall come on out! We want to blend ‘new to’ Music Hall performers with some seasoned “veterans” If you're an actor or comedian who doesn't consider yourself a traditional musical-theatre performer—come out anyway. If you have an unusual specialty talent—show us.
ARRIVAL / LOCATION:
Enter by the Box Office Doors, and Sign in. Please arrive 10-15 minutes before your audition time.
WHAT TO PREPARE FOR YOUR AUDITION:
- You are asked to prepare 1 piece of music you know well enough to showcase your vocal abilities.
- If you are auditioning for the role of Chairperson, please prepare a series of one-liner jokes, a short comedic “monologue” or “story joke”, and share your ideas of what you will perform for your “Chairperson’s Spot”. Have a bit of that prepared. (See further information below.)
- If needed, we will be holding Callbacks from 5 to 6 on the Saturday - should the creative team require one more look at a few of the auditionees.
- Dance Call (tap and general) is for everyone and will be on Saturday, September 12th between 4:00 & 5:00pm.
- You will receive an email or a phone call with the outcome of your audition between September 13th and 15th, 2026.
FOR ALL AUDITIONS:
- You will be accompanied on keyboard by our Music Director. This is our preferred way to hear you sing.
- Please have your sheet music 3-hole punched and in a binder – so that the M.D. is easily able to set it up on the piano to accompany your audition.
- If you don’t have sheet music and are using an accompaniment track, please bring your own device to play the tracks as we won’t be set up to play your selections of accompaniments.
- If you are absolutely unable to attend the auditions in person, you may submit a video audition (see further information below). Please contact Producer Rick MacKenzie, rick.mackenzie@drurylane.ca for details.
DEADLINE TO SIGN UP via SIGN-UP GENIUS IS BY MIDNIGHT ON September 9th, 2026.
COMMITMENT TO THE REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
Important - Please read this section carefully:
Being cast in a production at Drury Lane is an exciting opportunity, and working together as a cast to put on the very best theatre for our community is the ultimate goal. Therefore, once cast, it is understood that you are making a commitment to being available for the entire rehearsal period/performance weeks from beginning to end. Please take time to carefully look at the scheduled dates for rehearsals and performances. Candidates are asked to declare up front any “conflicts” they have with the dates. Those with more than 2-3 conflicts might not be cast in the show, depending on your role, or “timing” of your absences. We will try our best to work around absences – but that is not always possible. Thanks for understanding.
Rehearsals for Music Hall 2027 will be held on Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays, however there will be Wednesday rehearsals in November when we are working around “A Christmas Story - The Musical” performances. There will be some off site rehearsals, held at
Aspects of Dance studio, Harvester Road, during the rehearsal and performances of our Annual Pantomime, Snow White.
Once you declare your conflicts on your audition form, and we offer you a role accepting your declared absences, it is expected that you won’t miss any other rehearsal dates (illness and emergency situations being the exception of course). (i.e. Please do not make new plans that require you to miss another rehearsal).
VIDEO SUBMISSIONS:
For those who are submitting a video audition, please follow these instructions:
- Video Audition Submission Deadline: September 10th, 2026, by midnight
- Video to be a maximum of 3 minutes in length
- Introduce yourself, and state the title of the song you are singing
- Share a little about yourself
- Your song must be accompanied – no “a capella” submissions please
- Your vocals must be heard over the accompaniment tracks
- Include a song that showcases your vocal range and acting abilities (does not need to be the full length of the song – just enough to showcase your vocal abilities - and with a style that entertains us).
- Either send the video file, or share a link with Co-Producer Rick MacKenzie (rick.mackenzie@drurylane.ca)
Any questions? Please reach out to:
Rick Mackenzie, Producer
IMPORTANT LINKS:
- SIGN-UP GENIUS Register and select an audition date and time (if you haven't already done so)
- AUDITION CALL INFORMATION PACKAGE/RESOURCE Read this before you fill out the audition form below.
- AUDITION FORM LINK Must filled out and submitted to be on the Audition List
