Auditions

Audition Notice

Pickering Arts & Entertainment is thrilled to announce auditions for Annie in January & February 2027 at the beautiful PACE Center at Parker Arts!

Annie

Book by Thomas Meehan
Music by Charles Strouse
Lyrics by Martin Charnin

Based on Little Orphan Annie by permission of The Media Tribune Services, Inc.

Performance Venue: PACE Center

20000 Pikes Peak Avenue
Parker, CO 80138

Call Type: Non-Union

AEA/Equity Contracts: Not available for this production

Audition Information at https://pickeringarts.com/auditions

Auditions will be held at Pickering Academy Studios located at 6912 S Quentin St., Suite 50, Centennial, CO 80112. The southeast corner of the building.

Callbacks will be held at the Parker Arts Schoolhouse Theater located at 19650 Mainstreet, Parker, CO 80138

Final public-facing billing, licensing language, and logo usage will follow official licensing requirements.

Non-Discrimination & Inclusive Casting Statement

Pickering Arts & Entertainment is committed to creating an inclusive, respectful, welcoming, and professional casting and rehearsal process. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, age, body type, or any other protected status.

All roles are open to performers of all ethnicities, races, gender identities, abilities, and backgrounds, unless otherwise required by the licensed script or specific storytelling needs of the production. The gender descriptions listed in the character breakdown reflect the roles as written and/or traditionally presented in the licensed material.

We are committed to fair casting practices, clear communication, safe rehearsal environments, and a production process rooted in respect, preparation, collaboration, and care.

About Pickering Arts & Entertainment

Pickering Arts & Entertainment is a Colorado-based performing arts company dedicated to creating meaningful, joyful, high-quality artistic experiences for students, families, performers, and audiences. Through its education programs, theatrical productions, concerts, community performances, and creative partnerships, Pickering Arts & Entertainment works to make people happy – one meaningful experience at a time.

Through Pickering Academy, its Centennial-based performing arts studio, Pickering Arts & Entertainment serves children, teens, adults, and families through music, theatre, dance, voice, instrumental instruction, camps, choirs, bands, and performance-based programming. At the heart of the organization is a belief that the performing arts can help people discover confidence, connection, purpose, and joy.

About This Production

Pickering Arts & Entertainment is proud to partner with Parker Arts to produce the PACE Center Winter Family Production of Annie.

This production will be a fun, uplifting, true-to-original-story, professional, non-union musical theatre production created for Parker Arts audiences at the PACE Center. Our goal is to deliver a production that is irresistibly entertaining, emotionally moving, visually transporting, musically vibrant, operationally excellent, and deeply hopeful.

Our Annie will embrace the world of December 1933: the hardship and resilience of the Great Depression, the brassy sparkle of New York City, the glamour of Oliver Warbucks’ world, and the courageous hope of a child who refuses to stop believing in tomorrow. We are seeking performers who can bring the show’s humor, heart, musicality, and theatrical joy to life with honesty, discipline, and warmth.

About Annie

Based on the popular comic strip by Harold Gray, Annie has become a worldwide phenomenon and was the winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The beloved book and score by Tony Award winners, Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin, features some of the greatest musical theatre hits ever written, including “Tomorrow.”

With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone’s hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. She is determined to find the parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City Orphanage that is run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan. With the help of the other girls in the Orphanage, Annie escapes to the wondrous world of NYC. In adventure after fun-filled adventure, Annie foils Miss Hannigan’s evil machinations… and even befriends President Franklin Delano Roosevelt! She finds a new home and family in billionaire, Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary, Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy.

Executive Producer / Music Director

Michael Pickering

Michael Pickering will serve as Executive Producer and Music Director for Annie. Michael is the Founder/President/CEO of Pickering Arts & Entertainment and Pickering Academy. He brings decades of experience as a producer, music director, performer, educator, and arts leader, having produced and led hundreds of productions, concerts, educational programs, and special events across both for-profit and nonprofit settings.

As Executive Producer and Music Director, Michael will help steward the overall production vision, partnership, budget, music preparation, rehearsal process, and audience experience. Musically, his goal is to honor Annie’s beloved score with energy, clarity, period-inspired style, strong vocal preparation, and a full-hearted sound that feels both classic and alive.

Director

Amy Pickering

Amy Pickering will serve as Director for Annie. Amy is Co-Owner of Pickering Arts & Entertainment and Pickering Academy and brings extensive experience as a director, theatre educator, performer, and creative leader. Amy has worked with children, teens, and adults across a wide range of theatrical and educational settings and is especially gifted at creating rehearsal rooms that are joyful, clear, supportive, and artistically focused.

As Director, Amy will lead the storytelling, staging, character work, and overall theatrical vision for the production. Her approach will focus on truth, warmth, humor, emotional connection, strong ensemble work, and creating a production that allows audiences to be transported, delighted, and renewed.

Seeking

We are seeking a dynamic cast of adult and youth performers with strong singing, acting, and movement abilities, including gymnastic/arobatic skills for our orphans. We are especially interested in performers who bring professionalism, preparation, kindness, flexibility, and a genuine love for musical theater storytelling.

This production will include adult principal roles, youth principal roles, orphans, featured ensemble roles, and the role of Sandy, Annie‘s canine companion. Final cast size will be determined after callbacks.

Performers must be available for all required rehearsals and performances. Not all performers will be called to every rehearsal prior to tech week. A detailed rehearsal schedule will be created and distributed after casting.

Compensation

This is a paid, non-union production. The final cast size will be determined through our audition and callback process. We have listed a per-performance pay range below that will be finalized when the actual cast size is determined.

Adult Performers

$300 rehearsal stipend
$45-$55 per performance

Final amount to be determined by final cast size.

Annie

$200 rehearsal stipend
$35 per performance

Child Performers / Orphans / Youth Ensemble

$100 rehearsal stipend
$20 per performance

Additional understudy, swing, or specialty track compensation, if applicable, will be addressed during casting offers.

No housing, travel stipend, or per diem is currently available for this production.

Audition Dates

Auditions will be held as follows:

Thursday, August 20, 2026 – 5:00 PM-9:00 PM – Cast Call: Children
Friday, August 21, 2026 – 5:00 PM-9:00 PM – Cast Call: Children
Saturday, August 22, 2026 – 10:00 AM-6:00 PM – Cast Call: Adults
Sunday, August 23, 2026 – 10:00 AM-6:00 PM – Cast Call: All
Monday, August 24, 2026 – 5:00 PM-9:00 PM – Cast Call: Callbacks
Tuesday, August 25, 2026 – 6:00 PM-9:00 PM – Cast Call: Callbacks

Audition Location: Pickering Academy Studios located at 6912 S Quentin St., Suite 50, Centennial, CO 80112. The southeast corner of the building.

Human Audition Sign-Up Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094CACAD2CA2FFC16-64759344-annie#/

Sandy (Canine Companion) Audition Sign-up Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094CACAD2CA2FFC16-64814044-sandy

Headshot/Resume Email: [email protected]

Video auditions will be accepted for performers who are unable to attend initial auditions in person. However, performers invited to callbacks must attend callbacks in person in order to be considered for casting.

Video Submission Deadline: Wednesday, August 19, 2026 by 5:00 PM

Video Submission Instructions: Videos must be 2 minutes or less. Submit via https://wetransfer.com / When filling out the TRANSFER form box – “Send to Email” field, please send to [email protected]

Audition Requirements

Please prepare the following:

Music

32 bars or approximately 30 seconds of a song from Annie in the original score key.

An accompanist will be provided. Please bring clearly marked sheet music in the correct key.

Monologue

A monologue of your choice, maximum 60 seconds.

Headshot & Resume

Please bring a hard copy to auditions and email a digital copy in advance, if possible, to [email protected]

Callbacks

Those invited to callbacks should be prepared for any combination of the following:

• Singing from the score
• Sight-reading music, if asked
• Scene readings
• Ensemble singing
• Musical theatre dance/movement
• Additional character work

Please wear or bring clothing and shoes that allow you to move comfortably.

Callback Location: Parker Arts Schoolhouse Theater located at 19650 Mainstreet, Parker, CO 80138

Sandy Auditions

We will hold a separate audition for Sandy, Annie‘s canine companion.

Sandy (Canine Companion) Audition Sign-up Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094CACAD2CA2FFC16-64814044-sandy

Date: Saturday, August 29, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM-2:00 PM

Location: Parker Arts Schoolhouse Theater located at 19650 Mainstreet, Parker, CO 80138

We are seeking a medium to large, light-colored dog who is friendly, easygoing, child-friendly, comfortable around people, and able to remain calm in a theatrical environment.

Sandy should be able to perform the following skills on command:

1. Crawl on belly approximately 15-20 feet
2. Come to Annie when called by the name “Sandy”
3. Stand on hind legs while “hugging” Annie
4. Enter stage and walk to center stage unaccompanied, then sit on command
5. Exit stage unaccompanied on command

Final casting of Sandy will be contingent upon temperament, safety, handler availability, venue approval, rehearsal availability, and the dog’s comfort working with child performers, music, lights, sound, and an audience.

Sandy/Handler Compensation: To be determined.

Rehearsal Locations

Rehearsals will primarily take place at Parker Arts facilities and at Pickering Arts & Entertainment’s Quentin Studio location.

Primary Rehearsal Locations

PACE Center / Parker Arts facilities
20000 Pikes Peak Avenue
Parker, CO 80138

Pickering Arts & Entertainment Quentin Studio
6912 S Quentin Street, Suite 50
Centennial, CO 80112

Final rehearsal locations will be confirmed as the production calendar is finalized.

Proposed Rehearsal Schedule

The following is the proposed rehearsal schedule. Not all performers will be called to all rehearsals. A detailed rehearsal schedule will be posted after callbacks.

No tech week or performance conflicts will be accepted.

Monday, October 26, 2026 – 2:00 PM-6:00 PM
Tuesday, October 27, 2026 – 6:00 PM-9:00 PM
Wednesday, October 28, 2026 – 6:00 PM-9:00 PM

Monday, November 2, 2026 – 6:00 PM-9:00 PM
Tuesday, November 3, 2026 – 6:00 PM-9:00 PM
Wednesday, November 4, 2026 – 6:00 PM-9:00 PM
Saturday, November 7, 2026 – 10:00 AM-2:00 PM
Sunday, November 8, 2026 – 2:00 PM-6:00 PM
Monday, November 9, 2026 – 6:00 PM-9:00 PM
Tuesday, November 10, 2026 – 6:00 PM-9:00 PM
Saturday, November 14, 2026 – 10:00 AM-2:00 PM
Sunday, November 15, 2026 – 2:00 PM-6:00 PM
Monday, November 16, 2026 – 6:00 PM-9:00 PM
Tuesday, November 17, 2026 – 6:00 PM-9:00 PM
Wednesday, November 18, 2026 – 6:00 PM-9:00 PM
Saturday, November 21, 2026 – 10:00 AM-4:00 PM
Sunday, November 22, 2026 – 12:00 PM-6:00 PM
Monday, November 30, 2026 – 6:00 PM-9:00 PM

Tuesday, December 1, 2026 – 6:00 PM-9:00 PM
Wednesday, December 2, 2026 – 6:00 PM-9:00 PM
Saturday, December 5, 2026 – 12:00 PM-4:00 PM
Sunday, December 6, 2026 – 1:00 PM-5:00 PM
Monday, December 7, 2026 – 6:00 PM-9:00 PM
Tuesday, December 8, 2026 – 6:00 PM-9:00 PM
Wednesday, December 9, 2026 – 6:00 PM-9:00 PM
Saturday, December 12, 2026 – 10:00 AM-4:00 PM
Sunday, December 13, 2026 – 1:00 PM-5:00 PM
Monday, December 14, 2026 – 6:00 PM-9:00 PM
Tuesday, December 15, 2026 – 6:00 PM-9:00 PM
Wednesday, December 16, 2026 – 6:00 PM-9:00 PM
Saturday, December 19, 2026 – 10:00 AM-4:00 PM

Saturday, January 2, 2027 – 10:00 AM-6:00 PM
Sunday, January 3, 2027 – Designer Run (Staffing) 12:00 PM-6:00 PM
Monday, January 4, 2027 – 5:45 PM-10:00 PM
Tuesday, January 5, 2027 – 5:45 PM-10:00 PM
Wednesday, January 6, 2027 – 5:45 PM-10:00 PM
Thursday, January 7, 2027 – 5:45 PM-10:00 PM
Saturday, January 9, 2027 – 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM TECH/Audio Day
Rehearsal (Staffing) 5:45 PM–10:00 PM
Sunday, January 10, 2027 – 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM TECH/Q2Q
Rehearsal (Staffing) 5:45 PM–10:00 PM
Monday, January 11, 2027 – 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM TECH/Rehearsal
Rehearsal (Staffing) 5:45 PM–10:00 PM
Tuesday, January 12, 2027 – 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM TECH/Rehearsal
Rehearsal (Staffing) 5:45 PM–10:00 PM
Wednesday, January 13, 2027 – 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM TECH/Rehearsal
Rehearsal (Staffing) 5:45 PM–10:00 PM
Thursday, January 14, 2027 – 5:45 PM-10:00 PM

Performance Dates

All performers must be available for all scheduled performances, including school matinees.

Friday, January 15, 2027 – 7:00 PM
Saturday, January 16, 2027 – 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Sunday, January 17, 2027 – 2:00 PM
Friday, January 22, 2027 – 10:00 AM School Matinee & 7:00 PM
Saturday, January 23, 2027 – 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Sunday, January 24, 2027 – 2:00 PM
Friday, January 29, 2027 – 10:00 AM School Matinee & 7:00 PM
Saturday, January 30, 2027 – 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Sunday, January 31, 2027 – 2:00 PM

Thursday, February 4, 2027 – 7:00PM
Friday, February 5, 2027 – 7:00PM
Saturday, February 6, 2027 – 2:00PM & 7:00PM
Sunday, February 7, 2027 – 2:00PM

Character Breakdown

Annie

Gender: Female
Playing Age: 10-12
Vocal Range: A3-G5

A street-wise, resilient orphan with a giant heart and a voice to match. Annie is spunky, brave, funny, optimistic, and emotionally grounded. She has endured hardship but refuses to surrender hope. Must be a strong singer, actor, and mover with excellent stage presence and the ability to carry the emotional center of the production.

Oliver Warbucks

Gender: Male
Playing Age: 40-55
Vocal Range: B3-Gb5

A highly successful businessman whose polished, powerful exterior hides a surprisingly warm heart. Warbucks is wealthy, commanding, stiff-collared, and used to getting his way, but Annie awakens something tender and transformational in him. Must be a strong actor and singer with gravitas, humor, and emotional depth.

Grace Farrell

Gender: Female
Playing Age: 20-35
Vocal Range: Bb3-G5

Warbucks’ faithful secretary. Grace is poised, intelligent, elegant, kind, and deeply compassionate. She understands Warbucks’ world but also recognizes Annie‘s need for love and belonging. Must sing well and bring warmth, grace, and quiet strength to the role.

Miss Hannigan

Gender: Female
Playing Age: 30-45
Vocal Range: A3-F5

The matron of the orphanage. Miss Hannigan is bitter, disillusioned, sharp, comic, and deeply unhappy. She is overwhelmed by children and disappointed by life, but must be played with humanity as well as humor. Strong comic timing, character work, and musical theatre style required.

Rooster Hannigan

Gender: Male
Playing Age: 25-35
Vocal Range: B3-G5

Miss Hannigan’s no-good brother, a slick and sleazy con man always looking for a quick buck. Rooster is charming, dangerous, slippery, theatrical, and funny. Must move well and bring strong comic villain energy, especially for “Easy Street.”

Lily St. Regis

Gender: Female
Playing Age: 20-30
Vocal Range: B3-G5

Rooster’s girlfriend and partner in schemes. Lily is brassy, flashy, opportunistic, comic, and not exactly burdened by wisdom. Strong character work, comic timing, movement, and musical theatre style required.

Bert Healy

Gender: Male
Playing Age: 30-45
Vocal Range: E4-G5

A larger-than-life radio personality and host of “The Oxydent Hour of Smiles.” Bert is charismatic, polished, theatrical, and full of old-time radio charm. Strong singer and excellent period style needed.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Gender: Male
Playing Age: 40-60
Vocal Range: Eb3-F4

The 32nd President of the United States. Roosevelt is warm, thoughtful, charismatic, and optimistic, with the ability to inspire those around him. This role requires presence, dignity, humor, and strong ensemble instincts.

Orphans

Gender: Female
Playing Ages: 6-13

The girls of the orphanage with Annie. They are gritty, neglected, vulnerable, funny, tough, imaginative, and deeply loveable. Includes Molly, Kate, Tessie, Pepper, July, and Duffy. We are seeking strong young performers with excellent singing, acting, movement, and ensemble skills. Gymnastics, tumbling, dance, or strong physical theatre ability is a plus.

The orphans must feel like real children, not caricatures. They should be full of spark, humor, longing, mischief, resilience, and heart.

Servants / Warbucks Mansion Staff

Gender: Any
Playing Ages: 20-70

Includes Drake, Mrs. Pugh, Mrs. Greer, Cecille, Annette, and others. These roles help create the elegance, order, humor, and grandeur of Warbucks’ world. Strong singers and character actors needed. Movement ability helpful.

Adult Ensemble

Gender: Any
Playing Ages: Adult

The adult ensemble will play multiple featured and ensemble roles, including Hooverville citizens, servants, radio performers, Boylan Sisters, cabinet members, New Yorkers, and more. We are seeking strong singers and movers who can create vivid characters and help bring the world of 1933 New York City to life.

Ensemble performers may be asked to understudy principal roles. Please indicate on your audition form whether you are willing to be considered for understudy or swing assignments.

Sandy

Role: Canine Role

Annie‘s loyal canine companion. Sandy must be friendly, trainable, comfortable with children, and able to perform basic stage commands reliably in a theatrical environment.

Conflicts

All known conflicts must be disclosed at the time of audition or musician submission. Conflicts during tech week and performances cannot be accepted.

The rehearsal schedule will be carefully structured, and not all performers will be required at all rehearsals prior to tech. However, once a performer or musician is called, attendance is expected and required.

Casting Timeline

Casting offers will be made after callbacks. We will communicate casting decisions as promptly as possible once final decisions have been made.

Performers who are not cast will be notified by email.

Content & Licensing

This production will be performed in accordance with the licensed script, score, orchestration, and production requirements. No unauthorized edits, cuts, additions, lyric changes, script changes, or score changes will be made.

Questions

For questions about auditions, casting, rehearsal schedules, musician submissions, or accessibility accommodations, please contact:

[email protected]

Pickering Arts & Entertainment and Parker Arts look forward to welcoming artists, families, musicians, and community members into this joyful production of Annie. We are seeking collaborators who are excited to help create a production full of heart, humor, discipline, excellence, and hope.

After all, the sun will come out tomorrow – but first, we rehearse.

Sandy Auditions

We will hold a separate audition for Sandy, Annie‘s canine companion.

Sandy (Canine Companion) Audition Sign-up Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094CACAD2CA2FFC16-64814044-sandy

Date: Saturday, August 29, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM-2:00 PM

Location: Parker Arts Schoolhouse Theater located at 19650 Mainstreet, Parker, CO 80138

We are seeking a medium to large, light-colored dog who is friendly, easygoing, child-friendly, comfortable around people, and able to remain calm in a theatrical environment.

Sandy should be able to perform the following skills on command:

1. Crawl on belly approximately 15-20 feet
2. Come to Annie when called by the name “Sandy”
3. Stand on hind legs while “hugging” Annie
4. Enter stage and walk to center stage unaccompanied, then sit on command
5. Exit stage unaccompanied on command

Final casting of Sandy will be contingent upon temperament, safety, handler availability, venue approval, rehearsal availability, and the dog’s comfort working with child performers, music, lights, sound, and an audience.

Sandy/Handler Compensation: To be determined.

Character Breakdown

Sandy

Role: Canine Role

Annie‘s loyal canine companion. Sandy must be friendly, trainable, comfortable with children, and able to perform basic stage commands reliably in a theatrical environment.