Auditions

A Valentine Concert

Video auditions due Tuesday, January 2 at 11:59 pm

City of Lights Theatre & Cabaret is excited to announce non-equity auditions for Honeymoon Cabaret, accepting video submissions only.

About the show

Honeymoon Cabaret: A Valentine Concert will take place on Wednesday, February 14 in the Two Brothers Roundhouse Tavern Room and consists of two shows: 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm. The shows features 45-60 minutes of pop and musical theatre love songs accompanied by a combo (including a sax player!) while our audience enjoys a Valentine's Day dinner.

Songs will range from “People Will Say We're in Love” to “Careless Whisper” to “I've Got You Under My Skin.” Audiences will be able to order off the menu or enjoy a special event menu at a great price ($75 per couple).

We are looking to cast 12-16 singers to front the band, performing solos, duets, back-ups and a group opener and closer. Rehearsals will be minimal, and, as a result, performers will prepare the majority of the music on their own before the sitzprobe on Sunday, February 11. There will be no staging or choreography—we are going for dinner music/concert vibe. Performers will need to be comfortable selling their song without direction.

Honeymoon Cabaret is a fundraising event for City of Lights Theatre to produce our first musical in 2025. Our goal is to raise $15,000. Because of this, we are asking that all performers donate their time and talent to this event so we can pay for the rights, venue and all the other expenses that go into a musical production. If you're on board with City of Lights expanding from cabarets into theatre, please make a contribution by donating your talents to this show!

Directed by Kirsten Currie Tait

Auditions: Video submissions will be accepted until Tuesday, January 2 at 11:59pm.

Location of audition: Virtual

Submissions: Please complete the audition form for consideration. After filling out the form, please email your video audition to auditions@cityoflightstheatre.org by Tuesday, January 2 at 11:59 pm. Please email us with any questions. Find more details on video submissions below. View an example audition video.

We encourage performers of all ethnicities and ages (13+) to audition. We are looking to cast 12-16 performers.

Pay: Performing in Honeymoon Cabaret will be considered a donation towards City of Lights Theatre & Cabaret’s $15,000 fundraising goal to produce a musical in 2025. This cabaret is unpaid. If you have special accommodations that need to be met (travel expenses or the requirement of performing in a paid show for your resume), please reach out to kirsten@cityoflightstheatre.org and we will do our best to accommodate.

Time commitment: The rehearsal period of the show is January 13 - February 13 with performances on February 14 at 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm (two shows total) at Two Brothers Roundhouse in Aurora, Illinois. Rehearsals will occur in windows of time on Monday-Thursday 6:00-10:00 pm, Saturday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, and Sunday 12:30-4:30 pm in Aurora, Illinois. You will not be called for the entire rehearsal block. Plan on approximately 5-6 rehearsals within those dates. Please let us know your conflicts during that period. We will provide a master schedule within one week of casting.

In order to perform in the show, you must be available on:

  • Saturday, January 20 at 2:00-5:00 pm

  • Sunday, February 11 at 12:00-4:00 pm

  • Tuesday, February 13 at 6:00-10:00 pm

  • Wednesday, February 14 at 4:00-10:00 pm

Material to prepare for your audition:

  1. Fill out the audition form.

  2. Please pick one song from the tentative setlist OR another love song you’d like to sing for the show.

  3. Prepare using the practice and backing tracks in the tentative setlist OR backing tracks you find on your own.

  4. Record yourself. Begin your recording with a slate—tell us your name, height, and location.

  5. Sing the entire song using the backing track provided in the tentative setlist or using a track you find on your own.

  6. Upload the video to YouTube and make the visibility “unlisted.” If you’re having technical issues, please write to us at auditions@cityoflightstheatre.org.

  7. Email the video link to auditions@cityoflightstheatre.org by Tuesday, January 2 at 11:59 pm with the subject line “Honeymoon Cabaret Audition.”

*While you are auditioning with one song, you will still be considered for the whole setlist. Please choose the song you feel suits you best. Also, you can submit another love song not on the list if there’s something you love—we might decide to use it!

Notes for auditions:

  • During the instrumental break, keep engaged and keep selling it. There won’t be any staging or choreography, so we’d like to see how you keep the interest going during the break! View an example.

  • If you’re auditioning on a duet, just sing the part you’re interested in. Feel free to start halfway in and skip over the other part.

  • Remember, we may cast you but assign you a different song on the setlist. Don’t get your heart set on any particular song.

  • Try to copy the style of the original performer while still adding in your own personal flair if you want. People want to hear the style that made the song famous! These recordings are famous for a reason.

  • Watch the artist in a concert setting to learn how to move with a microphone and in front of a band. This is a totally different technique than a musical requires—you need to be comfortable moving with the music and selling the song without a character.

  • Please indicate in the audition form if there are songs you’d like to sing backup on.