LATEST AUDITION NEWS

Arrive prepared to fill out an audition form and make sure to bring your schedule and any potential conflicts.

• Everyone will read from pre-selected sides of the show, sing their favorite Christmas song, and be prepared to learn a harmony for 'Jingle Bells'.

• All characters listed are open to actors of all racial backgrounds and types.

• Age ranges are flexible for the characters.

• The director is open to casting actors in non-traditional gender roles.

We also encourage everyone to get involved in the production of our performances by helping with set design and props, sound and lighting, backstage, in the booth, or as the stage manager. There are many ways to get involved with our theater group. Just ask!

We understand there will be scheduling conflicts during the rehearsal schedule, but all actors must be able to commit to all performance dates and tech week rehearsals.

Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you at the auditions!

WINTER WONDERETTES

Directed by: Frank Squillo
Musical Director: Rachel Pinci
Executive Producer: Frank Squillo

THE STORY: It’s Christmas 1968, and The Wonderettes are back! Betty Jean, Cindy Lou, Missy, and Suzy return to entertain at the annual Harper’s Hardware Holiday Party, bringing their signature four-part harmonies, colorful personalities, and plenty of holiday cheer.

But as the evening unfolds, the celebration doesn’t go quite according to plan. Between the Christmas classics and festive fun, unexpected news, old tensions, and a few surprises give each of the Wonderettes her own moment in the spotlight.

The Winter Wonderettes is a joyful, funny, and nostalgic musical packed with beloved holiday songs of the 1960s, including “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Winter Wonderland,” and many more.

At its heart, it’s a show about friendship, resilience, and four very different women coming together when it matters most—all wrapped up in the sparkle, style, and music of a 1960s Christmas.

NUMBER OF ACTS: 2 Acts (15-minute intermission)

DURATION: 2 hours

FIRST PRODUCED: November 7, 2003, at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

GENRES: Musical Comedy, Holiday/Christmas, Jukebox Musical, 1960s Nostalgia

SETTING: Harper’s Hardware Store, Springfield, USA

TIME & PLACE: Christmas 1968, at the local Harper’s Hardware Holiday Party

AUDITION PACKET ON GOOGLE DRIVE:

AUDITION DATES: Saturday, 09/12/26 and Sunday, 09/13/26 from 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm

VIRTUAL AUDITION: If you cannot make the audition dates in person, submit a short monologue and video singing a Christmas song by Sunday at 12:00 PM, 09/12/26. Include any theater experience and any experience singing harmony or in a group. Email fsquillo@riverbendplayers.org.

AUDITION LOCATION: NCRD Performing Arts Center Lobby

REHEARSALS BEGIN: Thursday, 09/17/26

WEEKLY REHEARSAL SCHEDULE: TBD, but expectations are Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:00 PM, and Sundays at 4:00 PM

TECH WEEKS: 11/23/26 - 12/03/26

PERFORMANCE DATES: Nine performances, 12/04/26 - 12/20/26… Friday and Saturday nights at 7 pm, Sunday Matinees at 2 pm.

SUMMARY:

It’s Christmas 1968, and Betty Jean, Cindy Lou, Missy, and Suzy, the Wonderettes, are back together to entertain at the annual Harper’s Hardware Holiday Party. What begins as a festive evening of Christmas cheer takes some unexpected turns as surprises, personal revelations, and a little holiday drama unfold.

Filled with tight four-part harmonies, comedy, friendship, and classic holiday hits, The Winter Wonderettes is a high-energy musical celebration of the season with all the charm and nostalgia of the 1960s. Each of the four women gets her chance to shine as the Wonderettes discover that friendship—and a great song—can get you through just about anything.

CAST OF CHARACTERS: 4 roles, 4/Females

• CINDY LOU – Female, play late 20’s-early 30’s

  Cindy Lou is the “bad girl” of the group, now reformed (to a point). She is sexy with a dry and sassy wit, and has a miles-high jet-black beehive, a cross between the Ronettes and early Priscilla Presley. She has a tattoo on her left upper arm that reads “Billy Ray,” her boyfriend who passed away a few years back (from The Marvelous Wonderettes). Until that time it seemed that things always went her way, making Betty Jean crazy. She has an incredible soft side and inner depth, revealed in her Act II monologue and ballad.

• Mezzo Soprano with belt, sings lead vocal line on most group songs. Range: A3–E5

• MISSY – Female, play late 20’s-mid 30’s

  Always the over-achiever of the group, Missy has now blossomed into a full-fledged adult over-achiever. She is an elementary school teacher with cat-eye glasses. She has recently returned from her honeymoon with her new husband Bill, an audience member. She controls the evening’s events, even when Betty Jean is in charge: Missy is the one to cover for mistakes, and is always ready to jump in and save the day. She has an inner-sexiness (even slightly kinky) that comes out every once-in-a-while, much to her surprise and embarrassment. She has been best friends with Suzy since elementary school.

• Soprano with belt. Range: F#3–A5

• BETTY JEAN – Female, play late 20’s-mid 30’s

  Betty Jean is the self-anointed clown of the group, always vying for attention from her best friend Cindy Lou. She loves that she is in finally in charge of the group, if only for this one performance. She has worked at Harper’s Hardware since High School and is now in Corporate Sales, a fact she’s very proud of. After a few tumultuous years, she married her high-school boyfriend Johnny, who also used to work at Harper’s Hardware. We learn that they have recently separated for good. She has a strength that belies her goofiness. This strength is what gives her empathy; she has no “poor me” in her attitude. This pays off in her Act I closing song. Her hair is red/auburn.

• Strong Alto with big belt. Range: D3­–Eb5

• SUZY – Female, play late 20’s-mid 30’s.

  Suzy is happy-go-lucky, a little giddy, a little silly and a little pregnant. She’s always willing to go along with anyone and anything, and she seems to giggle at just about anything. She finds great pleasure in everything she does; the sillier it is, the more fun she finds it. Her pregnancy has brought out her attention-deficit disorder, and she reverts to her childhood on the drop of a dime. She is married to Ritchie, her high-school sweetheart, who is running the lights for the performance. Her honey-blond hair is reminiscent of early Marlo Thomas/“That Girl.” Her best friend is Missy.

• Mezzo/Alto with big belt. Range: C#3–E5

  CASTING NOTES:

  • • All four roles are principal roles with significant stage time, dialogue, and featured vocals.

    • Strong singers comfortable with solo work and tight four-part harmonies are needed.

    • Performers should have good comic timing, character skills, and stage presence.

    • Strong ensemble chemistry is essential—the friendship and history between the four Wonderettes are at the heart of the show.

    • Performers should be comfortable with movement and light choreography; advanced dance experience is not required.

    • The show includes direct interaction with the audience, so performers should be comfortable engaging with patrons in character.

    • Age flexibility: We are more interested in finding four performers who work well together than matching a specific physical type or exact age.

    • Performers of all backgrounds are encouraged to audition.

    • Auditions will consider both individual vocal ability and the ability to blend and harmonize as a group.

  Safety & Consent Statement

  All rehearsals and performances will prioritize actor safety, consent, and clear communication, with any physical staging addressed collaboratively and respectfully.