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AUDITION INFO ABOUT SOUTH PACIFIC | AUDITION INFO ABOUT SBMT CONCERTS


Walter M. Mayes, Artistic Director of South Bay Musical Theatre, announces auditions for

SOUTH PACIFIC

South Pacific Auditions

Music by RICHARD RODGERS
Lyrics by OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II
Book by OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II and JOSHUA LOGAN
Adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “Tales of the South Pacific” by James A. Michener

  • Director: Vinh G. Nguyen
  • Choreographer: Nicole Tung
  • Vocal Director: Anita Hsiung Carey
  • Music Director: Joseph Kelly
  • Stage Manager: Quentin Tepliuk

Initial auditions will be held Sunday, November 1, 2026, from 4 – 10 pm and Monday, November 2, 2026, from 6 – 10 pm

Please schedule a vocal audition slot at:

https://sbmt.ivolunteer.com/sbmt_southpacific_002   (signup link goes live at 1:00 a.m. Sept. 25, 2026)

AUDITION INFORMATION

Please prepare 32 bars of a song in the style of the show with sheet music in the correct key. No recordings or a capella, please. An accompanist will be provided. Bring a headshot, résumé, conflict calendar through June 12, and comfortable clothes and shoes for moving. Auditioners must attend a dance call, but may choose to do so before or after their vocal audition time if available.

Auditions will be held at 761 Mabury Rd, Suite 20, in San Jose.

Callbacks, by invitation only: Saturday, Nov 7, 2026.

The rehearsal calendar is compact and fast-paced. Therefore, conflict calendars will be a primary consideration for casting. Only minor conflict schedules will be considered, if any.

No conflicts during tech week accepted.

DIRECTOR’S NOTE: In approaching this seminal Rodgers and Hammerstein masterpiece, I want to reexamine South Pacific’s historical context by deepening our exploration of the cultural clashes and relationships among the American, French, and Native characters in the show. I strive to create an inclusive production grounded in care, sensitivity, and respect for the Native characters, while still honoring the show’s powerful themes of love and overcoming prejudice. I am excited to welcome back longtime fans and introduce a new generation of musical theatre lovers to this beloved classic. Actors of all backgrounds are welcome and encouraged to audition. I hope you will come and help us bring this fresh and lush production to life.

– Vinh G. Nguyen

SBMT Casting Commitment

South Bay Musical Theatre is actively reshaping our company to better reflect the community we serve. We practice non-traditional and identity-conscious casting in all our productions. We highly encourage all actors to submit, regardless of race/ethnicity/caste, disability, body type, age, orientation, or gender/gender identity.  We can’t change the script or the music, but are open to considering actors of any gender identity for roles of specific gender identities. The actor would need to demonstrate the ability to portray the specified character and sing the required range. If you wish to be considered for specific roles, please note them on your audition form.

All cast members are volunteers, with a performance stipend of $250 for the run.

ROLES

All roles are open:

  • ENSIGN NELLIE FORBUSH (Female-presenting) An optimistic and simple Navy nurse from Little Rock, Arkansas, who falls in love with Emile; with subtle comedic timing, undeniable charms, and strong mezzo vocals.
  • EMILE DE BECQUE (Male-presenting) A wealthy, cultured, and dignified French leading man with grit and glamour who falls in love with Nellie; Strong baritone vocals.
  • LIEUTENANT JOSEPH CABLE (Male-presenting) A young, formal, and charming officer who falls in love with Liat; Strong soaring tenor vocals.
  • LIAT (Female-presenting) Bloody Mary’s daughter, A young Tonkinese girl who falls in love with Cable. Heartbreakingly delicate, beautiful, and innocent; Must move well.
  • BLOODY MARY (Female-presenting) A bold Tonkinese souvenir dealer who connects Cable to her daughter Liat; witty, brassy, and full of character; with excellent comedic timing and strong mezzo vocals.
  • LUTHER BILLIS (Male-presenting) A schlubby, mediocre entrepreneur; a friend to all and a man with a lust for the ladies; with strong comedic abilities and baritone vocals.
  • CAPTAIN GEORGE BRACKETT (Male-presenting) A pompous yet competent officer who hides a heart of gold; with baritone vocals.
  • COMMANDER HARBISON (Male-presenting) Officious Navy man; Brackett’s second-in-command and right-hand man; with baritone vocals.
  • NGANA and JEROME (Pre-teen children) Emile’s son and daughter by his late Polynesian wife. Walk on roles with some light singing.
  • HENRY/ENSEMBLE (Male-presenting) A native of the island, he works as Emile’s butler.
  • STEWPOT/ENSEMBLE (Male-presenting) A funny, schlubby character man with strong tenor vocals; one of the sailors and Luther Billis’ cohorts.
  • PROFESSOR/ENSEMBLE (Male-presenting) A funny character man of the studious type; strong singer; one of the sailors and Luther Billis’ cohorts.
  • ROB MCCAFFREY/ENSEMBLE (Male-presenting) A sailor and radio operator who communicates with Lt. Cable during his mission.
  • ENSEMBLE: (Any gender) A company of strong singers and movers to play Sailors, Marines, Seabees, Patrolmen, Ensigns, Islanders, Nuns, Officers, Soldiers, Pilots.

KEY DATES

  • Rehearsals begin Sunday, March 21, 2027
  • Move-in Saturday, May 1, 2027
  • Open May 22, 2027
  • Close & strike June 12, 2027, with a possible extension until June 19, 2027


South Bay Musical Theatre announces three audition opportunities!

Holiday Sunshine: Heartwarming Entertainment for the Season: December 19 & 20, 2026

VIdeo Auditions

A cabaret evening of songs for the season, created and Directed by Walter M. Mayes and Bob Sunshine. Beloved accompanist and musical theatre raconteur Bob Sunshine helms an evening of holiday music all wrapped up in a bow to “make your days merry and bright.”

and

MusiComedy: February 7, 2027 at 7:30 pm

A cabaret evening of songs to make you laugh, created and directed by Brad Handshy. One performance only. Brad Handshy has been providing SBMT audiences with his hand-crafted evenings of musical theater songs for so long that he has worked his way through the entirety of Broadway’s 20th-century repertoire in his Broadway by the Decade series. Now he throws off the constraint of time and the theater and has hand-crafted an evening of songs that are first and foremost humorous.

and

Candide: In Concert: April 17-18, 2027

Music by: Leonard Bernstein.
Book adapted from Voltaire by: Hugh Wheeler.
Lyrics by Richard Wilbur. With additional Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and John Latouche.

Directed by Dennis Lickteig
Music Direction by D. Asa Stern
Vocal Direction by Rachel Michelberg

After the fundraiser concerts of Titanic and On the Twentieth Century, SBMT takes on this rarely performed Bernstein masterwork with a company of 40 and a full onstage orchestra.

Video auditions for all three shows will be accepted through Oct. 15, 2026. There will be no live auditions. Directors will review every audition submitted and contact those they wish to include in their respective productions.

AUDITION INFORMATION

Please prepare a song selection of roughly two minutes in length.

It is not necessary to prepare a song from the eras or the style of the shows; it is more important that you show your voice, range, and expression. But if the spirit moves you, we encourage you to have fun with your song choice. Note to sopranos: For MusiComedy, there will be few songs for sopranos.  If you sing in both soprano and alto registers, submitting a song in the alto register is preferred.

Regarding Holiday Sunshine: We are looking for 6 men and 6 women. The songs in the show will not be limited to Broadway and will include a range of family-friendly songs appropriate for the season… and we will have an appearance by Santa! We are looking for a company of 10-12 singers who are adept at solo and harmony work.  If you appeared in last season’s Let it Show, let us know if you are interested in working with us again; you do not need to submit a video. 

Regarding MusiComedy: If you are one of the 117 people who have appeared in Brad’s concerts over the years, you need not submit an audition tape.  Brad has you “on file” in his performer database, and you will automatically be considered if you express your interest.

If you are unfamiliar with how Brad works, here is how he puts his special evenings together: 

“​​I choose the songs that I want, then find the singer to fit the song. I don’t find the song for the singer. I may see/hear someone spectacular via audition, but they might not “fit” into any of the songs I have planned.” 

Regarding Candide: We want to have 40 voices in the company and a large orchestra to perform a concert version (with minimal staging) of the 1974 revival version of the musical. We will be doing some book scenes and all music (with some narration to tie things together), and most cast members will be holding their music in a black binder. 

This is a fundraiser for SBMT, and everyone on staff, on crew, in the orchestra, or on stage will be donating their time.

Principal Character Descriptions 

  • Candide: The naive, trusting, and good-hearted protagonist, the bastard cousin of the Baron. He travels the world blindly following the teaching that “all is for the best”.  Vocal range: A3 – A5
  • Dr. Voltaire / Dr. Pangloss/Governor/Host/Sage: Played as a dual role, in which the aging author Voltaire serves as the wise, cynical narrator and quickly transforms into Dr. Pangloss, the pompous philosopher and tutor who teaches the youth that they live in the “best of all possible worlds” as well as other characters throughout the show. Vocal range: G2 – G5
  • Cunegonde: The beautiful, vain, and materialistic daughter of the Baron and Candide’s true love, famous for her dazzling aria “Glitter and Be Gay” as she bounces between wealthy men. Vocal range: A3 – E6
  • Maximilian: Cunegonde’s handsome, incredibly vain brother who views himself as the center of aristocratic perfection. Vocal range: G2 – G5
  • Paquette: A seductive yet sweet-natured chambermaid in the Westphalian castle who joins Candide in various misadventures. Vocal range: A3 – G5
  • The Old Lady: The sharp-witted, cynical, and resilient daughter of a Pope and a Princess. Despite surviving unbelievable horrors—including piracy, slavery, and cannibalism—she remains fiercely practical and loyal. Vocal range: A3 – A5
  • Ensemble – Male and Female – the ensemble plays a number of small cameo roles, including but not limited to: Soldiers, Baron and Baroness, Slave Owners, Rich Jewish nobleman, Grand Inquisitor, Sheep, Sailors, Citizens. All vocal ranges are needed.

All submissions will be considered for all three productions unless you specifically state otherwise.

Provide a headshot and resume when you submit.

Send all audition submissions to walter@southbaymt.com

IMPORTANT DATES and TIME COMMITMENT

Rehearsals for all shows will take place primarily on weekends, some in the morning and, for Candide, between 1  and 5 pm. Rehearsal schedules will be published once we have a cast. Brad will make personal arrangements with each MusiComedy cast member for one-on-one rehearsals..

Oct. 15–deadline for submission for all three shows.

Holiday Sunshine

  • November and December–Saturday and/or Sunday daytime rehearsals
  • The week of Dec 14, 2026– Let It Show rehearsals in the theater, Monday through Friday evenings.
  • Performances on December 19 & 20, possibly two a day, matinee and evening.

MusiComedy

  • One-on-one rehearsals with Brad on Saturdays or Sundays in December.
  • Saturday, February 6– dress rehearsal 9 AM – 5 PM
  • Sunday, February 7– performance at 7:30 PM

Candide

  • Late January – early April–Saturday and/or Sunday daytime rehearsals
  • The week of April 11–rehearsals in the theater, Sunday through Friday.
  • Saturday, April 17–performance at 8 PM
  • Sunday, April 18–performance at 2:30 PM

SBMT Casting Commitment

South Bay Musical Theatre is actively re-shaping our company to be reflective of the community it serves. We practice non-traditional and identity-conscious casting in all our productions. We are seeking and highly encouraging all actors to submit, regardless of race/ethnicity/caste, disability, body type, age, orientation, or gender/gender identity.  

Questions?

Questions about any of the concert productions can be sent to walter@southbaymt.com

Questions about South Bay Tabletop Theatre? Email executivedirector@southbaymt.com