YOUTH AUDITION NOTICE: Chicago - Brisbane Junior Theatre

Title: Chicago: Teen Edition

Presented By: Brisbane Junior Theatre

Genre: Youth Musical

Synopsis: Set amid the glamour and grit of 1920s Chicago, Chicago: Teen Edition follows aspiring performer Roxie Hart after she murders a faithless lover and finds herself imprisoned alongside vaudeville star Velma Kelly. Both women quickly discover that in a city obsessed with scandal, crime can be transformed into celebrity with the right headlines, the right lawyer, and enough razzle dazzle.

As Roxie and Velma compete for public attention and the services of slick defence attorney Billy Flynn, the musical takes a sharp, funny look at fame, justice, ambition, and the media circus surrounding sensational crime. This Teen Edition retains the iconic score and story while adapting some language and adult material for younger performers and audiences.

Audition Date: Saturday 12 September 2026

Audition Time: 1:00pm–4:00pm

Audition Location and Address: Emerge Church, 1 Coorparoo Road, Warner QLD 4500

Audition Requirements:

Auditions are required for performers seeking a lead or minor role, featured dancer position, or solo. Everyone who auditions is guaranteed a place in the cast. 

Auditionees are required to:

• Memorise the assigned monologue with appropriate characterisation and accents.

• Prepare the song listed on the relevant monologue sheet.

• Participate in a dance audition, with choreography taught on the day.

Audition Registration: Book an audition time by texting Debbie on 0438 896 436.

A Production Registration Form must also be completed and emailed to brisbanejuniortheatre@gmail.com.

Audition Pack: View the BJT audition and monologue packs on Google Drive Brisbane Junior Theatre – Chicago: Teen Edition

Performance Dates: Friday 25 September and Saturday 26 September 2026

Performance Times:

• Friday 25 September: 6:00pm & 8:00pm

• Saturday 26 September: 12:00pm & 2:00pm

Performance Location: Emerge Church1 Coorparoo Road, Warner QLD 4500

Rehearsal Dates: Monday 21 September – Friday 25 September 2026

Rehearsal Times: 8:30am–5:00pm daily

Warnings:Chicago centres on murder, imprisonment, capital punishment, infidelity, corruption, manipulation, and sensationalised crime. The Teen Edition has been specifically adapted to remove overtly sexual references and adult language from the original version.

Production Website: Brisbane Junior Theatre – Chicago: Teen Edition

Other information:

• An optional Audition Intensive will be held on Saturday 5 September from 12:00pm–3:00pm at the Emerge Church Upstairs Studio. The intensive costs $50 and covers monologue delivery, characterisation, physicality, projection, accents, audition-song presentation, acting through song, storytelling, and vocal technique. Individual feedback will be provided.

• Musical Participation fee: $425 including GST. The fee covers costumes, rights and royalties, scripts, insurance, technical and creative staff, sets and props, venue hire, and pizza dinner with a drink on the Friday performance day.

• Performers cannot audition without registering and paying.

• BJT guarantees every auditionee a place in the cast.

• BJT generally double casts its productions to provide performers with additional performance opportunities.

  
  

Available Roles/Character Breakdown:

• Roxie Hart

  • Female-presenting

  • An ambitious, impulsive aspiring performer who dreams of fame and suddenly finds herself at the centre of Chicago’s biggest murder story. Roxie is charming, manipulative, funny, vulnerable, and determined to turn notoriety into stardom.

  • Requires a strong singer, actor, and mover with excellent comic timing.

• Velma Kelly

  • Female-presenting

  • A confident vaudeville performer already accustomed to the spotlight when she lands on Murderess’ Row. Stylish, sharp, competitive, and highly theatrical, Velma becomes Roxie’s principal rival for headlines and public sympathy.

  • Requires particularly strong dance ability alongside confident vocals and acting.

• Billy Flynn

  • Male-presenting

  • A charismatic celebrity lawyer who knows exactly how to manipulate journalists, juries, and public opinion. Smooth, theatrical, charming, and completely in control of his own image.

  • Requires excellent stage presence and a strong singer/actor.

• Amos Hart

  • Male-presenting

  • Roxie’s loyal but frequently overlooked husband. Sweet, sincere, and somewhat naïve, Amos remains devoted to Roxie despite repeatedly being taken for granted.

  • A strong character role requiring warmth and understated comedy.

• Matron “Mama” Morton

  • Female-presenting

  • The formidable matron of the Cook County Jail. Mama understands how the prison system works and happily exchanges favours for favours.

  • Bold, confident, commanding, and humorous, with a strong vocal presence.

• Mary Sunshine

  • Female-presenting

  • A relentlessly optimistic newspaper journalist who believes everyone has some good in them.

  • A highly theatrical character role requiring strong comic commitment and a high vocal register.

• Fred Casely Roxie’s lover, whose death sets the plot in motion. A featured acting role.

• Sergeant Fogarty A police officer involved in investigating Fred Casely’s death.

• The Merry Murderesses of Murderess’ Row Featured prisoners including Liz, Annie, June, Hunyak, and Mona, each with her own story explaining how she ended up in jail. These are strongly characterised singing, acting, and movement roles featured in “Cell Block Tango.”

• Kitty A sensational new murder defendant whose arrival temporarily steals the press spotlight from Roxie.

• Ensemble The ensemble may portray prisoners, reporters, jurors, court officials, dancers, club performers, police, and other citizens of Jazz Age Chicago. Chicago is particularly dance-driven, so ensemble performers have substantial opportunities for stylised movement, vocals, and featured character work.