The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati (TCT) is holding auditions in August for the third & fourth MainStage productions in their 2025-2026 season at the EMERY THEATER.
All roles are paid positions.
TCT, the nation’s oldest professional theatre for young audiences, is passionate about creating an inclusive workplace and is committed to a dynamic casting process. All roles are open to everyone regardless of ability, background, ethnicity, or gender identity.
Upon audition registration, you may indicate which shows for which you would like to be considered.
Auditions are by appointment only.
You only need ONE audition appointment, even if you are interested in both productions.
Adults and young performers ages 9-18 (who would like to be considered for TCT’s Young Artist Company) may make an audition appointment by visiting https://www.theaterforms.com/TCTCincinnati/wizardelf/auditionform/
Appointment dates:
- Monday, August 18, 2025- 5:30-9:00 PM
- Tuesday, August 19, 2025- 5:30-9:00 PM
- Wednesday, August 20, 2025- 5:30-9:00 PM
- Thursday, August 21, 2025- 5:30-9:00 PM
Diary of a Wimpy Kid callbacks will take place on SATURDAY, August 23, 2025, 10:00 AM- 2:00 PM.
Dreamworks’ How to Train Your Dragon JR. callbacks will take place on SUNDAY, August 24, 2025, 10:00 AM- 2:00 PM.
Auditions and Callbacks are held at TCT’s headquarters located at: 4015 Red Bank Road, Cincinnati OH 45227.
If you are unable to attend auditions in person, you must fill out an audition form and select “waiting list” as your time slot. Then, please email Maddie Jones at Maddie.Jones@tctcincinnati.com stating you would like permission to submit virtually. For your virtual audition, email your video submission (1 minute song) to Maddie Jones no later than Sunday, August 15, 2025.
Visit https://www.theaterforms.com/TCTCincinnati/wimpydragon/auditionform/ to sign-up for an audition appointment.
PREPARATION CHECKLIST
- Please prepare the piano sheet music accompaniment to a memorized song that shows your acting and vocal range. (1-minute max). The song must be age appropriate. Remember to have your PIANO SHEET MUSIC ACCOMPANIMENT, as we will not be auditioning for a cappella skills. An accompanist will be provided. Your sheet music MUST have the piano part, not just the vocal line, and music should be in a 3-ring binder with any cuts CLEARLY marked for the accompanist.
You only need a song. You do NOT need to prepare a monologue.
- Bring a RECENT 8×10 headshot and up to date performance resume. Even if you upload to the audition website, a hardcopy of your headshot and resume is needed.
- Plan to arrive at least 10-15 minutes ahead of your appointment to check/correct previously submitted paperwork. If we are ahead of schedule, we may bring you in to audition early.
- Come with your scheduling conflicts. Due to concentrated rehearsal periods, we ask that conflicts during rehearsals are at a minimum. In an effort to best facilitate all rehearsal times, you will be asked to list all conflicts at the time of the audition. Conflicts may result in a stipend adjustment. Please take note of when rehearsals begin, the day and evening tech and performance schedule, and bring your calendar with you to the audition.
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT AUDITION FORM
ABOUT THE SHOWS
DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: THE MUSICAL
Directed & Choreographed by: Maddie Jones
Music Directed by: Jacob Priddy
In the winter of 2026, one of the most beloved children’s book series of all-time jumps from the page to the stage! Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical brings Jeff Kinney’s iconic characters to life in a hilarious and heartfelt production. The show will also feature original illustrations and animations by Kinney himself.
REHEARSALS: January 10–February 14, 2026. Mondays-Thursdays, 6:30-9:30pm and Saturdays, 10:00am-4:00pm.
TECH IN THE EMERY THEATER: February 15- February 19, 2026. (Sunday- 11:00am-9:00pm- Weekday evenings from 5:30-9:30pm)
PERFORMANCES:
- February 20, 2026- 9:45am, 12:15pm, 7 pm
- February 21, 2026- 2pm, 5 pm
- February 22, 2026- 2pm
- February 26, 2026- 9:45am, 12:15pm
- February 27, 2026- 9:45am, 12:15pm
- February 28, 2026- 11am, 2pm
- March 1, 2026- 2pm
- March 4, 2026- 10am
- March 5, 2026- 9:45am, 1pm
- March 6, 2026- 9:45am, 12:15pm
- March 7, 2026- 2pm, 5pm
- March 8, 2026- 2pm
- *Potential added performances:
- Sunday, March 1, 2026- 5pm
- Friday, March 6, 2026- 7pm
- Sunday, March 8, 2026- 5pm
SCHEDULE: Please note our new performance schedule for TCT Mainstage productions! The run of each show takes place over three weekends.
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS:
[GREG HEFFLEY] Male, First year middle schooler. Equal parts cocky and insecure. Driven to achieve popularity and acclaim at all costs. (G3-D5)
[ROWLEY JEFFERSON] Male, Greg’s best friend. Determinedly sunny disposition. Almost blindly devoted to Greg. (Ab4-F5)
[MOM, AND OTHER FEMALE CHARACTERS] Female, Greg’s mother. Chipper, loving, and overly-supportive. Always looking for “teachable moments” with her boys. (A4-C5)
[DAD, AND OTHER MALE CHARACTERS] Male, Greg’s father. Deep distrust of teenages. Uncomfortable speaking with tweens. (A3-G#4)
[RODRICK HEFFLEY, ENSEMBLE] Male, Greg’s older brother. Brash and obnoxious. Frontman of heavy-metal band. (Ab3-F4)
[MANNY HEFFLEY, ENSEMBLE] Any gender, Greg’s baby brother. Impossibly adorable and spoiled.
[PATTY FERRELL] Female, Greg’s ambitious and overachieving classmate. Always out to best Greg. (G3-E5)
[JOSHIE] Male. European teen pop star and Rowley’s idol. Cross between boy-band and KidzBop performer. Joshie’s motto: follow your dreams and respect your parents! (C#4-G#5)
[CHIRAG GUPTA] Male, Greg’s quick-witted and wily classmate. Enthusiastically engaged in a years-long prank-battle with Greg. (Bb4-Bb5)
[ADULT ENSEMBLE] Any gender. Seeking strong singer/dancer/actor types to play a variety of teen and adult ensemble roles.
[YOUTH ENSEMBLE] Any gender. Seeking strong singer/dancer/actors to play a variety of the students at Greg’s school including, Claire, Chris Hosey, Lionel James, Patty’s Gang of Girls, Bryce Anderson, and Charlie Davis.
DREAMWORKS’ HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON THE MUSICAL JR.
Directed by: Roderick Justice
Choreographed by: Angelo Cerniglia
Music Directed by: Jamey Strawn
Puppetry By: Kevin Frisch
Closing out TCT’s 25-26 season at The Emery Theater is the stage adaptation of one of DreamWorks’ most legendary films. TCT is elated to present the JR. version of How to Train Your Dragon. Journey to the Isle of Berk with Hiccup and the majestic dragon, Toothless, who will prove that friendship and courage have the power to change the world!
REHEARSALS: March 16 – April 11, 2026. Mondays-Thursdays, 6:30- 9:30 PM and Saturdays, 10:00am – 4:00pm.
TECH IN THE EMERY THEATER: April 12- April 16, 2026. (Sunday from 11:00am-9:00pm, Evenings from 5:30-9:30pm)
PERFORMANCES:
- April 17, 2026- 9:45am, 12:15pm, 7pm
- April 18, 2026- 2pm, 5pm
- April 19, 2026- 2pm
- April 23, 2026- 9:45am, 12:15pm
- April 24, 2026- 9:45am, 12:15pm
- April 25, 2026- 11am, 2pm
- April 26, 2026- 2pm
- April 30, 2026- 9:45am, 1pm
- May 1, 2026- 9:45am, 12:15pm
- May 2, 2026- 2pm, 5pm
- May 3, 2026- 2pm
- *Potential added performances:
- Sunday, April 26, 2026- 5pm
- Friday, May 1, 2026- 7pm
- Sunday, May 3, 2026- 5pm
SCHEDULE: Please note our new performance schedule for TCT Mainstage productions! The run of each show takes place over three weekends.
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS:
[HICCUP] Male, portrays 17-18. An unsuspecting young viking, who forges an unlikely friendship with a Night Fury dragon named Toothless, causing confusion and change among his society. Strong singer, actor.
[TOOTHLESS] Open to any gender. Script references male pronouns. A rare, intelligent, and powerful dragon. Becomes Hiccup’s loyal friend and companion. Strong singer, actor, puppeteer.
[ASTRID] Female, portrays 17-18. A fierce and strong Viking Warrior recruit at the top of her class. Wants to prove herself by becoming the champion dragon slayer of Berk. Strong singer, actor.
[STOICK] Male, 40s-50s. Chief of the Isle of Berk. Viking legend. A strong mountain man, who wishes for his son, Hiccup to follow in his footsteps. Strong actor, singer.
[THE RED DEATH] Female, Mature. Massive, monstrous dragon who acts as the tyrannical queen of the dragons. Strong singer, actor.
[ENSEMBLE] All genders, types, and ages. The ensemble covers a wide variety of roles including dragons, puppeteers, vikings, and young recruits. Must be skilled singer, actors, dancers. Puppeteering experience is needed for most roles in the Ensemble.
Behind the Curtain Cincinnati 