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CASTING For ARCHIE the ALIEN
ALICE — Female | Young adult | Dynamic lead vocal range WHO SHE IS Alice is intelligent, compassionate, strong-minded and capable of seeing beyond the limits of Average Heights. She possesses an otherworldly confidence but also reveals uncertainty, romantic hope and genuine emotional depth. Her serious festival song expresses one of the musical’s central messages about equality, acceptance and love. WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR The performer must have leading-lady presence, emotional honesty and natural warmth. She should be able to move easily between romantic comedy, thoughtful dramatic material and sincere social commentary without becoming overly sentimental. Alice should be beautiful because of her spirit, intelligence and confidence—not presented as a stereotypical “sexy alien.” VOCAL REQUIREMENTS A strong, expressive musical-theater vocalist capable of carrying a serious solo, romantic material and ensemble harmonies. The performer must interpret lyrics clearly and sing with both power and restraint. MOVEMENT REQUIREMENTS Must move gracefully and learn moderate choreography. Strong dance training is welcome but not essential. IMPORTANT The actor must be comfortable performing in TBD costume pieces.
ARCHIE — Male | Young adult (late teens and up) | Powerful, lead high vocal range WHO HE IS Archie is a good-hearted alien who accidentally crashes into Average Heights and quickly becomes the most unusual—and unexpectedly influential—person in town. He is innocent about Earth customs but never foolish. His honesty, optimism and natural compassion allow him to see people more clearly than they see themselves. WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR The performer must be an exceptionally likable leading actor with warmth, vulnerability and excellent comic timing. Archie’s humor comes from complete sincerity, so the actor cannot play him as a cartoon or continually chase the joke. He must be able to make outrageous misunderstandings feel truthful, connect naturally with children and adults, and carry the emotional center of the musical. A strong sense of physical comedy is valuable, but genuine heart is essential. VOCAL REQUIREMENTS A confident contemporary musical-theater singer who can handle comedy numbers, emotional solos, ensemble harmonies and a demanding leading role. Clear diction and the ability to communicate lyrics are especially important. MOVEMENT REQUIREMENTS Must move confidently and learn musical-theater choreography. Strong dance training is helpful but not required. IMPORTANT The actor must be comfortable performing in alien makeup TBD. Archie should feel youthful, charismatic and emotionally real—not childish.
MARTIN — Male | Young adult; approximately Archie’s age | Dynamic lead vocal full range WHO HE IS Martin becomes Archie’s friend, guide, adviser and occasional damage-control department. He understands Earth far better than Archie does, but Archie often understands people better than Martin. Their friendship provides much of the musical’s comedy and heart. WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR The performer must be a highly skilled comic actor who can react brilliantly without overpowering the scene. Martin is Archie’s grounding force, so the actor needs generosity, intelligence, fast timing and strong chemistry with Archie. He must be equally believable as the sensible person in the room and as someone gradually swept into Archie’s extraordinary adventure. VOCAL REQUIREMENTS A capable musical-theater singer with strong ensemble skills, rhythmic accuracy and clear comic phrasing. MOVEMENT REQUIREMENTS Must move comfortably and learn standard musical-theater choreography. IMPORTANT Martin must appear to be Archie’s contemporary—not an older mentor, father figure or authority figure.
JIMMY “THE JACKHAMMER” JACOBS — Male- | Adult | Featured character | Vocal - mimic a DJ voice WHO HE IS Jimmy Jacobs is Average Heights’ high-energy local DJ and community personality. He treats every announcement as if it were the biggest event in broadcasting history and helps energize the festival scenes. WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR The performer must possess a large personality, a distinctive speaking voice, fearless comic energy and excellent audience rapport, the actor must remain disciplined and support the scene. VOCAL REQUIREMENTS Strong rhythmic delivery and confident ensemble singing are required. A traditional leading voice is less important than personality, diction and musical timing. MOVEMENT REQUIREMENTS Must move energetically and participate comfortably in ensemble choreography. All supporting actors will in most cases be part of the ensemble as well.
JOHNNY FERRARI — Male | Adult | Featured comic role | Vocal - TV host. WHO HE IS Johnny Ferrari is the smooth, overconfident host of the local-access television program Blind Date. He presents the low-budget show as if it were the most glamorous television event in America. WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR The performer must have exceptional comic timing, polished host energy and the confidence to command a scene. He should be able to deliver ridiculous dialogue with complete sincerity and interact spontaneously with contestants, applause people and the audience. VOCAL REQUIREMENTS Must sing confidently enough for featured and ensemble material. Strong rhythmic phrasing and a clear speaking voice are especially important. MOVEMENT REQUIREMENTS Must move comfortably and possess the physical confidence of an experienced television host. IMPORTANT This role requires charm, control and precision. Johnny should be larger than life without becoming incomprehensible or exhausting. Also, part of the ensemble
POLICEMAN: A local Average Heights police officer who takes the job—and perhaps himself—a little too seriously. He is confident, official and determined to maintain order, even when the circumstances around him become completely ridiculous. WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR A strong character actor with excellent deadpan delivery and natural comic timing. The performer should be able to earn laughs through reactions, physical presence and complete commitment to the officer’s authority. The humor should come from sincerity rather than playing the character as foolish. VOCAL REQUIREMENTS A confident singer who can blend well with the ensemble. No featured vocal range is required. MOVEMENT REQUIREMENTS Must be comfortable with basic choreography, physical comedy and moving confidently in a police costume. IMPORTANT This is an excellent featured ensemble role for a performer who can make a memorable impression with limited stage time. Possible inclusion in ensemble
FEMALE REPORTER: An ambitious television reporter covering the increasingly close mayoral race between Archie and Mayor Jim Crawford. She is polished, intelligent and always looking for the most exciting angle to the story. WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR A confident actor with clear diction, strong stage presence and the ability to deliver rapid, news-style dialogue naturally. The performer should understand that the reporter is a real professional—not a caricature—but can still find comedy in her urgency, dramatic phrasing and reactions to the unusual events around her. VOCAL REQUIREMENTS Must project clearly and speak comfortably in a polished broadcast style. MOVEMENT REQUIREMENTS Basic stage movement is required. The actor must be comfortable working directly toward an imaginary or onstage television camera. IMPORTANT The performer must communicate information clearly while keeping the scene lively, funny and fast-moving. Possibly in a few ensembles
CHAD 1 & 2: The first contestant on the television dating show Blind Date. Chad is handsome, self-confident and completely convinced that he is exactly what every woman wants. Unfortunately, he is far more impressed with himself than anyone else is. CHAD 2: The second contestant on Blind Date—and, remarkably, he is also named Chad. He is a wealthy, image-conscious bodybuilder who enjoys sunbathing, displaying his success and explaining why his lifestyle makes him an exceptional romantic choice. WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR A fearless comic actor who can play arrogance with charm, energy and excellent timing. The performer should be willing to make bold choices while keeping Chad believable. He must understand that Chad does not think he is ridiculous—he believes every word he says. MOVEMENT REQUIREMENTS Must be comfortable with stylized game-show movement, physical comedy and striking overly confident poses. IMPORTANT The role requires complete commitment. Chad will be funniest when the actor plays his confidence sincerely instead of deliberately trying to get laughs. Possibly in the ensemble also.
THE ENSEMBLE'S: The ensemble brings the world of Average Heights to life, portraying its residents, voters, festivalgoers, television personalities, government workers and other colorful members of the community. Ensemble performers help create the energy, humor and heart of the entire production. WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR Versatile, enthusiastic performers who can create distinct characters, react truthfully and work generously as part of a company. Every ensemble member should remain engaged in each scene, make confident acting choices and understand that there are no unimportant moments onstage. VOCAL REQUIREMENTS Strong singers who can confidently perform harmony, blend with the company and communicate the meaning of the lyrics. Performers should be comfortable singing in a variety of musical styles and maintaining their vocal part while moving. ACTING REQUIREMENTS Strong character instincts, clear storytelling and excellent comic timing are essential. Performers may portray several different roles and should be able to make each one physically and vocally distinct without becoming cartoonish. DANCE AND MOVEMENT REQUIREMENTS Performers should move confidently and be comfortable learning musical-theatre choreography. Dance experience is helpful, but energy, rhythm, commitment and the ability to learn movement are most important. IMPORTANT The ensemble is central to the comedy, emotion and momentum of Archie the Alien. We are looking for dependable, collaborative performers who bring enthusiasm to rehearsals and remain fully present whenever they are onstage.
WHAT WE LOOK FOR IN EVERY PERFORMER
Archie the Alien is a big-hearted musical comedy that depends on truthful acting, strong character choices and excellent comic timing. We’re seeking performers who can find the honesty beneath the humor & create memorable characters without turning them into cartoons.
All performers should:
• Sing confidently and communicate a song’s story
• Have strong comic instincts and ensemble awareness
• Take direction well and arrive prepared
• Bring energy, generosity and professionalism to rehearsals
• Be comfortable with basic movement or choreography
• Support the show’s themes of kindness, acceptance and belonging
Some supporting roles may be doubled, depending on the size of the production and the director’s needs.
