Auditions

Audition information
General Auditions:

Saturday, November 14, 2026,  12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Sunday, November 15, 2026, 12:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.

CALLBACKS: by director invitation only – Saturday, November 21, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

General Auditions and Callbacks will be held at the theater on the Park University campus.
Address:
Bell Road Barn Players
8700 NW River Park Dr
Kansas City, MO 64152

Production dates
March 12 – March 21, 2027
Fri/Sat at 7:30 p.m. | Sun at 2:00 p.m.

Call time for actors will be 1 hour before each performance.

Rehearsal schedule
Please find the rehearsal schedule here. Rehearsals are scheduled to start on January 24, 2027. Rehearsals will be Sunday-Thursday, (Sundays from 2pm-6pm, weekdays from 7-10pm)

Audition notes
Click here to reserve an audition time and here to complete your audition form. Please complete your audition form prior to auditions. Please arrive 10-15 minutes before your audition time.

Video submissions
If you would like to audition but are unable to attend in person, please feel free to submit a video audition.  You can submit your video audition via the online audition form. (See Audition Notes Above) The deadline for video submissions is 5pm on Sunday, 11/21/26.

What to prepare:
Please prepare 32 bars or 60-90 seconds of a piece you feel fits the style of the show (musical theatre or otherwise). You may sing a selection from the show if you like. If you are having trouble selecting a piece, the creative team has provided several cuttings from the show’s score here that you may use for your audition. There will be a live accompanist at auditions. Please bring your sheet music with your starting and stopping points clearly marked for the accompanist.

About the show
Based on actual events that occurred in 1925, “Floyd Collins” is a musical that tells the true story of a Kentuckian cave explorer (Floyd Collins) with big dreams who finds himself trapped in the very cavern he’d hoped would bring him fame and fortune. A troubled rescue effort and a media circus ensue. As tensions mount both above and below ground, Floyd does his best to stay hopeful in a dire situation.

Character descriptions:
NOTE: Actors of all ethnicities, abilities, ages, and gender identities are welcome and encouraged to audition. Age ranges and gender designations are included as notated in the script, but are not intended to exclude actors from consideration. Please note that it is also possible that you may be called back for a role that might typically be considered outside of your “type,” as we are interested in exploring the possibility of some “non-traditional” casting choices.

NOTE ON ACCENTS: The roles of Floyd, Homer, Nellie, Lee, Miss Jane, Jewell, Ed and Bee all speak with a light Appalachian dialect.

ROLES
Please read all character descriptions thoroughly, as some roles have special requirements

Floyd Collins (20s/30s, male-presenting, vocal range B3 – A5): A Kentucky cave explorer with big dreams and a seemingly unshakeable optimism.

Homer Collins (20s/30s, male-presenting, vocal range B3 – C5): Floyd’s younger brother. While certainly not ashamed of his Kentucky roots, he has his sights set on the big city.

Nellie Collins (20s-30s, female-presenting, vocal range F3 – F#5/Gb5): Floyd’s younger sister. Sweet, optimistic, and prone to flights of fancy. Feels a very strong, sometimes almost supernatural connection to Floyd and his thoughts.

Lee Collins (50s-60s, male-presenting, vocal range A3 – G4): Floyd’s father. Doesn’t always understand his children, despite caring deeply about their well-being. Hard-headed and obstinate at times.

Miss Jane Collins (50s-60s, female-presenting, vocal range F#3/Gb3 – F#5/Gb5): Floyd’s stepmother and Lee’s second wife. Kind, warmhearted, and beloved by her husband and stepchildren. Miss Jane often finds herself in the position of easing tensions between her husband and his children.

Skeets Miller (20s, male-presenting, no specific vocal range): A reporter for the Louisville Courier-Journal. Initially shows up at the cave site simply to report on the event for his newspaper, but becomes a key player in the rescue effort.

Jewell Estes (Late teens/20s, male-presenting, vocal range A3-F4): A local teenage boy. Would love to claim credit for Floyd’s rescue, but is unable to be of much real help. NOTE: Ideally, the actor playing Jewell can play guitar, as this character writes and performs “The Ballad of Floyd Collins” in the show. (Actors who are called back for this role should plan to play a cutting from “The Ballad of Floyd Collins” at callbacks. If you do not have a guitar available to bring to callbacks, please inform the artistic team on your audition form.)

Ed Bishop (African American, 20s or above, male-presenting, vocal range A3-F4): A local caver, descendant of famous caver Stephen Bishop. A spectator and occasional participant in the rescue effort.

Bee Doyle (20s or above, male-presenting, vocal range A3-F4): Owner of the farm on which Floyd becomes trapped. A spectator and occasional participant in the rescue effort.

H.T. Carmichael (30s or above, male-presenting, no specific vocal range): An Engineer. Hard-headed and sometimes domineering. Wants his asphalt company to get credit for rescuing Floyd. His motives and methods feel questionable at times.

Cliff Roney / Reporter 1 (20s or above, male-presenting, no specific vocal range): Cliff Roney is a film director who has shown up at the cave site to get footage and scout for talent for a film about Floyd’s ordeal. The actor playing Cliff will also play a Reporter and a couple of other ensemble roles.

Dr. Hazlett / Reporter 2 (20s or above, male-presenting, tenor): Dr. Hazlett is the doctor who is sent to the cave site to attend to Floyd’s health needs as well as he can (which ends up being more difficult than expected). The actor playing Dr. Hazlett will also play a Reporter and a couple of other ensemble roles.

Reporter 3 / Con Man (20s or above, male-presenting, no specific vocal range): The actor playing Reporter 3 will also play the Con Man and a couple of other ensemble roles.

ADDITIONAL NOTES
Cast members are required to assist with strike following the final performance. Cast members may also be asked to assist with costume pieces and set work days, as availability allows.

QUESTIONS
Please direct questions to director Michael Golliher at michael.golliher@gmail.com