AUDITION NOTICE

Citadel Theatre’s Production of The Great Gatsby

By F. Scott Fitzgerald
Adapted for the Stage by Erin Shields
Directed by Daryl Cloran
Shoctor Theatre at the Citadel Theatre, Edmonton, AB

This is a co-production between Citadel Theatre, the Grand Theatre, and Royal MTC. Work at the Grand and Royal MTC will be contracted as a Revival. Equity and PACT are currently in arbitration regarding the correct application of Joint Production and Revival contracts.

Royal MTC and Grand Theatre will be holding auditions in April prioritizing Manitoba and Ontario based artists. Those auditions will be posted by each of the theatres at a later date.

Step into the glittering excess of the Jazz Age, where champagne flows, flapper dresses shimmer, and music drifts through the night until dawn. At the center of it all stands the opulent mansion of mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby, whose legendary parties draw eccentric New Yorkers from every corner of the city. Yet for all the spectacle, Gatsby himself remains an enigma. Driven to reunite with his long-lost love Daisy, Gatsby risks everything to reclaim a dream that may no longer exist. Illusion and reality collide in this tragic stage adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, re-envisioned by Canadian playwright Erin Shields and brought to life with a live jazz band.

CITADEL THEATRE – EDMONTON CONTRACT DATES:

Rehearsal Starts: Tuesday, October 6, 2026
First preview: Saturday, October 31, 2026
Opening: Thursday, November 5, 2026
Closing: Sunday, November 22, 2026

GRAND THEATRE – LONDON CONTRACT DATES:

First Rehearsal: Tuesday, Oct 5, 2027
First preview: Tuesday, October 19, 2027
Opening: Friday, October 22, 2027
Closing: Sunday, November 7, 2027

ROYAL MANITOBA THEATRE CENTRE – WINNIPEG CONTRACT DATES:

First Rehearsal: Week of January 3, 2028 (start date TBC)
Preview: Wednesday, January 12, 2028
Opening: Thursday, January 13, 2028
Closing: Sunday, February 6, 2028

Royal MTC and Grand Theatre dates subject to change.

AUDITION INFORMATION

AUDITIONS IN EDMONTON: March 26 & 27, 2026

SUBMISSION PROCEDURE FOR EDMONTON AUDITIONS:

• We are currently considering submissions from Edmonton-based Artists.
• All submissions should include ONE PDF FILE including both Headshot and Resume.
• Submissions should be emailed to auditions@citadeltheatre.com. Please write “The Great Gatsby Audition” in the subject line and specify the role you are interested in (and any other details) in the body of the email.
• Audition materials will be made available to selected Artists.
• THE SUBMISSION DEADLINE FOR EDMONTON IS MARCH 19.

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN

The pronouns and ages listed are descriptions of the characters. Actors are welcome to express interest for any roles, regardless of gender or age.

NICK CARRAWAY
25-30 years old. Any Ethnicity. He/Him.
Nick is our narrator. A gentle realist who recognizes his own privileges but still has dreams for a better world. Cousin to Daisy and went to college with Tom.

DAISY BUCHANAN 
25-30 years old. Any Ethnicity. She/Her.
Raised by money and married into money, Daisy is privileged but complicated. She longs for love, but craves comfort and security, she is naive but manipulative, delicate but tempered. Daisy is married to Tom but in love with Gatsby. NOTE: Must be a strong singer. Audition will require singing.

JAY GATSBY
30-35 years old. Any Ethnicity. He/Him.
The ultimate idealist, Gatsby longs for the love he once knew now that he has proven to himself and the world that he is worthy. Involved in shady “new money” and spends most of his time alone, though surrounded by people. Charming, charismatic, and throws one heck of a party.

JORDAN BAKER
25-35 years old. Any Ethnicity. She/Her.
Athletic and confident, Jordan is a professional golfer. She loves the drama of her wealthy and privileged lifestyle. She is smart and fun in the way that rich freedoms allow you to be. Daisy’s good friend and a frequent guest at Gatsby’s. NOTE: Audition will require singing.

TOM BUCHANAN
30-35 years old. Any Ethnicity. He/Him.
Described by his wife, Daisy, as “hulking”. Tom is an ex-football player who peaked in college and can’t let go of the memory. He has family money and privilege and looks down on those less fortunate. Married to Daisy, having an affair with Myrtle.

MYRTLE WILSON
30-35 years old. Any Ethnicity. She/Her.
Brassy and bold, Myrtle dreams of a fancier life and believes that her lover, Tom, can provide that for her. She despises her poor and boring marriage to George. She is sensual, flashy, and speaks her mind. She truly believes that one day, Tom will whisk her away. NOTE: Must be a strong singer. Audition will require singing.

GEORGE WILSON
35-45 years old. Any Ethnicity. He/Him.

Owner of a gas station in the Valley of Ashes. George’s blue collar life is all he has known and wants that to be enough for his wife, Myrtle, but knows that she is unsatisfied. He is hopeful for a business deal with Tom and believes that it may lead to his ticket to a better life out West. Also plays MEYER WOLFSHEIM – Pompous and confident. A true gangster, gambler and business partner to Gatsby.

MRS. MCKEE
35-50 years old. Any Ethnicity. She/Her.
Vapid and gossipy, she revels in secrets and drama. A partier and muse to her husband Chester. Also plays numerous ensemble roles. NOTE: Audition will require singing.

KLIPSPRINGER/PIANO PLAYER
30-50 years old. Any Ethnicity. He/Him.
Klipspringer is a musician who lives at Gatsby’s house. Plays piano as part of the onstage jazz band. Also plays numerous ensemble roles. NOTE: Audition will require piano playing and singing.

UNDERSTUDIES: We will also cast three performing understudies. These actors will perform in the ensemble as well as understudying multiple roles. If you are interested in also being considered for an understudy role, please indicate in your submission.

WORKING WITH THE CITADEL THEATRE

Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Accessibility Statement

We wish to acknowledge that the land on which we live and work is Treaty No. 6 territory and a traditional meeting ground and home of the First Nations, including the treaty signatories – Cree, Saulteaux, Nakota Sioux, Stony and Cree-Iroquois – as well as other Indigenous peoples, such as the Blackfoot and Métis. We extend our appreciation for the opportunity to live, create and perform on this territory.
The Citadel Theatre is in the heart of amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton, AB), and we are proud to call Treaty 6 territory home. As a regional theatre, it is integral that we ensure that the stories we tell, as well as the composition of our artists, board, staff, students, and audience are reflective of the diverse lived experiences in this dynamic city.

We encourage submissions from professional artists who self-identify as members of under-represented communities. For more on Citadel Theatre’s Equity, Inclusivity, and Diversity commitments, please visit: https://citadeltheatre.com/about-us/equity-diversity-inclusion-and-accessibility/

If there are any potential barriers (language, disability, or any other considerations) preventing you from applying to audition please let us know and we will work with you to overcome them.

Accessibility: Citadel Theatre’s rehearsal facilities are accessible. Our building is equipped with elevators and numerous accessible washrooms. The Shoctor Theatre stage and backstage are accessible to artists that have mobility access needs; the backstage area includes elevator access, accessible washrooms (including roll in showers), and an accessible dressing room. Please let us know if you have any questions about the physical layout of our spaces, or other access needs. For more information, please visit: https://citadeltheatre.com/accessibility/

Contact Name: Wayne Paquette
Contact Email Address: auditions@citadeltheatre.com