VYT 2025/2026 Season Information
Oliver Jr.
Consider yourself at home with Oliver! JR., the Broadway Junior version of Lionel Bart’s classic musical based on Charles Dickens’ novel, Oliver Twist. The Tony and Olivier Award-winning show is one of the few musicals to win an Academy Award for Best Picture and is widely hailed as a true theatrical masterpiece by actors and audience members alike.
The streets of Victorian England come to life as Oliver, a malnourished orphan in a workhouse, becomes the neglected apprentice of an undertaker. Oliver escapes to London and finds acceptance amongst a group of petty thieves and pickpockets led by the elderly Fagin. When Oliver is captured for a theft that he did not commit, the benevolent victim, Mr. Brownlow takes him in. Fearing the safety of his hideout, Fagin employs the sinister Bill Sikes and the sympathetic Nancy to kidnap him back, threatening Oliver’s chances of discovering the true love of a family.
Oliver! JR. is full of classic songs like “Consider Yourself”, “Food Glorious Food”, and “Oom-Pah-Pah”, and perfectly showcases the talents of a large ensemble cast.
Show Dates: June 18 – 21, 2026
Auditions: April 11, 2026
Check-In Time: 8:30am
Audition Time: 9:00am until we are done!
**Everyone will have a chance to sing and perform a short monologue/poem. A callback announcement will be made after everyone has had a chance to audition; callbacks will immediately follow a lunch break. If you are not called back, it does not mean you are not cast! It just means that we need to see some more from certain auditionees.
Location: Birmingham Village Players Playhouse- 34660 Woodward Ave, Birmingham
Print, fill out, and BRING WITH YOU the following forms:
Rehearsals:
Start April 15th. Mondays and Wednesdays @ 4:30-6:30p
Saturdays @ 10:00a-1:00p
(Not everyone will be called to every rehearsal…that’s why we need the conflict sheet so we can work around conflicts).
*No rehearsal May 23 and 25.
Tech Week (week leading into the shows…no conflicts allowed): Tech Saturday (all day June 13), Dress Rehearsal Monday (June 15), Dress Rehearsal Tuesday (June 16)
Audition Prep:
- Choose the song (look at the character breakdowns below) that you are best at singing, but be prepared to sing one of the other songs if we need you to!
**This YouTube link can help you practice! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6YoHWjfaAs-E9AkHXUCl1LWeQOQJ6TVx
- Prepare a monologue/poem/joke to act out. No more than one minute, please!
Character breakdowns and audition songs:
Lead Roles:
Oliver~ 11-year-old orphan. Oliver is innocent and kind, but he is not afraid to stand up for himself. He longs for a family and escapes to London. Ideally, Oliver should read as younger onstage. Audition cut: Oliver-WhereisLove (Hint: when you sing this, be super cute and sad and make the staff want to cry)
Artful Dodger~ Charming and upbeat. A thief for Fagin, but is the first to show Oliver kindness. Charismatic. Audition cut: DodgerConsiderYourself
Fagin~ Trains and manages a gang of child-thieves. Cares for the children…and the money they bring in. Kooky and energetic. Audition cut: FaginReviewingtheSituation
Nancy~ She is the life of the party and is romantically involved with Bill Sikes (the antagonist of the show). Audition cut: NancyBet-It’safinelife (Callback song: NancyCallback-AsLongAsHeNeedsMe
Supporting Roles:
Mr. Bumble~ The manager of the workhouse. Cold and cruel. Ideally, he should read older onstage. Audition cut: Bumble-BoyforSale
Widow Corney~ Runs the workhouse along with Mr. Bumble. Cold, calculating, and only cares about profits. Audition cut: Ensemble-WhoWillBuyPart2
Bet~ Spirited friend of Nancy. Audition cut: NancyBet-It’saFineLife
Mr. Brownlow~ A sweet, caring older man who takes Oliver in. “Grandpa”. This role is good for a person who prefers to act (has no solo singing lines). Audition cut: EnsembleWhoWillBuyPart2
Bill Sikes~ The villain. Mean, menacing, selfish, and ruthless, and only cares about himself. He bullies everyone around him, including Nancy, and is paranoid that everyone will betray him. Audition cut: Bill-MyName
Ensemble Roles (will play multiple parts): If you’re wanting to be in the ensemble (always fun!) sing the following audition cut for your audition: Ensemble-WhoWillBuyPart2
Mr. Sowerberry~ The undertaker who purchases Oliver from Mr. Bumble. Mean to Oliver.
Mrs. Sowerberry~ Like her husband, she does not care for Oliver.
Noah Claypoole~ Mean, nasty person who works for the Sowerberrys.
Mrs. Bedwin~ Mr. Brownlow’s kindhearted housekeeper. Ideally reads older onstage.
Dr. Grimwig~ Extremely intelligent but pessimistic older gentleman.
Old Sally~ Confirms that (spoiler alert!) Oliver is Mr. Brownlow’s grandson!
Charlotte~ Works for the Sowerberries.
Charlie Bates~ One of Fagin’s thieves. Admires Artful Dodger and is an accomplished pickpocketer.
Nipper~ Smallest member of Fagin’s gang.
Captain~ Child in Fagin’s gang.
Handwalker~ someone who can walk on their hands or do a handstand. Child in Fagin’s gang.
Chairman
Milkmaid, Strawberry Seller, Knife Grinder, and Rose Seller~ soloist in Who Will Buy
Matron
Other ensemble roles include: City Ensemble, Fagin’s Gang
VYT charges a production fee for participation in its musicals. The production fee for our musicals is $225 and covers the cost for sets, costumes, royalties, props, instructional fees and much more. This will be due at the mandatory parent meeting the first week of rehearsals, Saturday, April 18th.
VYT’s production team will cast the best auditionees available. Unbiased and color-conscious casting is a value we respect. All roles — unless integral to the story/plot or specifically noted/ determined by the script, author or licensing house — are open to actors of all races, ethnicities, and gender identities.