Youth Theatre at the U

Here's what we'll be doing at our in-person auditions!

1. Singing Songs: You'll get to sing a part of a song from the musical. Don't worry, we'll help you and run the music all together before we ask you sing on your own.
2. Reading a Scene: We might have you read a short scene. This is a great way to show off how any acting skills and character work you have.
3. Practice Makes Perfect: When available, you can find the songs and the script below so you can practice before the audition. But don't worry if you don't have it memorized – we'll go through everything together during the audition.

We can't wait to hear your amazing voices and see your acting skills.

Music

WITH TINY TOOLS AND A CLEVER PLAN,

I’LL WEAVE THE MAGIC AS BEST I CAN.

A SPARK, A SPIN, AND GUIDING HAND,

WE’LL FIND THE WAY TO GO.

I’VE GOT SOME SPRINGS AND SOME WHEELS THAT GLIDE,

YOU GOTTA PUSH RIGHT PAST THE GEARS THAT GRIND.

WITH PIXIE DUST AND A HOPE INSIDE,

YOU’RE BOUND TO REACH YOUR GOAL.

OUT OF THIS TUNNEL DEEP AND LONG,

WE GOTTA BEAT AND A BRAND NEW SONG

AND WITH THIS COMPASS WE CAN’T GO WRONG

SO LET ME LEAD THE WAY!

MONOLOGUE:

Please pick one monologue. If you are filming your audition you can film two monologues since we won't get to be in the room with you.

Monologue 1: Ash’s Emotional Outburst 

This monologue captures Ash's raw frustration and grief.

Ash:
“Can you all just stop it for once? Nana just died, and all you care about is how much her stuff is worth? Is that all she was to you? You don’t get it. You’re all acting like nothing’s changed. But everything has changed! She’s gone, and we’re just here... going through her things like it’s no big deal. Well, it’s a big deal to me!
[pauses, voice softening but still filled with anger]
You don’t understand. This isn’t just stuff. These are her stories, her memories. Every little thing has a piece of her in it, and you’re treating it like it doesn’t even matter. I just... I can’t stand it! I didn’t want to be here, to watch her life get packed away into boxes. I wish… I wish it wasn’t real. I wish she were still here.”

Monologue 2: The Shadow’s Lament (Scene 9: The Shadow’s Lair)

This monologue allows for exploration of dramatic and otherworldly tone.

The Shadow:
“Where is Peter Pan? Where is the boy who cast me aside? Gone? Forgotten me, left me behind... I was part of him, and he cast me aside! I will never be whole again, and neither will Neverland! He left... and I was alone. Just... left behind. You can’t imagine it—being only a shadow, a sliver of something that used to be. I carried his joy, his laughter, his youth, but when he grew up, I became nothing. Only darkness.
[pauses, voice softening, almost pleading]
I thought if I held on to the memories, if I fed on the light, I could keep it alive. But it’s slipping away. And now? Now I’m scared. What if I disappear? What if letting go means there’s nothing left of me? I just... I don’t want to be forgotten.”

Monologue 3: Ember, the Tinker Fairy 

This piece highlights Ember's whimsical, inventive, and slightly chaotic personality as a Tinker Fairy.

Ember:
“Twiddle-dee, tools and tricks! Turn this tangled trinket tight… There! See? Everything here exists through enchantment—belief builds this place. Without it, the magic melts away, and we lose everything. You can’t just say you don’t believe in fairies! Do you know what happens? They fall, they tumble... It’s tragic! But, oh, with belief... watch this! [pauses dramatically] With pixie dust and a little try, we can make anything shine! What are you waiting for? Let’s get to tinkering!”

Monologue 4: River,  the Lost Boy 

This selection showcases River’s confidence, charm, and reluctance to embrace their past.

River:
“We are of many names and many in number. To some, we are known as… The Lost. Around here, they call me Leader of the Lost. We don’t have families here. We’re all we’ve got, and that’s enough. You don’t need anyone else. No looking back—only forward. That’s the rule. But… sometimes, I wonder… what does it feel like to belong somewhere? What does it mean to have a home?”

MAIN CHARACTERS:

• ASH – The central character, navigating through grief and self-discovery. Courageous, determined to mend Nana Wendy's journal, and bring their siblings back.
• EMBER – Ash’s sibling, playful and inventive. Transformed into a Tinker in Neverland.
• RIVER – Ash’s other sibling, adventurous, leader of the Lost in Neverland.
• NANA WENDY – Ash’s grandmother and the original storyteller of Neverland. She provides wisdom and guidance through her journal.
• MOM (CAPTAIN TWO HANDS) – The pirate captain in Neverland, representing the mother figure who clings to control but must learn to let go of what’s lost.
• DAD (TIGER LILY) – The protector of Lily’s Grove, wise and nurturing, helps Ash understand the value of change and memories.
• GRANDPA (TIME TAILOR) – A gentle figure who helps Ash stitch together the journal and teaches them about healing and time.

SUPPORTING CHARACTERS:

• AUNT 1, AUNT 2, AUNT 3 (THE SIRENS) – In the real world, they’re practical, somewhat humorous relatives. In Neverland, they transform into Sirens, seductive and dangerous.
• THE SHADOW – The main antagonist, created from Peter Pan’s lost shadow, filled with loneliness and resentment, and seeking to reclaim what it feels it has lost.
• STORYTELLERS – A group that helps set the scene, narrate the story, and embody various elements of Neverland like shadows, Tinkers, and other inhabitants.

OTHER CHARACTERS:

• TINKERS (Twinkle, Zephyr, Stardust, Aurora) – Magical fairies in Tinkers’ Tunnel who assist Ash and Ember in finding a path forward. They emphasize the importance of belief.
• THE LOST (River’s followers) – Wild, carefree children who live in Neverland under River’s leadership. They initially challenge Ash before helping them.
• PIRATES – The chaotic crew under Captain Two Hands (Mom). They love plundering and looting but  are trapped in Neverland, trying to cling to their past treasures.

SPECIAL APPEARANCES:

• CROCODILES (Ensemble) – Little crocodiles, resembling the one with a ticking clock from the original story, perform a rhythmic tap dance, adding a playful element to the Time Tailor’s scene.
• FLOWER CHORUS (The Lilies) – The flower guardians of Tigerlily’s Grove.