Early Light Academy’s School Musical this year is OLIVER! We are thrilled to partner with Inclusion Cheer to present Inclusion Theatre with this production!
SUMMARY: This Tony Awards winning musical is based on the Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist, the musical follows an orphaned boy who escapes a miserable workhouse for London. There, he falls into a gang of child pickpockets run by the charismatic Fagin. After a series of dramatic rescues, kidnappings, and a tragic murder, Oliver eventually discovers his true family and a loving home.
INFORMATION:
- Who? Any students in grades 5th-9th at Early Light Academy
- Registration: $75 to be paid to the main office by August 19 (before you can audition). Anyone who registers is guaranteed to be cast in Oliver!
- Auditions: August 19 (the second day of school! so get ready now). Fill out this AUDITION FORM
- Prepare: ONE song from the list of songs below (will be posted by July 23).
- Call Backs: August 20, 3:30-6p by invitation only
- Dance Auditions: For 7th-9th Grade ONLY on August 21, 1:15-3p.
- Cast List will be posted on August 21 here by 5p
- Rehearsals will begin August 25. Generally, rehearsals are 3:20-6p M-TH and 1:15-6p on Fridays. The amount of rehearsals you will be scheduled for will depend on the part you are cast in. There will be no rehearsals AUGUST 28. You will rehearse in evenings on September 22 (7-9p: Those with Mics only), September 28-October 1 (5:30-10p) in order to accommodate adult support personnel and dress rehearsals.
- Performances are October 2, 3*, 5, 6, 8*, and 9, 2026 (*Inclusion Performances)
- INCLUSION VOLUNTEERS: We love our Inclusion Volunteers: Anyone (you don’t have to be at ELA) can volunteer to be an Inclusion Buddy if you are 15 or older! Please email Mrs. Butler if you are interested: tbutler@earlylightacademy.org
AUDITION SONGS:
Will be posted by July 23!
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS:
Oliver Twist: 11-year-old orphan around which the whole plot of the show revolves. Oliver is intelligent and kind, but he is not afraid to stand up for himself when the situation calls for it. He longs for a family and escapes to London to try to make his fortune – though he has no idea what adventures await him there! Ideally, Oliver should read as younger onstage, a great singer with a strong stage presence.
Fagin: Recruits, trains, and manages a gang of child-thieves. Though he claims he cares for each of his children, providing them food and shelter and characteristically calling them “my dear,” he’s really only concerned with the money these young thieves bring in.
Nancy: An adventurous young lady with a heart of gold who has fallen in with the wrong crowd. She is vivacious and kind, the life of the party, and she immediately takes Oliver under her wing. Unfortunately, she is involved with Bill Sikes, who is a troublesome person.
Artful Dodger: a.k.a. Jack Dawkins, is one of the most famous characters in literature. He is charming, upbeat, and charismatic. Though Dodger works for Fagin as a thief, he is the first person to show Oliver real kindness and gives him a place to belong.
Bill Sikes: A quintessential villain. He is mean, selfish, and ruthless, and he always looks out for number one. He bullies everyone around him, especially Nancy, and is paranoid, always afraid that people will betray him.
Mr. Bumble: Runs the workhouse where Oliver finds himself in the beginning of the show. He is cold, cruel, and he doesn’t care one bit about the boys in his workhouse. Cast a good actor and decent singer who reads as older onstage and makes a good team with Widow Corney.
Widow Corney: Runs the workhouse along with Mr. Bumble. She is cold and calculating, like Mr. Bumble, and only cares that the work gets done and puts money in her pocket. Cast a good actor and singer who works well with Mr. Bumble.
Mr. Sowerberry: The undertaker who purchases Oliver from Mr. Bumble. He is a callous man who does not treat Oliver much better than Mr. Bumble.
Mrs. Sowerberry: Gives Oliver scraps left for the dog to eat. She, like her husband, does not care at all for Oliver’s well-being and only wants him to work.
Bet: A friend of Nancy’s who shares her spirited nature and sense of adventure. Like Nancy, Bet has a kind heart but has fallen upon hard times.
Charlotte: Works for the Sowerberrys. She is kinder to Oliver than the others in the Sowerberry home, but not by much.
Noah Claypole: Works for the Sowerberrys. He is a mean, nasty person who insults Oliver’s mother on purpose to upset him. Noah should read as older onstage than Oliver.
Charlie Bates: One of Fagin’s child-thieves. He is a great admirer of the Artful Dodger and an accomplished pocket-picker.
Nipper: Smallest member of Fagin’s gang.
CAPTAIN: in Fagin’s gang.
HANDWALKER: In Fagin’s gang.
Mr. Brownlow: A sweet man who takes Oliver in, even after Oliver has picked his pocket. Oliver is familiar to Mr. Brownlow immediately, even though he has no idea that Oliver is his grandchild.
Chairman: A small featured role in the Three Cripples Public House.
Mrs. Bedwin: Mr. Brownlow’s kindhearted housekeeper.
MILKMAID, STRAWBERRY SELLER, KNIFE GRINDER, and ROSE SELLER: Featured roles in “Who Will Buy”
Dr. Grimwig: A featured acting role. He is extremely intelligent but a bit pessimistic, especially compared to Mr. Brownlow.
OLD SALLY and the MATRON: Confirm that Oliver is Agnes’s son, and therefore Mr. Brownlow’s grandson.
Ensemble: The large ensemble in Oliver! JR. fills out the world of the musical. The ensemble roles include CHILDREN, WORKHOUSE GOVERNORS, SERVANTS, MAID, DELIVERY PERSON, PAUPER ASSISTANTS, PEOPLE IN THE CITY, FAGIN’S GANG, POLICEMAN, CUSTOMERS at the Three Cripples Public House, STREET SELLERS, MARKET SELLERS, CROWD in the Town square, PEOPLE, POLICE, and LAMPLIGHTER at London Bridge.