Upcoming Auditions
Cast
The Trail To Oregon!
By Starkid Productions
Book by Jeff Blim, Nick Lang, and Matt Lang
Music by Jeff Blim
Show dates: June 4-7 and 11-14, 2026
Audition dates: March 9th and 10th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Callbacks will be March 11th 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Director: Yasha Mikolajczak
Assistant Director: Caroline Million
Music Director: Sarah Roberts
Pit Director: Scott Pumill
Choreographer: Megan Carter
Stage Manager: Barbie Banks
CEC Producers: Allyssa Huskey and Kelson Rosbach
About the show:
Join our All-American family as they journey down The Trail to Oregon!
The Trail to Oregon! is an original musical produced by Starkid Productions and was performed in Chicago in the summer of 2014. It is also the most historically accurate musical portraying the Oregon Trail to date, featuring educational songs, a set precisely replicating the trail’s landscape, and appearances from famous historical figures such as: Henry McDoon, Cletus Jones, and Cornwallis. Don’t look any of that up. Just trust us, okay?
Audition Information:
Auditions will be held on March 9th and 10th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Callbacks will be March 11th 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Please come prepared with a 1 minute of a song in the style of the show. We will have the option of accompaniment if you provide your own sheet music or a backing track.
If you are unfamiliar with the show and would like to prepare further in advance, the original production is available to watch for free on YouTube. However, do be aware that we are running the “school-friendly” version of the script.
Auditions are open, and we ask that you plan to attend the whole time. If you have a partial conflict, please reach out to the email below to make arrangements.
If you cannot attend in-person auditions, you are welcome and encouraged to send a video audition to trailtooregoncec2026@gmail.com before March 10th at 5:00 p.m.
Rehearsals:
Rehearsals will begin on March 19, and will be held regularly from Monday - Thursday until we get closer to the show, where we’ll shift it to Tuesday - Friday. Every actor will not be called for every rehearsal. If you have any conflicts with the above dates/times, please let us know at auditions– we may be able to accommodate you.
Tech Week will be determined and shared with the cast once we’re on the trail. Show dates are June 4 - 14 Thursday - Sunday. (Sundays are at 2:00)
All roles will be cast with a community-conscious approach with a gender-neutral touch. We invite actors of any ethnicity and gender to audition for any role. Due to content, we are seeking adult actors for all roles.
FATHER: Overgrown golden retriever with a heart of gold, means well even if he accidentally burns down farms on occasion. Acts of God, right? Baritone/Tenor.
MOTHER: Mama bear who loves her stupid, stupid family even when she has to reprimand them for being a stupid, stupid family. If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em… luckily she can beat 'em. There is one functioning brain cell onstage and she usually has it. Mezzo/Alto.
DAUGHTER: Rebellious teenager who makes really, very good decisions all of the time, mom. Lookin’ for love on the trail! Mezzo/Alto .
SON: The heart of the family. Doesn’t know much of anything, really, except that grass tastes bad and supplies bounce around when you throw them off the wagon. What? He’s seven. Mezzo-soprano.
GRANDPA/GRANDMA: Cranky elder, either insane or enlightened, they haven’t decided yet. Baritone/Tenor.
MCDOON: The infamous “Bandit King.” Evil and also menacing. Antagonizes the wagon family on the trail, and kidnaps their daughter. Oh well. We all have flaws. Baritone/Tenor.
CLETUS JONES: Companion to the aforementioned infamous “Bandit King” McDoon. Not super menacing, but he’s killed three people!* Baritone/Tenor
EVERYONE ELSE: Exactly what it sounds like.**
*GRANDPA and CLETUS JONES are typically played by the same actor, but may be separated for this performance depending on our audition pool.
**MCDOON and EVERYONE ELSE are typically played by the same actor, but may be separated for this performance depending on our audition pool.