INTRODUCTION
Hello there, everyone! This is a casting call for "The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Audio Drama", a non-profit fan adaptation of the 1993 film of the same name. This is the first project of mine, and I'm very excited to jump on in and make this tribute to the original film, while expanding on the minds of the characters and their emotions.
PODCAST OVERVIEW
"The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Audio Drama" is either a three part miniseries, or an hour to two hour long adaptation of the 1993 film. We will have sounds from the film to make the listener feel as though they are in the world with the characters. Everything involved in this project will rely on every actor involved, to make this world feel lived in and emotionally resonate.
WHAT TO EXPECT
The plan is to record the actors together. The way we'll do this, is have the actors in their own preferred recording booths and preferred recording software while connected to Discord, where everyone will be able to hear everybody else perform and hear direction. We'll be taking the time to get into the character and give the most believable performance out of everyone.
WHAT I ASK OF YOU
Jack Skellington is the pumpkin king, and the leader of all Halloween town. He is feeling empty after doing Halloween for so many years, and wants something brand new. When he finds Christmas town, Jack decides to take it all for himself and use what makes him happy to suddenly fuel greed.
Please do not give an imitation of Chris Sarandon or Danny Elfman's performances. I want to hear your take on the characters
(Energetic) I believe it was our most horrible yet! Thank you everyone!
(His reaction to the town meeting) “I am not merry, but I do beguile the thing I am by seeming otherwise.”
(Excited & commanding) "This year, Christmas will be OURS!"
(Audition song not from the movie)
Sally is a rag doll, and the creation of Dr.Finklestein. She has been abused all of her life by him, causing her to be more rebellious & more open to the world around her. She falls in love with Jack, and it's her love that allows her to take more risks and make her own decisions. She also finds she may have to risk her life to save him.
For the audition, please do not imitate Catherine O'Hara's performance. I really want to hear your interpretation of this character.
(To Finklestein, after she comes back) "You can make other creations! I'm restless, I can't help it!"
(Telling Jack about the vision) "You certainly do Jack! I had a terrible vision…No! It was about your Christmas! There was smoke and fire! ... R-really? No! Jack, listen, it’s going to be a disaster! ... It’s a mistake Jack! ... Uh- O-okay… but it still seems wrong to me… very wrong."
(Meeting Jack after the town meeting) "Um… great thing, this Christmas… Well… maybe we can visit this place! Show the townspeople!... Maybe that Sandy Claws will like us!"
(Audition song not from the movie)
The Oogie Boogie Man is the villain of the story. He takes Santa Claus and Sally hostage. He's the embodiment of what Jack could become if he was to fall into greed and what he loves to an excess. Please note, while I am looking for any gender to play the role, I'm only wanting a person of color to play this role.
Please do not imitate Ken Page's performance, give me your version. I'm thinking a cross between Mark Hamill's Joker & Cab Calloway.
(Meeting Santa) Well, well, well, what have we here? Sandy Claws, huh? Oh, I'm really scared So you're the one everybody's talkin' about, ha, ha!
(Meeting Sally) Are you a gambling man, Sandy? Let’s play! ... My, my, what have we here? Hehehehe ... Well I have a player tonight, but I can make an exception in your case doll face.
(About to kill Santa & Sally, then meets Jack) Ashes to ashes and dust to dust! Oh… I'm getting weak, with hunger! One more roll of the dice oughta do it! WHAT?!? Snake EYES! OH! 11! HAHAHA. Looks like I won the jackpot! Bye bye dollface, and Sandman! Hehehehe… what the?
(Audition song)
We all know Santa Claus! Big, jolly, and when in a stressful situation where he's about to die, pretty freaking cranky! Santa throughout this story is the narrator. Think like Santa telling a halloween story to children. As such, he has the most lines in this. To compensate, you do not need to sing for this.
Please do not imitate Ed Ivory's performance. I want to hear your interpretation!
(prologue)
T'was a long time ago, longer now than it seems
In a place that perhaps you've seen in your dreams
For the story that you are about to be told
Began with the holiday worlds of old
Now you've probably wondered where holidays come from
If you haven't, I'd say it's time you begun
For the holidays are the result of much fuss
And hard work for the worlds that create them for us
Well, you see now, quite simply that's all that they do
Making one unique holiday especially for you
But once a calamity ever so great
Occurred when two holidays met by mistake…
(Jack in the sky)
Twas the nightmare before Christmas, and all through the house, Not a creature was peaceful, not even a mouse. The stockings all hung by the chimney with care, When opened that morning would cause quite a scare! The children, all nestled so snug in their beds,
Would have nightmares of monsters and skeleton heads. The moon that hung over the new-fallen snow Cast an eerie pall over the city below, And Santa Claus's laughter now sounded like groans, And the jingling bells like chattering bones. And what to their wondering eyes should appear, But a coffin sleigh with skeleton deer. And a skeletal driver so ugly and sick
They knew in a moment, this can't be St. Nick! From house to house, with a true sense of joy,
Jack happily issued each present and toy. From rooftop to rooftop he jumped and he skipped, Leaving presents that seemed to be straight from a crypt! Unaware that the world was in panic and fear, Jack merrily spread his own brand of cheer.
(Epilogue)
And finally, everything worked out just fine Christmas was saved, though there wasn't much time. But after that night, things were never the same. Each holiday now knew the other one's name! And though that one Christmas, things got out of hand, I'm still rather fond of that skeleton man. So, many years later, I thought I'd drop in, And there was old Jack, still looking quite thin, With four or five skeleton children at hand Playing strange little tunes in their xylophone band.
And I asked old Jack, "Do you remember the night, When the sky was so dark and the moon shone so bright? When a million small children pretending to sleep Nearly didn't have Christmas at all, so to speak? And would, if you could, turn that mighty clock back To that long, fateful night, now, think carefully, Jack Would you do the whole thing all over again
Knowing what you know now, knowing what you knew then?"
The two-faced mayor of Halloween town is also Jack's best friend in this version. He cares for Jack, but is stressed out the entire time.
Please do not imitate Glenn Shadix's performance. I want to hear your interpretation!
(Trying to get Jack away from the crowd) Alright! Alright everyone! Now I know we all want to praise Jack for his fantastic work, but we have to discuss the prizes! Let us be! (To Jack) Follow me.
(Comforting Jack, seeing him empty) Jack… why not I hand out the awards, and you sneak out the back? I’m pretty sure I know what awards go to whom... Absolutely! I’ll meet you in the morning to discuss plans for next Halloween. Maybe you’ll feel better after a good nightmare!
(Jack is not home. Both the good & stressed side come out) Jack! I’ve got the plans for next Halloween! I need to go over them so we can get started… JACK! Please I’m only an elected official here, I can’t make decisions by myself… JACK! ANSWER ME!
(Audition Song not from the movie)
Dr. Finklestein is the creator of Sally, and technically her father. He's mentally abusive to her. He doesn't have much singing at all, but only if you want too :)
Please do not imitate William Hickey's performance. I want to hear your interpretation!
(Catching Sally) The deadly nightshade you slipped in wore off Sally! ... You’re not ready for so much excitement! ... You’re coming back with me!
(Chastising Sally for earlier) That’s twice this month you’ve slipped deadly nightshade into my tea, and ran off. ... You’re mine, you know! I made you, with my own hands. ... It’s a phase my dear, it’ll pass. We need to be patient, that’s all. ... Igor can only do so much in his state of mind. I need you Sally.
(Talking with Jack) Jack Skellington?! Up here my boy! ... Is that so? Whatever for? ... How perfectly marvelous! Curiosity killed the cat, you know?
Lock is one of the three trick-or-treaters.
Please do not imitate Paul Reubens performance. I wanna hear your performance
"Whatever you say Jack!"
(After Jack chews them out) We followed your instructions! We went through the door!
(Audition song not from the movie)
Shock is the second of the trick-or-treaters.
Please do not imitate Catherine O'Hara's performance, I want to hear your interpretation!
(Jack tells them the plan) "And we thought you didn't like us Jack."
(Her cohorts are wondering who should kidnap Santa) "Jack said we should work together."
(Audition song not from the movie)
Barrel is the third trick-or-treater
Please do not imitate Danny Elfman's performance, I wanna hear your interpretation
(Discussing the kidnapping) He'll be pleased by our success! That he'll reward us too, I'll bet!
(When Jack chastises them) We followed your instructions. We went through the door!
(Audition song, not from the movie)
The ensemble roles include the werewolf, the clown, various monsters and creatures. please do not imitate any performance from the movie.
(Audition song, not from the movie)
(For guys)
Clown: I am the clown with the tearaway face! Hear in a flash and gone without a trace!
Werewolf: *howls* Must be a christmas thing
Harlequinn: So ring the bells and celebrate!
(For girls)
Witch: You made walls fall Jack!
Lagoon monster: Oh Jack, you make wounds ooze and flesh crawl!
Mother: And what did Santa bring you honey?
Looking for an editor to help me put together everything for the final edit. There are four episodes total, and you will helping the director edit it all together.
Say something you think would fit
Looking for someone who can help put all the music with the vocals all together for the final edit
Say something you think would fit
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