CASTING! (4 opportunities) for GROW UP! — The Disney Adults Musical

A new musical by Richard Oberacker and Robert Taylor, writers of Broadway’s Bandstand, directed by Steven Minning (The Lion King, Billy Elliot). Four theme parks. One day. An unforgettable farewell. Inspired by actual events, GROW UP! follows a group of Disney-loving adults on a funny, moving adventure about friendship, grief, obsession—and whether we ever really grow up. Casting for SEVEN roles:

CAST BREAKDOWN
SKIP - a man of indeterminable age from America’s Midwest and the ringleader of this band of Disney aficionados. As a theater and arts professional, his closest friends live in the center of a Venn Diagram between Disney and Broadway fandom. Charismatic and witty, he retains a childlike positivity. Contemporary pop musical theater tenor - C3 to Ab4. (“Brave” by Josh Groban, “Like I Can” by Sam Smith)

MEGHAN - a mother in her early to mid-40s and Skip’s best friend, she unexpectedly takes on the role of wrangler and tour guide to handle her grief. Her one passion greater than Disney is her daughter. She has a warm and grounded humor that masks an overly cautious, perhaps fearful outlook on the world. A rich, solid pop theater alto F3 to C5 (mix). (“Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield, “Uncharted” by Sara Bareilles)

MAEVE - the 18-year-old only daughter of Meghan. Newly of age, she proudly graduates to Disney Adulthood. But tensions are inevitable if a mother sees a daughter as her closest remaining friend. A contemporary pop theater mezzo with seamless connectivity from belt through mix and into head, A3 to G5. (“Lost the Breakup” by Maisie Peters, “Anti-Hero” by Taylor Swift)

TROY - a mid-to-late 20s budding YouTuber - no, content creator - recently abandoning an unsuccessful acting career. Flamboyantly gay and a young person of color, he struggles to find an audience online for his Disney-themed social media. A contemporary pop theater high baritone with an indie, singer-songwriter style - C3 to G4. (“Yes I’m a Mess” by AJR, “Hero” by Charlie Pluth)

EMMY - a woman in her late 30’s from London who works in a rare books shop. A recent divorcé, she struggles with a not-so-secret debt from years of Disney travel and merchandise. She is unpretentious, self-deprecating, and sly of wit. She is also incredibly insecure and has an inexplicable issue with self-esteem. Contemporary pop theater mezzo with an easy, folk-forward style and a flexible mix/legit - G3 to E5. (“Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” in the Sara Bareilles arrangement, “Fields of Gold” in the Eva Cassidy arrangement)

JARED - a man in his early 30’s from Atlanta. He is the successful owner of a corporate catering company that specializes in Disney themed food and events. As a Black, straight man, he is a proud rarity in the Disney Adult demographic. Joyful, positive, but also clever and a firm leader, it’s clear why he is successful in his business. A contemporary pop/rock theater baritone - Bb2 to F4. (“Higher” by Michael Buble, “Classic” by MKTO)

ASHLEY is Jared’s wife, also from Atlanta, and in her early 30’s. She has been friends with Jared since childhood. As a teacher in the public schools, she confronts the realities of modern childhood and the failings of the Education system. She has a sharp wit that can run edgy and a fierce intelligence that makes her a good foil to the relentless cheer of Jared. While supportive of her husband, she finds herself less and less able to maintain the illusions of Disney obsession. The disastrous Disney Destination Wedding didn’t help. A unique character alto with style and flexibility for comedy - G3 to E4 (mix). (“Getting Married Today” by Stephen Sondheim, “One Way Or Another” by Blondie)

There are 4 phases to this project

December 17–19, 2026 | Las Vegas: Rehearsals and a public staged reading with THIRD Street.

March–April 2027 | Las Vegas: Paid rehearsals March 8–April 7; 16 public performances April 8–25.

June 14–30, 2027 | Menlo Park: Workshop and presentations at Menlo’s Spieker Center.

August 2027 | Edinburgh: Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Each engagement will be cast separately. Performers may be considered for subsequent engagements. Please express interest in the phases that fit your schedule. Availability for all four is not required. Each phase will be cast independently. Schedules and terms remain subject to confirmation.

Google Form Submission HERE

Pay and Eligibility for the December Staged Reading

Participation in the staged reading will offer a $200 volunteer stipend. AEA actors will be engaged through a Single Agreement Engagement (SEA). Non-Union actors are also welcome to apply. 

To submit for the December Staged Reading

Self Tape:  Video Instructions:  “VIDEO INSTRUCTIONS:  What to include:  1. Introduce yourself. Slate your name and the role you are auditioning for.

2. Perform your song. Record approximately 60 seconds of a contemporary pop or musical theatre song that showcases your vocal ability and storytelling.

3. Upload your video. Upload the recording to YouTube, Vimeo or Google Drive.

4. Check access. Make sure anyone with the link, including people outside your organization, can watch your video without requesting permission or entering a password.

5. To share the link, upload your video to YouTube, Vimeo, or a Drive like Google Drive or SharePoint.  Once it’s uploaded, paste the full video link in the submission form in the Google Drive provided. 

Deadline to submit for staged reading: November 16

Callbacks for staged reading: November 18th and 19th 

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THIRD STREET - Daz Weller director and CEO of THIRD Street and Artistic Director of Vegas Theatre Company (VTC). At VTC, he has championed new-work development, including early readings of Richard Oberacker and Robert Taylor’s Bandstand and Bruce, and the world premiere of The House on Watch Hill. Other projects include ClueX, which moved into commercial production, and the multi-year ABANDON. Weller now leads THIRD Street, a 41,500-square-foot arts and media campus in downtown Las Vegas, building a flexible development and producing platform for new work with ambitions for wider U.S. and international markets.
VALLEY LAB PRODUCTIONS (VLP) is a Bay Area nonprofit theatrical development organization founded by Steven Minning and Evanne Barcenas. Bringing together professional artists, Menlo School alumni, and emerging performers, VLP gives writers and creative teams protected time, space, and artistic support to develop new work. Its focused, low-tech workshops emphasize collaboration, mentorship, and exploration, with creative process taking priority over finished production. VLP’s inaugural 2026 workshop developed Ridley Pearson and Chip Lamb’s new musical Steel Trapp. The company is now partnering with THIRD Street on Richard Oberacker and Robert Taylor’s GROW UP!—The Disney Adults Musical, with development planned in Las Vegas and Menlo Park ahead of the 2027 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.