AUDITION INFORMATION
AUDITION ANNOUNCEMENT
The Dio - Dining & Entertainment, Livingston County's award-winning professional theatre company, is thrilled to announce auditions for their upcoming production of A Nice Family Christmas a comedy by Phil Olson, directed by Steve DeBruyne. Video submissions only, accepted through Wednesday, July 15. In-person callbacks will take place from 6pm to 11pm on Sunday, July 19 at The Dio, 177 E. Main Street, Pinckney MI, 48169.
CASTING NON-EQUITY ACTORS, ALL ETHNICITIES, WITH GREAT COMIC TIMING FOR THE FOLLOWING ROLES:
CARL – Male presenting, 20s – 30s, any ethnicity. The middle brother. Grew up in the shadow of his older brother, Michael, the doctor. Has a slight inferiority complex brought on by Michael. He’s a column writer for The Minneapolis Star Tribune paper.
MOM – Female presenting, 50s to 60s, any ethnicity. Very nice. Always putting on a happy face. Her goal is to get through the family event without incident. Mom’s husband, Carl Sr. died three years ago. She’s doing her best to get over the loss and keep everyone happy.
GRANDMA – Female presenting though will consider male actors in old lady drag for this role, any age to play 70s to 80s, any ethnicity. A real character. Grew up in a one room house with ten brothers and sisters on a farm in North Dakota. Had a very hard life growing up. Tough as nails, but feisty, hilarious and filled with advice that seems non-sensical. Physical comedy required with great comedic timing.
MICHAEL – Male presenting, 30s, any ethnicity. The older brother. The doctor. A little nerdy. The favorite son, at least at first. Self-absorbed, he’s struggling to save his relationship, though blind to what that might require.
STACEY – Female presenting, early 20s to 30s, any ethnicity. The younger sister with a wholesome midwestern innocence, as well as a baby and a wife. Overlooked, but not angry about it, just used to it.
UNCLE BOB – Male presenting, 50s to 60s, any ethnicity. Everyone has a crazy uncle, and this is it. A fun-loving partier with an agenda.
JILL – Female presenting, 20s to 30s, any ethnicity. Michael’s trophy wife. Emotional and sometimes a bit spacey. Wants to make her marriage to Michael work, if he can prove he loves her.
VIDEO SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:
Prepare two comedic monologues, no more than one minute each. Please film one from shoulders up, and one full body. Email video link to steve@diotheatre.com with your name and "Christmas Submission" in the subject line. Unlisted YouTube links are preferred (make sure video is set to be viewed by anyone with the link).
Please include the following in your submission email: your headshot and resume, as well as a list of all conflicts from October 20 through December 23. Video submissions will be accepted through Wednesday, July 15. In-person callbacks will take place from 6pm to 11pm on Sunday, July 19 at The Dio, 177 E. Main Street, Pinckney MI, 48169.
PAY:
All actors receive a $150 stipend for rehearsal and $40 per performance ($950 total) plus a meal following each performance and two complimentary tickets. Actors with previous serving experience may choose to serve tables on select nights for additional tip money. Servers are scheduled on an alphabetic rotation.
*If any of the performances are cancelled for any reason, stipend will be reduced by $40 per cancelled show. If performances are added, adult actors will be paid an additional $40 per added show. Meals are subject to availability, based on the needs of the audience at any given performance.
REHEARSAL INFO:
Rehearsals will begin October 20, 2026, and take place at The Dio, 177 E. Main, Pinckney MI, 48169, Mondays through Fridays from 6pm to 10pm and Saturdays from noon to 6pm. Tech Saturday will take place from noon to midnight on November 14. No rehearsal on Halloween. Please be aware that rehearsal may run later than 10pm during tech week, November 16 through November 19.
PERFORMANCE DATES AND TIMES:
*Call for evening performances is 7pm.
*Call for matinee performances is 1pm.
Friday, November 20 – evening
Saturday, November 21 – evening
Sunday, November 22 – matinee
Friday, November 27 - evening
Saturday, November 28 - evening
Sunday, November 29 - matinee
Thursday, December 3 - evening
Friday, December 4 – evening
Saturday, December 5 - evening
Sunday, December 6 - matinee
Thursday, December 10 – evening
Friday, December 11 - evening
Saturday, December 12 - evening
Sunday, December 13 - matinee
Thursday, December 17 - evening
Friday, December 18 - evening
Saturday, December 19 - evening
Sunday, December 20 - matinee
IN THE SPIRIT OF SHARED HUMANITY AND A CONCERN FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND THE WORLD AT LARGE, WE AT The Dio CELEBRATE DIVERSITY AND AFFIRM OUR SOLIDARITY WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS MOST AT RISK. WE DISAVOW ALL RACISM AND HATE SPEECH OR ACTIONS THAT ATTEMPT TO SILENCE, THREATEN AND DEGRADE OTHERS. WE ENCOURAGE AND WELCOME BIPOC, AAPI, Latinx AND LGBTQ+ PERFORMERS TO ATTEND OUR AUDITIONS, AND TO JOIN OUR DIO FAMILY.
