Breslau Mennonite Church’s Children of Eden Audition Information
Thank you for choosing to audition for Children of Eden!
At BMC we love presenting high calibre theatrical experiences such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (2019) and Godspell (2024). Those weren’t just shows — they were moments where our church family came together across generations to create something joyful, faithful, and deeply meaningful. Kids, youth, adults — all on the same stage, telling a story together.
Staying true to our mandate to produce a musical rooted in biblical storytelling — featuring beautiful music and just enough choreography to raise the heart rate, our next musical will be Children of Eden, written by Stephen Schwartz — the composer behind Godspell, The Prince of Egypt, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Wicked.
This beautiful and lesser-known show is based on stories from the Book of Genesis. Act One tells the story of Adam and Eve — creation, choices, and the complicated but loving relationship between parent and child. Act Two moves to Noah and the flood — a story of trust, obedience, and new beginnings. It’s a musical about family, freedom, forgiveness, and God’s constant love, and it has wonderful roles for all ages.
One of the reasons Children of Eden isn’t staged as frequently as other biblically based musicals is because of its musical depth and complexity. The score is rich with intricate four-part harmonies. The characters themselves are nuanced and challenging, requiring performers who can bring both musical strength and thoughtful storytelling to the stage. In many ways, that sounds exactly like Breslau Mennonite Church in a nutshell — a community that loves strong singing, embraces depth, and isn’t afraid to wrestle with meaningful stories of faith. We are genuinely excited to give prominence to this compelling and powerful work, and to rise to the challenge together.
We invite you to join our cast for this exciting production! We’re looking for an intergenerational cast of about 20 to 30 people — children, youth, and adults. If you’ve been on stage before, wonderful. If you’ve never auditioned for anything in your life, that’s okay too. This is a place to grow, learn, and be part of something special together!
The BMC Children of Eden Production Team,
Amy Good, Director
Cheryl Zehr, Assistant Director
Stacey Vandermeer, Music Director
Justin Martin, Production Manager
Chris Steingart, Artistic Director
Show Dates
Friday, February 5, 2027 – 7:30 pm
Saturday, February 6, 2027 2 pm & 7:30 pm
Sunday, February 7, 2027 2pm
Children of Eden will be performed in the Sanctuary at Breslau Mennonite Church
Rehearsals and Schedule
Children of Eden requires a cast of 20-30 adult and child actors. Attendance at all rehearsals will be critical to the success of this production. Absences will have a huge impact.
While we understand that people will be away for a variety of reasons, we ask that everyone auditioning for this production commit to our FULL rehearsal schedule.
Rehearsal Schedule
Rehearsals for Children of Eden will begin on SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20th. Rehearsals will take place at BMC in the Sanctuary, Gym or Library.
September
- Sundays 1-5pm (20, 27)
October
- Sundays 1-5pm (4, 11, 18, 25
November
- Sundays 1-5pm (1, 8, 15, 22, 29)
- Thursdays 6:30-9pm (5, 12, 19, 26) for leads and small groups only
December
- Sundays 1-5pm (6, 13)
January
- Sundays 1-5pm, 6-8pm* (3, 10, 17, 24)
*no children called for evening rehearsal - Thursdays 6:30-9pm everyone (7, 14, 21, 28)
Though we ask for full commitment to this schedule, there are likely to be some exceptions along the way. Other changes will be announced as we go.
In the week leading up to the show, the following special rehearsal schedule will apply:
Saturday, January 30
Load-In and Theatre Setup
Sunday, January 31
Rehearsal 1-5pm, 6:30-10pm *with cast dinner
Tuesday, February 2
Dress Rehearsal: 6:30 pm start, Call time TBD
Wednesday, February 3
Dress Rehearsal: 6:30 pm start, Call time TBD
Thursday, February 4
*Tentative dress rehearsal or possible additional performance date
Friday, February 5
Performance 7:30pm Start, Call time TBD
Saturday, February 6
Performances 2pm and 7:30pm Start, Call time TBD
Sunday, February 7
Performances 2pm followed by Teardown.
*Attendance is MANDATORY for all cast and crew
General Expectations
- All cast members should be available 1 1/2 hours prior to performance for make-up and hair styling.
- All cast members will receive their script in advance of first rehearsal and should be familiar with their role, working towards full memorization.
- Every cast member will be emailed a “BMC Show Information Kit”. It will include everything you need to know about being part of a BMC show including how to check rehearsal schedules, important email addresses and more. You should carefully read and fully understand that document BEFORE you come to your first rehearsal.
- As a member of the company you are required to spend a minimum of 8 hours in pre-production activities in addition to performing on stage and rehearsing. Sometimes this is work that can be done at home (sewing/prop construction) or it may mean a Saturday work day doing painting or stage construction. As we get closer to our production dates we always require lots of help to transform the sanctuary into a theatre – a fun experience and a great time to fulfill some of those hours.
- Have fun! Taking part in a “BMC Family” musical can be a wonderful experience! You will get to know many people, be challenged with learning lines and singing beautiful music and be rewarded with the applause of an audience and being part of something very special!
Auditions
Auditions are a chance for us to learn more about your range and desired role, and for you to learn more about what the coming months will look like. We know auditions can feel strange and intimidating, but we hope you’ll leave feeling supported, energized, and excited for the months ahead!
Audition Location
BMC Library
Sunday May 24, 2027 1-4 pm
Audition Panel:
Amy Good-Director
Stacey Vandermeer-Music Director
Chris Steingart-Artistic Director
Justin Martin-Production Manager
Cheryl Zehr-Assistant Director
General Audition Information
Each audition will take approximately 5 to 10 minutes you can book your audition by clicking the link here.
Download and fill out our audition information form
Please arrive approximately 10 minutes early, so you’ll have time to prepare for your audition and be ready in case we’re running ahead of schedule.
Don’t want to audition alone? No worries… We want the audition process to be as comfortable as possible so feel free to sign up with a friend or family member(s) and either prepare a song and spoken dialogue separately or together.
What to Prepare for your Audition
A SONG
- Please come prepared with one song to sing. It could be a musical theatre selection (from Children of Eden or another musical) a hymn, or any other song that features your vocal range. You should be completely familiar and comfortable with the song so you’ll be able to perform it with clarity and conviction.
- If you’re auditioning for a specific character or solo for a specific song in the show, your song should be in the style and range of a song sung by that character in Children of Eden.
- You’ll have two minutes or less to sing your song. Please be ready to perform the section that you want the audition panel to hear. You likely won’t have time to sing the entire song.
- The panel may ask you to sing additional material from the show. If you are auditioning for a lead part, you should be familiar with the music from the show in general.
- We will not have an accompanist for auditions. Here are a few options:
- You may sing acapella.
- Bring an instrument to play yourself (or your own accompanist – a piano will be available)
- Bring a recorded accompaniment. There are lots to be found on youtube if you search “karaoke” along with your song title. You are responsible for bringing that music and method of playing that music (ie phone, speakers etc..).
A SPOKEN DIALOGUE FROM THE SHOW
- We’ve prepared a few audition sides to choose from:
- Choose one of the sides, and choose the character that you would like to read.
- You don’t have to have the side memorized but you should know it quite well so that you can read it with emotion and conviction showcasing your dramatic range.
- A member of the audition panel might read the dialogue with you, or if you are auditioning with someone else it would be great if you planned to read it together.
Listen
Here are a few songs from some of the lead characters.
Roles in Children of Eden
Father (God)
The central figure of the show. A commanding but deeply emotional role.
Voice Type: Baritone (legit with authority)
Range: approx. G2 – E4
- Drives the story in both acts.
- Requires strong vocal presence and dramatic range.
- Appears in both the Adam/Eve story and the Noah story.
Adam / Noah (Often doubled)
Voice Type: Lyric Baritone
Range: approx. A2 – F#4
- Adam (Act I): Curious, impulsive, yearning for independence.
- Noah (Act II): Faithful but weary, struggling with obedience and doubt.
- Substantial singing and character development.
Eve / Mama Noah (Often doubled)
Voice Type: Mezzo-Soprano (with belt capability)
Range: approx. G3 – D5 (optional E♭5 in some productions)
- Eve (Act I): Emotional heart of the show. Complex, searching, and strong.
- Sings the powerful title song at the end of Act I.
- Mama Noah (Act II): More grounded, maternal presence.
Cain / Japheth (Often doubled)
Voice Type: Tenor (lyric with some edge)
Range: approx. B2 – A4
- Cain (Act I): Passionate, wounded, rebellious. Major dramatic arc.
- Japheth (Act II): Idealistic and romantic; leads much of the youth storyline.
FEATURED ROLES
Abel / Ham
Voice Type: Light Tenor
Range: approx. C3 – G4
- Abel: Lighter, joyful, favored son.
- Ham: Comic energy but also thematic weight.
Seth
Voice Type: Baritone
Range: approx. B2 – E4
Adam and Eve’s third son. Smaller but meaningful role.
Yonah
Voice Type: Lyric Soprano
Range: approx. A3 – E5
Japheth’s love interest in Act II. A heartfelt solo and emotional turning point.
The Snake
Soloist in In Pursuit of Excellence
Ensemble
The ensemble is extremely important in this show.
They function as:
- Storytellers
- The “Generations”
- Creation
- Animals entering the Ark
- Descendants of Cain
- Townspeople in Act II
Musically, the ensemble carries rich four-part harmony and layered choral writing. Strong singers elevate the production significantly.
Additional FAQ's
Are There Children in Children of Eden?
Well, it’s in the title isn’t it? So there ought to be children! While there are only a few specific roles for children, the production team has identified several areas where younger actors can be involved in meaningful ways to help tell the story. We welcome children 8 and older to audition for the show.
*Please note that we require at least one parent to be in the cast or attend each rehearsal for any children between 8-12.
**In certain situations we’ve made exceptions for children younger than 8 but that is on a case by case basis. Please contact a member of the production team to discuss further.
What about Gender Roles?
While key roles might remain true to gender, depending on the makeup of our cast we plan to cast the best person for each role regardless of their gender with which they identify.
Can people from the community audition?
We welcome anyone from the Breslau Mennonite Church Family and surrounding community from ages 8-108 to audition.
What if I don’t want to appear on stage?
We have a part for you! The success of our production depends on the participation of many people behind the scenes. We’ll be looking for help with marketing, ticket sales, stage management, tech setup, set construction, costumes, props etc…. There truly is a place for everyone! Click here to sign up.
We acknowledge with gratitude the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee, Anishnawbe, and Neutral peoples upon which we gather. We seek a new relationship with Indigenous peoples, one based in honour and deep respect.
226 Woolwich St. Breslau, On | 519.648.2501 | email: office@breslaumc.ca