Produced by Holly Shepherd, Directed by Brian Hull
 QuaverEd is proud to present a developmental workshop of a new pop musical: One Step at a Time in Nashville!

Musical Audition Information

Open call for Singers, Dancers, and Actors for a developmental workshop of a new pop musical.
All roles are paid. Possible Equity contracts available.

Seeking actors, singers, and dancers ages 13+, any ethnicity, any gender, with fantastic pop voices for principal and ensemble roles.

Monday, September 15: 3:00–8:00 p.m. Central
Tuesday, September 16: 3:00–8:00 p.m. Central

Tentative Callbacks Wednesday, September 17: 5:00 – 8:00 Central

Location: QuaverEd, 1708 Grand Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203

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SHOW SYNOPSIS

This is a story about the Jackson family and an underperforming middle school. The mother, Jill, is a School Counselor, and their children, Aliya and Terrel, are 7th graders. The father, Jamal, is a Marine sergeant stationed overseas. The family moved to a new city in the middle of the school year.

The story follows the Jackson family and their struggles in their new school. Students have long lost interest in grades and are regularly intimidated by bullies. Most teachers at the school have given up and suffer from burnout. Drugs are also present. The School Board hired a new principal, Mr. Estevan, to turn things around. The story ultimately pits the Principal against Mrs. Jackson on how best to solve problems in the school.
The musical is, itself, a grand lesson on the fundamentals of transforming a school. The importance of developing student emotional and social skills, as well as teacher commitment, is highlighted through plot, character development, and song. 

MUSICAL CREDITS
  • Executive Producer: David Mastran
  • Producer: Holly Shepherd
  • Director: Brian Hull
  • Music Director: Kyle Hankins
  • Choreographer: Claire Williams
  • Stage Manager: Mary Jo Weaver
  • Quaver Creative Team: Hannah Smith and Rebekah Davis


Please Prepare/Bring:

  • Prepare to sing 32 bars of a pop song showing range. Bring accompaniment tracks (no voices) cued up to exactly where you want to start, or bring sheet music in your key. A piano accompanist will be provided.
  • Please bring a photo/resume stapled together.
  • Everyone will learn a short dance/movement combination, so bring attire and shoes you can move in. Everyone wanting to be considered for a Dancer Only role will learn a different dance combination.
  • Tentative callbacks will occur on September 17, 2025.

Principal Characters (14)

Mrs. Jill Jackson (35–45 yrs) – A school counselor. Loyal, resilient, intuitive, empathetic, friendly, and goal-oriented. Not afraid to do what she believes is right.

Aliya Jackson (13–14 yrs) – A 7th grader. Very intelligent and adores her twin brother, Terrel. Daughter of Jill and Jamal Jackson.

Terrel Jackson (13–14 yrs) – A 7th grader. Strong but shy. Honest, forthright, and protective of his twin sister, Aliya. Son of Jill and Jamal Jackson.

Damon (14 yrs) – A 7th grader. A bully who has had a hard life. Stuck in the wrong place despite his obvious abilities.

Booker (14 yrs) – A 7th grader. Sidekick of Damon and a follower. Not a bad kid, but needs a rudder.

Ashlene (13–14 yrs) – A 7th grader. Street-smart, warm, thoughtful, and forthright.

Carlos (13–14 yrs) – A 7th grader. Carefree and kind despite his circumstances.

Armand (13–14 yrs) – A 7th grader. A sideline observer; harmless but a bit of a stoner. A disheveled follower; part of a Greek chorus.

Isabel (13–14 yrs) – A 7th grader. A jaded, cynical free spirit who is part of the Greek chorus with Armand. Wears a nose ring and has pink hair. Doesn’t seem to have any real friends.

Principal Raphael Estevan (mid-50s–60s) – School principal. A strict, “old-school” disciplinarian. Hard-nosed, stressed-out, and under pressure to succeed.

Ms. ‘Lizbeth Taylor (30s) – An English teacher who has become disillusioned and goes through the motions. Uses her sarcastic wit to survive.

Mr. Anthony Chen (40s) – A rigid science teacher who has all but given up. Cynical, just trying to get to retirement. All business.

Mr. Ahmad Swara (35–40s) – An optimistic, playful, and kind PE teacher who looks on the sunny side. Brings light into every room but is held back by others.

Mrs. Camille Dubois (40–50 yrs) – A seasoned music teacher. Ever-positive and well liked. Her effervescence is infectious, but she mostly tries to fly under the radar.

Ensemble and Featured Characters (12)

1 adult male and 1 adult female – To play various roles (Sgt. Jamal Jackson, school board chairwoman, teachers, parents, school board members, doctor, nurse, custodian).

Brian – Middle school student, busker, etc.

Jason – Middle school student, busker, dealer, etc.

Brenda – Middle school student, busker, etc.

Luis – Middle school student, busker, etc.

Darius – Middle school student.

Destiny – Middle school student.

Featured Dancers (6)

Six dancer characters with featured roles.

REHEARSALS:

Principal Roles Mrs. Jackson, Terrell, and Aliya will have one week of rehearsal Monday through Thursday, October 6-9, 3:00-7:00.
Full Cast Rehearsals Full cast rehearsals will be held at SoundCheck Nashville, 750 Cowan Street. They will be on Mondays & Thursdays, 4:00–8:00PM, on the following dates:
  • November 3-6
  • November 10-13
  • November 17-20
  • December 1-4
Venue Rehearsals Rehearsals will move to the performance venue, Battle Ground Academy, 336 Ernest Rice Lane, Franklin, TN for the following dates:
  • January 5-8
  • Tech Week: January 12-16

PERFORMANCES:

  • Friday, January 16 at 7:00pm
  • Saturday, January 17 at 7:00pm
  • Sunday, January 18 at 3:00pm

Questions?

Email Holly Shepherd at hollyshepherd@quavercontractor.com.