Houston Grand Opera Announces Paid Auditions for Show Boat

Houston Grand Opera is holding open auditions for non-singing principal acting roles in its Spring 2027 production of the classic musical Show Boat. Auditions will take place in Houston, Texas, on October 3, 2026, with advance registration required.

Presented by the Houston Grand Opera Association (HGO), the upcoming production will celebrate the centennial of the landmark musical by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II. The production will be directed by Francesca Zambello and conducted by HGO Music Director Emeritus Patrick Summers.

Talent Application

Audition Details

📍 Location: Wortham Theater Center, 510 Preston Street, Houston, TX 77002
📅 Audition Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
🎭 Category: Theater / Non-Singing Principal Roles
💰 Pay: At least $1,450 per week, depending on the role
⏰ Submission Deadline: September 30, 2026, at 4:00 PM

Actors interested in auditioning should have full availability throughout the production period. Selected performers may be called for up to 30 hours per week during the eight-week production schedule, running from March 22 through May 16, 2027.

Roles Being Cast

Parthy Ann Hawks
Non-Black female actor, middle to older age. Parthy is a stoic, moralistic, and sharp-tongued New England woman married to a Louisiana showman. She strongly dislikes the world of show business.

Steve Baker / Max
Non-Black male actor, middle age. A debonair and conventionally handsome leading-man type.

Pete / Emcee
Non-Black male actor, middle age. A rough engineer and river rat with a surly personality.

Sheriff Vallon / Bartender
Non-Black male actor, middle to older age. An old-fashioned, “good ol’ boy” style sheriff.

Mrs. O’Brien
Non-Black female actor, middle to older age. An Irish immigrant who operates a Chicago boarding house and rents rooms to tenants.

How to Audition

Audition appointments will be assigned in advance. Actors will also receive the appropriate audition sides to prepare once registration is completed.

To request an audition registration form, email:

auditions@houstongrandopera.org

Candidates should register before the September 30, 2026, 4:00 PM deadline and be prepared to commit to the full production schedule if selected.

This is a paid opportunity for experienced actors interested in becoming part of Houston Grand Opera’s centennial production of one of American musical theater’s best-known works.