Name: CROWNS Auditions
Start: 2025-09-28T19:30:00-04:00
End: 2025-09-29T19:00:00-04:00
Location: 1301 Columbia College Dr, Columbia, SC

Crowns
Workshop Theatre is excited to announce the auditions for CROWNS, a gospel musical by Regina Taylor, which will run January 23 to Feb 7, 2026.
Auditions will be Sunday, September 28 7:30 pm and Monday, September 29 at 7 pm at Cottingham Theatre on the campus of Columbia College.
Audition Preparation
The play features gospel music and dance, rap, hip hop, rhythm and blues, jazz and spoken word. Please prepare 16 bars of a gospel song. Bring sheet music in your key or a track; an accompanist and Bluetooth speaker will be provided.
Synopsis:
CROWNS is the story of a Chicago teenager who, sent to live with her grandmother in South Carolina, finds connection among a community of resilient African American women in their church hats. Weaving together faith, fashion and family, Crowns is an inspirational, joyous musical celebration of love and redemption that will make your spirit sing!
Written by Regina Taylor and adapted from the book by Michael Cunningham and Craig Marberry, this production will be directed by Jocelyn Sanders and music direction by Shannon Pinkney.
Questions can be directed to Jeni at [email protected]
Production Schedule
Rehearsals for Crowns begin November 9, 2025 (Sunday-Thursday evenings). No conflicts January 5. Performances will be January 23- February 7. Rehearsals and performances will be at Cottingham Theatre on the campus of Columbia College.
Seeking African American performers for the following roles:
Mother Shaw, 50s-60s: A Nurturer. Present. No nonsense Grandmother. Rooted. Strong gospel voice.
Velma, 30s-40s: Great sense of humor. Strong, sassy and fabulous. Marches to her own beat. Strong Bluesy/Jazz vocalist.
Yolanda, Late teens-Early 20s: Brooklyn girl with an edge. Has an attitude and sensitive side. Strong vocally and moves very well.
Mabel, 30s - 50s: Fiery percussive presence. Always front and center and will tell it like it is. A force to be reckoned with. Vocally malleable and moves well.
Jeanette, Early 20s - late 30s: Feminine and flirtatious. Lovely. Centered. A very strong dancer/mover.
Wanda, 40s-50s: By the book. Refined. Always plays by the rules. A judge/ teacher. Pulled up tightly but can let go on a Sunday if the spirit moves her. Moves well.
Preacher, 30s-50s: Strong presence and stature. Extremely malleable character man. Strong vocally and moves well.