Freaky Friday is based on the popular novel by Mary Rodgers and the Disney films that followed. The musical brings the story to the stage with a new score and plenty of energy, humor and heart. If you want to get familiar with the show before auditions, you can watch the filmed version of the musical on Disney+ or listen to the original cast recording on Spotify.
Auditions & What to Expect
The Roles
Freaky Friday centers on two characters: Ellie Blake, a smart, independent teenager, and her mom, Katherine Blake, a busy, organized perfectionist. When the two magically switch bodies, they have to figure out how to live each other’s lives for a day — and, in the process, learn a lot about each other.
There are lots of opportunities beyond Ellie and Katherine, too. Some of the major roles include:
Fletcher Blake — Ellie’s younger brother. Fletcher is energetic, eccentric and completely fascinated by puppetry. He often speaks in the voices of his two puppets, Angry Bob, an enraged purple hippo, and Caspian, a proper British starfish.
Mike — Katherine’s fiancé. Warm, confident and kind, Mike is trying to become part of Ellie and Fletcher’s family while also preparing to marry Katherine.
Adam — Ellie’s classmate and the school’s legendary “Listmaster” who leads the city-wide scavenger hunt. He’s smart, sweet and a little awkward, and he has a growing interest in Ellie.
Gretchen & Hannah — Ellie’s best friends. They have very different personalities, but both are important parts of Ellie’s world at school.
Savannah — Ellie’s nemesis and one of the most competitive students at school. She’s confident, ambitious and determined to come out on top.
Torrey — Katherine’s assistant. She is organized, intense and very good at keeping Katherine’s chaotic life moving.
The Ensemble
Throughout the show, ensemble members help create the world of Freaky Friday. Depending on the role, you might play:
- Students at Ellie’s school
- Teachers and school staff
- Parents and family members
- Wedding guests and caterers
- Multiple characters throughout the show
- Members of large musical numbers that help tell the story
Some ensemble roles have lines or featured moments, while others are primarily part of the show’s larger musical and movement sequences. We may also have ensemble members step into different ages, personalities and types of characters throughout the production.
We are looking for performers who are ready to be part of the whole show. That means singing, acting, dancing, creating characters, working as a team and staying engaged even when you aren’t the person in the spotlight.
We’re Performing in Three-Quarter Thrust
This production will be staged in three-quarter thrust, sometimes referred to as in the round. Instead of having the audience sitting only in front of the stage, the audience will surround the playing space on three sides.
That changes the way we perform. There isn’t really a traditional “front” of the stage. You’ll need to think about where you’re standing, where you’re facing and how your performance looks and feels from different sides of the audience. Sometimes you may be performing toward one section of the audience; other times, you’ll need to find ways to include everyone.
It also means that there’s nowhere to hide! The audience will be close to the action, and they’ll be able to see the reactions, relationships and storytelling happening all around you.
For auditions and rehearsals, we’re looking for performers who can stay connected to the story, make strong character choices and adapt to working in a space where the audience is all around them.
Most importantly, we’re looking for people who are excited to play. Freaky Friday is funny, energetic and full of big theatrical moments. Come ready to bring your personality, imagination and willingness to collaborate.
A Note About Role Preferences
On the audition form, there is a checkbox with these instructions:
c I am willing to accept any role in YPT’s Freaky Friday 2026-27 production.
If not checking this box, please attach a list of the role(s) you would be willing to accept.
If you are unwilling to accept a role unless your sibling(s) is cast, indicate that in your
attachment.
We know this question can cause some stress, so we want to be clear about what we’re asking.
If you’re in high school: You may decide that you want to put your time and energy into rehearsing and performing a particular role or group of roles. That’s completely okay. If there are roles you would be excited to play but you would not want to accept other roles, tell us. You can attach a list of those roles instead of checking the box above.
There is no penalty, now or in the future, for being honest about your preferences. We will not hold it against you if you choose not to accept an ensemble or smaller featured role. At the same time, please understand that limiting your role preferences may mean that we are unable to cast you in this production.
If you’re not yet in high school: You can make the same choice, but we encourage you to consider checking the box. At this age, there is a lot to learn from every role in a production. An ensemble or smaller featured role can give you opportunities to develop your acting, singing, dancing, character work, stage awareness and ability to work as part of an ensemble. You may also discover that a role you didn’t expect to want becomes one of your favorite experiences.
You are still welcome to tell us that you are only interested in certain roles, and we will not hold that decision against you. Just know that you may be passing up an opportunity to learn and grow in a role that isn’t the one you originally imagined for yourself.
Most importantly, please don’t check the box just because you think you are supposed to. We want you to be honest about the commitment you’re willing to make. And please don’t choose a role because you are worried that saying no will affect your chances with YPT in the future. Casting decisions are made for each production based on the needs of that particular show.
Every role in Freaky Friday is important to telling the story. If you’re cast, we hope you’ll be excited about the role you’re given and ready to contribute fully to the production.