WELCOME TO CHICAGO UNION STATION
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride!

ABOUT THE SHOW 
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride is a 60-min live production that happens aboard a slow-moving train that leaves out of Union Station in Downtown Chicago. There are 2-5 departures per show day. The show includes scripted scenes, live singing, dancing, and a great deal of audience interaction.

Rehearsals will be in Chicago (exact location TBD).

PAY RATES

All Roles (except Santa & Hero Child): $19/hour
Santa: $25/hour
Hero Child: Click Here for Full Info

PAY RATE NOTE: This role is paid on an hourly basis, including overtime for weeks exceeding 40 hours. The base hourly rate is $19/hour ($25/hour for Santa). Presuming a fully realized performance season (no unexpected cancellations or Acts of God), and if actors work the entirety of their assigned schedule, Chicago actors will work approximately 238 total hours from the start of rehearsals to the closing day performance.

ALL ACTORS PLEASE NOTE: Because of the nature of the schedule, we cannot specify exactly how much regular time and how much
overtime will be worked. We are providing this information and the attached schedule in order to supply as much information as possible, however, please understand that this is not a guarantee of total wages. The role is paid hourly for actual hours worked.

Chicago Audition Dates/Times:

Wednesday, August 16, 2023 – Appointments: 9:30am – 1:30pm; OPEN CALL & Appointments: 2:30 – 5:00pm 
Thursday, August 17, 2023 – Appointments: 2:00 – 8:00pm
Friday, August 18, 2023 – Appointments: 5:00 – 8:00pm

Audition Location:
Fine Arts Building, 410 S Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60605
NOTE: On the 16th and 17th, auditions will be held in the Little Studio (Studio 732, 7th Fl).
On the 18th, auditions will be held in Studios A & B (3rd Floor).

PRODUCTION SCHEDULE
OPEN CALL PREP

APPLY FOR AN AUDITION TIME BELOW


If represented by an agent for theatrical work, please also list agent information:


* If actor is under age of 18 list their name & contact info above. We will not contact minors directly.


Please upload a current head shot and resume. If you don’t have a head shot, please upload a current picture from the waist up. Please shoot against a blank wall and look directly into the camera (a phone camera is fine). If you do not have a resume, please upload a document that includes your contact information, height, and any theatrical work you have done (professional and/or non-professional). Please only include performance work (as opposed to backstage, production work, etc). Thank you!



If you are having trouble submitting the form above, please submit directly to the following email: chicagopexcasting@gmail.com
If you’ve auditioned for us before, please note that this is a different email address than
used in previous years.
We will be in touch via email if we would like to schedule a live audition.
If you do not hear back from us, you are welcome to come to one of our open calls!

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THE POLAR EXPRESS and all related characters and elements © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s22)
Based on THE POLAR EXPRESS book and characters © & ™ 1985 by Chris Van Allsburg. Used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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