The Legend of Sleepy Hollow – A Staged Reading
Based on the Story by Washington Irving
Adapted by Andrew Biliter
Directed by Mark “Sparky” MacDonald
Auditions:
Sunday, September 27 and Monday, September 28, 2026, starting at 6pm
Progress Lab 1422 (1422 William Street, Vancouver, BC)
About the play:
Ichabod Crane, an ambitious pedagogue, arrives in the quaint 18th century village of Sleepy Hollow to educate its youth. He quickly finds himself immersed in the diverse and eccentric community, enamored with the most desirable (and wealthiest) bachelorette of Sleepy Hollow, and at the mercy of the local superstitions – the fabled Headless Horseman chief among them.
Show Details:
- Run Dates: October 31 (7:30pm) and November 1 (2pm), 2026 at Progress Lab 1422.
- Rehearsals: Monday and Wednesday evenings and Saturday afternoons from October 12 to 31 (plus Tuesday, October 12).
Characters:
ICHABOD CRANE (M, 25-35):
The intelligent, charismatic, and somewhat morally dubious itinerant teacher new to the settlement of Sleepy Hollow. **Must also have a good singing voice. Those auditioning will be required to sing the New Years hymn Ring Out, Wild Bells and The Wicked With his Works Unjust. **
GEOFFREY CRAYON (Any, 40-50):
The suave, kindly, and omniscient narrator.
KATRINA VAN TASSEL (F, 20-30):
The daughter and heiress to the Van Tassel Farming fortune, a beloved bachelorette in Sleepy Hollow, and the target of Ichabod’s and Brom’s affections. **Must also have a good singing voice. Those auditioning will be required to the sing The Wicked With his Works Unjust. **
BROM BONES (M, 25-35):
A handsome, headstrong, and swaggering hunter with a penchant for pranks and petty mischief. He is also the proud leader of the Sleepy Hollow Boys.
MRS. MORIBUND (F, 50-60):
Ichabod’s well-informed widowed hostess and a dear friend to the Van Tassels.
BALTUS VAN TASSEL (M, 55-65):
The boisterously friendly father of Katrina. Owner of the prosperous Van Tassel fortune who has been riding the high of his one and only wartime story since it happened.
EDITH VAN TASSEL (F, 50-60):
Baltus’s wife and Katrina’s mother. A warm hearted woman and an emphatically proud member of the Sleepy Hollow community.
HANS VAN RIPPER (M, 45-55):
A somewhat eccentric farmer of Sleepy Hollow and friend to Baltus Van Tussel.
SALLY VAN RIPPER (F, 40-50):
Han’s wife, a hard working mother of two, and friend to the Van Tassels.
PARSON BROUWER (M, 55-65):
A kind and friendly but deeply superstitious minister to the community of Sleepy Hollow.
GRISHILDA (F, 20-30):
One of Katrina’s friends and Ichabod’s admirers. **Must also have a good singing voice. Those auditioning will be required to the sing The Wicked With his Works Unjust. **
ANNE (F, 20-30):
One of Katrina’s friends and Ichabod’s admirers. **Must also have a good singing voice. Those auditioning will be required to the sing The Wicked With his Works Unjust. **
KERMIT (M, 20-30):
Brom’s friend and member of the Sleepy Hollow Boys.
BRUCE (M, 25-35):
Brom’s friend and member of the Sleepy Hollow Boys.
TESSA (F, 40-50):
A local gossip and admirer of Ichabod. One of Katrina’s friends. **Must also have a good singing voice. Those auditioning will be required to the sing The Wicked With his Works Unjust. **
AMBROSIA (F, 40-50):
A local gossip and admirer of Ichabod. One of Katrina’s friends. **Must also have a good singing voice. Those auditioning will be required to the sing The Wicked With his Works Unjust. **
RUPERT (M, early 20s)
A young messenger boy who’s just trying to do his job.
*LARS LEUWENHOEK (M or F, Any Age):
One of the students. Must be able to convincingly sound like a young boy. Those given this role will likely have multiple parts.
*PIETER LEUWENHOEK (M or F, Any Age):
One of the students. Must be able to convincingly sound like a young boy. Those given this role will likely have multiple parts.
*ANKI ROTMENSEN (M or F, Any Age):
One of the students. Must be able to convincingly sound like a young girl. Those given this role will likely have multiple parts.
*DAPHNE DANKER (M or F, Any Age):
One of the students. Must be able to convincingly sound like a young girl. Those given this role will likely have multiple parts.
*MARGARET VAN HUFF (M or F, Any Age):
One of the students. Must be able to convincingly sound like a young girl. Those given this role will likely have multiple parts.
*DIEDRICH KNICKERBOCKER (M or F, Any Age):
One of the students and a self-proclaimed chronicler. Must be able to convincingly sound like a young boy. Those given this role will likely have multiple parts.
*AMELIA VAN RIPPER (M or F, Any Age):
One of the students, daughter of Hans and Sally, and the de facto “weird kid” in school who knows all about the Headless Horseman. Must be able to convincingly sound like a young girl. Those given this role will likely have multiple parts.
**ALL STUDENT ROLES WILL BE PORTRAYED BY ADULTS**
Notes:
- Auditions will be cold readings from the script. Actors are encouraged to read the script on their own prior to auditioning. NOTE: The director WILL NOT be providing copies of the script prior to auditions.
- Auditions will be first come, first seen and will consist of cold reads from the script. Some roles will require songs as part of the audition process, so be prepared to sing at your audition. Acapella is fine.
- Auditions are open to everyone regardless of background, race, gender, orientation, or ability. We encourage everyone to audition as we will be casting whoever is best for the role.
- Actors may submit self-tape auditions via file transfer. If interested, please send your headshot and resume to auditions@pivottheatre.ca and you will receive further instructions.
- Please let us know if any accessibility requirements, and we will do our best to accommodate you.
- Please bring a résumé and headshot to auditions
- This is a NON-EQUITY, volunteer production