AUDITIONS! October 10th and 11th. E: guildproducer@gmail.com to book a time
Klondike: The Musical unearths the astonishing true stories of the Yukon Gold Rush—from its fevered discovery to its inevitable downfall. Through a gritty fusion of folk and ragtime, the show follows the real dreamers, drifters, profiteers, and poets who flooded north in search of fortune.
PRINCIPAL ROLES
THOMAS LIPPY (Male, 30+)
Father to Will Lippy. Realistic, firm, and grounded. A loving father determined to build a better life for his son. His journey takes him from cautious dreamer to a man forced to confront the cost of his ambition.
WILL LIPPY (Male or Female, 10–16)
A young, eager, and hopeful stampeder. Reckless, curious, and full of dreams. Note: We will cast either a boy or a girl for this role; if a female actor is cast, she will be playing the character as a boy.
YUKON FIRST NATIONS CHARACTER #1 (All genders, 25+, Indigenous)
A fictionalized Yukon First Nations character. Intelligent, capable, observant, and deeply connected to the land. Funny, playful, and quick-witted, with a strong sense of storytelling and physical comedy. A natural presence who can bring warmth and humour to the world of the musical while carrying its deeper Indigenous perspective.
YUKON FIRST NATIONS CHARACTER #2 (All genders, 25+, Indigenous)
A fictionalized Yukon First Nations character. Smart, capable, curious, and grounded, with a strong sense of humour and a mischievous streak. A compelling storyteller and scene partner with the ability to move effortlessly between comedy, playfulness, and emotional depth.
BELINDA MULROONEY (Female, 40+)
The richest woman in the Klondike. Steadfast, steely, stubborn, and brilliant.
KLONDIKE KATE / KATHLEEN ROCKWELL (Female, 25+)
A celebrated dancer and vaudeville star. Clever, quick-witted, and flirtatious.
SAM STEELE (Male, 30+)
Strong, courageous, and known as the "Lion of the North." A hulking, commanding presence—"erect as a pine and limber as a cat."
JACK LONDON (Male, 25+)
Bright-eyed, winsome, eager, and attentive. A wanderer destined to become a legendary author.
FATHER JUDGE (Male, 25+)
A beloved Jesuit priest and the only man in Dawson City who isn’t there for the gold. Hard-working, creative, passionate, deeply faithful, and widely respected.
ENSEMBLE MEMBERS (All genders and ages)
Seeking a versatile group to play various utility roles throughout the frontier. Strong storytelling skills required; ensemble members will sing featured solos and dense harmonies.
WHAT TO PREPARE
Vocal Selection: One song of your choosing that best showcases your vocal ability. Please bring a pre-downloaded musical track with you. We will have a speaker to connect to. Make sure the track is downloaded since Wi-Fi can be spotty in Porter Creek.
Monologue: One contemporary monologue of your choosing that shows us a piece of who you are.
In the Room: Following your song and monologue, you may be asked to do a vocal range check with our Musical Director and cold read from pre-selected sides.
COMPENSATION AND EXPECTATIONS
- This is a paid contract.
- Actors are expected to be fully present in the rehearsal room, learn their parts efficiently, and maintain clear, professional communication with the creative team.
CASTING POLICY
Klondike: The Musical is committed to ethical, authentic, and respectful storytelling.
The two Yukon First Nations roles are reserved for Indigenous actors. Priority will be given to artists belonging to, or with heritage from, a Yukon First Nation.
We welcome Indigenous performers of all genders to audition. We are particularly interested in performers who bring strong storytelling, comedic timing, physicality, playfulness, and a genuine connection to the material.
These characters are fictionalized and are not intended to be literal portrayals of specific historical individuals. The creative team is committed to continuing to develop these roles with appropriate Indigenous consultation and collaboration.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Klondike: The Musical unearths the astonishing true stories of the Yukon Gold Rush—from its fevered discovery to its inevitable downfall. Through a gritty fusion of folk and ragtime, the show follows the real dreamers, drifters, profiteers, and poets who flooded north in search of fortune.
At the heart of the story is a father and son, Thomas and Will Lippy, who journey north chasing a dream of striking gold and building a better life. As the Gold Rush grows increasingly dangerous, their journey becomes a story of family, ambition, survival, and the cost of getting what you wished for.
Familiar names like Jack London, Robert W. Service, collide with the untold stories of figures such as Kate Carmack, and Belinda Mulrooney. Alongside them are two fictionalized Yukon First Nations characters whose perspective allows us to see the Gold Rush—and the transformation of the Yukon—from a very different point of view.
Darkly comic, deeply human, and almost impossible to believe, Klondike tells the story of a frontier where ambition burned hot—and the consequences cut cold.
THE CREATIVE JOURNEY AND VISION
The musical is written by local Yukon creators Calvin Laveck and Kevin "Koovy" McLachlan.
Their development journey began six years ago during a month-long stint at the Jenni House Artist Residency right here in Whitehorse. Both writers were employed at the Frantic Follies many years ago, an experience that directly sparked their inspiration for the storytelling, energetic dancing, and specific musical style you will hear throughout the show. The duo have worked extensively with playwright and dramaturg Yvette Nolan on the development of the script.
It is incredibly important to both creators to showcase the depth and caliber of Yukon’s professional theatre artists. Following its world premiere at The Guild Hall, the team’s ultimate goal is to see this distinctly northern musical find a future on stages across the rest of Canada.
PRODUCTION NOTE
This show is a work-in-progress. The script and score will continue to be developed and refined during the first few weeks of rehearsal.