Netflix’s top-rated drama “Virgin River” debuts Season 5 on Sept. 7, with two special holiday episodes to follow on Nov. 30. The Hallmark Channel–esque show debuted in 2019 and has since grown in popularity. (Season 6 received the greenlight in May.) Considering it’s based on the 21-novel “Virgin River” series by Robyn Carr, the show will likely continue to expand, which means possible casting opportunities in the future.
With the season here, we’ve rounded up some go-to resources for those hoping to join the show or a project like it. In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about getting cast on “Virgin River”—from details about the casting process to audition advice from the stars.
What is “Virgin River” about?
Created by Sue Tenney (“Good Witch,” “Cedar Cove”), the series follows Melinda “Mel” Monroe (Alexandra Breckenridge), a nurse practitioner who seeks a fresh start in a remote Northern California town. But she quickly learns that small towns aren’t always synonymous with quiet living. She finds herself at the center of drama when she falls for Jack Sheridan (Martin Henderson), a local bar owner and former Marine. (Spoilers ahead!)
At the end of Season 4, Mel and Jack get engaged after they find out that they’re expecting a child. These major life changes will serve as the catalyst for even more drama in the upcoming season, as Mel grapples with impending motherhood and Jack confronts his demons—and his ex-girlfriend.
Who are the casting directors for “Virgin River”?
Tiffany Mak is the show’s primary casting director. She is known for hits such as “The Adam Project” and “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.”
When the show launched in 2019, Kerry Barden and Paul Schnee of Barden/Schnee Casting joined “Virgin River” as casting directors for the Season 1 finale. With decades of experience between them, Barden and Schnee know what works when it comes to getting cast.
“One thing that actors often forget is every time you go on an audition, you’re going on a job interview,” Schnee told us. “I think people can get a little blinded by the art and forget the sort of practicalities of filmmaking and TV-making. You’re coming in to interview to be part of a fairly massive operation.”
How does the casting process work for “Virgin River”?
In many cases, actors audition for one role only to land another; that’s what happened for a few “Virgin River” mainstays. Lauren Hammersley told the “Chatting With B” podcast that she read for the part of Mel before getting cast as Charmaine Roberts, Jack’s former flame.
“When they said there was another character named Charmaine, I went through the books, and she was, like, 10 years older than Jack; and you can tell that she used to be pretty, but she had a couple of kids,” the actor said. “I was like, ‘Oh.’ Then finally, one of the producers went, ‘We rewrote the roles to be something else,’ and I’m like, ‘Oh, good.’ ”
On another episode of the same podcast, Mark Ghanimé, who joined the cast in Season 4 as Dr. Cameron Hayek, said he tried out for one of the lead characters. “I actually auditioned back in Season 1 for the pilot; I auditioned for Jack. Clearly, I didn’t get the part, and it went to a very well-deserved actor, Mr. Henderson,” he said. “I really liked the script, and I thought, It is a great show. Nothing came of that, obviously. And then when they reached out to my team for [Cameron], it came through the casting, directly to my agent. And they were like, ‘We really think he’s right for this part.’ ”
Similarly, Kai Bradbury, who plays Denny Cutler, told PureWow that he originally auditioned for the role of Parker in Season 3, which ultimately went to Markian Tarasiuk. “Shortly after that, I got my audition for Denny. At the time, [he] was set to be a recurring character to come into the new season,” he said. “When Season 4 came around, they approached us with the option to be a series regular. I was very grateful for that opportunity.”
