directed by Brian M. Touchette
ass’t Directed by Kathleen Mooney
Audition Dates:
June 2 @ 4 – 6 pm (Sun)
June 3 @ 7 – 9 pm (Mon)
Location: (NOTE THE AUDITIONS ARE NOT AT CHAPEL STREET THEATER)
CSP is a volunteer-based community theatre. There is no pay or stipend for this production. Production team is very open to non-traditional casting that is color conscious, disability-inclusive and actors identifying as any gender for these roles.
Some of you may have seen we were opening with Clue – unfortunately we were not able to obtain the rights. Footlight Frenzy is the replacement for the opening of our upcoming season. This will be the first show in our new space! This will be the third time we have done this show at Chapel Street.
Show Dates:
September 27-29 and October 3 – 5 (note: these dates do occur on the same days as some Jewish holidays – we are sorry that were were unable to schedule around these dates for this season)
About The Show:
Before there was The Play That Goes Wrong there was Footlight Frenzy! In a desperate attempt to save their bankrupt “School for Unusual Children,” an inexperienced PTA group valiantly mounts an ambitious benefit play, written by a has-been Broadway director. His near hysterical direction and the group’s questionable talent turn the production into a shambles. The scenes shift back and forth from the real tribulations of the performers to the play they are “performing,” and it is hard to tell which is sillier. This is fast and furious theatrical fun of the first order, with the audience watching the fun from the “back” of the stage!
Script (first 40 pages) https://shop.concordtheatricals.com/content/samples/112978/5257.pdf
AUDITION PROCESS:
Auditions will be in person at the Castle Sports Complex.
Several one minute monologues will be available when you arrive at auditions. You will choose one of the monologues to read during auditions. The monologue does NOT have to be memorized. Auditions will also include cold readings from scenes pulled from the play, round robin style.
Bring a list of conflicts for June through early October.
You may fill out an audition form before coming to the theater (it will also be available at auditions)- found at: https://chapelstreetplayers.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/AuditionForm.pdf
Note: Please be aware that this is a very fast-paced, physically demanding show. The play is ensemble based, which means every actor has to be at all rehearsals.
Audition Hint: We will be looking for actors who can believably play two characters in this play within a play, one “onstage” persona as “the character” and one “off stage” persona as “the actor.”
REHEARSALS
Rehearsals will start in mid June and will be light for about a month and then pick up when we move into the new theater mid-July.
You will be asked for your conflicts during auditions for mid-July until the show (ends first weekend October). Rehearsals will be on Sunday (either afternoon or evenings) and 2 weeknights (Mon-Thurs 7 pm or after). Please be prepared to complete conflict form for this time frame.
Please direct any questions to briantouchette@gmail.com and put Footlight Frenzy Audition in the subject line.
CHARACTERS
(actors from 18 and above will be considered for all characters – rough ages are given, but there is flexibility with age) Production team is very open to non-traditional casting that is color conscious, disability-inclusive and actors identifying as any gender for these roles.
Paul Becker (30s to 40s)
A mild mannered school principal in his late thirties and a devoted, but hen-pecked, husband. In TARNISHED SILVER, the play within the play, he is Nicky Vandermorgan, the hopeful young jazz composer and heir to the family millions.
Laura Becker (30s to 40s)
Paul’s wife and the mother of two problem children, is the hyperactive president of the P.T.A. In TARNISHED SILVER she plays Addie Starr, a downtown nightclub singer who’s soon to be heading uptown.
Tony Langdon (mid 30s to 50s)
The maniacal has-been Broadway director, sees this production of his play TARNISHED SILVER as his last desperate bid to win back fame and fortune. He has cast himself in TARNISHED SILVER as Uncle Julian (and later Uncle Julian’s ghost), Nicky’s cantankerous uncle who controls the Vandermorgan millions.
Alex Malone (20s-early 30s)
The school’s slightly overweight accountant is a confirmed ladies’ man, who prefers partying to performing. In TARNISHED SILVER he plays Chas Courtney, a polo playing cad and school chum to Nicky.
Debbie Turner (20s)
Is the Rye School’s new drama teacher, and aspiring daydreaming Hollywood starlet. In her early twenties, she is cast in TARNISHED SILVER as Gwendolyn Vandermorgan, Nicky’s refined debutante sister who is headed downtown.
Benny Dibble (20s- early 30s)
The Rye School’s janitor – has romantic dreams but is too shy and klutzy to get a girl. In TARNISHED SILVER he is cast as Johnny Chicago, a fearless gangster who owns The Hotsy Totsy Club, a downtown speakeasy.
Jarvis the Butler Is played by a telephone.
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