AUDITIONS FOR
"THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG"
WHO
Auditions are open for performers of all experience levels from the ages of 18+
WHERE AND WHEN:SUNDAY, MAY 4, and MONDAY, MAY 5 from 7pm-9pm at the Pennsylvania Theatre of Performing Arts, 212 W Broad St, Hazleton PA 18201
*Auditions will be held in the rehearsal studios in the theatre basement. Please enter the building at the rear stage doors on Mine Street and follow signs downstairs to the audition space.
SHOW DATES: Friday, June 13 @ 7pmSaturday, June 14 @ 7pmSunday, June 15 @ 3pmWednesday, June 18 @ 7pm**Friday, June 20 @ 7pmSaturday, June 21 @ 7pmSunday, June 22 @ 3pm
**The Wednesday performance is a fundraising event rental that will take the place of a mid-week pick-up rehearsal
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS:
PLEASE NOTE: This show is physically demanding! Most roles require varying amounts of crawling, balancing, climbing, lifting, running, and/or falling. Stage combat is also involved, as will navigating a set in various stages of falling apart around the performers.
*Those participating will be provided with an audition form to complete upon entering the theatre. Please have a list of rehearsal conflicts that you are aware of between May 8 and mandatory tech week (June 8-12) ready to be submitted.
*If Audition Callbacks are necessary, auditionees will be contacted individually regarding dates and requirements.
*If you are unable to be at in-person auditions but still wish to audition for the show, please email artisticdirector@ptpashows.org regarding your interest. An audition sheet and audition sides will be forwarded to you for completion and recording. Completed video submissions of auditions will also be accepted until Monday, May 5 @ 11:59 PM and should also be emailed to artisticdirector@ptpashows.org
SYNOPSIS: Welcome to opening night of the Cornley Drama Society’s newest production, The Murder at Haversham Manor, where things are quickly going from bad to utterly disastrous! This 1920s whodunit has everything you never wanted in a show—an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead, and actors who trip over everything (including their lines). Nevertheless, the accident-prone thespians battle against all odds to make it through to their final curtain call, with hilarious consequences!
ROLES: *All roles are open and available* CHRIS BEAN: Is the head of the drama society and plays “Inspector Carter” in The Murder at Haversham Manor. Rigid, uptight, everything really matters to him. He is the director of the show, and this is the biggest day of his life; everything is riding on this nerve-wracking and exciting night. His pain is evident and every time someone laughs, his pain deepens. He has equal amounts of contempt for his fellow actors and the audience watching the play. Speaks with a Received Pronunciation British accent.
ROBERT GROVE: Plays “Thomas Colleymore” in The Murder at Haversham Manor. He wants to be like Richard Burton as evidenced by his declamatory style. He is, however, not a parody of a bad actor. He is unaware of others around him. He does not feel badly when things go wrong and never learns from his mistakes. There is a power struggle between Robert and Chris to be president of the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society (a position that matters a great deal to Robert). Received Pronunciation British accent. Male presenting/identifying.
MAX BENNETT: Plays “Cecil Haversham” in The Murder at Haversham Manor – also plays Arthur the gardener in Act II. He has never been on stage before. He learned his lines and does exactly what he is told to do. He has zero connection with any of the other actors, but when he gets a laugh, he breaks the fourth wall and engages with the audiences. He is childlike and naïve. His mistakes are fundamental. He doesn’t think anything through, just looks for approval. British accent. Male presenting/identifying.
DENNIS TYDE: Plays the butler, “Perkins,” in The Murder at Haversham Manor. He has no real desire to be involved in theater; he just wants to make friends (of which he has none). He believes if he does well in the show, he will be more successful socially. Probably the worst actor of the bunch. Has difficulty pronouncing big words and has to write a cheat sheet on his sleeve. Laughter from the audience is agony for him. He may be slightly oblivious but understands when he gets things wrong. British accent. Male presenting/identifying.
TREVOR: The play’s lighting and sound operator. He simply wants to get on with the show. He is curmudgeonly and doesn’t care for actors; he is easily distracted and does many things he shouldn’t, including engaging with the audience. When things go sideways, he is forced to act in the play (even though he hates performing) as a leading lady. American accent. Male presenting/identifying.
JONATHAN HARRIS: Plays “Charles Haversham” in The Murder at Haversham Manor. Poor guy. He’s been cast as a corpse but has trouble playing dead. A bit bland but sees himself as a James Bond type: exciting and having fun, but not naïve. He technically must drive the show. He cares about the play but not to the same extent as others. Very physical role. Received Pronunciation British accent. Male presenting/identifying.
SANDRA WILKINSON: Plays “Florence Colleymoore” in The Murder at Haversham Manor. She is the company’s leading lady; a bit of a diva who thinks she’s more talented than she really is. Wants to be loved. Has ambitions to go to Hollywood and will hurt anyone standing in the way of what she wants, but she is also smart enough to stay on the good side of someone who can help her. The stakes are high for her. A very physical role. Received Pronunciation British accent. Female presenting/identifying.
ANNIE: The stage manager. She has the biggest journey of any of the characters. When Sandra is indisposed, Annie (who cannot bear to be on stage) must step in. Initially terrified by acting, she is willing to kill for it by the end of the play; her initial terror turns to joy, and then to fury. She starts small, but grows and grows. American accent. Female presenting/identifying.
STAGE CREW: Non-speaking roles that may also require some improvisation.
WHERE AND WHEN:SUNDAY, MAY 4, and MONDAY, MAY 5 from 7pm-9pm at the Pennsylvania Theatre of Performing Arts, 212 W Broad St, Hazleton PA 18201
*Auditions will be held in the rehearsal studios in the theatre basement. Please enter the building at the rear stage doors on Mine Street and follow signs downstairs to the audition space.
SHOW DATES: Friday, June 13 @ 7pmSaturday, June 14 @ 7pmSunday, June 15 @ 3pmWednesday, June 18 @ 7pm**Friday, June 20 @ 7pmSaturday, June 21 @ 7pmSunday, June 22 @ 3pm
**The Wednesday performance is a fundraising event rental that will take the place of a mid-week pick-up rehearsal
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS:
PLEASE NOTE: This show is physically demanding! Most roles require varying amounts of crawling, balancing, climbing, lifting, running, and/or falling. Stage combat is also involved, as will navigating a set in various stages of falling apart around the performers.
*Those participating will be provided with an audition form to complete upon entering the theatre. Please have a list of rehearsal conflicts that you are aware of between May 8 and mandatory tech week (June 8-12) ready to be submitted.
*If Audition Callbacks are necessary, auditionees will be contacted individually regarding dates and requirements.
*If you are unable to be at in-person auditions but still wish to audition for the show, please email artisticdirector@ptpashows.org regarding your interest. An audition sheet and audition sides will be forwarded to you for completion and recording. Completed video submissions of auditions will also be accepted until Monday, May 5 @ 11:59 PM and should also be emailed to artisticdirector@ptpashows.org
SYNOPSIS: Welcome to opening night of the Cornley Drama Society’s newest production, The Murder at Haversham Manor, where things are quickly going from bad to utterly disastrous! This 1920s whodunit has everything you never wanted in a show—an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead, and actors who trip over everything (including their lines). Nevertheless, the accident-prone thespians battle against all odds to make it through to their final curtain call, with hilarious consequences!
ROLES: *All roles are open and available* CHRIS BEAN: Is the head of the drama society and plays “Inspector Carter” in The Murder at Haversham Manor. Rigid, uptight, everything really matters to him. He is the director of the show, and this is the biggest day of his life; everything is riding on this nerve-wracking and exciting night. His pain is evident and every time someone laughs, his pain deepens. He has equal amounts of contempt for his fellow actors and the audience watching the play. Speaks with a Received Pronunciation British accent.
ROBERT GROVE: Plays “Thomas Colleymore” in The Murder at Haversham Manor. He wants to be like Richard Burton as evidenced by his declamatory style. He is, however, not a parody of a bad actor. He is unaware of others around him. He does not feel badly when things go wrong and never learns from his mistakes. There is a power struggle between Robert and Chris to be president of the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society (a position that matters a great deal to Robert). Received Pronunciation British accent. Male presenting/identifying.
MAX BENNETT: Plays “Cecil Haversham” in The Murder at Haversham Manor – also plays Arthur the gardener in Act II. He has never been on stage before. He learned his lines and does exactly what he is told to do. He has zero connection with any of the other actors, but when he gets a laugh, he breaks the fourth wall and engages with the audiences. He is childlike and naïve. His mistakes are fundamental. He doesn’t think anything through, just looks for approval. British accent. Male presenting/identifying.
DENNIS TYDE: Plays the butler, “Perkins,” in The Murder at Haversham Manor. He has no real desire to be involved in theater; he just wants to make friends (of which he has none). He believes if he does well in the show, he will be more successful socially. Probably the worst actor of the bunch. Has difficulty pronouncing big words and has to write a cheat sheet on his sleeve. Laughter from the audience is agony for him. He may be slightly oblivious but understands when he gets things wrong. British accent. Male presenting/identifying.
TREVOR: The play’s lighting and sound operator. He simply wants to get on with the show. He is curmudgeonly and doesn’t care for actors; he is easily distracted and does many things he shouldn’t, including engaging with the audience. When things go sideways, he is forced to act in the play (even though he hates performing) as a leading lady. American accent. Male presenting/identifying.
JONATHAN HARRIS: Plays “Charles Haversham” in The Murder at Haversham Manor. Poor guy. He’s been cast as a corpse but has trouble playing dead. A bit bland but sees himself as a James Bond type: exciting and having fun, but not naïve. He technically must drive the show. He cares about the play but not to the same extent as others. Very physical role. Received Pronunciation British accent. Male presenting/identifying.
SANDRA WILKINSON: Plays “Florence Colleymoore” in The Murder at Haversham Manor. She is the company’s leading lady; a bit of a diva who thinks she’s more talented than she really is. Wants to be loved. Has ambitions to go to Hollywood and will hurt anyone standing in the way of what she wants, but she is also smart enough to stay on the good side of someone who can help her. The stakes are high for her. A very physical role. Received Pronunciation British accent. Female presenting/identifying.
ANNIE: The stage manager. She has the biggest journey of any of the characters. When Sandra is indisposed, Annie (who cannot bear to be on stage) must step in. Initially terrified by acting, she is willing to kill for it by the end of the play; her initial terror turns to joy, and then to fury. She starts small, but grows and grows. American accent. Female presenting/identifying.
STAGE CREW: Non-speaking roles that may also require some improvisation.
Please forward all video auditions and any other questions to artisticdirector@ptpashows.org