Audition Info for 2023/2024 Season
Directed by Carrie Dreger
cwACT is welcoming actors and actresses, aged 18+, from our community to audition for our final production of the 50th Anniversary Season. “Postmortem,” a play by the prolific playwright, Ken Ludwig, is the story of William Gillette and the events that occurred at his estate on the one-year anniversary of his fiancé’s apparent suicide.
From Ken Ludwig’s website, “it is April 1922 and the cast of William Gillette’s latest Broadway revival of “Sherlock Holmes” has assembled for a weekend of relaxation at his magnificent medieval castle overlooking the Connecticut River. For entertainment, heart-throb Gillette has arranged a séance. Now the scene is set for his greatest role. Someone is trying to murder Gillette and he suspects it is one of his guests. Intrepid, eccentric and wildly romantic, Gillette plans to solve the case himself à la Sherlock Holmes.”
This intense and fast-paced thriller is sure to entertain audiences and challenge the cast to form authentic and powerful relationships with their scene partners.
Character Descriptions
- William Gillette: (Actor must portray a character in their early 50s) Charismatic, distinguished, self-assured, and extremely successful actor who has portrayed “Sherlock Holmes” for over 20 years on stage. A bit of a playboy who “could have hundreds of women,” Gillette had recently settled down and became engaged only to have his fiancé die exactly one year before. Gillette has played Sherlock so long and so well that he frequently slips into character and draws conclusions based on observation, deduction and reasoning.
- May Dison: (Must be portrayed as significantly younger than Gillette). May is an ingenue and the newest addition to the Broadway cast of “Sherlock Holmes,” stepping into Gillette’s deceased fiancé’s role. May has a quiet, diminutive aura (yet underlying strength) but can simmer and then explode into intense emotion when provoked. May battles with inner conflict over her feelings for the leading men in her life.
- Bobby Carlyle: “An actor and man about town” Bobby is energetic, confident, up-to-date on all the Vanity Fair gossip and often says the wrong thing at the wrong time. He is dating May, but can’t help to feel twinges of jealousy when her head turns in admiration of Gillette.
- Marion Barrett: Sister to Gillette and married to Leo, Marion brings sass, brassiness and humor to the group. She’s been married long enough to know how to push her husband’s buttons and isn’t afraid to take advantage of situations to do just that. Her brother often exasperates her, yet her sisterly love still peeks through.
- Leo Barrett: Brother-in-law to Gillette and longtime “Moriarty” to his “Sherlock,” Leo only likes playing the bad guy when its sure to entice ‘boos’ from the audience. Behind the curtain, Leo bears a great deal of admiration for Gillette. Leo loves his wife but that doesn’t stop him from having a level of fondness for the pretty young actresses that often cross his path.
- Lilly Warner: The aunt of Gillette; “she speaks and moves with the grand air of a bygone era.” Lilly has a special, familial bond with Gillette, offering an almost motherly advice whether or not he wants to hear it.
- Louise Parradine: “Tall and strikingly beautiful, dressed extravagantly, with great elegance. She looks as though she might be the queen of one of the smaller Balkan states.” Louise is a former actress, now medium; she takes command of a room and is a strong female character who understands the power she has over men.
Audition Dates
Audition Format
Rehearsal Schedule
Load-In/Technical Build/Strike
Production Dates
DIRECTED BY Eric Finn.
cwACT welcomes one and all to auditions for our next production: Leading Ladies by Ken Ludwig!
Actors will read from the script itself, so there is no preparation needed in advance. If you have questions or want a copy of the script, please contact the director.
Dates & Times
December 4th – 7pm
December 6th – 7pm
Location
“The Shack” @ 2952 Minnesota Ave, Stevens Point, WI
Synopsis
“Leading Ladies” is a hilarious comedy by the renowned playwright Ken Ludwig. Set in the 1950s, the story follows two down-on-their-luck Shakespearean actors, Leo and Jack, who discover an opportunity to impersonate the long-lost nephews of a wealthy elderly woman. What ensues is a delightful tale of mistaken identity, love, and laughter as the two actors struggle to maintain their disguises and win the hearts of the unsuspecting relatives.
Characters
Leo Clark: A charming and quick-witted actor. Leo is the mastermind behind the plan to impersonate the nephews. He is a smooth talker and can easily slip into different roles.
Jack Gable: Leo’s partner in crime, Jack is also a talented actor but tends to be a bit more neurotic and high-strung. He plays a pivotal role in the scheme to win the fortune.
Meg Snider: A lovely young woman who is the niece of the elderly woman. Meg is kind-hearted, intelligent, and attractive. She becomes the object of Leo’s affection.
Audrey: Meg’s best friend, Audrey is also attractive but somewhat ditzy. She becomes the object of Jack’s affection.
Duncan Wooley: Meg’s fiancé, a well-to-do minister who is a bit stiff and formal.
Florence Snider: The elderly woman who is the target of Leo and Jack’s deception. She is wealthy but somewhat eccentric.
Doc Myers: The local physician who is a friend of the family.
AUDITION NOTICE
Central Wisconsin Area Community Theater Presents:
A Radio Show Performance of “A Christmas Carol”
By Charles Dickens
We warmly invite you to audition for our enchanting radio show rendition of Charles Dickens’ beloved classic, “A Christmas Carol”. Whether you’re a seasoned performer or new to the stage, this production with a modest time commitment is an excellent opportunity to be part of a cherished holiday tradition!
HOW TO AUDITION
Interested individuals can come to the audition location at the designated time. They will meet the directors, fill out an audition form, and start having fun doing readings from the script. Folks of all ages and types are wanted!
Audition Details:
Dates: October 30th and November 2nd
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: 2952 Minnesota Ave, Stevens Point, Wisconsin
No preparation needed. Folks auditioning will read from the script.
Check out the tenative rehearsal schedule here. It is subject to change based on conflicts from performers.
Performance Dates:
“Dress Rehearsal” Performance – Thursday, December 14th, 2023 @ 7pm
Opening Night – Friday, December 15th, 2023 @ 7pm
Closing Night – Saturday, December 16th, 2023 @ 7pm
Roles in the production
ANNOUNCER
NARRATOR
EBENEZER SCROOGE
BOB CRATCHIT
FRED, Scrooge’s nephew
MAN, a genial do-gooder
JACOB MARLEY
The Ghost of Christmas PAST
FEZZIWIG
BELLE, young and old
ROBERT, Belle’s husband
The Ghost of Christmas PRESENT
MRS. CRATCHIT
MARTHA
GIRL, at Cratchit’s
BOY, at Cratchit’s
TINY TIM
The GHOST of Christmas Yet to Come
CHARWOMAN
JOE
BOY, in the street
and other VOICES,
Foley Artist
Radio Announcer
including a singing CHORUS
Fill out the Audition Form here!
Feel free to come to auditions whether you fill out the form or not 🙂
Additional Information
Production Dates- Friday-Sunday October 27th-29th, Friday & Saturday November 3rd & 4th
Rehearsal Schedule– Starting September 11th, each week Monday-Friday. 6:30pm-9:30pm. Saturday afternoons as needed. A more detailed rehearsal schedule will be dispersed as potential cast members give conflicts to the production staff.
Musical Pieces for Auditions –Available by clicking the link
CRAZY FOR YOU – PRINCIPAL CHARACTER VOCAL RANGES
CRAZY FOR YOU – PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS
BOBBY CHILD – Leading Man, baritone, aged 25- 35. Bobby is a New Yorker in love with musical theatre but is forced to work in a bank by his controlling mother. He has been engaged to Irene Roth for 5 years but doesn’t want to marry her. When he goes to Deadrock to escape Irene, he meets Polly, falls instantly in love with her and decides to put on a show to pay off the mortgage on her father’s theatre . In order to receive respect, he entices the Zangler folly girls to come to Deadrock and disguises himself as Bella Zangler, the established producer. Bobby is involved in 12 songs so needs to be a strong singer, actor, tapper and ballroom dancer for his “Fred and Ginger” type numbers with Polly.
POLLY BAKER – Leading Lady, mezzo, aged 20 – 30. Polly is the only female living in Deadrock where she is the postmistress and “all American girl”. The men adore her but Lank Hawkins is always asking her to marry him. She tries not to show her love for Bobby when she discovers that he is from the bank which wants to foreclose on her father’s theatre. Then she falls for Bobby disguised as Zangler but naturally true love prevails and the pair finally end up together. Polly is involved in 9 musical numbers and needs to be a good tapper, soft shoe and ballroom dancer with a strong voice.
BELA ZANGLER – Male supporting role, baritone, aged 35 – 55 with a Hungarian accent. Zangler is an established New York musical producer and theatre owner. He follows Tess, his dance director, to Deadrock despite being already married. Zangler enjoys a very funny drunk scene and duet with Bobby so needs to be a good character actor.
LOTTIE CHILD – Non singing female role aged 45 – 60. Lottie is Bobby’s business orientated and controlling mother who gives him an allowance. She wants him to forego his ideas of being in musical theatre and make a career in the bank . She is a very bossy and overbearing woman.
IRENE ROTH – Supporting mezzo role, aged 25 – 33 . Bobby’s domineering fiancée engaged to him for 5 years. Irene follows him to Deadrock and finally accepts the fact that Bobby won’t marry her because he loves Polly. Then Irene falls madly for Lank Hawkins whom she seduces with her only song “Naughty Baby.” She needs to move well.
LANK HAWKINS – Supporting male role, aged 30 – 45, owner of the Deadrock Saloon. No solos but sings in many of the chorus numbers. Lank wants to buy the Deadrock theatre from Polly’s father and has some very funny lines of dialogue. He wants Polly to marry him until Irene throws herself in his direction.
TESS – Female follies dance director aged 22 –32 who is pursued by Zangler even though he is married. Tess sings and dances with the other follies girls so must be a good tapper.
PATSY – Female follies girl aged 18 – 32, “dumb” blonde role . Patsy has a high pitched speaking role and sings and dances with the other follies girls. Also needs to be a good tapper.
EVERETT BAKER – Male baritone, Polly’s father, aged 48 – 60. Everett is always reminiscing about how lovely Polly’s mother was when she performed in the Gaiety Theatre, Deadrock. Finally, he falls instantly in love with Lottie Child when she arrives in Deadrock.
EUGENE FODOR – Male baritone, cameo role, aged 40 – 55, an English tourist who with his sister is writing a guide book to the American West. He needs to be able to dance. .
PATRICIA FODOR – Eugene’s English sister, cameo role soprano, aged 32 – 50 and fellow tourist. Also needs to be able to dance.
MOOSE, MINGO, SAM – All aged 18 – 35, all have small dialogue and form the Cowboy Trio who have solo pieces and sing with the male chorus. Ideally need to be tappers and dancers to partner the follies girls.
HARRY, PETE, CUSTUS, JIMMY,BILLY, WYATT, JUNIOR—all aged 18 – 35. Harry is the bartender, Billy, Wyatt and Junior are the card players. All these men have lines of dialogue and need to be tappers and dancers to partner the follies girls. All these men involved in staged gun fights for the tourists.
FOLLIES GIRLS – 8 or 10 singing and tapping girls including Tess and Patsy. All must be good singers and
dancers.
Crazy For You – Synopsis
With a book by famed comedic playwright Ken Ludwig and music by George and Ira Gershwin — is the classic tale of a boy, a girl, and a theater in need of salvation. Reluctant banker Bobby Child works
for his overbearing mother, Lottie, but spends his off hours befriending showgirls and trying to sneak in to audition for Zangler’s Follies. The Follies is helmed by Bela Zangler, a temperamental Hungarian producer. Unfortunately, Bobby’s showbiz career is going nowhere, and his over-bearing fiancé is insisting that he name the date. So, Bobby jumps at the chance to escape when his mother insists
he investigate a defaulted mortgage out of town. In nearly deserted Deadrock, Nevada, Bobby falls for Polly Baker, the only woman in town, whose father happens to own the property in default – the decaying, Gaiety Theater.
Love struck, Bobby comes up with a plan: call in his friends, the Follies Girls, all the way from New York City, cast the locals– a bunch of rundown cowboys with latent musical talent–and put on a show to save the old building. However, Polly discovers that he comes from the bank and wants nothing to do with him. In order to spend time with the furious Polly, Bobby disguises himself as Bela Zangler. But while “Zangler” is talking up Bobby to the unsuspecting Polly, Polly is falling for the impersonation of dashing, European Zangler…. and when the real Zangler arrives in town, things really get “Crazy! Ludwig’s modern and hilarious script combined with a collection of the most beloved tunes of George and Ira Gershwin make Crazy For You a truly delightful homage to the musicals of the 1930s! It’s a world of showgirls and cowboys, in which a city boy and a country girl reconcile their differences, fall in love, and save a theater, the old – fashioned way.