Information for all auditions

Location (unless otherwise specified):
Playcrafters of Skippack
2011 Store Road, Skippack, PA 19474.

PLEASE NOTE: All artists who are cast in one of our productions must become a member of Playcrafters. You do not need to become a member prior to auditioning.

Cast members must also submit PA State child abuse and criminal history clearances in order to be allowed to perform.

ANTI-DISCRIMINATION POLICY: Playcrafters is committed to equal volunteer opportunity without regard to age, ancestry, disability, national or ethnic origin, race, religious belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We are a growing and welcoming non-profit organization dedicated to inclusion.

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Romance of A Tell-Tale Heart
Arsenic and Old Lace
Casa Valentina

Romance of A Tell-Tale Heart

Audition Dates:
Zoom-Based Reading Auditions: Saturday, November 29, 11AM-5PM; Sunday, November 30, 5-9PM
In-person Movement/Dancing Audition: Monday, December 1, 5-10PM
Invited Callbacks (if needed): Sunday, December 7
Performance Dates: February 13 and 14

Join us for an evening of Edgar Allen Poe! This short-run show will be somewhere between a staged reading and a full staged production. This showcase will feature a collection of Poe Poems and Short stories, some classics and some lesser known. With music, blocking, dancing, pantomime and more! This is a wonderful opportunity for actors who have limited time for a full production period and flexible memorization requirements. Come and find out the line where romance meets the macabre! Following auditions, please expect a full cast reading mid-December and a production schedule starting the beginning of January.

Upon signing up, actors will receive an email with audition information including a document with monologues for various moods/characters. Please choose a monologue to perform at your audition from this document. Memorization is welcome but not required. Initial reading auditions will happen over zoom and in-person auditions will cover Pantomime/Dancing and a possible date for invited callbacks.

MOVEMENT: The 4 short stories will involve one "Reader" standing to the side, contributing the majority of the spoken text. Any character action will be performed onstage by a variety of actors. Some of these characters will have memorized dialogue but many of them are movement-only. The Movement section of the in-person Audition will be dedicated to receiving stage-direction and performing pantomime while someone reads the relevant prose.

DANCING: There are two sections of the short story ELEONORA that will involve choreographed partner dancing. We are looking for two feminine-presenting people for these roles. If interested, it will be included in the larger movement/dancing audition. If you indicate interest in the "Dancing" specific audition in the survey, music and relevant stage prose will be provided.

To audition, please sign up and fill out the survey:
Reading Audition
Movement/Dancing Audition
Audition Survey

CHARACTERS/PIECES:

THE WAITER: The host leading the audience through the program will be fashioned as a waiter in an upscale restaurant. They will be introducing the various sections as "dishes" cultivated by our "chefs" and "wait staff" backstage. Requires memorization but minimal blocking. The Waiter's script currently sits at 700 words but is open to making modifications to fit the actor's voice.

Poems will be open to any ages/type.
Selected Poems: Romance, Lenore, Annabell Lee, Bridal Ballad, A Dream Within A Dream, The Bells.
The Bells will be performed by 4 actors that each fit the character of the bells from each individual stanza
We are open to one person filling multiple roles within a single story (if allowed in context) and/or one person filling multiple roles within the program in general.

SELECTED SHORT STORIES: (* indicates if role requires memorization of text)
ELEONORA: Reader, Protagonist, Eleonora*, Aunt, Wife
MORELLA: Reader, Protagonist*, Morella***, Morella's 2 Friends, Priest, Morella II*
THE CASK OF AMONTILLADO (abridged): Reader, Sommelier**, Montresor***, Forunato**
THE TELL-TALE HEART: Reader, Protagonist*, Old Man*, Police A*, Police B*, Police C

Arsenic and Old Lace

Audition Dates: Monday, December 8, 7-10PM; Wednesday, December 10, 7-10PM
Callbacks by invitation: Thursday, December 11, 7PM
Performance Dates: March 13 through March 29

The play is a farcical black comedy revolving around the Brewster family, descended from Mayflower settlers but now composed of maniacs, many of them homicidal. A timeless hit, it premiered on Broadway at the Fulton Theatre on January 10, 1941. This highly popular play, by American playwright Joseph Kesselring, was written in 1939. It has become best known through the 1944 film adaptation starring Cary Grant and directed by Frank Capra.

Actors should prepare a 1-2 minute comic monologue. Auditions will also include cold readings from the script.

To audition, please sign up here

CHARACTERS (all ages are approximate):

Abby Brewster (50-75): A darling lady and the very model of Victorian charm and grace, who poisons elderly gentlemen with her sister as an act of charity. She and her sister Martha seem to be the absolute embodiment of the values and polite society of a bygone age. More dominant and a bit older than Martha, both ladies are happy, healthy, lucid, and spry. The Aunt to Teddy, Jonathan, and Mortimer.

Martha Brewster (50-75): Very sweet, but more submissive than Abby, Martha still is a strong woman. She and her sister have lived together for many, many years. Their personalities and pecking order around each other have been firmly rooted for eons. Always wears a high collar. The Aunt to Teddy, Jonathan, and Mortimer.

Mortimer Brewster (30-45): Nephew of Abby and Martha, brother to both Teddy and Jonathan Brewster. A very likable man, Mortimer is a drama critic who is in love with & engaged to Elaine Harper. A good-hearted cynic who is about to have his world turned upside down.

Teddy Brewster (40-55): Very likable, kindhearted brother to Mortimer and Jonathan, nephew of Abby and Martha Brewster, Teddy is a man who believes that he is the 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt.

Jonathan Brewster (30-50): Nephew of Abby and Martha Brewster, brother to Teddy and Mortimer. Jonathan is a psychopath who has numerous murders to his credit and no scruples whatsoever. He is creepy. Jonathan is a killer that loves his business and he's got an unbelievably short temper. Dr. Einstein has changed Jonathan's face three times, currently to look like Boris Karloff.

Dr. Einstein (45-55): A German plastic surgeon, with an accent to prove it. Right hand to Jonathan, Dr. Einstein is mousey and submissive to Jonathan. Einstein should be viewed as a good guy whose life has gone bad. The audience truly has to sympathize with this guy. With somewhat of a ratty appearance, his face wears the benevolent smirk of a man who lives in a pleasant haze of alcohol. (Please do your best German accent at the audition).

Elaine Harper (25-35): An attractive girl, daughter of Rev. Dr. Harper, and Mortimer's fiancée. She is surprisingly wise in the ways of the world for a minister's daughter. She is a little bit wily, sassy, and absolutely sharp.

Featured Roles (there is a potential for doubling):

The Rev. Dr. Harper (50-70): Elaine Harper's father who is also a minister with a sense of polish, refinement, and mild-mannered sensitivity towards others. He is not in favor of Mortimer and Elaine's relationship.

Officer Brophy (25-45): The first police officer we meet in the show, Brophy is a thoroughly likable sort of fellow. Is making his rounds collecting Christmas toys for the needy.

Officer Klein (25-45): A flatfoot Brooklyn officer who makes his rounds with Officer Brophy collecting Christmas toys.

Officer O'Hara (25-45): He is the quintessential example of an Irish-American police officer, good-natured, and played big. He is on very good terms with the aunts. O'Hara is a would-be playwright and needs to plainly display the nagging, persistent drive that's kindled within him once he discovers that Mortimer is a famous dramatic critic. Well-intentioned, O'Hara really doesn't mean to come across as annoying as he does.

Lieutenant Rooney (50-60): The man in charge at the local police precinct. He has very little patience for blunder and mistakes, and needs to run a pretty tight ship. He is loud, decisive, and clearly in charge of every situation in which he finds himself.

Mr. Gibbs (55-80): An elderly gentleman who wishes to rent a room from the Brewster sisters; and nearly falls victim to the sisters' "charity". He is a little gruff, but he warms up fairly quickly upon being offered a treat he hasn't had since he was a child.

Mr. Witherspoon (40-70): The superintendent of Happy Dale Sanitarium. Very mild-mannered and kind.

Casa Valentina

Audition Dates: January 19 and 20, 7-10PM
Callbacks, if needed: January 22, 7-10PM
Performance Dates: May 1 through May 17

Based on actual events, Casa Valentina tells the story of a resort in the Catskills where heterosexual men could spend the weekend and host "the girl within." The play examines such topics and gender dysphoria/euphoria, community and acceptance, and familial relationships as well as political issues present in the 1960s and still relevant today. Although the play calls for 7 men and 2 women, Playcrafters encourages all actors to audition for roles that fit their personal gender expression while using the breakdowns below as guidance.

A sign up sheet and audition form will be added as soon as they are available.

Upon signing up, actors will receive an email with audition information including a document with monologues for each character. Please choose a monologue to perform at your audition from this document. Memorization is encouraged, but not required. However, please note we will not have printed copies of the monologues at auditions.

CHARACTERS:

Please note the role of Eleanor has been cast.

The following four roles appear in both male and female forms.

George/Valentina (40s): Owner of the Chevalier d'Eon resort and husband to Rita. "An insurance-salesman type as a man; assured and charming as a woman." Based on Tito/Susanna Valenti. Anxious about the financial position of the resort as well as a recent incident involving the federal government. He holds a desire within himself that he is not yet ready to voice.
This actor must be comfortable being shirtless onstage and physically intimate with Rita.

Jonathon/Miranda (30s): A first-time guest at the resort. "Overly polite and cautious as a male; as a female, she is ebullient." Terrified but also intensely excited about experiencing community and acceptance for the first time. Shines a light on what a gender-questioning person goes through as they explore their true selves.
This role will require both physical and emotional vulnerability. The actor must be comfortable wearing lingerie onstage, having makeup applied and removed by another actor, being forcibly kissed by another actor (Amy), and throwing a punch.

Judge/Amy (60s-70s): A long-time regular of the resort and a good friend of George/Valentina who is looking forward to his retirement. "Large, distinguished, powerful, and imposing as a man, and a clunky sort of Tugboat Annie woman." Private and professional, even when dressed.
This actor must be comfortable forcibly kissing another actor (Miranda) and being punched.

Bessie (50s): A regular of the resort and a lover of Oscar Wilde. "Chubby. Quick-witted and friendly. Unaffectedly feminine." Full of quips, one-liners, and lots of sass. Note: this is the role that Fierstein wrote for himself but ultimately did not play.
This actor must be comfortable exposing their bare chest onstage in order to show off taped breasts.

The following three roles appear in female forms only. Cis women will not be considered for these roles.

Charlotte (40s-50s): A scientist, publisher, and activist from California. "The ultimate WASP. A buttoned-down, strict disciplinarian." Based on Virginia Prince. Determined to normalize heterosexual transvestism in the US. Arrives at the resort to open an East Coast chapter of her new non-profit.

Gloria (30s): A regular of the resort and friend of George/Valentina. "A very handsome and sexually-charged chap who is accustomed to compliments, whether dressed as a male or female." Exceedingly confident but also quite caring. Presents the most accepting and modern views of the show.

Terry (60s-70s): A regular of the resort. "Sweet and gentle and slightly silly, like a favorite old auntie." Just enjoying life and being among friends. At times the instigator of fun, at times the voice of reason. The oldest of the girls.

The following role is available to cis women.

Rita (40s-50s): Wife to George and owner of the wig shop. "A resigned, determined but worn earth-mother." Based on Maria Tornell. Loving and accepting, but occasionally tired and overwhelmed, especially with the recent financial and legal difficulties. Deeply devoted to George and a kind of den-mother to the girls.
This actor must be comfortable being physically intimate with George.