Joseph Kesselring’s
ARSENIC AND OLD LACE
Directed by BETH STOCKTON
PERFORMANCES MAY 25 – JUNE 16
ARTSPACE BLACK BOX THEATER • 2956 SCHOOL ST., SIMI VALLEY, CA 93065
AUDITIONS APRIL 2 and 3, 7-10pm by appointment only
To set up an appointment please contact the producer at: jgartdept@sbcglobal.net
Synopsis:
Mortimer Brewster is living a happy life: he has a steady job at a prominent New York newspaper, he’s just become engaged, and he gets to visit his sweet spinster aunts to announce the engagement. Mortimer always knew that his family had a bit of a mad gene — his brother believes himself to be Teddy Roosevelt and his great-grandfather used to scalp Indians for pleasure — but his world is turned upside down when he realizes that his dear aunts have been poisoning lonely old men for years! When Mortimer’s maniacal brother, Jonathan, returns on the night that the aunts were planning to bury the newest victim, Mortimer must rally to help his aunts and protect his fiancé — all while trying to keep his own sanity. as well. An uproarious farce on plays involving murder, Arsenic and Old Lace has become a favorite amongst regional theatres throughout America.
AVAILABLE ROLES:
MORTIMER BREWSTER – MALE – LEAD – 28-38
Mortimer is Martha and Abby’s nephew and the brother of Teddy and Jonathan. We see him at the beginning of the play as a confident, sarcastic, yet content man. He is currently a theatre critic at a New York newspaper; he used to happily cover real estate, but his job asked him to move to the “lowly” theatre position. He may not love his current position at the newspaper, but he deals with his situation with aplomb.
TEDDY BREWSTER – MALE – SUPPORTING – 30-45
Teddy Brewster is Mortimer’s brother and Abby and Martha’s mad nephew who lives under the happy delusion that he is President Theodore Roosevelt. His aunts once tried to persuade him to be George Washington, instead, but he became depressed and “just wouldn’t be anybody”. He knows everything about Teddy Roosevelt, including the names of all of his cabinet members. Teddy constantly confuses visitors with those cabinet members, but is charming and authentic enough that everybody plays along with his delusions.
OFFICER O’HARA – MALE – SUPPORTING – 40-55
Officer O’Hara is a member of the Brooklyn police force, and is on good terms with the elderly murderesses Abby and Martha Brewster (though he is not aware of their crimes). He has been a police officer for twelve years, but insists that the job is only temporary. His real aspiration is to become a famous playwright. He states that his many years of police experience have allowed him to collect material worthy of a good murder mystery play.
JONATHAN BREWSTER – MALE – SUPPORTING – 35-45
Jonathan is Abby and Martha’s nephew and Mortimer and Teddy’s brother. He is the black sheep of the family, and no one brings him up in conversation. Jonathan is a truly twisted individual who used to inflict torture on Mortimer when they were children. In short, he is a sociopath.
DR. EINSTEIN – MALE – SUPPORTING – 50-65
Dr. Einstein is Jonathan’s accomplice to his multiple crimes, around the world. While Jonathan (Dr. Einstein calls him Johnny) is the brawn of the operation, Dr. Einstein is definitely the brain. He is a talented surgeon who can change people’s faces. He has personally changed Jonathan’s face three times; the last job, unfortunately, made Jonathan look like Boris Karloff.
ELAINE HARPER – FEMALE – SUPPORTING – 25-35
Elaine is Mortimer’s girlfriend, who becomes engaged to him at the beginning of the play. She is the daughter of Reverend Harper, who dislikes Mortimer because he regularly frequents the sinful theatre scene in New York (a necessity, as Mortimer works as a theatre critic). Despite her conservative upbringing, Elaine is an independent woman who speaks her mind.
REVEREND HARPER – MALE – SUPPORTING – 55-65
Reverend Harper is Elaine’s father and the Reverend of the Parish that Martha and Abby Brewster attend. The Aunts (Martha and Abby) love Dr. Harper’s sermons, and he, in turn, dotes on the them. His feelings for Mortimer, their nephew, are a bit more complicated. While he likes Mortimer, and believes him to be a fine gentleman, he is worried about Mortimer’s connections with the theatre — and thus his eligibility to be affianced to Dr. Harper’s beloved daughter, Elaine.
MISTER WITHERSPOON – MALE – SUPPORTING – 55-70
Mr. Witherspoon is the head of Happy Dale, an insane asylum where Martha and Abby Brewster intend to send their very mad nephew, Teddy, after they pass away. At the end of the play, however, we see Teddy and his aunts planning to leave for Happy Dale, as it has been concluded that they are just as crazy as their nephew (if not more so).
LIEUTENANT ROONEY – MALE – FEATURED – 50-65
Lieutenant Rooney is the head of the Brooklyn police force and appears at the end of the play. He seems to be constantly picking up the messes made by his less-than-stellar officers, and is strained, as a result. He is the one who realizes that Jonathan is a criminal who is wanted by the FBI. Rooney is tired of dealing with the situation at the Brewster house and refuses to look in the cellar, where Jonathan claims that 13 men are buried.
OFFICER BROPHY – MALE – FEATURED – 40 – 60
Loyal and caring Officer Brophy is a member of the police force in Brooklyn. He regularly visits elderly sisters Martha and Abby Brewster at their house, helping them prepare for their charity work. He loves the Aunts and refuses to hear anything bad said about them. He indulges in their mad nephew Teddy’s belief that he is President Roosevelt, saluting him whenever he sees him.
MISTER GIBBS – MALE – FEATURED – CAN DOUBLE WITH OFFICER BROPHY – 40-60
Mr. Gibbs is a gentleman who appears to inquire about renting Martha and Abby’s spare room. Brusque and demanding, Mr. Gibbs wants to see the room straight away, but after the Aunts insist on talking to him first he gives in and sits down — though he’s annoyed about it. He answers their questions curtly; we learn he has no family and lives in a hotel he doesn’t like. The only time we see a trace of happiness from Gibbs is when the Aunts offer him elderberry wine.
Actors’ Repertory Theatre of Simi presents..
ANNIE
Music by Charles Strouse, Lyrics by Martin Charnin and Book by Thomas Meehan
Directed by Caroline Esposito, Jan Glasband &
Beth Stockton
PERFORMANCES – JUNE 22 – JULY 21, 2024
Weekends, Friday and Saturday at 8:00pm, Sunday at 2:00pm, plus three additional Saturday matinee performances TBA.
Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center • 3050 Los Angeles Avenue, Simi Valley 93065
Auditions April 22 & 24 at 7:00pm-10:00pm
ARTSpace Black Box Theater, 2956 School St. Simi Valley, 93065 – Located about 50 yards south of the corner of Deodora and School St.
Appointments: email Jan Glasband at jgartdept@sbcglobal.net
SYNOPSIS
Based on Little Orphan Annie, the popular comic strip by Harold Gray, Annie has become a worldwide sensation. Winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, the beloved show features a wonderful score written by Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin, including the Broadway smash hit, “Tomorrow”.
With a perfect combination of street-smarts and optimism, Annie warms the hearts of the audience as we witness her rise from next to nothing in New York City. She is determined to find her parents, who left her at the orphanage years ago. Though things don’t quite work out the way she has plann, she does manage to thwart the plans of the evil Miss Hannigan and find a new family with billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his secretary Grace Farrell, and her lovable pooch, Sandy.
AVAILABLE ROLES:
ANNIE – 10-12 – Lead – Mezzo/Belter – Annie is a fiery redheaded, tough, streetwise orphan girl. Always optimistic, while living in the run-down orphanage run by the mean-spirited Miss Hannigan, she constantly references a note her parents left her promising to return for her and refuses to believe that her parents forgot about her at the orphanage. All she desires is a loving home and parents to care for her.
OLIVER WARBUCKS – Lead – 45-55 – Baritone – A billionaire businessman, self-assured and confident. He is a stereotypical ”rich man” who is used to the deference of others, issuing orders and expecting them to be fulfilled at the drop of a hat. He is powerful and decisive, as befits his status, even ordering the Mona Lisa to be hung in his bathroom because it doesn’t suit his fancy.
GRACE FARRELL – Lead – 28-38 – Soprano Oliver Warbucks’ secretary, mature, calm, cool, and very nurturing, she goes to the orphanage to choose an orphan to stay with Mr. Warbucks for Christmas and is captivated by Annie’s spunk. She is the mother figure to Annie, and always shows her the utmost kindness, buying her a coat when she doesn’t have one and helping her settle in to the foreign atmosphere of Mr. Warbucks’ mansion.
ROOSTER HANNIGAN – Supporting – 28-35 – Tenor – Good mover – Brother to Miss Hannigan. Flashy and self-assured. An egotistical flirt. He has a long history of fraud, and like his sister, always tries to create the best situation for himself with as little effort as possible.
LILY ST. REGIS – Supporting – 25-35 – Soprano – Good mover – Rooster Hannigan’s girlfriend, she is not the sharpest tool in the shed. She is very proud of her last name; the same as the famous St. Regis hotel, although there is no relation. She pretends to be Annie’s mother, Shirley Mudge, so that she can claim the reward money.
JULY – Supporting – 13 – Mezzo/Belter – Age 13, she is the quietest girl in the orphanage. Despite being so soft-spoken, she is very nurturing and motherly to the other orphans. She gets into a fight with Pepper while defending Molly.
KATE – Supporting – 8/9 – Mezzo/Belter – Kate is next to littlest orphan. She is very shy and never speaks.
MOLLY – Supporting – 7/8 – Mezzo/Belter -The littlest orphan, she cries out for her mother in the middle of the night. She seeks comfort from Annie, asking to hear Annie’s note from her parents often as a means of hope for a family of her own. Strog personality. She holds out a rat in front of Miss Hannigan’s face.
TESSIE – Supporting – 10/11 – Mezzo/Belter – She is known as the cry-baby and is constantly saying, “Oh my goodness!” She is very sensitive to conflict, and wants the orphanage to be calm.
DUFFY – Supporting – 13/14 – Mezzo/Belter – She is the biggest and tallest orphan. She often hangs around Pepper, but is everyone’s friend.
BERT HEALY – Supporting – 30-45 – Tenor – A charismatic radio announcer. He is the Star of “The Oxydent Hour of Smiles, starring Bert Healy.” Sings “You’re Never FullyDressed Without a Smile” at the end of each of his shows.
FRED MCCRACKEN – Supporting – 35-50 – Spoken – A Ventriloquist, who appears on “The Oxydent Hour of Smiles, starring Bert Healy”, with his Dummy, Wacky. This actor must possess comedic chops in order to converse with himself, as he must lend his voice to the puppet.
BOYLAN SISTERS/CONNIE, RONNIE, BONNIE – Featured – 18-28 – Legit/Sopranos – Good movers – A group of singing sisters who appear on the radio show “The Oxydent Hour of Smiles, starring Bert Healy.” The sisters, Ronnie, Connie, and Bonnie, add three-part harmony to “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile,” the song that closes each show.
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT – Featured – 50-65 – Baritone – The 32nd President of the United States, in his first hundred days in office instituted “The New Deal”. Known for his signature quote, “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” FDR is wheelchair bound in this role.
STAR TO BE – Featured – 20-25 – Mezzo – A young actress who has just moved to New York City, she is featured in the song “N.Y.C.” and sings about her hopeful view on her future with the theatre.
BUNDLES MCCLOSKEY – Featured – 40-55 – Spoken – Bundles McCloskey is a laundry man who delivers fresh sheets to the orphanage once a month. Miss Hannigan asks him to have egg foo yung with her on Christmas. He unwittingly assists Annie’s escape from the orphanage when she sneaks into his laundry bag.
SANDY – Featured – Either gender – Middle aged – Non singing role – Annie’s loveable mutt, typically played by a real dog. Sandy gets his name from his beige coloring. Initially a stray until rescued by Annie, who pretends to be Sandy’s owner. Sandy gets a lot of stage time and must be easily trainable and good with children.
ENSEMBLE ROLES THAT DOUBLE – Male/Female – 10-60 – Warbucks staff , FDR’s Cabinet Members, Judge Louis Brandeis, Lt. Ward, Street Urchin Boys, Three Additional Orphans.
NOTE: REHEARSAL CONFLICTS WILL BE LIMITED TO 5 ONLY. NO PERFORMANCE OR TECH WEEK (JUNE 16-21) CONFLICTS ARE PERMITTED. THE ROLE OF ANNIE WILL HAVE AN UNDERSTUDY WITH ONE WEEKEND OF GUARANTEED PERFORMANCE.