Chester Theatre Group

Save the date!

Auditions for Adam Bock’s play “The Receptionist”, directed by Jeff Knapp, will be held on Sunday, October 11 and Tuesday, October 13 and 7:30 PM at the Black River Playhouse.

The Receptionist is a dark comedy about office life… and it might be about torture.  Or not…

To let Samuel French summarize:  “At the start of a typical day in the Northeast Office, Beverly deals effortlessly with ringing phones and her colleague’s romantic troubles. But the appearance of a charming rep from the Central Office disrupts the friendly routine. And as the true nature of the company’s business becomes apparent, The Receptionist raises disquieting, provocative questions about the consequences of complicity with evil.”

Character Breakdown:

Beverly Wilkins (late 40s-50s), the receptionist:

Lorraine Taylor (late 20s, mid-40s), A co-worker. Single.

Edward Raymond. (Early 50s) Their boss. A young grandfather.

Martin Dart (Mid-30s), Married, with a child

The audition will consist mostly of script readings.

Actresses auditioning for the role of the receptionist, should have a one-sided telephone call prepared.  Portray the OTHER person’s story using only your side of the conversation.  There’s a lot of that sort of thing in the play that may be difficult to convey in a cold reading, so being able to sell your ability to listen and react will be key.  You’ll also be asked to read from the script.

Due to popular demand, here are pages from the script that show Beverly’s one-sided conversation.  Feel free to familiarlize yourself with this instead of preparing your own: The Receptionist – Beverly Side

The show opens November 21 2009 and runs into December.

“A deceptively complex work that intends to reinvent the concept of the office comedy, The Receptionist plays with the idea of who knows how much and how good a thing that ultimately is.” – Tom Avila, Metro Weekly

“The genially mundane goings-on in this blandly average workplace are throw into macabre relief when … a single, jarring line of dialogue sets the calm surface of the play rippling with creepy currents.” – Charles Isherwood, New York Times

Second night of auditions are happening tomorrow!

Details here: http://www.chestertheatregroup.org/2009/06/auditions-the-hound-of-the-baskervilles/

We’re having auditions for Tim Kelly’s adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic tale The Hound of the Baskervilles on Sunday, August 2nd and Tuesday, August 4th at 7pm at the Black River Playhouse.  The show runs weekends in October, 2009.

This is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s most spine-tingling mystery, featuring his most famous detective, adapted for the stage with plenty of suspense, humor, and ultimate terror. Sir Henry has become heir to the vast Baskerville fortune, a legacy that comes complete with a family curse – death at the fangs of a living horror prowling the English moor. Not knowing who to trust, a family confidant enlists the assistance of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. As suspicions grow and long lost family secrets are reveled, the true source of this age old curse only becomes more disturbing. From nosy neighbors to shifty house servants, Holmes and Watson are put to their ultimate test in trying to save the young Barron’s life.

The production is directed by Chris Mortensen, and readings will be from the script.  The rehearsal schedule will be determined by the cast’s availability.

Characters

Sherlock Holmes (30s-40s) The Famed private investigator interested in bizarre cases. A master at detection. a genius among geniuses.

Dr. Watson (30s-40s) Mr. Holmes’ colleague. A man fascinated by mysteries and his friend’s ability to solve them. Loyal to the end, and cleaver enough in his own right.

Sir Henry (20s-30s) A young man who’s just inherited the entire Baskerville fortune, and the curse which goes along with it. A fully capable gentleman, even he finds himself struggling to keep his head above water in his new situation.

Lady Agatha Mortimer (40s-50s) A medical doctor and old friend to Dr. Watson. A forceful woman who has an invested interest in the outcome of the case, yet does not escape suspicion herself.

Perkins (20s) A young simple girl from the village who has been employed as a maid at Baskerville Hall. Her innocence and ignorance would seem to save her from suspicion.

Barrymore (60s) The Butler. An older gentleman who has been in service at Baskerville Hall for many years, ranging back to his own childhood. A sinister old coot who is not always forthright with his information. But a capable servant non-the-less and devoted to his wife.

Mrs. Barrymore (60s) The housekeeper. A quirky old woman who, like her husband, has spent most of her days at Baskerville Hall. Her loyalty to the family of Baskervilles is unmistakable, yet she does hold close to her own secrets.

Kathy Stapleton (20s-30s) A vivacious young woman who attracts every man she comes in contact with. Always smiling and full of energy…not that she doesn’t have her own demons to deal with as well.

Jack Stapleton (30s) Kathy’s brother. A somewhat simpleminded fellow, very into his butterfly collection. Country life suits him well, although he is prone to emotional outbursts.

Laura Lyons (30s) A fully capable young woman who was forced to make her own way in life. Self sufficient and focused, she holds tight to a dangerous secret.

CTG is holding open auditions for Nine, book by Arthur Kopit, adapted from the Italian by Mario Fratti, music by Maury Yeston, to be performed weekends from Friday, June 26 through Sunday, July 19, 2009

No performance on July 4.

The production is being Clifford Parrish is directing as well as providing musical direction; Jeffrey Fiorello is assistant directing and Mark Happell is serving as producer and designer.

Auditions: Sunday, March 8, 3 pm till 5:30 pm.

Tuesday, March 10, 7:30 pm until 9:30 pm

For information, please call: Clifford Parrish, (908) 696 – 0411

Cast Requirements:

Guido Contini (tenor): a director/movie star who is turning 40. 

Young Guido and 3 School Mates: 4 young boys, unchanged voices. 

20 women who play age 20 and up. All vocal ranges, with choral experience preferred.

Louisa Contini, his wife (mezzo/belt)

Carla, his sexy mistress (extreme range: belt to legit soprano)

Claudia, his movie star muse  (soprano, with low extension)

Guido’s mother, older (soprano)

Liliane LaFleur, his French producer (mezzo/belt)

Stephanie Necrophorus, critic (belt)

Our Lady of the Spa (mezzo)

Mama Maddelena (mezzo, comic)

Sarraghina, a local whore (mezzo/belt)

Lina Darling, Liliane’s assistant

Up to 11 female ensemble members, sopranos and altos, are featured in various numbers.

NO roles are precast!  All are welcome.

Chester Theatre Group, in residence at Black River Playhouse, announces auditions for the American premiere of IMPROBABLE FICTION by Alan Ayckbourn, a fast-paced look at a writer’s circle that suffers from collective writer’s block – until their creations come comically to life onstage!  Auditions will take place on Sunday, February 22nd at 2pm and Tuesday, February 24th at 7:30pm.

The cast consists of three men and four women ages 18 to 65.

Arnold (Male, 35-50) – a genial everyman who hosts the group; writes instruction booklets

Ilsa (Female, 18-25) – attractive young woman; tends to Arnold’s mother during the meetings

Brevis (Male, 60′s) – irascible former school teacher; writes musical comedy

Grace (Female, 40′s) – pale and fraught housewife and mother; writes and illustrates children’s stories

Vivvi (Female, 30′s) – effusive and attractive; writes 1930′s detective fiction

Clem (Male, 30′s) – awkward nerd; writes science fiction

Jess (Female, 40′s) - outdoorsy farmer; writes Victorian melodrama

All roles are available.  Performers should have proficiency with English dialect.  Audition will consist of script recitations.  Michael T. Mooney of Budd Lake directs the play.

Performances are in May 2009. The Black River Playhouse is located on the corner of Grove and Maple Streets in Chester, NJ.   For further information call 908.879.7304.