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Breakdown
2016-17 SEASON
LAST GAS
By John Cariani
Contract dates: September 26 thru October 23, 2016
CASTING NOTE:
LAST GAS is about people from rural northern Maine. It is a comedy, but the humor comes from the truth of who these people are.
NAT PARADIS:
Nearly 41 but still somewhat boyish and unassuming, he is a wounded idealist. A likable and charming loser, he’s lived his entire life in a remote area of Northern Maine running a gas and convenience store with his father. He prefers to avoid conflict and does his best to appear “happy” or “fine” with his situation in life, but watching the Red Sox on TV is usually the highlight of his day. In his heart he is seeking a way to “get back to happy”, but change seems daunting.
TROY PARADIS-PULCIFER (“PULSE-uh-fer”):
Nat’s son, 16. He is a perceptive and intelligent young man, and a healthy dose of wise-ass teenager. He is eager to get out of Maine, and pursue his dream of becoming an astronaut. At heart he is a “good kid” who loves his dad. He also suspects he might have more strength and confidence than his dad does and he is growing a bit protective of his father.
DWIGHT PARADIS:
Nat’s father, 63, a charming, affable, larger-than-life kind of guy who can be a bit of a bull dozer when he wants to make something happen that he believes should be happening. He can be a bit inflexible and rough and around the edges. He fancies himself a ladies man and pursues women too young for him with confidence. He loves a good time, but there remains a hole in his heart from when his wife left him. His son is a source of disappointment.
GUY GAGNON: (“GONE-yer”)
41. Nat’s best friend and side kick. Unemployed, overweight, loyal, with a wry and dry sense of humor, his love for Nat runs deep. He is more complex than he appears. A Zach Galifianakis type. He has a surprisingly graceful ability to swing dance.
TRACY PULCIFER:
Troy’s mother, 41. Stoic, opinionated and straightforward to the point of blunt, she is rigid, stubborn and overly literal. Possessing a dry wit, she is a substantial presence of a woman who enjoys wielding the power and status of being a forest ranger. She follows every “rule” in the book, and writes summons to people when her life feels out of control and she needs to feel more powerful. Never the popular girl in high school, she’s had her heart broken and has learned to emotionally armor herself from having it happen again. She still loves Nat, but he doesn’t want her back.
LURENE LEGASSEY SOLOWAY:
40. Nat’s former highschool sweetheart. Once the “golden girl” who left Maine to chase her dreams, today she returns home for the burial of her mother. Feeling lost, disillusioned and dissatisfied with the life she’s created in New York, she is desperately looking for something to give it more meaning. Perhaps reconnecting with Nat will be the missing piece? However, the stakes feel too high, and she sometimes tries too hard.
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A CHRISTMAS CAROL
By Christopher Schario
Contract dates: November 28 − December 11, 2016
This adaptation features a small cast playing multiple roles and one actor playing Scrooge. All actors perform narration of Dickens’ text, as well as scene work. Both British dialect and Standard American Speech are used in this adaptation. Show requires versatile actors who make playful choices and are good with language.
All AEA roles (Scrooge, Bob Crtchit, Mrs. Cratchit, Fan) are CAST. Auditioning performers will be considered as possible replacements should any become necessary.
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UNDER THE SKIN
by Michael Hollinger
Contract dates: January 9 thru February 5, 2017
LOU ZIEGLER
around 60. White. Raina’s father. A recovered alcoholic with a long list of amends yet to be made, including neglectful parenting, womanizing and falling short too many times. He’s let a lot of people down including his estranged daughter, but he currently needs her kidney to save his life and must reconnect with her to get it. He doesn’t want to die. Charismatic, charming and anti-sentimental, with a wry sense of humor that yanks people’s chains, he’s hard to say no to. His directness, humor and gruffness hide a very complicated interior. His daughter’s forgiveness would mean a lot to him. He owns a carpentry/home restoration business that reveals him to be a very artistic and thoughtful craftsman.
RAINA LAMOTT
around 30. White. Lou’s daughter. A bright, feisty, determined yet vulnerable, single mother raising a 4 year old daughter, she is trying very hard to be the parent she wished she had. She has been disappointed too many times by her dad. She is striving to act like a mindful grownup, but her inner child is angry and resentful and having a hard time with forgiveness and determining if her father is “kidney worthy”. She has many of the personality traits of an adult child of an alcoholic. Uncomfortable with her vulnerability, she tends to over think things to avoid making the wrong decision. She ultimately wishes to be deeply seen by and connected to her dad.
JARRELL HAYES
late 20s. African-American. Marlene’s son. (This actor doubles as HECTOR.) Friendly, outgoing, charming, he is a Princeton graduate with an intelligent and wry sense of humor. Levelheaded and observant, he was raised by a very strong and centered mother, but he’s learned how to survive without a father. He is an artist attempting to launch his career. He doubles as Hector, a hospital nurse with a Dominican accent.
MARLENE HAYES
around 50. African-American. Jarrell’s mother. (This actress also doubles as DR. BADU and BARISTA.)Jarrell’s mother is a practical, grounded, deeply wise woman with a sense of humor and a big heart. She’s nobody’s fool. She has survived a very difficult past to become a remarkable person who has the ability to help others put their lives in perspective. Doubles as Dr. Badu (an intelligent and perceptive African doctor treating Lou – African dialect needed), and a passive aggressive coffee barista.
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WRONG FOR EACH OTHER
by Norm Foster
Contract dates: February 27 thru March 26, 2017
Casting note: the tone of this show is Mad About You meets Seinfeld. Both both actors need charm and comic chops. Think Sam and Diane from Cheers.
NORAH:
mid/late 30s. An attractive woman from an upscale and educated family she is a successful manager of an arts center. Playfully intelligent, she appears self-assured, and yet can't quite believe that happiness is meant for her.
RUDY:
mid/late30s, A very charismatic and likable blue collar type guy who runs a successful house painting business. Funny and smart, he hides his insecurities behind his humor and playful wit. Possessing an unshakable belief in love and romance, he is determined to win back the love of his life, and has just enough persistence and charm to do it. He wears his heart on his sleeve.
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RIPCORD
by David Lindsay-Abaire
Contract dates: April 17 thru May 14, 2017
ABBY BINDER:
Age range 60s − 80s. A resident of Bristol Place Senior Living Facility, she has successfully resisted all attempts to share her double room. Judgmental, short spoken, misanthropic and unsociable, she is a crisp, take-charge patrician woman with an acerbic wit. Nobody wants to be her roommate. Her snark and emotional remoteness is a defense against her pain of lifelong disappointment.
MARILYN DUNNE:
Age range 60s− 80s. Abbey’s new roommate, she is an optimist looking for the good in everyone. She is infuriatingly chipper, impishly jovial, upbeat, endearing and trusting. She also has an underbelly of anger and is surprisingly determined and resourceful.
SCOTTY
20s− 30s. A residential aide at the Assisted Living Facility, he is kind, friendly, empathic, patient, honest and direct, with a good sense of humor. He genuinely cares for his residents and is perceptive in a street smart way about their personalities. In his free time, he is an aspiring actor.
BENJAMIN (Also plays LEWIS and CLOWN):
Late 30’s-40s, Benjamin is Abby's son. He is a former addict who has let down a lot of people in his past, and he is genuinely hoping to make amends and introduce his child to his mother. He’s been in and out of rehab before, so she will not let him off the hook easily. LEWIS is Marilyn's son, an enthusiastic skydiving instructor. The CLOWN is a scary demon clown in a haunted house.
COLLEEN (Also plays WOMAN IN WHITE)
Late 30s− 40s. Colleen is Marilyn's daughter. A quirky comic type, she’s competitive, a bit kooky and she’s game for anything, especially if her mother asks and needs her. She’s an open book. Very much her mother's daughter. Woman in White is a spooky haunted house character.
DEREK (Also plays ZOMBIE BUTLER)
Late 30s−40s, Derek is Colleen's husband; a quirky comic type, he is friendly and chipper, but a bit more cautious and practical than his wife, but always on board to help his mother-in-law. Zombie Butler is the absurdly austere tour guide of the haunted house.
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Theatre’s statement: “The producers are open to non-traditional casting. Minorities are encouraged to audition and to send pictures/resumes.” If you are unable to attend, you may mail a picture and resume for future consideration to:
The Public Theatre
31 Maple St
Lewiston, ME 04240
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