OUR TOWN
By Thornton Wilder
Directed by Charlie Marenghi
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January 26- February 11, 2018
Fridays & Saturdays 7:30pm
Sundays 2:30pm
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AUDITIONS:
Friday, November 17th 6:30 – 9pm
Saturday, November 18th 2 – 5pm
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REHEARSALS:
Rehearsals will begin the first week in December with a read-through on Saturday December 2nd. After that, rehearsals will be Monday- Thursday from 6:30-9pm. Please be prepared to list any conflicts when you audition.
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A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR:
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The setting is Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire in the year 1901. There will be period dress but a very limited set and props. There will be simple, thoughtful mime performed in its place. Nothing extravagant, just shelling peas, washing dishes, leading a horse…
This is very much an ensemble piece. A sense of community and family is integral to the play and its performance. This means that I like to have everyone spend time together in rehearsal in the beginning of the process before focusing on scenes later.
There will be cold reads from the play at auditions. I may have you read just once or several times. I work quickly. Don’t be discouraged if you’re in and out after reading once. That might be all I need.
(Ages, unless otherwise indicated are suggestions. I am very flexible. If you’re right for the role, you’re right. Don’t count yourself out if the suggested age range falls outside of where you are. Audition!)
Look forward to seeing you all.
Best, Charlie.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:
Stage Manager - can be any gender, 18+ (If you think you’re right for the role, try out! I’m most interested in your ability to connect with an audience and create worlds as an actor.) The SM is like an omniscient narrator and often interrupts scenes to inform the audience of other events, or move things forward or backwards in time. They often assume other roles too, a minister, an old woman and so on. You’ll be breaking the fourth wall quite a bit. I’m looking for someone who’s both comfortable with that and can be playful, sincere and poetic with a strong stage presence.
George Gibbs – male, 18 +, Dr. and Mrs. Gibbs son. His courtship and marriage to Emily Webb is at the narrative heart of the play. Decent, upstanding, and loyal.
Emily Webb – female, 18 +, Mr. and Mrs. Webb’s daughter, George’s next door neighbor, courted by George and later married. Her journey parallels one of the great themes of the play; life is fleeting and should always be cherished.
Dr. Gibbs – male, 35+, George’s father and the town doctor. Funny, dutiful and honorable with a quick wit.
Mrs. Gibbs – female 30+, George’s mother. A part of her pines for a trip far away, but later in the play she realizes the importance of home. Kind and funny.
Mr. Webb – male, 35+, Emily’s father. Editor of local newspaper. Very important in setting the stage in the first act.
Mrs. Webb – female, 30+, Emily’s mother, presents at first as a straight-edged woman who later shows her more caring nature when worrying about Emily.
Mrs. Soames – female 40+, a gossip. Good character role. One of the few characters we meet outside of the families.
Simon Stimson – male, 25+, the choirmaster and an alcoholic. Most notable for a searing speech in the last act about human existence. Great character role.
Rebecca Gibbs – female, 11 - 16, George’s younger sister, though a smaller role it is pivotal in the first act for articulating that though Grover’s Corners is a microcosm, it does represent the wider world and human connectedness or lack thereof.
Wally Webb – male, 10 - 16, Emily’s younger brother, like Rebecca a smaller figure in the play but plays a vital part in the third act in the group of dead souls. His untimely death reflects another theme within the play of life’s often fleeting nature.
Howie Newsome – male, 25+, local milkman, his presence at the beginning of each act signals that life continues with its routines no matter our experiences.
Jo Crowell/Si Crowell – male/female, 10+, a paperboy or girl. In the play it’s at first the older brother/sister on their paper route who is then replaced by the younger. I’d like to double this role. A good opportunity for a younger actor/actress.
Professor Willard – male/female, 35+, a professor who gives a “report” on Grover’s Corners. May well be doubled with another role.
Constable Warren – male, 30+
Sam Craig – male, 20+, Emily Webb’s cousin. Returns for events in Act Three. May be doubled.
Jo Stoddard – male/female – 35+, the town undertaker, may well be doubled.
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