Casting call: 'Prelude to a Kiss'

It's the prelude to a new season.

Circle Players will hold auditions for "Prelude to a Kiss" at 7 p.m. June 9 and June 10. Callbacks will be held at 7 p.m. June 17. Auditions will consist of readings from the script. Directed by Jessica Sherman, the show will be the season opener for the theater's 2013-14 season.

Rehearsals will begin in mid-July, with performances beginning at 8 p.m. Sept. 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 28, and at 3 p.m. Sept. 29.

Familiar to many because of the film starring Meg Ryan and Alec Baldwin, "Prelude to a Kiss" tells the story of a newly married husband trying to find his true love after he discovers that her soul has been moved into the body of an old man who kissed her immediately following their wedding.

The show debuted in California early in 1988 before moving to off-Broadway in 1990. It was adapted for the silver screen in 1992. Critics at the time saw "Prelude to a Kiss" as an indirect treatment of the AIDS epidemic, which playwright Craig Lucas had written about in "The Singing Forest" and "The Dying Gaul."

Circle Players is located at 416 Victoria Ave., Piscataway. For more information, write to circleplayersnj@gmail.com, or visit the theater's web site.

Roles to fill

Peter	Late 20s to mid-30s	Smart, open, honest, falls desperately and hopelessly in love with Rita. Almost never leaves the stage. He also gives speeches directly to the audience. Charismatic, not smarmy.
Rita	mid-20s to early 30s	Beautiful, but unaware of how beautiful she is. Lost – she’s looking for purpose and passion, and finds much of that in Peter. Puts on a brave front, but underneath is very afraid of life and the future.
Old Man	late 50s and up	Grizzled, weary with a faded, biting humor underneath. This gentleman is in the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s and has only a few months left to live. He is fascinated by Rita – her beauty, youth and openness.
Dr. Boyle	mid-50s to mid-60s	Also plays Party Guest. Devoted to his family, was once very close with Rita, but knows he’s now a bit disconnected from her. He is fiercely protective of her.
Mrs. Boyle	mid-50s to mid-60s	Also plays Party Guest. Gets a huge kick out of her husband, but is envious of the bond between Rita and her father.
Leah	mid-30s to early 40s	Also plays Party Guest, Aunt Dorothy. The Old Man’s daughter. Exhausted, long-suffering.
Taylor	late 20s to early 30s	Peter’s best friend. Wisecracks a lot, fancies himself a ladies’ man. The constant self-deprecation belies a great deal of insecurity.
Tom	late 30s to late 40s	Also plays Uncle Fred and Partyguest. Bartender at Rita’s job. Protective of Rita.
Minister	mid-30s to mid-40s	Also plays Leah’s husband, Party Guest and Waiter. Straitlaced but jovial.