Circle Players requesting show submissions

Circle Players is holding an open call for show submissions from directors for the 2014-2015 season.

Located at 416 Victoria Ave., Piscataway, Circle is looking for a balanced season with some classics, some comedies, and some drama. Potential directors may submit up to four titles of any variety. Circle is not considering musicals for next season, but one submission can be a children’s show. Do not submit titles that are also being submitted to other theaters. Deadline for submissions is Aug. 30, 2013

In the past, limited comedies have been received, so please consider that in your submissions.

According to its mission statement, “Circle Players promotes appreciation for the art and tradition of theater by entertaining, enriching, and educating the community. Circle Players also offers alternatives to mainstream entertainment by presenting both classic and newer plays, with emphasis on seldom-seen material performed in a unique and intimate theater-in-the-round setting.

“By providing an environment to learn more about theater arts, Circle Players offers opportunities for volunteers, members and participants to enhance their lives through educational theater programs and workshops offered to the community at large.”

Include your full contact information, your availability for Sept. 2014 through July 2015, your theatrical resume, and contact information for at least two theatrical references. Your list of titles of submissions should include a brief synopsis for each show, no more than one page for each show.

Once all submissions are received and reviewed, select directors will be called in for a short personal and artistic interview, no later than Nov. 30.

Script copies are not needed with the initial submission. If Circle does not have access to a copy of any title being considered, a photocopy or electronic copy only will be needed no later than Sept. 30, 2013. None of these scripts will be returned.

The hard deadline for submissions is Aug. 30, 2013. Questions can be directed to circleplayersnj@gmail.com, or by phone to (732) 968-7555.

Casting Call: 'God of Carnage'

Villagers Theatre will have auditions for "God of Carnage" from 7-9:30 p.m. July 23-24.

Actors should read sides from the script beforehand and bring a printed copy to auditions. (Sides are located here, here, here and here.) Also note that cast members must note their conflicts on the application. Due to the tight timeline — the show opens Sept. 20 on the Villagers mainstage — conflicts must be minimized. Audition forms are available online.

Written by Yasmina Rezna, the story of "God of Carnage" launches when a playground altercation between 11-year-old boys brings together two sets of Brooklyn parents for a meeting to resolve the matter. At first diplomatic niceties are observed, but as the meeting progresses and alcohol is consumed, tensions emerge and the gloves come off.

Rehearsals will be at 7 p.m. every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, July 30 thru Sept. 5. Tech week will run Sept. 8 through Sept. 18. Following a preview Sept 19, the show will run Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Sept. 20 through Oct. 6.

For more information about "God of Carnage auditions," contact Amy Levine at sweetaim2003@yahoo.com

Director for this production is Amy Levine. Producers are Roz Wroblewski and Darren Nye, and stage manager is Aaron Ratzan.

There are two women and two men's parts, all in their early 40s:

Michael Novak	Outgoing, funny, blue collar
Veronica Novak	Outgoing, matter-of-fact, sophisticated
Alan Raleigh	Strong, lawyer, straight forward
Annette Raleigh	Timid, kind

Casting Call: 'Opus'

Circle Players is looking for four men and one woman for its November production of "Opus."

Written by Michael Hollinger and directed by Eric Walby. "Opus" chronicles the drama of a violin quartet as three of the members agree to fire the fourth, a musical genius; and to replace him with a talented but younger violinist still unsure of her career path.

Auditions will be held at 4 p.m. Sept. 15 and at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 16. Male actors should be between 35 and 50 years old; female actors in their mid-20s.

Circle Players is located at 416 Victoria Ave., Piscataway. 

The View from Backstage: Discovering the Character

I can't speak for anyone else, but when I'm in a children's show, I like to find new ways to reinterpret the play. If you listen hard enough, you can make a play tell you some amazing things.

I did this last Christmastime at Kelsey Theatre, when I played part of the ensemble in "'Twas the Night Before Christmas." It's supposed to be a charming little story about how Clement Moore learned about the real Santa Claus (hint: he has a neighbor named Kris Kringle), and was inspired to write his poem "A Visit from Saint Nicholas." I took advantage of the large talking mouse, dancing sugar plums, and troupe of tapdancing reindeer whom only Moore could see; and sensibly concluded that the play was really about Clement Moore's tragic mental breakdown.

These things generally have no effect on the play, except to give me and the other actors something to laugh about backstage. In one or two cases, other actors have added perverse suggestions of their own, or asked me for more.

This time, though, I think I'm really on to something.

Middle Daughter and I are partway through a three-week run of "The Frog Prince," as adapted for the stage by playwright Max Bush. It's a fun little children's play, based on the story by the Brothers Grinn, though it also draws a bit on Disney's "Beauty and the Beast." The show is running at Somerset Valley Players in Hillsborough, through Aug. 4. (Showtimes are 8 p.m. Fridays, and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.)

The story centers on Prince Erik, whom a witch has turned into a frog. The only way to break the enchantment is for a princess to take him home with her, let him eat from her plate, drink from her cup, and sleep on her bed. You know how the story goes. My character is the king, who is naturally concerned that his daughter honor the promises she makes, even if she makes them to a frog. A promise is a promise, after all.

Now, in developing the story into a three-scene play, Bush has necessarily added detail. First, there's the backstory for Prince Erik and how he became a frog: He refused to help the witch when she asked for help, and what is more, he wounded a magic panther under the witch's protection while hunting it. His transformation, which seems to owe a little to Disney's "Beauty and the Beast," is meant to teach him a lesson. If he doesn't learn it, he'll stay a frog forever.

But what's interesting is the backstory Bush implies for the other characters. The princess' brother-in-law, Hans, talks repeatedly about having been a bear. And King Kiesel, when he walks on stage the first time, is hailed as "Kiesel the Hawk, son of Charles the Wolf." Hel-lo! We have an interesting backstory suggested here, that perhaps not only the king but his father as well, also were taught lessons by the witch.

These are minor things, admittedly; but unlike my games with Clement Moore and his mental breakdown, they serve actually to define my character. Having given these thoughts expression, I suddenly found the king viewing Prince Erik's story in a whole new light. It's no wonder he's not surprised to hear a talking frog, nor to see a prince appear where a frog had been. These things may not happen all the time, but they've happened with enough regularity that the king is prepared to accept them.

This is an important process in acting, one that can move an actor from merely reciting lines and trying to play the character, to actually becoming the character. There isn't always a lot to go on, but it's important to listen to the dialogue and explore the blocking, not to mention understanding the chemistry with the other actors on stage. Doing it right can make the characters spring to life in ways not immediately apparent in the script, nor even necessarily considered by the playwright.

Before I took the part of King Kiesel in "The Frog Prince," I had the part of Noah in "The Grapes of Wrath," a stage adaptation by Frank Galati of John Steinbeck's unforgettable novel. Noah has about a dozen lines in the play before he leaves his family at the Colorado River, and his only big scene is that one.

I read the lines over and over again. I rehearsed them with the actor playing Tom Joad, and slowly came to understand my character my way. Noah has dealt with a mental disability since his birth. He isn't stupid, but he takes longer to think things through, and has realized over the years that the rest of the family tolerates him and feels sorry for him because of his disability, but they don't really care for him.

Except Tom.

Noah, you see, is the oldest of the Joad children, and Tom is second. Tom is also the one whom Noah decides to confide in with his decision to leave the family. By the backstory the two of us worked out, Noah has always loved his little brother, and Tom (ever since he realized Noah's difficulty) has looked out for and protected him.

So when Noah decides to confide his decision to Tom, it's a gentle scene. He sits down, waves his brother in close, and tells him. And when Tom tries to talk him out of it, Noah becomes agitated and upset, and ultimately takes a swing at his brother. Tom is stunned, and Noah breaks down in tears. And then he leaves.

The first time we played that scene to an audience, I heard gasps.

When you listen to a play hard enough, you can hear it say some amazing things.

Casting Call: 'A Man of No Importance'

There will be open auditions in August for the musical "A Man of No Importance" at Edison Valley Playhouse.

The show is based on the 1994 Albert Finney movie of the same name, with lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, music by Stephen Flaherty and book by Terrence McNally. Actors should be extremely proficient with an Irish accent. All must be excellent actors, good singers and decent movers.

Written by the author of "The Full Monty" and "Corpus Christi," this musical tells the story of Alfie Byrne, a middle-aged Dublin bus conductor who lives with his spinster sister and reads poetry out loud to his enraptured regular passengers on the bus.

Alfie has three great passions. One is poetry. Another is the theater, and his amateur troupe who rehearse and perform in the church basement of St. Imelda's Catholic church. His third, secret, passion is for the driver of the bus, handsome young Robbie. But in 1964 Ireland, Alfie's is a love that dare not speak its name.

An ardent fan of Oscar Wilde, Alfie is determined to stage a version of "Salome" with the St. Imelda's Players, until he runs afoul of the church authorities for putting on a dirty play. As he fights for the play, Alfie finds his longing for life finally outweighing his fears and repressions, and he takes his stand for art, poetry and love.

Working on the show are director Brian Remo, musical director Bruce Delacruz and choreographer Susan Zuckerman.

Auditions will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 19 and Aug. 20. Callbacks, if needed, will be on Aug. 21. Prepare 16-32 bars of a musical theatre song in the style of Ahrens and Flaherty. Please bring sheet music in the correct key. Have a second song ready that showcases your talent and vocal ability if requested. Sides will be provided.

The Historic Edison Valley Playhouse is located at  2196 Oak Tree Road, Edison.

Showtimes are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, March 7-22, 2014, and 2 p.m. March 16.

For more information, contact Remo at brianremo@gmail.com.

Alfie Byrne	Male, 38-50 years old	A Dublin bus conductor struggling to come to terms with his sexuality. Lover of books and poetry, he is also an amateur theater director. He's a dreamer who seeks to elevate the world around him. Must be an excellent actor. Baritone.
Lily Byrne	Female, late 30s-50s.	Alfie's older unmarried sister; the protector of her younger brother. Unlike her brother, the dreamer, she contents herself with the mundane of the world and the safety of their flat. She's a bit of a boozer and couch potato. Mezzo soprano.
Robbie Faye	Male, 20s.	The handsome bus driver with whom Alfie is secretly in love with. He is a rebel: his poetry comes from the streets, not books. There is something sexually dangerous and exciting about him. An Irish James Dean. Strong tenor.
Adele Rice	Female 20s.	A pretty country girl. Hesitant and shy. She has an elegant simplicity about her. Alfie talks her into taking the leading role in his production of Oscar Wilde's Salome. Soprano.
William Carney	Male, 40s-50s.	A butcher who is Alfie's next-door neighbor. He is stubborn and egocentric. A stage-struck hypocrite and moral champion of the church. He betrays Alfie and shuts down the production of "Salome," branding it obscene. He is also Lily's gentleman friend. Lyrical baritone-tenor.
William "Baldy" O'Shea	Male, 50s-70s	Thus named for his lack of hair. A retired Publican, he is the stage manager of the St. Imelda's Players. Crusty and acerbic, he calls it like he sees it, but underneath has a heart of gold. Lyrical baritone-tenor.
Father Kenny	Male, 40s-60s	Father Kenny is the often-preoccupied Priest of St. Imelda's. Has a sharp wit but is not unsympathetic to Alfie and the Players. Spoken role.
Mr. Carson	Male, 40s-60s	He is Alfie's supervisor at the Dublin Bus Company. He's a stickler for rules and is a suspicious, unimaginative human being. Spoken role.
Mrs. Margaret Grace	Female, 40s-60s	She is an imperious and imposing woman who is used to getting her way as the "first lady of the St. Imelda's Players. Full figured. Mezzo soprano.
Miss Una Crowe	Female, mid-30s-mid-50s.	A timid spinster who has a crush on Alfie. She played Peter Pan at age 22 and has become a character actress. Soprano-mezzo soprano.
Mrs. Patrick	Female, late 30s-40s	Mrs. Patrick is a attractive, elegant, married woman who, although devout, is having an affair with Robbie. Strong soprano.
Kitty Farelly	Female, late 30s-40s	Kitty Farelly is an earthy, cigar-smoking bartender at the local bar. Spoken role.
Mrs. Maureen Curtain	Female, 30s-50s	A former child star of the Dublin Music Hall, she is now married and has nine children of her own. "Show Business" is in her veins. Must be a strong tap dancer. Alto-mezzo soprano.
Sully O'Hara	Male, 20s.	An unemployed, awkward loner who is making his theatrical debut with this production. Tenor.
Ernest Lally	Male, late 20s-30s	A nervous, small man who serves as the prop man and reveres Alfie. Baritone or tenor.
Rasher Flynn	Male, 30s-60s	An ex-all Ireland gymnast, now a drinker and smoker. Simple yet enthusiastic. Any range.
Peter "Breton Beret"	Male, 20s	Peter is a wannabe rock musician who now toils as the janitor of St. Imelda's. Breton Beret is his alterego, named because of his headwear. He is a sexy and tough rent boy. Tenor.
Oscar Wilde	Male, 30s-40s	The famous Dublin-born playwright, poet and wit whose "Salome" is what Alfie attempts to stage. This Oscar Wilde is at the height of his career and a figment of Alfie's imagination. Need not sing.
Dancers		Looking for experienced dancers, experienced in or willing to learn Celtic dance.

'Dog Sees God' at Circle Players

It's definitely not the "Peanuts" comic strip you read with your children.

NJ Productions will perform "Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead," an unauthorized parody by Bert V. Royal, at Circle Playhouse next weekend. Showtimes are 8 p.m. July 26, July 27, Aug. 2 and Aug. 3, and 3 p.m. July 28 and Aug. 4. Tickets are  available online for $18 for general admission, and for $15 for students and seniors.

Directed by Ian Moore, this audacious and at times shocking play takes characters from the popular "Peanuts" comic strip and turns them into teenagers dealing with drug abuse, bullying, suicide, eating disorders, teen violence, rebellion, sex and sexual identity.

When C.B.’s dog contracts rabies and must be euthanized after ripping Woodstock to shreds and nearly biting his owner, C.B. begins to question the existence of an afterlife. A chance meeting with Beethoven, an artistic kid and also the target of his group’s bullying, offers C.B. peace of mind and sets in motion a friendship that pushes teen angst to the very limits.

"Dog Sees God" features the talents of Roberto Forero as C.B., Rachel Phelan as his sister, Zachariah Smith as Van, Kerielle Sollecito as Van’s sister, Michael Rosas as Beethoven, Sydney Hymanson as
Tricia, Danielle Yucht as Marcy, Nick Napoli as Matt, and Eddie Rogers and Gina Solebello as Swing.

The show is produced by Nicholas Kaminski and stage managed by Jasmine Gomez.

For other ticketing information, call (732) 968-7555.

Casting Call: 'A Chorus Line'

Every aspiring actor knows the trepidation that goes hand in hand with auditions, and the dream of being the star on the stage.

This month, Villagers Theatre in Somerset will give performers the chance for their lives to imitate art imitating life, with auditions for "A Chorus Line." "A Chorus Line" garnered almost every award imaginable, including Best Musical together with eight other Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize. At nearly 15 years, it was one of the longest-running shows on Broadway.

Auditions be held at 7:30 p.m. July 29 and July 30, with callbacks, by appointment only, on Aug. 1.

The show will be directed and choreographed by Patric Starega and produced by Marie Fiorello, with music director David Neal and stage manager Judi Thaw.

Showdates will be Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays Nov. 8-24.

Set during an audition for a Broadway show, young performers share their deepest hopes, fears and dreams as they compete for a chance of a lifetime. "A Chorus Line" is an enthralling and emotional metaphor for what drives each of us to pursue our dreams. Music is by Marvin Hamlisch with lyrics by Edward Kleban, and book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante

Characters include:

Zach	30-40 years old	The director and choreographer of the show. This is a nonsinging role.
Larry	18-30 years old	Zach’s assistant.
Alan Deluca	30 years old	Male. Baritone. From the Bronx. Very straight. Street tough, macho, newly married to Kristine.
Bebe Benzenheimer	26 years old	Female. Alto. From Boston. Very insecure about her looks but also very funny, a cover for her insecurities. Bebe feels a little excluded but just wants to be liked.
Bobby Mills	25 years old	Male. Baritone. Funny and witty. Very sharp-tongued. Bobby covers everything over with a joke, and had a hard childhood. From upstate New York.
Cassie Feguson	30-ish years old	Female. Soprano. An older dancer. Cassie is returning to the chorus after years of being a featured performer. She is a strong dancer, shy and kind-hearted. She previously had a relationship with Zach.
Connie Wong	32 years old if played by an Asian woman; 20 years old if not	Female. Alto. Experienced dancer. Short. Married. Connie is bit of a mother hen, with a great sense of humor. She was born in Chinatown, Lower East Side, New York; or in Greenville, N.C.
Diana Morales	27 years old	Female. Alto. Streetwise, a little bit tough, eternal optimist and starry-eyed. Diana is a determined athletic dancer from the Bronx.
Don Kerr	26 years old	Male. Baritone. Ladies man, married, into cars, money, and women. A hedonist, Don is cool and flirts with Maggie. He is sure of himself, an all-American guy, Cocky, he has worked with Zach before. From Kansas City.
Gregory Gardener	32 years old	Male. Baritone. Oversexed, overdrugged, done it all before. Gay. Gregory is very conscious of how he looks and appears to others. Quite a smart‐aleck, he has worked with Zach before. Very East Side New York.
Judy Turner	28 years old	Female. Mezzo. Judy is funny, gawky, nervous and scatterbrained, and also warm and hopeful. She is very awkward, except when she is dancing.
Kristine Urich	22 years old	Female. Mezzo. Wide‐eyed, naive. She is very nervous when not dancing. She is married to Al.
Maggie Winslow	25 years old	Female. Soprano. Maggie is a sweetheart, little-sister type. A dreamer, she is a fairly experienced dancer from California.
Mark Anthony	20 years old	Male. Tenor. Optimistic and a first-timer, Mark is naive but charming. He is a great dancer and an all‐American kid. Hopeful and fresh, obsessed with sex. Very young, from Arizona.
Mike Costa	24 years old	Male. Tenor. Quite aggressive, determined, cocky, sure of himself but likeable. Mike has worked with Zach before. Experienced and flirts with the girls. From New Jersey.
Paul San Marco	28 years old	Male. Baritone. Paul is introverted and slightly insecure but he loves performing. He is only now starting to feel comfortable about being gay and accepted by his parents. From Spanish Harlem, New York. He is friends with Diana.
Richie Walters	27 years old	Male. Tenor. From Missouri. African‐American, strong dancer, enthusiastic, cool and funny. Richie is very likeable and laid back.
Sheila Bryant	29 years old	Female. Alto. Oldest dancer on the line. Brassy, sexy and sophisticated. One of the more popular dancers, very funny.
Valerie Clark	25 years old	Female. Mezzo. Sexy, sassy, funny and foul‐mouthed. A brazen, direct, attention seeker from Vermont.
Cut dancers	18 to 35 years old	Men and women.

'The Frog Prince' at Somerset Valley Players

A frog. A princess. Promises broken, promises kept, and a curse lifted.

The familiar story of "The Frog Prince" is on stage at Somerset Valley Players through Aug. 4. Adapted from the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, "The Frog Prince" spins a tale of a beautiful princess and her golden ball, a magical panther in need of assistance, and an enchantress determined to teach a self-absorbed prince a lesson in humility by turning him into a frog.

Showtimes are 8 p.m. Fridays and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. All seats cost $10.

"The Frog Prince" features Mary Diehl, Abigayle Alexander, Rory Baker, Max Miller, Carissa Johnson, Alanna Ryan, Mary Burke, Felicity Howard, Hunter Metz, Jessica Ferrara, Jay Hauser, David Learn, and Kyleen Constant, Ruth Learn and Thomas Sarles.

For more information, call (908) 369-7469. Tickets are available online, at www.svptheatre.org

Somerset Valley Playhouse is located at 689 Amwell Road, Hillsborough.

Casting Call: 'Carrie, the Musical'

She's ba-ack!

Based on Stephen King's bestselling novel, "Carrie: The Musical" has not been seen since its 1988 Broadway production. Now, the original authors of the show have joined with director Stafford Arima and Middlesex County College Theater for a newly reworked and fully reimagined vision of this tale.

Auditions will be held from noon-5 p.m. Aug. 11, and from 7-10 p.m. Aug. 12 and 13. Callbacks will be held Aug. 15.

The show centers around Carrie White, an outcast bullied by the popular crowd at school, and virtually invisible to everyone else. At home, she is at the mercy of her loving but cruelly overprotective mother. But Carrie has just discovered she has a special power, and if she is pushed too far, she is not afraid to use it.

Auditionees will need to sing a rock, pop, or contemporary song in the style of the show that demonstrates their vocal range; and should bring sheet music or a CD/iPod track without vocals. Songs from the show are allowed. Auditionees must be at least 18 to audition. Auditionees will be expected to list all conflicts between Aug. 19 and Oct. 27.
Performances will be held at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and at 2 p.m. Sundays, from Oct. 18 to 27.

Carrie White (17)	A painfully shy outsider with a strong desire to belong. Victim of frequent pranks and bullying at school as well as abuse under her mother's strict religious control at home. She transforms from ugly duckling into graceful - and then vengeful - swan.
Margaret White (mid-30's to mid-40's)	A commanding, intense woman of visceral extremes, possessing zealous religious convictions, and almost abusive maternal love for her daughter.
Sue Snell (17-18)	A popular, overachieving student. Her unthinking participation in a cruel act of bullying causes a crisis of conscience that leads her on a complicated emotional and psychological journey to make amends. Smart with just a touch of shrewd edge. The play is told through her memory. Vocally, she has a pop ballad voice that delivers sincerity and strength.
Tommy Ross (Male, to play 17-18)	Popular star athlete, valedictorian, and all around standout, he's the boy that all the girls want to be with, and all the boys want to be. Yet he also has unexpected, quirky sensitivity and is just starting to mine his personal life and feelings - a budding poet. His voice should have a pop quality.
Chris Hargensen (17-18)	Rich, spoiled, and dangerous. Chris is a popular beauty whose arrogant self-assurance makes her believe that the rules don't apply to her. Loaded with sexual dynamite, she has serious daddy and anger management issues.
Billy Nolan (Early 20s)	Now in his sixth year of high school, Billy's a sexy, trashy, stupid-like-a-fox bad boy whose wise mouth troublemaking has led him to spend more time in detention than in class. All these qualities make it easy for Chris to manipulate him to do her bidding.
Miss Gardner (mid-30s)	This girls P.E. teacher can be a strict disciplinarian when necessary, but when Carrie arouses her maternal instinct, she surprises herself by also revealing a protective "Fairy Godmother" side.
Mr. Stephens / The Rev. Bliss (30s-50s)	This well-intentioned English teacher and guidance counselor struggles to help his students realize their potential. A dedicated educator, he's stretched thin in his duties, woefully underpaid, and a bit overwhelmed as to how to handle the Billy Nolans of the classroom combat zone. Doubles as the Rev. Bliss, a holy-rolling radio evangelist.
Norma (17-18)	Bitchy, gossipy and a shameless suck-up to authority, Norma is second-in-command to Chris' queen bee.
Frieda (17-18)	Sue's sometime friend. She's an easygoing, get-along follower and a tireless extracurricular committee volunteer.
Helen (17-18)	Giggly and easily shocked, her immaturity and need to belong make her the perfect example of the herd mentality.
George (17-18)	A jock. Preppy. Somewhat unsure. Tommy's wingman since childhood, George idolizes him a little too much, perhaps more than Tommy realizes.
Stokes (17-18)	A bit of a nerd, he's happy to be sometimes included as one of Tommy's posse.
Fredyy (17-18)	The wise-cracking class clown and official yearbook photographer, he can't believe any girl would ever give him the time of day.
Ensemble (17-18)	Two to four additional students who flesh out the various cliques at Chamberlain High School. They are cheerleaders, jocks, drama dorks, brains, and rebels. Most of all they are real people. A mix of strong singers, actors and dancers. Will also understudy principal roles.

Reading: 'The Tomb' at Somerset Valley Players

"Old soldiers never die, they just fade away."

So once said General Douglas MacArthur, the legendary general of the Pacific. During a staged reading tonight at Somerset Valley Players, audience members will be able to see what happens when they do die. The theater will host a staged reading of  "The Tomb," an original play by local playwright Roy Barry, at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 20.

The play begins with WWI Army Private Reggie, a medic from Mississippi, as he finds himself tied to the exterior vicinity of The Tomb of the Unknown in Virginia, in a limbo he does not fully understand. He is visited by Joe, a World War II Marine, who arrives in a flash of white light, direct from his moment of demise on an island in the Pacific. Another white flash sends Reuben, a black Korean War Army captain, to join their ranks at the tomb. Last to arrive is Blake, a California-born, Vietnam-era soldier, still in a drug haze, unaware of and unable to accept his own death.

Life experience, cultural and religious differences, and differing values threaten these four and their newly formed, delicate brotherhood. Blake’s arrival becomes a catalyst to their conflicts . . . and the new mission they identify and accept at "The Tomb."

Theater doors open at 6:30 p.m. Attendance is free, with seating on a "first-come, first-served" basis. Reservations are not being taken for this reading. There will be light refreshments and a question-and-answer sessions with the playwright and the cast after the reading.

Somerset Valley Players is located at 689 Amwell Road, Hillsborough.

Set Designer Needed

Yardley Players is seeking a set designer to design the set for "A Flea in Her Ear."

The show involves two settings: a living room in a wealthy turn of the century home, and a hotel lobby and room. Set designers will be paid.

Tech week will be Sept. 15-19, 2014. Performances will be Sept. 20-29, 2014.

For more information, contact noajjs@aol.com, or call (215) 968-1904.

'Legally Blonde: The Musical' at Villagers Theater

She's blonde. Legally blonde.

Elle Woods appears to have it all. Her life is turned upside-down when her boyfriend dumps her so he can start getting serious about his life and attend Harvard Law School. Determined to get him back, Elle uses her charm to get in as well. At school, she struggles with peers, professors, and Warner Huntington. With the help of Paulette and Emmett, though, Elle quickly realizes her potential and sets out to prove herself to the world. "Legally Blonde: The Musical,"a production of TeensVill at Villagers Theatre,will run from July 26 to Aug. 11.
Performances will begin at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and at 2 p.m. Sundays.

The cast includes Kristen Seggio as Elle Woods, Rachel Valovcin as Paulette Bonafante, Adam Magnacca as Emmett Forrest, Carlos Acala as Warner Huntington III, Brianna Bric as Vivienne Kensington, Dominick Pate as Professor Callahan, Enid Hoops as Allie Cozzi, Natalie Romeo as Brooke Wyndham, Aja Downing as Pilar, Sandy Buz as Serena, Ellen Rothfuss as Margot; and Alex Mandalakis, Caileigh Idell, Hannah Weaver, Elizabeth Valenti, Jillian Patla, Shannen Doyle, David Pastore, Tyler Crozier, Alec Richards, Darius Delk, Quentin Madia, Connor McKenna and Dorian Andrews as featured ensemble.

Tickets cost $16. Seats must be reserved online or by calling (732) 873-2710. Villagers Theatre is located at 475 DeMott Lane, Somerset.

Casting Call: 'Macbeth'

It’s the play that dares not speak its own name.

Hub City Players will hold auditions for William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth,” from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Aug. 14-15. A tragedy written for the coronation of King James II of England, “Macbeth” tells the story of its titular protagonist, who usurps the throne of Scotland following a civil war and rules by bloodshed and oppression until his fated overthrow.

Auditions will be held at 623 Georges Road, Suite C-1, North Brunswick. (Entrance is in the rear of the building.) Bring a head shot and acting resume, if available; and come prepared with a 14-line monologue from one of Shakespeare's tragedies. You also will be asked to do a reading from the script. Performances will be in October in New Brunswick, at Greater Brunswick Charter School.

The following roles are needed. Ages are approximate. For more information, contact director David Learn at davidlearn at gmail dot com.

Duncan	King of Scotland	50s-70
Macbeth	Thane of Glamis and Cawdor, a general in the King's army	30s-40s
Lady Macbeth	his wife	30s-40s
Macduff	Thane of Fife, a nobleman of Scotland,	40s-50s
Lady Macduff	his wife	40s-50s
Malcolm	elder son of Duncan	30s-40s
Donalbain	younger son of Duncan	20s-30s
Banquo	Thane of Lochaber, a general in the King's army	late 40s
Fleance	his son	late teens
Lennox	nobleman of Scotland
Ross	nobleman of Scotland
Menteith	nobleman of Scotland
Angus	nobleman of Scotland
Caithness	nobleman of Scotland
Siward	Earl of Northumberland, general of the English forces	40s
Young Siward	his son	late teens
Seyton	attendant to Macbeth
First Witch	The maid	Teen to early 20s
Second Witch	The mother	30s to 50s
Third witch	The crone	60s and older
Boy	Son of Macduff	Teen or preteen.
Gentlewoman	Attends Lady Macbeth
Doctor	Attends Lady Macbeth during her illness.
A Sergeant
A Porter
An Old Man

Other lords, gentlemen, officers, soldiers, murderers, attendants, and messengers

The show will be directed by David Learn, with performances at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and at 2 p.m. Sundays, Oct. 11-20. Stage manager is Laura Zahorbenski. Also needed are a fight choreographer and a costumer.

Casting Call: 'A Chorus Line'

Villagers Theater will be holding auditions for the award-winning show "A Chorus Line" at 7:30 July 29 and 30.

Set during an audition for a Broadway show, young performers share their deepest hopes, fears and dreams as they compete for a chance of a lifetime. A Chorus Line, featuring one of the most brilliant scores ever written for the stage, is an enthralling and emotional metaphor for what drives each of us to pursue our dreams. Running for nearly 15 years, it was one of the longest-running shows on Broadway.

Roles to be cast include:

Zach (30-40)	The director and choreographer of the show.
Larry (18-30)	Zach's assistant.
Alan Deluca (30, baritone)	From the Bronx. Very straight. Street tough, macho, newly married to Kristine Urich.
Bebe Benzenheimer (26, Alto)	From Boston. Very insecure about her looks. Is funny, which is a cover for her insecurities. Feels a little excluded, just wants to be liked.
Bobby Mills (25, baritone)	Funny and witty. Very sharp tongued. Covers everything over with a joke, had a very hard childhood. From upstate New York.
Cassie Ferguson (30ish, soprano)	Older Dancer. Returning to the chorus after years of being a featured performer. Very strong dancer. Shy & kind-hearted. Had a relationship with Zach.
Connie Wong (20 or 32, alto, female)	Experienced dancer. Short. Married. A bit of a mother hen with a great sense of humor. Born in Chinatown, Lower East Side, New York or Greenville, North Carolina.
Diana Morales (27, Alto)	Streetwise, a little bit tough, eternal optimist and starry eyed. A determined athletic dancer from the Bronx.
Don Kerr (26, baritone)	Ladies' man, married. Into cars, money, and women. Hedonist, cool, flirts with Maggie Winslow, very sure of himself. All American guy, Cocky, worked with Zach before. From Kansas City.
Gregory Gardener (32, baritone)	Done it all before. Gay. Very conscious of how he looks and appears to others. Quite a smart-alec and has worked with Zach before. Very East Side New York.
Judy Turner: (28, Mezzo)	Funny, gawky, nervous, scatterbrain. Warm and hopeful. Very awkward except when dancing.
Kristine Urich (22, mezzo)	Wide-eyed, naive. Very nervous when not dancing. Married to Alan Deluca.
Maggie Winslow (25, soprano)	A sweetheart, little sister type. Dreamer. Fairly experienced dancer from California.
Mark Anthony (20, Tenor)	Optimistic first timer, naive but charming. Great dancer and All-American kid. Hopeful and fresh, obsessed with sex. Very young from Arizona.
Mike Costa (24, tenor)	Quite aggressive, determined, cocky and sure of himself but likeable. Has worked with Zach before. Experienced and flirts with the girls. From New Jersey.
Paul san Marco (28, baritone)	Introverted and slightly insecure but loving performing, Paul is only now starting to feel comfortable about being gay and accepted by his parents. From Spanish Harlem, New York. Friends with Diana.
Richie Walters (27, tenor)	From Missouri. African-American, strong dancer, enthusiastic, cool and funny. Very likeable and laid back.
Sheila Bryant (29, alto)	Oldest dancer on the line. Brassy, sexy and sophisticated. One of the more popular dancers, very funny.
Valerie Clark (25, mezzo)	Sassy, funny and foul-mouthed. A brazen, direct, attention seeker from Vermont.
Cut Dancers (18-35)

Callbacks will be held Aug. 1. Villagers Theatre is located at 475 DeMott Lane, Somerset.

Casting Call: 'Spamalot'

If you're a knight who says Ni, like to blow your nose at silly English  kaniggits, or just generally enjoy Pythonesque humor, Playhouse 22 is looking for you.

The theater will hold open auditions for Monty Python's "Spamalot" at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 11, 12 and 13. Callbacks will be held August 15. Adapted for the stage by veteran Python Eric Idle, "Spamalot" is a musical comedy "lovingly ripped off from" the 1975 film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail."

Auditionees should prepare 32 bars of a Broadway-style song; songs from the show are acceptable. An accompanist will be provided. No acapella. All auditionees will need to participate in the dance audition.

Auditions will be held at the East Brunswick Community Arts Center, 721 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick. The show will be directed by Mark Kalet. Auditions will be held on a first-come, first-serve basis. Roles may be cast without regard to gender. Roles that have been doubled may be split.

Performances will begin at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 3 p.m. Sundays, Nov. 8 to 24.
 

King Arthur (Late 30s-60s, baritone)	The King of England who sets out on a quest to form the Knights of the Round Table and find the Holy Grail. Great humor.
Sir Robin (30s-40s, baritone)	A knight of the Round Table. Called 'Sir Robin the Brave,' though he couldn't be more cowardly. Joins the knights for the singing and dancing. Also plays Guard 1 and Brother Maynard, a long-winded monk. Dancing is a must.
Sir Lancelot (30s-40s, baritone)	A Knight of the Round Table. He is fearless to a bloody fault but through a twist of fate, does discover his 'softer side.' This actor will need skill with character voices and accents, as he also plays the French Taunter, an arrogant, condescending, over-the-top Frenchman; the Knight of Ni, an absurd, cartoonish leader of a peculiar group of knights; and Tim the Enchanter, a ghostly being with an extreme Scottish accent.
Patsy (30s-40s, baritone)	King Arthur's horse and servant. Underappreciated but always longing for King Arthur's approval. Some tap dancing. Also plays Mayor, a jolly red-faced man who advertises the merits of his hometown and the drunken, useless Guard 2.
Sir Galahad (30s, tenor)	A knight of the Round Table. Begins as Dennis, a lowerclass "mud gatherer" who becomes knighted and transforms into the dashing Sir Galahad. Also plays Prince Herbert's father, a wealthy, brutish Yorkshireman man at odds with his sensitive son, the Black Knight, who is always ready to duel despite multiple injuries. Strong bari-tenor singing required.
Sir Bedevere (20s-40s, baritone)	A knight of the Round Table. An inept scholar. Also plays Dennis Galahad's mother, a shrill peasant woman; and Concorde, Sir Lancelot's horse. No solo singing.
The Lady of the Lake (20s-30s, alto/soprano)	A Diva. Strong, possesses mystical powers. The leading lady of the show. Must be able to sing effortlessly in many styles and vocal registers.
Historian, Not Dead Fred, French guard, Minstrel, Prince Herbert (20's-30's, tenor)	Tenor singing required. Very good mover. Historian: A tweedy academic. Not Dead Fred: A sickly little fellow who, despite others' beliefs, claims he is "not yet dead." French guard: The condemnatory French sidekick to the French Taunter. Minstrel: In Sir Robin's band. Prince Herbert: A hopeful and frilly prince who loves to sing and pines for his love atop a tower.

Other parts include Sir Not Appearing; The Dancing Nun; two French guards; Sir Robin's minstrels, which includes two men and one woman; Sir Bors; and the ensemble, which consists of six men and six women.

For more information, contact spamalot@playhouse22.org, or call (732) 254-3939. Auditions will be held at the East Brunswick Community Arts Center, 721 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick.