Casting Call: 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf'

Circle Players will hold auditions for Edward Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf."

Auditions are from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. for those auditioning for the roles of Nick and George, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for those auditioning for the roles Nick, George, Honey, and Martha, and from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. for those auditioning for the roles of George and Martha. The theater asks that auditionees arrive early to sign up and fill out an audition sheet and be familiar with the play. Those auditioning should be prepared to read several times if asked.

George, a professor at a small college, and his wife, Martha, have just returned home, drunk from a Saturday night party. Martha announces, amidst general profanity, that she has invited a young couple to stop by for a nightcap. When they arrive the charade begins. The drinks flow and suddenly inhibitions melt. In the end, the mystery in which the distressed George and Martha have taken refuge is exposed, once and for all revealing the degrading mess they have made of their lives.

Roles are:

George Early 50s/60s	A college professor on the verge of retirement. Viciously smart, his usual calm demeanor belies an ongoing undercurrent of constant rage. Deeply in love with Martha. Make no mistake, he is the master of ceremonies. A functioning alcoholic.
Martha Early 50s/60s	The college president’s daughter. Growing up, she was privileged, but ignored. Uses her sexuality as if it’s a military tactic. Deeply in love with George. A barely functioning alcoholic. Has a loud mouth and is highly opinionated, but has been trained by George to keep it under wraps. And she knows that. And she hates that.
Nick Late 20s/30s	Recently hired assistant professor. Just starting out and so afraid that this is the best it will be. A reformed womanizer. An upstart – plays with the rich and famous, but never fits in, and knows it.
Honey 20s	Raised to be a wife, mother and hostess. Desperate to feel important and wanted. Used to being ignored.

Callbacks will be Dec. 8 from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sides will be provided.

If you have any questions, please email the theater at circleplayersnj@gmail.com

"Lucky Stiff" at Edison Valley Playhouse

"Lucky Stiff", a murder mystery farce, will open at Edison Valley Playhouse Dec. 5.

Harry, a mild-mannered English shoe clerk, is propelled into a lunatic mix of a murdered Atlantic City croupier, his near-sighted jilted mistress, her hen-pecked brother and several hundred dogs. Harry will inherit six million dollars if he can successfully go on holiday with his uncle, the late departed croupier, in Monte Carlo for a week. If he doesn't pull it off, the money goes to the Universal Dogs Home of Brooklyn, and if there is one thing that Harry hates, it's dogs.

Directed by Zita Geoffroy-Heinz, the show features Crystal Ann Bennett, James Houston, Shannon Ludlum, S. Patrick Nugent, Lauren Rowland, Sandye Rudnitzky, Will Sandoval, Lou Savarese, Elayne Wishart, and Joe Zedeny.

The show will run at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays Dec. 5-20 and at 2 p.m. Dec. 14.

Tickets cost $15 for seniors and students and $20 for adults. To reserve tickets and pay for them the night of the show, contact (908)755-4654 and leave your name and phone number, date of the performance you wish to attend, and the number of tickets you wish to purchase. To purchase tickets online, click here.

Edison Valley Playhouse is located at 2196 Old Trenton Road.

'It's a Wonderful Life' at Main Street Theatre

Sayreville Main Street Theatre Co. will be performing the musical "It's a Wonderful Life."

The show performs at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays from Dec. 5 to Dec.14. Tickets are $20 for adults, $16 for seniors and students, and $12 for children.

The show is written by James W. Rodger and John Higgins, based on the classic film by Frank Capra.

This production is produced by Miriam Henry, directed by Kevin Gunther, musically directed by Nicole Barrow White, and choreographed by Susan Zuckerman.

Casting Call: 'Snow White'

Somerset Valley Players will be holding auditions for "Snow White."

Auditions will be at the theater on Nov. 19 and 20 at 7 p.m. Auditionees should be prepared to dance, and those auditioning for the role of Snow White should be prepared to sing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."

Roles are:

Cat	10+, either gender
Queen	25+, female
Mirror	10+, either gender
Snow White	17+, female
Prince Robert	17+, male
Huntsman	17+, male
The Enchanted Vixon	13+, female
Esmerald	17+, female
The Dwarfs	10+, either gender

This adaptation of the Brothers Grimm's story will be directed by Hilde Steinberg.

Casting Call: 'Steel Magnolias'

Sayreville Main Street Theatre Co. will be holding auditions for Robert Harling's "Steel Magnolias."

Auditions are at 7:30 on Nov. 23 and 25. Sides from the script will be provided.

In the world of Truvy's local-homegrown beauty salon, six very different women come together to share their secrets, fears and love for one another while engaging the audience in hysterical and neighborly gossip. From weddings to divorces, babies to funerals, new beginnings to happy endings, they share each moment in their lives with grace, determination, and perfectly coiffed hair. When tragedy strikes, it is in the familiar comfort of Truvy's salon where they seek the solace and support that carries them through.

Roles are:

Truvy 40-50	Owner of a small town beauty shop. She knows everyone’s business and shares it with anyone who will listen. She always has advice for you, and they often come in the form of country sayings.
Annelle 20s	Very shy hairdresser. She goes from a very soft-spoken person to a bible-loving Christian with her heart on her sleeve.
Clairee 60s	Widow of the former mayor of Chinquapin. She is wealthy and also knows everyone’s business. She is the sarcastic member of the group. She loves to laugh and poke fun at the little things that others cry over. Best friends with Ouiser.
Shelby 20s	Diabetic, prettiest girl in town, and loved by all. She has an odd relationship with her mother, and often rebels just for the sake of rebellion.
M’Lynn 50s	Mother of Shelby. She is over-protective and finds the need to have a firm grasp on the world at all times. She is a busy woman who worries too much for her age.
Ouiser 60s	Wealthy old biddy, but a loveably miserable lady. Her unique personality and sense of humor is a great relief in the serious scenes. Best friends with Clairee.

The show is produced by Pat Schladebeck and directed by Melanie Taylor.

Casting Call: 'Body Awareness'

Circle Players will hold auditions for “Body Awareness,” a 2009 Drama Desk award-winning play written by Annie Baker.

It’s “Body Awareness Week” on a Vermont college campus and the organizer, Phyllis, and her partner, Joyce, are hosting one of the guest artists, Frank, in their home. Frank is a photographer famous for his portraits of female nudes. His presence in the home and his chosen subject create tension from the start. Phyllis is furious with his art, but Joyce is intrigued and considers posing for him.

As Joyce and Phyllis bicker, Joyce’s young adult son, Jared, who may or may not have Asperger syndrome, struggles to develop relationships with young women, with heartbreaking results.

The play will be directed by Ed Faver of Roselle, and produced by Elyse Halloran of Somerset.

Roles being cast are:

Phyllis (must be able to play 40-45): a psychology professor at the school who runs the Body Awareness program. She is feeling the stress of the project as well as the stress at home. She loves Joyce, but might be happier if Joyce’s son Jared was able to find his way in the world.

Joyce (45-55): a high school teacher who gave birth to Jared during an earlier marriage. She loves Phyllis and champions Jared as only a mother can for her son.

Frank (50-60): an artist who embraces the bohemian life. He becomes something of a mentor to Jared. Relaxed and happy in his life and lifestyle. NOTE: The actor who plays Frank must either know how to play the recorder or be willing to learn.

Jared (21): Joyce’s son. At the start of the play, he works in a fast-food restaurant and is obsessed with his Oxford English Dictionary. He insists he does not have Asperger’s. His behaviors seem to indicate otherwise. Has no sense of how to interact with females of his own age.

Sides from the script will be provided at auditions.

Auditions will be held Nov.17 and Nov. 19. Sign-in begins at 7 p.m. and readings at 7:30 p.m.

The theater is located at 416 Victoria Ave., Piscataway.

Rehearsals will be 3-4 times weekly, including Sunday afternoons.

Performances run 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Jan. 16-31, with one 3 p.m. matinee Sunday, Feb. 1.

'Almost, Maine' at Circle Players

Circle Players this month will present “Almost, Maine,” a play written by John Cariani.

On a moonless night in the middle of winter, all is not quite what it seems in the remote town of Almost, Maine. The residents find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and often hilarious ways. Knees are bruised. Hearts are broken. But the bruises heal, and the hearts mend – almost -- in this delightful midwinter night’s dream.

The play is directed by Stephen Catron of Mendham, and produced by Elyse Halloran of Somerset. Marijah Sroczynski of Piscataway is stage manager.

Appearing in the cast are Thom Boyer of Somerville, Eric Branda of Somerset, Christie Leigh Carver of Somerset, Linda Hatcher of Warren, Steve Mennella of Dunellen, and Lisa Vastailo of Rahway.

Performances begin at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays Nov. 14-29, with one matinee at 3 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 30.

The audience is invited to a wine and cheese reception in the lobby following the opening night performance.

The theater is located at 416 Victoria Ave., Piscataway. Because of the unique layout of the theater, latecomers cannot be seated once the performance has started. Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before curtain.

For reservations, call (732) 968-7555, or buy tickets online at  www.circleplayers.com. Tickets cost $18 for adults and $17 for students and seniors. Credit cards may not be used at the box office, but will be accepted online.

Casting Call: 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof'

Pierrot Productions of Kelsey Theater will hold auditions for "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" next weekend.

This heart-wrenching drama examines the web of deceit holding a wealthy Southern family together while threatening to tear them apart. Over the course of one sultry Mississippi night, the characters’ gentility disappears as accusations of greed, sexual desire, and dishonesty, long-repressed, come to the fore. A Pulitzer-winning play, the show forces the audience and characters alike to determine what is truth, what is a lie, and which lies have become the truth.

Auditionees should prepare a one- to three-minute contemporary dramatic monologue, and expect readings assigned by the director. Familiarity with the play is recommended.

Margaret (late 20s+)	Known as 'Maggie the cat'. Married to Brick.
Brick (late 20s+)	Maggie's husband. Once an outstanding athlete. Big Daddy and Big Mama's youngest son.
Mae (30-40)	Sometimes called ‘sister woman.’ Gooper's wife.
Gooper (38-41)	Brick’s older brother. Occasionally called 'brother man.' A lawyer.
Big Mama (60-65)	Loud, brash, anxious.
Big Daddy (mid-60s)	Conflicted and blunt. Desires to regain his control after a long illness.
Reverend Tooker (45+)	The family’s parish pastor.
Doc Baugh (45+)	The family doctor.
Lacey and Sookie	Male and female servants. African-American or Latino.
Two children (9-12)	Gooper and Mae's children.

Auditions will take place by appointment from 7-10 p.m. Nov. 16 and 17. Rehearsals will commence after Thanksgiving. Performances will occur at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. Sundays Feb. 6-16.

To make an appointment, or for more information, contact pierrotatkelsey@gmail.com. Kelsey Theater is located on the Mercer County Community College campus at 1200 old Trenton Road, West Windsor.

Casting Call: 'Lend Me a Tenor'

Does anyone have a tenor I can borrow?

Maurer Productions of Kelsey Theater will hold auditions for "Lend Me a Tenor" mid-November.

Set in the 1930s, Saunders, general manager of the Cleveland Grand Opera Company, is primed to welcome world famous Tito Morelli, 'Il Stupendo', the greatest tenor of his generation, to appear for one night only as Otello. The star arrives late and, through a hilarious series of mishaps, is given a double dose of tranquilizers and passes out. His pulse is so low that Saunders and his assistant Max believe he’s dead. In a frantic attempt to salvage the evening, Saunders persuades Max to get into Morelli's Otello costume and fool the audience into thinking he's 'Il Stupendo'. Max succeeds admirably, but Morelli comes to and gets into his other costume, ready to perform. Now two Otellos are running around in costume and two women are running around in lingerie, each thinking she is with Morelli. A sensation on Broadway and in London's West End, this madcap, screwball comedy is guaranteed to leave you teary-eyed with laughter.

Max (mid-30s)	Assistant to Mr. Saunders, head of the Cleveland Opera Company. A bit of a nerd. An opera lover and a trained opera singer, Max wishes he had more courage and more confidence. In love with Maggie. Must be able to pass as a talented operatic tenor.
Maggie (late 20s)	Pretty and quirky, Maggie is the daughter of Saunders and a music lover. Besotted with Merelli and dreams of a great romantic fling before she settles down. For now, she is refusing to marry Max.
Saunders (mid-50s)	Authoritarian, excitable. Head of the Cleveland Opera Company. Worried that things will go wrong – and doesn't handle it too well when everything does. An uptight man with a short fuse who tends to take his frustrations out on Max.
Tito Merelli (mid-40s)	World-class Italian opera singer (think Pavorotti) with an appetite for wine, women, and women. Oh yes, and song. Speaks with a thick Italian accent. Must be believable as a world-class operatic tenor.
Maria Merelli (late 30s-early 40s)	A beautiful but moody and hot-blooded Italian. Merelli's wife. Sophia Loren type. Extremely jealous of Tito's philandering, ready to call it quits. H a thick Italian accent.
Julia (mid-50s)	Society matron and president of the Opera Guild. Desperate to hobnob with Merelli.
Diana (mid-30s)	A very sexy soprano who wants to use Merelli to further her career aspirations and is willing to do anything for the favor. Does not need to sing.
Bellhop: Male - Late 20's	Italian-speaking, opera-singing, hardworking, all-knowing bellhop who is desperate to get a picture with Merelli. Must sound like a wannabe opera star.

Auditions will take place from 12-5 p.m. Nov. 15 and 16. Auditionees should visit mponstage.com to sign up for the audition and prepare for the audition process. Kelsey Theater is located at on the Mercer County Community College campus at 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor.

'Mame' at Playhouse 22

"Mame" opens at Playhouse 22 this weekend.

The madcap life of eccentric Mame Dennis and her bohemian, intellectual arty clique is disrupted when her deceased brother's 10-year-old son Patrick is entrusted to her care. Rather than bow to convention, Mame introduces the boy to her free-wheeling lifestyle, instilling in him her favorite credo: "Life is a banquet, and most poor sons-of-bitches are starving to death."

The show will feature Stephanie Long as Mame, John “JC” DeMaria as Young Patrick, Tracey Fama as Vera Charles, Pam Jorgensen as Agnes Gooch, Jon Logan as Ito and Junior Babcock, Bill Osman as Lindsey, Mike Levine as Dwight Babcock, Gregory Newton as Beauregard, Chris Chalcraft as Older Patrick, Michele Greenspan as Gloria Upson, Thomas Fritzen as Mr. Upson and Uncle Jeff, Nancy Drumright as Mrs. Upson, Krystle Danza as Pegeen Ryan, Leslie Hochman as Sally Cato, Dotti Friis as Mother Burnside; and Arianne Grosky, Joanna Haupt, Rachel Silberman and Elena Marie Chalcraft as members of the ensemble.

The show will run at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 3 p.m. Sundays Nov. 7-23.

Tickets cost $22 per adult and $20 per senior or student. To purchase tickets, click here. Playhouse 22 is located at 721 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick.

Casting Call: 'Sweeney Todd'

Villagers Theatre will hold auditions this month for an upcoming production of "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street."

Auditions will take place at 7 p.m. Nov. 10 and 12, with callbacks Nov. 13. Prepare 16 to 32 bars of music in the style of the show. Auditionees may be asked to sing scales or demonstrate their vocal range. Do not sing anything from the show.

The rare instance of a musical thriller, "Sweeney Todd" tells the pennydreadful tale of a barber unjustly exiled 19th-century barber who returns to London seeking revenge against the lecherous judge who framed him and ravished his young wife.

His thirst for blood soon expands to include his customers, and the resourceful proprietress of the pie shop downstairs soon has the people of London lining up in droves with her mysterious new meat pie recipe.

Sophisticated, macabre, visceral and uncompromising, Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's musical nevertheless has a great sense of fun, mixing intense drama with howlingly funny moments of dark humor. Audiences will find themselves laughing hysterically one moment and gasping in surprise the next.

Roles are:
  

Adolfo Pirelli B2 - C5	A flamboyant Italian rival barber; a charlatan with a secret past.
Anthony Hope B2 - F4	A naive and youthful sailor returning to London. He helps Todd return to London and unexpectedly falls in love with Johanna.
Beggar Woman A3 - F5	A deranged and schizophrenic woman who harbors a dark, surprising secret.
Johanna B3 - A5	A spritely girl, full of innocence, constantly yearning for freedom. Todd's long-lost daughter and Turpin's ward.
Jonas Fogg N/A	The owner of Fogg's Asylum. He sells the hair of madmen to wigmakers.
Judge Turpin E2 - G4	A lecherous public official who portrays himself as a sanctimonious authoritarian. He takes advantage of his position in the city and is responsible for imprisoning Todd.
Mrs. Lovett G3 - E5	An entrepreneurial and amoral meat pie shop owner. She falls in love with Todd and turns his desire for revenge into a profitable business venture.
Sweeney Todd  F2 - G4	A wrongfully imprisoned barber seeking to right the wrongs committed against him. He is Johanna's father, singularly focussed on taking bloody revenge. Our story's tormented protagonist.
The Beadle D3 - D5	A pompous public official. He is deeply loyal to the corrupt Turpin.
Tobias Ragg B2 - A4	A poor youngster apprenticed to Pirelli. He finds a surrogate family in Todd and Lovett.
Ensemble	Townspeople, lunatics, customers, etc.

The show will be produced by Pam Luckenbaugh and Joe Buz, and directed by Khy Garner.

For more information please email joe@villagerstheatre.com or call (732) 259-4252.