Casting Call: 'The Last Night of Ballyhoo'

Playhouse 22 is looking for actors to create a simpler time, with its upcoming production of "The Last Night of Ballyhoo."

Written by Alfred Uhry,the comedy is set in the upperclass German-Jewish community of Atlanta in December 1939. It centers on Adolph Freitag, owner of the Dixie Bedding Co.; his sister Boo; and his nieces Lala and Sunny, Together they are a Jewish family so assimilated that they have a Christmas tree in the front parlor. The family is looking forward to Ballyhoo, a lavish cotillion ball sponsored by their restrictive country club.

Joe Farkas, one of the bedding company's employees, is an eligible bachelor and an Eastern European Jew, familiar with prejudice but unable to fathom its existence within his own religious community. His presence prompts Sunny to examine intraethnic bias, her own Jewish identity, and the beliefs she has been raised with.

Auditions will be held at 7 p.m. Jan. 26 and Jan. 28. Callbacks, by invitation only, will be at 2 p.m. Jan. 31. Auditions will be held at the East Brunswick Community Arts Center, 721 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick. Sides will be provided.

Character Breakdown

Boo Levy (40-50) Lala's mother, Sunny's aunt and Adolph's sister. A widow, she wants her daughter to be socially successful. Boo is the main character to drive the play's intra-Jewish racism.

Reba Freitag (40-50) Sister-in-law to Adolph and Boo. Reba is somewhat simple, but shrewder than others give her credit for. Reba is oblivious to what it means to be Jewish.

Adolph Freitag (40-50) Boo's brother, Reba's brother-in-law, and Lala and Sunny's uncle. Adolph adores Sunny, but has little tolerance for Lala. He is a kind soul who understands the impact that Joe Farkas has on the family.

Lala Levy (20s) Boo's daughter, obsessed with "Gone with the Wind." Lala is somewhat childish and awkward. She fights with her mother over their Jewish identity and social status.

Sunny Frietag (20s)  A junior at Wellesley College, Sunny is interested in the works of Eugene V. Debs and Upton Sinclair. She struggles with her Jewish identity, but faces this through her relationship with Joe Farkas.

Joe Farkas (20s) Works for Adolph Freitag. He finds an intellectual match in Sunny. Joe challenges the family to reassess its notions of identity and family.

Sylvan "Peachy" Weil (20s) A "gentleman caller" from Lake Charles, La. Peachy is known for his red hair, obnoxious behavior and outspokenness.


The show will run April 17-May 3. Performances are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and at 3 p.m. Sundays. Director is Marie Fiorello.

For more information, write to ballyhoo@playhouse22.org, or call (732) 254-3939. For more information about Playhouse 22, please visit www.Playhouse22.org.