Casting Call: '9 to 5'

Somerset Valley Players will hold auditions for "9 to 5: The Musical."

Auditions will take place at 7 p.m. on June 29 and 30 at the South Branch Reformed Church, located on 870 River Road in Hillsborough, NJ. Auditionees should prepare 16-32 bars of a song in the style of the musical. Bring comfortable clothes because there will be a dance portion of the audition. You may be asked to read from sides provided the night of your audition.

Dolly Parton's spirited musical version of the classic movie celebrates gleeful revenge of the office workers as three hard-working and very clever secretaries create corporate chaos while gladly turning the tables upside-down on their sexist and loud-mouthed boss.

Roles are:

Violet.Newstead 40-50	The company's Head Secretary and Mr. Hart's Administrative Assistant, she is a single mother and typically stands up for what she believes in. Attractive, strong, ambitious.
Doralee Rhodes 20-30	A young, sexy spitfire who works at Mr. Hart's office. She is proof that there is more to a woman than just her looks.
Judy Bernly 30-40	The "new" girl at the firm, she has been burned by her husband's affair and is searching for personal empowerment. Insecure, determined, hopeful.
Franklin Hart Jr. 30-50	One of the firm's executives and a notorious chauvinist. He is capable of faking charm but usually shows his true colors as an arrogant, self-absorbed boss.
Roz Keith 30-60	The attentive office gossip queen and snitch. She has an unrequited love for Mr. Hart and will do anything she can to win his approval.
Female Ensemble 25-60	Various other secretaries, hospital workers, and even some woodland creatures. Ensemble members will take on various roles and must at least move well.
Male Ensemble 25-60	Various other businessmen, law enforcement, as well as husbands or boyfriends. Ensemble members will take on various roles and must at least move well.

The show is directed by Christian Carrara and produced by Karen Abbatiello. Performances will take place between September 11 and October 4 at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays.

Casting Call: 'The Producers'

Playhouse 22 will hold open auditions for Mel Brooks' "The Producers" in about a week.

The show starts out with Max Bialystock, a down and out Broadway producer whose latest work flopped on opening night. Max, plagued by his former success and scrabbling to stay afloat, experiences a change in fortune when downtrodden accountant, Leo Bloom, discovers there is money to be made in Max’s theatrical failure. As a result, the two formerly-defeated businessmen form an unlikely union with the goal of creating the world’s worst musical. The plot develops as the duo enlists the help of ridiculous and often farcical characters along the way, such as former Nazi and ongoing Third Reich enthusiast Franz Liebkind; Ulla, the blonde bombshell secretary/receptionist; and the flamboyant homosexual director Roger De Bris. As a result of the characters' combined brainpower and ludicrous behavior, "Spring Time for Hitler" is born on Broadway.

Auditions will occur at 7:30 p.m. June 21 and 22, with callbacks at the same time  June 25. Auditionees should prepare 16 bars of an uptempo song in a similar style to that of the show, with sheet music clearly marked and legible in the proper key. Do not sing a song from the show, and do not sing a capella. An accompanist will be provided. They should also be prepared for a short dance audition andear comfortable clothes and dance shoes, and bring a list of weekday-evening and weekend conflicts for the entire rehearsal period.

Max Bialystock (40-60, A2-F#4)	The consummate con man. Naturally animated and bombastic, he is never at a loss for charm and manners. Typically conspires with Leo. Stocky but amazingly energetic.
Leo Bloom (25-40, A2-F4)	An accountant. Boring and mousy, he is a hesitant optimist who longs for something more. Dragged into a scheme by Max. The actor playing this character must be a dancer and have at least some ability to tap-dance.
Rogers Debris (40-60, G#2 - G4)	New York's most famous and flamboyant stage director. Surrounds himself with deliciously beautiful clothing, people, and possessions. In a crowd, it would be impossible to miss him.
Franz Liebkind (35-60, F2 - G4	German loyalist playwright. From his lederhosen to his pigeon, Adolph, his love for the motherland is unmistakable. He is imposing yet tender.
Carmen Ghia (25-35, C3 - A4)	Roger Debris' faithful assistant. Carmen is severe in looks and passion for Roger. He may appear younger than he actually is thanks to skilled surgeons.
Ulla Inga Hansen Benson Yonsen Tallen-Hallen Svaden-Svanson (25-35, A3 - G5)	A young and hopeful actress. Though her beauty might eclipse her talent, Ulla is passionate about life and art. Quite a clueless seductress in some ways. The actor playing this character must be a dancer and able to belt. She should also either be tall, or tall with heels and able to move in them.
15-20 ensemble members (all ages)	Onstage in various guises for most of the show playing such varied parts as accountants, Bavarian peasants, convicts, first-nighters, little old ladies, storm troopers, chorus girls, female prisoners, and ushers.

Rehearsals should begin in July and run through the summer. The show will run at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 3 p.m. Sundays Sept. 11-27. It will be directed by Tom Frascatore.

For more information, contact producers@playhouse22.org or call (732)254-3939. Playhouse 22 is located at 721 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick.

The Villagers Theatre Senior Performing Arts Festival

In order to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Older Americans Act, Villagers Theatre will hold a Senior Performing Arts Festival.

The festival features unforgettable performances ranging from singing and dancing to monologues and instrumentals. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for seniors/students and are available here. All proceeds go to replacing Villagers Theatre's 25 year old HVAC system.

Performances begin at 3 p.m. on June 27 and 28 and 7:30 p.m. on June 27. The show runs

The festival is directed by Linda Giordano and Sherry Lilenfield, musically directed by Peter Sicko, and stage managed by Dot Steffan with lighting by Bob Seesselberg and Suzanne Wengryn, and sound by Andy Gordanier.

Casting Call: 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'

Kick off your summer by auditioning for "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at the Dragonfly Multicultural Arts Center.

Auditionees should prepare a pre-selected monologue from the play and be prepared to read from sides. Auditions will occur from 11:30-3:30 p.m. June 20 and from 12-3 p.m. June 21.

Oberon (20-40)	The king of the fairies.
Lysander (18-30)	A young man of Athens, in love with Hermia.
Demetrius (18-30)	A young man of Athens.
Theseus (25-45)	The heroic duke of Athens, engaged to Hippolyta.
Egeus (middle age)	Hermia’s father.
Nick Bottom (16-45)	The overconfident weaver.
Titania (18-40)	The beautiful queen of the fairies.
Hermia (16-30)	Egeus’s daughter, a young woman of Athens. Short.
Helena (16-30)	A young woman of Athens, in love with Demetrius. Tall.
Hippolyta (18-40)	The legendary queen of the Amazons, engaged to Theseus.
Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Mote, and Mustardseed (12-30, female)	Fairies.
Puck (18-35, male or female)	Oberon’s jester, a mischievous fairy who delights in playing pranks on mortals.
Peter Quince (20-50, male or female)	A carpenter and the nominal leader of the craftsmen.
Francis Flute (20-40, male or female)	The bellows-mender chosen to play Thisbe in the craftsmen’s play.
Robin Starveling (30-50, male or female)	The tailor chosen to play Thisbe’s mother in the craftsmen’s play.
Tom Snout (20-45, male or female)	The tinker chosen to play Pyramus’s father in the craftsmen’s play.
Snug (20+, male or female)	The joiner chosen to play the lion in the craftsmen’s play.
Philostrate (20-50, male or female)	Theseus’s Master of the Revels.

Rehearsals will be during evenings and weekends at the Forum Theater. Performances will be August 21 and 22.

For a list of monologues, click here. For more information, visit Dragonfly Multicultural Arts Center's website. Auditions will take place in the storefront space of the Forum Theater at 314 Main Street, Metuchen.

'Urinetown' at Playhouse 22

Everyone's got to go. To see "Urinetown" when it opens at Playhouse 22 next week, that is.

The musical takes place in a Gotham-like city where a terrible water shortage, caused by a 20-year drought, has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets. The citizens must use public amenities, regulated by a single malevolent company that profits by charging admission for one of humanity's most basic needs. Amid the people, a hero decides he's had enough, and plans a revolution to lead them all to freedom.

 "Urinetown" will run at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 3 p.m. Sundays June 12-28. Tickets cost $20 per senior or student and $22 per adult.

The show features Kevin Albanese as Hot Blades Harry, Maria Aromando as Hope Cladwell, Arnold Brown as Senator Fipp, Catherine Circonciso as Little Sally, Lynda Dickson as Penelope Pennywise, Frank Falisi as Officer Lockstock, Dotti Friis as Granny The Fox, Thom Fritzen as Officer Barrel, Jacob Goode as Billy Boy, Robert Gunther as Tiny Tom, Dan Keyser as Bobby Strong, Jessica Kimberlin as Lily the Butterbug, Megan Liberty as Ms. Peasandcarrots, Pete Matseur as Old Man Strong/Cop/UGC Exec #1, Kate Matseur as Anal Annie, Nicole Mory as Ms. Deepockets/Cop, Gregory Newton as Cladwell, Rosellen Schussler as Mrs. Yesman/Cop, Julie Stein as Soupy Sue, Marc Suznovich as Dr. Billeaux/UGC Exec #2/Cop, Leigh Suznovich as Mrs.Millenium/Cop, Judi Thaw as Ma Strong, Jack Tomy as Robby the Stockfish, Phillip Wallens as Mr. McQueen, and Jenna Zielinski as Little Becky Two Shoe. It is directed by Mark Kalet.

To purchase tickets, click here. Playhouse 22 is located at 721 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick. 

'House of Yes' at Edison Valley Playhouse

"The House of Yes", a dark and literally bloody comedy, opens tonight at Edison Valley Playhouse.

It's Thanksgiving, and Marty's arrival home is greatly anticipated by his mother, his twin sister Jackie-O, and his younger brother Anthony. He arrives during a hurricane, but worse than the storm is the fact that Marty brings Lesly, his fiancée. This ruins everything. Marty's engagement is a threat to the well-being of his family and a greater threat to Jackie-O, who has always wanted her brother for herself. On top of that, Jackie-O has just recently been released from a mental hospital, Anthony dropped out of Princeton, and their mother is having difficulty handling any of this. Jackie-O convinces Anthony to try and seduce Lesly and steal her away from Marty, who will then have to stay at home. This suits Anthony just fine as he is immediately attracted to Lesly. The only way he finds to seduce her, though, is to convince her that Marty and Jackie-O are lovers.

"The House of Yes," directed by Brian Remo, features Shiva Kiani, Craig Tiede, Robert Sidebottom, Debbie Campanali, and Kristine Stringer.

The show opens June 5 and runs at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through June 20 and at 2 p.m. June 14.

Tickets cost $15 for adults and $12 for seniors and students. To reserve tickets for pickup and payment the night of the show, call (908)755-4654 and leave a message with your last name, date of the performance you wish to attend, and phone number. You will only receive a call back if there is a problem with the reservation. To purchase tickets online for pickup the night of the show, click here.

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

'Thoroughly Modern Millie' at Villagers Theatre

Villagers Theatre will present "Thoroughly Modern Millie."

The show performs at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays from June 5 - June 21. Tickets are $20 for adults and $18 for seniors/students.

Based on the 1967 film of the same name, "Thoroughly Modern Millie" tells the story of a small-town girl, Millie Dillmount, who comes to New York City to marry for money instead of love - a thoroughly modern aim in 1922, when women were just entering the workforce. Millie soon begins to take delight in the flapper lifestyle, but problems arise when she checks into a hotel owned by the leader of a white slavery ring in China.

The musical features a book by Richard Morris and Dick Scanlan, with music by Jeanine Tesori and Dick Scanlan. This production is produced by Marie Fiorello and Darren Nye, directed by Alan Van Antwerp, musically directed by Jack Bender, choreographed by Megan Ferentinos, and stage managed by Laura Zahorbenski.

It features Allie Acquafredda as Millie Dilmount, Mark Pilts as Jimmy Smith, Carly Hatcher as Dorothy Brown, Roseann Ruggiero as Mrs. Meers, Time White as Trevor Graydon, Melrose Johnson as Muzzy, Gloria Schnure as Miss Flannery, Raven Dunbar as Alice, Lindsey Jordon as Rita, Nina Marti as Ruth, Christa DiLalo Petti as Cora, Angela Ronan as Gloria, Hannah Schroeder as Ethel, Jillian Wagner as Lucille, Erica Boyea as Dorothy Parker, Natalee Phmesint as Mathilde, Zach Mazouat as Ching Ho, Edgar Hidalgo as Bun Foo, and Chris Abbott, Andy Calderone, Evan Krug, Brian Pember, and Francois Suhr as the Ensemble.

'Moon Over Buffalo' at Somerset Valley Players

Somerset Valley Players presents "Moon Over Buffalo."

Performances are at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays from June 5 to 21. Tickets are $20 for adults and $18 for seniors and students.

In this classic comedy, zany shenanigans comically lighting up a backstage dressing room in 1953 Buffalo. A married pair of boisterous and bickering actors continually confuse their plays while coping with misunderstood identities and slamming doors.

"Moon Over Buffalo" is directed by Lance Hilfman, produced by Holly J. Kowalenko, and sponsored by State Line Aviation, LLC. It features Lorraine DeMan, AJ Meeker, Tracey Fama, Kathryn Risi, James J Houston, John Ritch, Paul Knowles, and Ashley Widmer.

For additional information, you can call the theater at (908) 369-7469.

'Young Frankenstein' at Plays-in-the-Park

Plays-in-the-Park presents Mel Brooks' "Young Frankenstein."

Performances will take place at 8:30 p.m. from June 17 to June 27. There will be no performance on June 21. Tickets are free for children 12 and under, $7 for adults, and $5 for seniors, and must be purchased the day of the show.

The show stars Michael Louis as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, Ali Gleason as Elizabeth Benning, Billy Geltzeiler as Igor, Kelliann DeCarlo as Inga, Scott Daniels as Frankenstein's Monster, Kate Riley as Frau Blucher, Bob Nutter as Inspector Kemp, Jay Lowman as Hermit, and Kirk Geritano as Ziggy, with an ensemble featuring Ryan Lind, David Yurch, Christopher Ciarlariello, Mike Patierno, CJ Carter, Tyler Barnick, David De Sio, Jack Cibrian, Alyssa Kemper, Marie Ferguson, Kelly Plescia, Kaitlin Farrell, Meghan Bowes, Olivia Whitehouse, Neha Patel, and Stephanie Turci.

It is directed by Gary P. Cohen, musically directed by Nick DeGregorio, choreographed by Michelle Massa, and stage managed by Lindsey Raguette and Brenden Szefinski, with a set by Gary Cohen, costumes by Carolyn McCaffrey, lighting by Roman Klima, sound by Matt Boyle, and wigs and hair designs by Nance Coffaro.