Casting Call: 'Barefoot in the Park'

Time to put your timing to the test! Villagers Theatre is casting its upcoming production of Neil Simon's "Barefoot in the Park" this mid-July.

Paul and Corie Bratter are newlyweds in every sense of the word. He's a straight-as-an-arrow lawyer and she's a free spirit always looking for the latest kick. Their new apartment is her most recent find, too expensive with bad plumbing and in need of a paint job. After a-six day honeymoon, they get a surprise visit from Corie's mother and decide to play matchmaker during a dinner with their neighbor-in-the-attic Velasco; and inadvertently learn a thing or two about their own relationship in the process. The show will be directed by Matt Lafargue.

Auditions are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. July 12 and July 13, with callbacks at 7:30 p.m. July 14. Rehearsals would begin the following Monday, with performances Sept. 16-Oct. 2.

All auditionees must agree to and sign the Villagers Liability/Photo Release Form, found at:
www.villagerstheatre.com/liability-photo-release-form.pdf.

For more information writer to producer Emily Russoniello, at emily@villagerstheatre.com.

Villagers Theatre is located at 475 DeMott Lane, Somerset.

LIST OF CHARACTERS:

Corie Bratter (20-25)	A newlywed, married only six days at the beginning of the play. She is young and full of enthusiasm. Impulsive, quirky and fun-loving, she would much rather do something crazy and have a great story to tell than stay home and do nothing. Her non-stop energy and thirst for adventure can be tiring to her husband and her mother, but is also the main reason they ever have any fun. She is more domestic than she lets on, and despite her independent spirit, deep down she loves it when somebody takes care of her.
Paul Bratter (26)	Corie's husband, a newlywed just starting his career as a lawyer. Paul is 26 but breathes and dresses like he's 56. His manner and his outlook are both very conservative. Levelheaded and practical, but always ready with some wit and sarcasm when the occasion calls for it. He may come off stuffy and joyless, but Corie knows he's really a hopeless romantic, and that's both how and why she drives him wild.
Mrs. Banks (45-50)	Corie's mother. Warm, pleasant and very dignified. She's not a grandmother yet, but it's clear that she'll be great at it someday. Like Paul, she comes across as very proper and does not see herself as the adventurous type. Her most endearing and impressive quality, however, is her willingness to accept just about anyone and go along with just about anything. It would never be her idea to go out for a wild night on the town, but she'll go along if Corie drags her. And she'll never complain (at least not while Corie is in earshot).
Victor Velasco (58)	The Bratters' charming and flirtatious upstairs neighbor, he describes himself as "56 years old and a thoroughly nice fellow," but he's really 58. He fancies himself a worldly playboy, but he doesn't have the funds to pull it off in the style he would prefer. He professes a great deal of knowledge of other cultures from around the world, but nobody can tell whether he's just making it all up. (He's probably making up about half of it.) He might appear ageless or even lecherous at times, but his most closely guarded secret is that he's really a perfect gentleman who is completely aware of exactly how old he is.
Harry Pepper (35-45)	The telephone repairman. A salt-of-the-earth working man who knows a lot because he's seen a lot. He is humble and unassuming, but he carries with him the wisdom that comes from having spent his entire career in other people's homes.

Note: The nonspeaking role of DELIVERY MAN will be played by our stage manager.

Casting Call: 'Cabaret'

Playhouse 22 seeks a diverse and uninhibited cast of actors, singers and dancers, 18 and older, for an upcoming non-equity community theater production of "Cabaret." Special consideration will be given to performers who also play a musical instrument. All roles are available.

Prepare two contrasting musical theatre selections of 16 bars each, in the style of the show. An accompanist will be provided. Bring sheet music in the correct key (no transpositions on-demand). Also, no acapella and no recorded accompaniment. You will also be asked to learn a short dance combination at the audition, so bring appropriate clothing and dance shoes.

Auditions are at 7 p.m. June 20 and June 21, with callbacks by invitation only at noon June 25. Auditions will be held at the East Brunswick Community Arts Center, 721 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick.

This production is specifically looking for performers ages 18 and older who are comfortable with and confident about their bodies and who can overcome inhibitions related to intimate body contact on stage. Open minds and mutual respect for one another is a must.

Show dates are Fridays, Saturdays and from Sept. 16-Oct. 2. Friday and Saturday performances are at 8 p.m. Sunday performances are at 3 p.m. There will be no afternoon performance Sep. 25, but there will be a Sunday evening performance at 8 p.m.

The show will be directed by Jim Jarrell, with choreography by Phillip Solomon. Music director is Candice Kraus.

For more information, or to ask additional questions, contact Jarrell at jarrellje@gmail.com.

CAST BREAKDOWN

Emcee - Middle C to High C-sharp - the highly sexually-charged host at the Kit Kat Klub who is equally comfortable with women and men; must have strong comedic timing and a commanding stage presence; strong ability to move/dance.

Sally Bowles - Low A to E, with a strong belt - a performer at the Kit Kat Klub; walks around with blinders on; speaks with a British accent; very strong movement/dance.

Clifford Bradshaw - Low A to High E - an American novelist and English teacher; somewhat sexually ambiguous; comfortable with movement/dance.

Fraulein Schneider - Low D to A-flat above Middle C - typically presented as an older German woman with rooms to rent; good comedic timing; must have German accent; comfortable with light movement; may double as a Kit Kat Klub girl.

Herr Schultz - Low G to High F - owns a fruit shop and is a boarder in Fr. Schneider's house; typically presented as an older German Jewish man; good comedic timing, sentimental and romantic nature; must have German accent; comfortable with light movement; may double as a Kit Kat Klub boy.

Fraulein Kost - Low A-flat to High F with strong belt - a woman of ill-repute and a boarder in Fr. Schneider's house; strong comedic timing; speaks with a German accent; very strong dancer; doubles as one of the Kit Kat Klub girls (note: in other revivals, this role has played the accordion in the show)

Ernst Ludwig - flexible vocal range - friendly and likable German; questionable sexual preference; good comedic timing; speaks with a German accent; comfortable with light movement; may double as a Kit Kat Klub boy.

Kit Kat Klub Girls - Rosie, LuLu, Frenchie, Texas, Fritzi, and Helga - an assortment of rowdy "cabaret girls" who sing and dance throughout the show in the Kit Kat Klub numbers; must be strong, confident singers and dancers; some will double as character roles.

Kit Kat Klub Boys - Bobby, Victor, Herman, Hans, and Max - an assortment of rowdy "cabaret boys" (some with questionable sexual preference) who sing and dance throughout the show; must be strong, confident singers and dancers; some will double as character roles.

Playhouse 22 is a non-profit, community theater troupe. No paid stipends will be available. More information about Playhouse 22 can be found at Playhouse22.org.

'Incorruptible' at Circle Players

It's the Dark Ages all over again, as Circle Players presents "Incorruptible," the final show of its season, this weekend.

Written by Michael Hollinger, “Incorruptible” is a farce set in Priseaux, France, circa 1250 C.E. Saint Foy, patron of the local monastery, hasn’t worked a miracle in thirteen years. All eyes turn to the pope, whose promised visit surely will draw other pilgrims — until a rival church claims to possess the relics of Saint Foy — and those bones are working miracles. All seems lost until the destitute monks take a lesson from a larcenous one-eyed minstrel, who teaches them an outrageous new way to pay old debts.

Performances will begin at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, June 10-24, and at 3 p.m. June 26. The play is directed by Eric Walby of Hopewell, and produced by Elyse Halloran of Somerset.  The stage manager is Laura Zahorbenski of Somerset.

Audiences are invited to join in a special wine and cheese reception in the theater lobby following the opening night performance.

Appearing in the cast are: Jim Clancy of Basking Ridge as Charles; Mike Wurzel of Little Silver as Martin; David Learn of New Brunswick as Olf; Aaron Ratzan of East Brunswick as Felix; Elizabeth Mahon of Aberdeen as Peasant Woman; Nils Swanson of North Brunswick as Jack; Casey Chartier of Highland Park as Marie ; and Jean Habrukowich of Somerset as Agatha.

The theater is located at 416 Victoria Ave., Piscataway. Due to the layout of this theater-in-the-round, 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.org. 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: 'Twelfth Night'

Dragonfly Multicultural Arts Center is looking for actors to be a part of its summer 2015 production of Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night, or What You Will."

"Twelfth Night" is one of Shakespeare's classic romances, in which Orsino, duke of Illyria, attempts to woo the Countess Olivia. The shipwrecked Viola disguises herself as a man, takes on the name Cesario, and enters the duke's service, whereupon she is called to court Olivia on his behalf. Cesario falls in love with the Duke and Olivia falls in love with Cesario. And that's just part of it.

The show will be staged at the Jersey Shore Arts Center in Ocean Grove, with performances at 7 p.m. Friday at 3 and 7 p.m. Saturdays, July 15-23, and at 3 p.m. July 29-30 at a park in Metuchen.

Auditions will be held from noon to 2 p.m. June 11 and from 2-4 p.m. June 12 from the Forum Theatre Blue Room, 314 Main St., Metuchen. Prepare a monologue from the show and be ready to cold-read from sides.  Callbacks will be June 14.

Appointments are not necessary, but for questions or more information, email dragonflyartsnj@gmail.com.  Appointments are available for actors who cannot come during regular audition times.

For more information, visit the Dragonfly web site.

THE CAST

Viola	A young woman, 18-30 years old, who disguises herself as a man named Cesario
Olivia	A noblewoman, 24-25 years old.
Maria	Olivia's serving woman, 25-plus years old.
Fool	Male or female, any age
Fabian	A servant in Olivia's household, male or female, any age.
Sebastian	Viola's twin brother, 18-30 years old.
Orsino	A nobleman, 25-40 years old.
Malvolio	Olivia's straitlaced head servant. Male, 20-44 years old.
Sir Toby Belch	Olivia's uncle. Forty-plus years old.
Sir Andrew	A friend of Sir Toby's. Male, 35-plus years old.
Antonio	A man who helps Sebastian and becomes his friend, 18-40 years old.
Valentine	Servant to Orsino. Male or female, any age.
Curio	Servant to Orsino. Male or female, any age.
Sea Captain

'Young Frankenstein' at Villagers Theatre

Villagers Theatre is bringing "Young Frankenstein" to life on its mainstage this weekend as it stages an adaptation of Mel Brooks’ famous monster comedy.

Grandson of the infamous Victor Frankenstein, Frederick Frankenstein inherits his family’s estate in Transylvania. With the help of a hunchbacked side-kick, Igor; and a leggy lab assistant, Inga; Frederick finds himself in the mad scientist shoes of his ancestors. “It’s alive!” he exclaims as he brings to life a creature to rival his grandfather’s. Eventually, of course, the monster escapes.

Directed by Nick Wainwright, the show opens Friday evening, with performances at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. Sundays, June 10-26. Tickets cost $20 for adults, and $18 for seniors or students; and are available online. Villagers Theatre is located at 475 DeMott Lane, Somerset.

For more information, call the theater at (732) 873-2710. .

The View from Backstage: You're Doing Theater Wrong

I just received an audition notice for a theater that plans to charge each actor $75 for the privilege of being in the show and helping the theater to make money. This isn't for camp, mind you: It's for a show.

This marvelous play has no licensing fees associated with it.

No. Just, no. There are other ways to stay in the black. There are grants, there are raffles and 50/50s, there are ads and sponsors, there are concessions, there are season ticket holders, and there are patrons who gladly will donate money if asked, to keep alive the community theater that they enjoy. Use those instead.

If that's not enough, cut your expenses. There is no need to do the biggest shows from Broadway history. There are thousands of quality dramatic works that have no licensing fees attached because they are in the public domain. Do a smaller work, and your theater will stand out from the herd. Everyone else is doing shows by Aaron Sorkin, Neil Simon and Stephen Sondheim. Be the brave theater to stage Eugene O'Neill, Christopher Marlowe, August Strindberg, Henrik Ibsen, Susan Glaspell or Oscar Wilde. Give your show a contemporary setting, and you won't even need to buy costumes.

Actors already easily are volunteering around 50 to 60 hours of their time from their evenings and weekends, per show. This is time they could spend at home with their families, at jobs making money, being with friends, or doing other things they love. And that's in addition to the time they spend memorizing and running lines.

I'm on the board of a community theater myself. I know how difficult it is to stay in the black, and what an earthquake it can be to have a bad season. Unless you're planning to divide the profits with them, you don't squeeze your actors for their money. That's like talking smack to them during the run. It's unprofessional and it's just bad karma.

I'm not going to audition for anything this theater does, and we're not going to promote any more of their shows via this blog either. There are some things you just can't support.

Casting Call: 'W.A.S.P' (staged reading)

Villagers Theatre is seeking a cast for a staged reading of the next play in its ongoing New Playwrights Series.

The show, "W.A.S.P.," is scheduled for a reading at 8 p.m. May 16 at the theater. Written by Zanne Hall and directed by Joey Palazzo, the show dramatizes the experiences of women who trained with the Women Airforce Service Pilots in Sweetwater, Texas, in 1944. Pilots with the W.A.S.P. program were faced with personal and professional conflict, and had to confront military and societal prejudice that believed the U.S. Air Force was a man's world where women did not belong.

Pilots from the program received the Congressional Gold Medal from Congress in 2010 in recognition of their WWII flying service. Interested actors should send head shots and resumes to NewPlaywrightseries@gmail.com

CAST OF CHARACTERS

JACKIE WIGHTMAN – 20s.	As a Floridian foster child (slight Southern accent) she had a difficult life in her early poor beginnings but found that a passion for flying made her life purposeful. She is an ace pilot and loves military life. She is a cocky wiseacre but can be an empathetic person because of her own hard-knock life. A deceased mother, a father who vanished soon after her brother was born, she hopes to reunite with her sibling.
DESIREE PATRICIA POST – 20s.	A member of the wealthy Post Cereals family, she and her husband owned a flight school before the war. She is a troublemaking snitch who has connections with the military brass because of her elite background. She is indifferent to anything but herself and thinks she is an ace pilot.
TSUN-YAN (SUNNY) CHUN - 20s.	(Chinese) Very upbeat, funny, always with a wisecrack that hits the point. Very self-assured and comfortable with herself in any situation. A hot pilot who was the first woman to fly solo across the U.S. north to south.
TERRY MITCHELL – 20s.	The naïve greenhorn of the group. Sweet and shy at first but a plucky, determined individual with a youthful passion for flying. She comes from a protective family who sent her away to Ohio State University to study pharmacy. She discreetly spent the surplus money they sent her for charm school on flying lessons. During W.A.S.P. training she becomes secretly married to a flight surgeon – military suicide if discovered.
INEZ (WHISKY) SANCHEZ - 20s.	(Argentinean) Her farming family moved to Wisconsin when she was a child just after the Peron power takeover. A soft-spoken, sensitive, commonsense woman with an understanding ear. JACKIE‘s confidant. She hopes to combine her love of flying with missionary work after WWII.
ALICE (ZIGGY) NEGLEY - 20s.	A smart-cracking tall beautiful New York Ziegfeld Follies gal who felt the call to help her country in a unique way. A producer‘s son who owned his own plane took her on flying trips where she fell head-over-heels in love with piloting (but not him). With a tough-as-nails exterior but a soft exterior, she thinks she can take care of herself until she gets into problems over her head, like an unwanted pregnancy.
BEATRICE (FRANKIE) WILKENS – 20s.	A devotee of Frank Sinatra. She is a daredevil trickster who has a sporting way about her. She is a good pilot but takes too many chances that eventually place her as a pawn in the military‘s game of elimination.

Military Nurse (doubled)
Military Orderly (doubled)


The goal of the Villagers New Playwrights Series is to provide playwrights with an opportunity to glimpse the performance potential of their works in progress. Additional goals are to provide alternative performance opportunities for our local actors and directors and to expose our local audiences to new works. All submissions will be considered for their potential to fulfill these goals.

Due to the fact that Villagers programs are supported, in part, by funds from the New Jersey State Council of the Arts/ Department of State (a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and administered by the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission through the State/County Partnership Local Arts Program), preference will be given to New Jersey resident playwrights. - See more at: http://www.villagerstheatre.com/viewproductions/new-playwrights-series/#sthash.pGLBrNpz.dpuf