Audition Notice for Two Plays

The Vermont Theatre Company Announces Auditions for two plays, Moon Over Buffalo and The Woman in Black, on Monday September 17 at 6:30 P.M. in the Brattleboro Union High School Auditorium. Actors may audition for one or both productions and will be asked to do cold readings from the scripts. Monologues are not required for either play but are recommended for The Woman in Black.

Moon Over Buffalo
By Ken Ludwig

From the same playwright as Lend Me a Tenor, Moon Over Buffalo tells the story of The Hays, a family of traveling actors, struggling to move from the stage to the big screen. Set in the green room of the Erlanger Theater in Buffalo, NY in 1953, Charlotte and George Hays are disappointed with their jaded careers but when they find out that movie director Frank Capra is coming to consider them for roles in the upcoming film The Scarlet Pimpernel everything that could go wrong does. Be sure to audition for this fast paced tale of secret love affairs, weather men, mistaken identities, dreams of stardom and pants.

Roles:
Charlotte Hays: late 40s to 50s. Described as the oldest ingénue, she dreams of bigger and better things.
George Hays: Late 40s to 50s.   Leading male actor of the company who thinks he is much better than he actually is. This is a very physical role.
Rosalind Hays: Late 20s to 30s. Daughter of Charlotte and George. She has left the theater for a calmer life.
Howard: Late 20s to 30s. Rosalind's fiancé. He works as a weatherman and often gets so nervous he cannot remember his own name.
Paul: Late 20s to 30s. Rosalind's ex boyfriend. He currently works as the stage manager for the Hays.
Eileen: Late 20s to 30s. An actress in the Hays' company. She wants to be the leading lady.
Ethel: Late 60s to 70s. Former actress and Charlotte's mother.

The Woman in Black
By Stephen Mallatratt

The Woman in Black is a play based on the suspense novel of the same name.  It has been running for over 20 years in London's West End. Recently a movie, staring Daniel Radcliffe, was also adapted from the book. 

The play is about the main character, Arthur Kipps (referred to as "Actor" in the script).  Arthur had a haunting experience in his younger years as a solicitor tending to the affairs of the late Mrs. Alice Drablow of Crythin Gifford.  This memory and the consequences of his experience have been a heavy load on his conscience.  He turns to a seasoned actor (referred to as "Kipps" in the script) to teach him how to tell his story. The actor takes on the role of enacting a young Mr. Kipps, while Arthur Kipps plays all of the characters from his memory.  As they rehearse the story, Arthur Kipps discovers his facility as an actor, and the actor makes a chilling discovery...


The author, Stephen Mallatratt, states in the introduction to the script, "The intent of this show is to frighten-if it doesn't, it's nothing. The fear is not on a visual or visceral level, but an imaginative one.  There are no gouts of blood nor any but the simplest of special effects."  Actors involved in this project should be prepared to have a hands on role making a haunting happen on stage.

Roles include:
'Actor': he must be able to create many character roles, he is older than the actor playing 'Kipps'
'Kipps': he must be willing to be acted upon and taken on a journey - a good listener and reactor, he is younger than the actor playing 'Actor'
Woman 1: a non-speaking role, must be physically similar to Woman 2
Woman 2: a non-speaking role, must be physically similar to Woman 1
A monologue is recommended, but not required to audition for this show. Contact director Jess Callahan Gelter if you would like an emailed copy of audition sides.

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For more information or if you cannot make the audition time please email the director to set up an alternate time.

Moon Over Buffalo: 
Michelle Page
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The Woman in Black:
Jessica Callahan Gelter
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