Wheaton Drama

Wheaton Drama (WDI) proudly announces auditions for the hilarious comedy, Murdered to Death, by Peter Gordon.  Directed by Annie Walker-Bright and produced by Rebecca Poole-Dumper.

Auditions will be held Sunday, January 6 and Monday, January 7, 2019 starting at 7pm, with callbacks as needed on Tuesday, January 8^that 7:30 p.m.  Auditions will be held at Wheaton Drama’s Playhouse 111, located at 111 N. Hale Street, Wheaton, Illinois.  Auditions are open, with no appointments required.  Cold readings from the script and sides will be provided for each character at auditions.

Murdered to Death will run March 22 through April 14, 2019; Thursdays/Fridays/Saturdays at 8pm; Sundays at 3pm. Performances will take place at Wheaton Drama’s Playhouse 111, located at 111 N. Hale Street in downtown Wheaton.

Synopsis:

Murdered to Death is the first in the ‘Inspector Pratt’ trilogy of spoofs of the Agatha Christie ‘whodunnit’ genre, with a dash of Inspector Clousseau thrown in for good measure.

The play, set in the 1930s, takes place in an English manor, slightly worse for ware, with worn out decor and furnishings.  It introduces the inept and bungling Inspector Pratt, who battles against the odds and his own incompetence to solve the murder of the house’s owner. It soon becomes clear that the murderer isn’t finished yet; will the miscreant be unmasked before everyone else has met their doom or will the audience die laughing first?

Characters:

The characters in Murdered to Death are all deliberately based upon ‘whodunnit’ stereotypes. All of these characters are caricatures of typical English gentry, but according to director Walker-Bright, “My experience in directing most comedies shows that the humour works best when they are played relatively ‘straight’.”  Character ages below are for guidance only and can be varied, provided that the overall balance is maintained.  Director Walker-Bright gives the following advice: “I would rather see huge characters at first.  Show no fear in presenting over the top performances as one is then able to be pulled back if necessary.”

Mildred– Late fifties. Moderately wealthy owner of Bagshot House.

Dorothy– Mildred’s niece. Late twenties and rather plain but very appealing.

Bunting– The butler. Sixties. Pedantic and rather creepy.

Colonel Charles Craddock– Early sixties. Dresses in tweeds. Confident but over the top bluster.

Margaret Craddock– The long-suffering but acerbic wife of Charles.

Elizabeth Hartley-Trumpington – Mid twenties. Attractive and stunningly dressed. Very high society.

Pierre Marceau– A french art dealer in his early thirties. An exaggerated french accent.  Will need to hear cockney from this character as well.  Aha!!!!

Joan Maple – A spinster in her sixties. Amateur sleuth. Think of all the Miss Marples you have ever seen and this is Joan Maple.

Constable Thomkins– Young, bright uniformed village policeman, but well aware of Inspector Pratt’s pratness!!!!

Inspector Pratt – Inept, posing and clumsy. Thinks he so clever but we know better.  A master of malapropism, but this is not intentional.

Audition forms will be available at the theater during auditions or you may download for completion here: Murdered to Death Audition Form

Contact Director Annie Walker-Bright with questions at Bebrightannie@aol.com.

Wheaton Drama is a non-equity theater and offers no pay. Cast members will be required to complete membership with Wheaton Drama in order to participate.

Wheaton Drama is pleased to announce casting for our upcoming production of “Wit” by Margaret Edson. Director Lisa Dawn & Production Manager Mike Boyna, along with the entire creative team for “Wit”, wish to thank everyone who auditioned & look forward to bringing this poignant, moving piece of theatre to the stage in January!

Cast

Crew

“Wit” will be on stage from January 18 through February 10, 2019 at Wheaton Drama’s Playhouse 111, located at 111 N. Hale Street in downtown Wheaton. Showtimes are Thursdays, Fridays, & Saturdays at 8pm; Sundays at 3pm. Tickets & information available by phone at 630-260-1820 or online at www.wheatondrama.org.

“Wit” is presented through special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York.

Wheaton Drama (WDI) proudly announces auditions for the Pulitzer Prize winning drama, “Wit”, by Margaret Edson.  Directed by Lisa Dawn and produced by Mike Boyna.

Auditions will be held Sunday, November 11th and Monday, November 12th starting at 7pm, with callbacks as needed on Tuesday, November 13th.  Auditions will be held offsite at 112 N Wolf Rd, Northlake IL. To request an audition, please fill out the audition form and email it to WDIWitAuditions@gmail.com, along with your preferred audition date.  The date and scheduled time for your audition will be emailed back to you, along with sides for you to prepare and directions to the audition site. Walk-ins are welcome but will only be seen as time allows.

Performances of “Wit” will take place January 18 through February 10, 2019; Thursdays/Fridays/Saturdays at 8pm; Sundays at 3pm.

Audition Form available for download here: Wit Audition Form

Synopsis:  

Vivian Bearing, Ph.D., a renowned scholar and professor of English who has spent her life studying and teaching the metaphysical sonnets of John Donne, has been diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer.  During the course of her illness – and during her stint as a patient in an experimental chemotherapy program – Vivian comes to reassess her life and her work with a profundity and humor that are transformative both for her and the audience.

“[A] brutally human and beautifully layered play…you feel both enlightened and, in a strange way, enormously comforted.” – The New York Times

Characters:  

NOTE: All characters in “Wit” are open to all ethnicities.  Age preferences are listed*

Vivian Bearing, Ph.D. (Age 50’s) – The play’s main character and narrator.  As a professor, she is infamously tough, and as a scholar she is unrelenting in her pursuit of knowledge.  But as her disease and its painful treatment progress, she begins to question the single-minded values and standards that have always directed her, finally coming to understand the aspects of life that make it truly worth living.  You’ll also find that she contains elements of…humor.

Harvey Kelekian, M.D. (Age 50’s) – Chief of Medical Oncology and not only responsible for Vivian’s treatment but all of the medical fellowships, including that of Jason Posner.  Vivian and Kelekian are like-minded peers who speak different languages.

Jason Posner, M.D. (Late 20’s) – A medical fellow in Dr. Kelekian’s Oncology unit responsible for much of Vivian’s care.  Coincidentally, he was once a student of Vivian’s. Much like Vivian, his passion for research far outweighs his interest in personal connections.  

Susie Monahan, R.N. (late 20’s-30’s) – Vivian’s primary care nurse.  Though not considered “book smart” by scholarly standards, she shows Vivian that there is more to life than what can be taught in a classroom.  

E.M. Ashford, Ph.D. (Age 50-80’s) – Professor Ashford is Vivian’s college professor/mentor.  Though Ashford passed on to Vivian her unrelenting work ethic and thirst for knowledge, she also urged Vivian to find balance in life through personal connection – which she gives to Vivian in her time of need. Ashford is first seen at age 50 in a flashback, and then again at age 80.

Mr. Bearing (Played by the same actor as Kelekian) – Vivian’s father seen in a flashback from Vivian’s early childhood during the moment she acquired her passion for words.

Lab Techs, Clinical Fellows, Vivian’s students, Code Team (Age 20-30’s, preferably 2M, 2F) – Each of four actors will play four distinct characters, one from each of the above groups. These are roles that drive the action and represent aspects of Vivian’s journey, past and present, continually.  Seeking actors well versed in characterization and improv.

“Wit” is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Services, Inc., New York, NY.

Wheaton Drama, Inc. (WDI) announces the cast for the next show in its 2018-2019 season, “Silent Laughter” by Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore (“Love, Sex and the IRS,” “Confessions of a Dirty Blonde,” “The Senator Wore Pantyhose”).  An homage to the slapstick days of early silent movies, “Silent Laughter” is the story of Billy, a hapless schnook in New York, 1917.  Not just a retread of pie fights and pratfalls (although they are certainly present), “Silent Laughter”takes up the challenge of presenting death-defying Buster Keaton/Charlie Chaplin/Harold Lloyd style gags, with a bit of Laurel & Hardy and Musty Suffer.

“Silent Laughter” will run November 16 through December 9 at Wheaton Drama, 111 N. Hale Street, Wheaton, IL.  For reservations and information, go to www.WheatonDrama.org.

Director: Craig Gustafson  Production Manager: Elyse Willis.  Stunt Choreographer: Andrew Trygstad.

THE CAST

Billy (The Hero) – Jake Murphy

Ruth (The Heroine) – Mackenzie Grattan

Billy’s Pal (Billy’s Pal) – Peter Lemongelli

Lionel Drippinwithit (Billy’s Arch-Enemy) – Matt Hellyer

Sarge (Billy’s Nemesis) – Steve Schroeder

Max the Thug/Brewster Thickwad III/Maitre D’/Newsboy – Sage Brown

Max’s Dame/Lovestruck Woman/Office Girl/Cop/Prisoner/Recruiter/Old One-Armed Man/Enemy Soldier/Bridesmaid – Amanda Fisher

Man With Fruitcake/Lovestruck Man/Worker/Cop/Prisoner/Soldier – Dave Amato

Priest/Vendor/Janitor/Dowager/Butler/Old Bearded Man – Ken Kaden

Singing Waiter/Drunk/Fat Lady/ Worker/Cop/Prisoner/Soldier/Baker – Andy Kanturek

Wheaton Drama, Inc. (WDI) announces auditions for the next show in its 2018-2019 season, Silent Laughter by Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore (Love, Sex and the IRS, Confessions of a Dirty Blonde, The Senator Wore Pantyhose).  An homage to the slapstick days of early silent movies, Silent Laughter is the story of Billy, a hapless schnook in New York, 1917.  Not just a retread of pie fights and pratfalls (although they are certainly present), Silent Laughter takes up the challenge of presenting death-defying Buster Keaton/Charlie Chaplin/Harold Lloyd style gags, with a bit of Laurel & Hardy and Musty Suffer.  If you love this type of comedy, now is your chance to perform it.

What to expect at auditions:

“DELIGHTFUL! An affectionate amusing tribute to the heyday of silent film comedy with romance, high and low jinks and a climactic pie fight.”– The New York Times

“A tour-de-force! Hilarious! Clever! This is one crowd-pleaser where you needn’t feel embarrassed to be part of the crowd. Van Zandt directs the uproarious proceedings with precision and flair. An ensemble of 10, which executes gifted mime, balletic pratfalls, and operatic emotions, all with brio.”– The Village Voice

“An adoring salute to the golden age of film and an innovative twist on live theater! You won’t hear a single word uttered in Silent Laughter, but the show offers quite a bit to see and hear.Silent Laughterdisplays a wholly original brand of ‘musical theater.’ There is considerable sophistication and subtlety in this production.” – Associated Press

“An imaginative, respectful, reverential stage recreation of the slapstick antics of Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Mack Sennett’s Keystone Kops, and the rest. Cleverly devised. The silence may be on stage, but the laughter is in the audience!” – Two River Times

Craig Gustafson is directing.  Production Manager: Elyse Willis.  Stunt Choreographer: Andrew Trygstad.

To get a feel for what the show will be like, check out the commercial for the original off-Broadway production:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fPxYPWtJDI, or start watching all the Buster Keaton silent films you can find; especially Sherlock, Jr.

In order to best utilize the time of actors auditioning for Silent Laughter, auditions are by appointment only at Playhouse 111, 111 N. Hale Street in downtown Wheaton.

When asked what actors will have to do for auditions, director Gustafson’s response has been, “Monologues.”  Well… not exactly.  When you apply for an appointment, you will be sent audition sides unrelated to the show.  “These will be dialogue scenes,” explains Gustafson.  “People talk to each other in silent movies; we just don’t hear them. What I will be looking for is how you physicalize the scene; how visually expressive you can be.” Additionally, stunt choreographer Andrew Trygstad will have exercises to gauge how physically adept the actors are.  Dress to allow movement.

The process is as follows:

Beginning on September 16 (and not before): to schedule an appointment, please e-mail SilentWDI@comcast.net.  State your name and which day you would like to audition.  Attaching a headshot and resume is acceptable but not required.  Audition sides will be sent to you when your appointment is scheduled.

1. Actors will be scheduled for October 1 or 2.If all slots fill up on those dates, other dates will be added.
2. Actors will be assigned a call time, either 7:00, 7:30, 8:00, 8:30, 9:00 or 9:30 p.m.
3. Actors will be assigned to a group and will spend 30 minutes in the audition.
4. Walk-ins will be seen onlyif there are any cancellations or open slots, so making an appointment is strongly encouraged.
5. Those cast or called back will be called by noon on Wednesday, October 3.Actors who are not cast or called back will be contacted by e-mail.  If necessary, callbacks will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 3.

Performances of Silent Laughter are November 16 – December 9, 2018.  Shows are Thursdays/Fridays/Saturdays at 8pm; Sundays at 3pm.  There will be no performance on Thanksgiving. Auditions, rehearsals, & performances will take place at Wheaton Drama’s Playhouse 111, located at 111 N. Hale Street, Wheaton, IL 60187.

For tickets and information, please visit http://www.wheatondrama.org.

Silent Laughter is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS

Cast size is eight men and two women.  All actors must be able to perform dexterous physical comedy. Any actor cast as someone other than those listed below will play many characters.  Many, many characters.  It is truly an ensemble show with major comedic moments for all.

BILLY – The Hero.

RUTH – The Heroine.

BILLY’S PAL – Billy’s Pal.

LIONEL DRIPPINWITHIT – Billy’s Arch-Enemy.

BREWSTER THICKWAD – Billy’s Boss and Future Father-in-Law.

MAX THE THUG – Billy’s Cellmate and Foxhole Buddy.

SARGE – Billy’s Nemesis.

And a Cast of Hundreds.

If you have any questions, contact Craig Gustafson at SilentWDI@comcast.net.