FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Director: Annie Walker-Bright at bebrightannie@aol.com
Production Manager: Steve Blount at srblount@hotmail.com
Publicity: publicity@wheatondrama.org
Tickets: http://www.wheatondrama.org or call 630-260-1820
Wheaton Drama To Hold Auditions For Sherlock Holmes
“The game is afoot, Watson—and it is a dangerous one!”
Wheaton Drama Inc. announces auditions for the Steven Dietz’ adaptation of Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure.
Annie Walker-Bright is directing, assisted by Dee Hicks. The production manager is Steve Blount. Amy Johnson is the stage manager.
Auditions will be Sunday, October 21, 2012, and Monday, October 22, 2012 at 7pm at Wheaton Drama’s Playhouse 111, 111 N. Hale in downtown Wheaton. Callbacks (if necessary) will be Wednesday October 24, 2012 at 7:30pm. Those auditioning are requested to prepare a 1-2 minute dramatic monologue (either from the play or not) and be prepared for monologues and cold reading from the script.
Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure is set in Victorian England in a tidy flat at 221B Baker Street, and other locations. You don’t have to be a scholar of detective stories to enjoy the script Steven Dietz has crafted—there is enough intrigue and adventure, even a touch of romance with the inclusion of Holmes’ intellectual equal, Irene Adler.
The director will be casting 6 men and 2 women for the following roles:
| Sherlock Holmes |
Acerbic, intellectual, analytical. |
| Dr. Watson |
Solid, plodding, dependable. Serves as narrator. |
| Professor Moriarty |
Malevolent arch villain. Evil personified. |
| The King ofBohemia |
Heavy set, regal, not especially bright. |
| Irene Adler |
Renowned opera diva (singing is not required for the role). Fiery, passionate, an intellectual match for Holmes. |
| James Larrabee |
Moriarty’s henchman. |
| Madge Larrabee |
Moriarty’s henchwoman. Frequently in disguise. |
| Sid Prince |
Moriarty’s hit man. Thuggish and uncouth. |
Performances are January 25, 2013 through February 17, 2013. Shows are Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 3pm. Tickets are $13 for Thursdays; $16 for Fridays-Sundays. Dramatists Play Service licenses Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure.
Other shows in Wheaton Drama’s season are The Heiress (through September 30), The Sound of Music (November 9–December 9), It’s A Wonderful Life (radio show December 14-16), Full Circle (March 15-April 7, 2013 – confirmation of rights pending), and Into the Woods (May 17-June 9, 2013).
For show tickets and information, please visit http://www.wheatondrama.org, or call 630-260-1820.
DIRECTOR’S NOTES:
The reason the auditions are scheduled earlier than usual is because I need to work with all the actors on English accents. Normally I do not put a huge emphasis on accents, but I think you will understand that it is the heart and soul of this play. It is written with English accents and attitude in mind and therein lies the humour.
It is my intention to work with actors one on one, line by line, word by word, in a group, whatever, to maximize the use of the English accent and intonations. You will become so familiar with the English accent that by the time we reach the rehearsal stage, it will be second nature. We can then concentrate on putting together a superb, funny, clever show full of intense technical and lighting effects.
My vision of Sherlock Holmes, Doctor Watson and all other characters is very broad. It will simply boil down to the best combinations. Having said that, I will not limit any of the characters to age, height, hair colour or otherwise; it all depends on chemistry and the freedom to take a risk on, I hope, a very innovative approach to staging Sherlock Holmes.
I look forward to seeing you all at auditions.
– Annie Walker-Bright (630-665-5133; bebrightannie@aol.com)
