Auditions for Arsenic and Old Lace
Auditions for Arsenic and Old Lace will take place on Sunday, June 8th & Monday, June 9th from 6:00-8:00 P.M. at the 'Dosta Theater
Auditions are open to ages 17 and up.
The Story:
Drama critic Mortimer Brewster’s engagement announcement is upended when he discovers a corpse in his elderly aunts’ window seat. Mortimer rushes to tell Abby and Martha before they stumble upon the body themselves, only to learn that the two old women aren’t just aware of the dead man in their parlor, they killed him! Between his aunts’ penchant for poisoning wine, a brother who thinks he’s Teddy Roosevelt, and another brother using plastic surgery to hide from the police—not to mention Mortimer’s own hesitancy about marriage—it’ll be a miracle if Mortimer makes it to his wedding. Arsenic and Old Lace is a classic black comedy about the only thing more deadly than poison: family.
Role Considerations:
11 Men, 3 Women (Of the men, there are minor parts.)
The director plans to cast as traditionally as possible while minding the time period of the play. Ages noted in the character descriptions are only suggestive. Some characters have noted physicality—meaning, you must be able to be physical in your role acting & in minor fight choreography.
Character Descriptions:
Abby & Martha Brewster (F, 50-70) Darling elderly ladies whose main recreation is poisoning elderly men. They are very close sisters; aunts to Teddy, Jonathan, and Mortimer. Abby is more dominant and a bit older than Martha, both are happy, healthy, lucid, and spry. No one would ever suspect such older ladies who possess a Victorian charm would be serial killers.
Mortimer Brewster (M, 30-50) Main character. Nephew of Abby & Martha. A drama critic, engaged to Elaine. Mortimer is a nice man who cares for his dear aunts and is extremely surprised to discover their “hobby” of disposing of old men. He is the only Brewster who is relatively sane.
PHYSICAL ROLE. Must be comfortable to utterly “LET GO.” Mortimer controls the show. From the discovery of the first body, he must be electrified. He carries this energy throughout the show. Physical comedy, perfect timing of dialogue delivery, likability in presence, and ability to display agility in navigating the rapidly changing circumstances of each scene is absolutely necessary.
Teddy Brewster (M, 40-60) Nephew of Abby & Martha. Teddy is a mentally ill man who thinks he is Theodore Roosevelt, working on the Panama Canal.
PHYSICAL ROLE. Extreme dedication and energy is necessary while charging up stairs and screaming “CHARGE!”
Jonathan Brewster (M, 40-60) Nephew of Abby & Martha. A wanted murderer, running from the law. Jonathan is a psychopath who has had botched plastic surgery and now looks like Boris Karloff.
Some PHYSICAL work.
Elaine Harper (F, 25-40) An attractive woman. Mortimer’s fiancée and daughter of the Rev. Dr. Harper. Elaine is surprisingly wise in the ways of the world for a minister's daughter. She is a little bit wily, sassy, and absolutely sharp.
Must show genuine zest and spunk & display a wonderful sense of versatility. We witness her progress from casual happiness, to utter bliss, to twisted confusion, to stark fear, to godsend relief, and back to casual happiness again.
The Rev. Dr. Harper (M, 50-70) Kind, conservative Minister and Father of Elaine, Mortimer’s bride-to-be.
Dr. Einstein (M, 45-55) Comic, speaks with a heavy German accent. A failed plastic surgeon and alcoholic. Dr. Einstein has changed Jonathan's face three times, successful only in deforming his appearance. Einstein has a “ratty” appearance, and wears the benevolent smirk of a man who lives in a pleasant haze of alcohol.
Mr. Gibbs (M, 55-80) A bitter old man who wishes to rent a room from the Brewster sisters.
Mr. Witherspoon (M, 50-60s) The superintendent of Happy Dale Sanitarium, an institution for the mentally ill.
Officer O'Hara (M, any age) O’Hara is a would-be playwright who pesters Mortimer to read his play. He is the quintessential example of an Irish-American police officer. Full of life, good-natured, and played big.
Officers Brophy & Klein (M, 25-45) Police officers who regularly visit the Brewster home for tea and cookies, of course they have NO IDEA these kindly old ladies are actually homicidal maniacs! Brophy, a thoroughly likable sort of fellow & Klein, a flatfoot Brooklyn officer.
Some PHYSICAL work (Brophy)
Lieutenant Rooney (M, 50’s) A tough and dominating police officer. Little patience for blunders and mistakes.
If there are questions/concerns, please contact the show's director, Sandi Parrish, at [email protected]
Break a leg!
Auditions are open to ages 17 and up.
The Story:
Drama critic Mortimer Brewster’s engagement announcement is upended when he discovers a corpse in his elderly aunts’ window seat. Mortimer rushes to tell Abby and Martha before they stumble upon the body themselves, only to learn that the two old women aren’t just aware of the dead man in their parlor, they killed him! Between his aunts’ penchant for poisoning wine, a brother who thinks he’s Teddy Roosevelt, and another brother using plastic surgery to hide from the police—not to mention Mortimer’s own hesitancy about marriage—it’ll be a miracle if Mortimer makes it to his wedding. Arsenic and Old Lace is a classic black comedy about the only thing more deadly than poison: family.
Role Considerations:
11 Men, 3 Women (Of the men, there are minor parts.)
The director plans to cast as traditionally as possible while minding the time period of the play. Ages noted in the character descriptions are only suggestive. Some characters have noted physicality—meaning, you must be able to be physical in your role acting & in minor fight choreography.
Character Descriptions:
Abby & Martha Brewster (F, 50-70) Darling elderly ladies whose main recreation is poisoning elderly men. They are very close sisters; aunts to Teddy, Jonathan, and Mortimer. Abby is more dominant and a bit older than Martha, both are happy, healthy, lucid, and spry. No one would ever suspect such older ladies who possess a Victorian charm would be serial killers.
Mortimer Brewster (M, 30-50) Main character. Nephew of Abby & Martha. A drama critic, engaged to Elaine. Mortimer is a nice man who cares for his dear aunts and is extremely surprised to discover their “hobby” of disposing of old men. He is the only Brewster who is relatively sane.
PHYSICAL ROLE. Must be comfortable to utterly “LET GO.” Mortimer controls the show. From the discovery of the first body, he must be electrified. He carries this energy throughout the show. Physical comedy, perfect timing of dialogue delivery, likability in presence, and ability to display agility in navigating the rapidly changing circumstances of each scene is absolutely necessary.
Teddy Brewster (M, 40-60) Nephew of Abby & Martha. Teddy is a mentally ill man who thinks he is Theodore Roosevelt, working on the Panama Canal.
PHYSICAL ROLE. Extreme dedication and energy is necessary while charging up stairs and screaming “CHARGE!”
Jonathan Brewster (M, 40-60) Nephew of Abby & Martha. A wanted murderer, running from the law. Jonathan is a psychopath who has had botched plastic surgery and now looks like Boris Karloff.
Some PHYSICAL work.
Elaine Harper (F, 25-40) An attractive woman. Mortimer’s fiancée and daughter of the Rev. Dr. Harper. Elaine is surprisingly wise in the ways of the world for a minister's daughter. She is a little bit wily, sassy, and absolutely sharp.
Must show genuine zest and spunk & display a wonderful sense of versatility. We witness her progress from casual happiness, to utter bliss, to twisted confusion, to stark fear, to godsend relief, and back to casual happiness again.
The Rev. Dr. Harper (M, 50-70) Kind, conservative Minister and Father of Elaine, Mortimer’s bride-to-be.
Dr. Einstein (M, 45-55) Comic, speaks with a heavy German accent. A failed plastic surgeon and alcoholic. Dr. Einstein has changed Jonathan's face three times, successful only in deforming his appearance. Einstein has a “ratty” appearance, and wears the benevolent smirk of a man who lives in a pleasant haze of alcohol.
Mr. Gibbs (M, 55-80) A bitter old man who wishes to rent a room from the Brewster sisters.
Mr. Witherspoon (M, 50-60s) The superintendent of Happy Dale Sanitarium, an institution for the mentally ill.
Officer O'Hara (M, any age) O’Hara is a would-be playwright who pesters Mortimer to read his play. He is the quintessential example of an Irish-American police officer. Full of life, good-natured, and played big.
Officers Brophy & Klein (M, 25-45) Police officers who regularly visit the Brewster home for tea and cookies, of course they have NO IDEA these kindly old ladies are actually homicidal maniacs! Brophy, a thoroughly likable sort of fellow & Klein, a flatfoot Brooklyn officer.
Some PHYSICAL work (Brophy)
Lieutenant Rooney (M, 50’s) A tough and dominating police officer. Little patience for blunders and mistakes.
If there are questions/concerns, please contact the show's director, Sandi Parrish, at [email protected]
Break a leg!