Kirkwood Theatre Guild 2023-2024 Season
NON-MUSICAL AUDITIONS
Auditions: Sat., August 12, 2023: 9:30am – 5:30pm AND
Sun., August 13, 2023: 10:30am – 6:00pm
Location: Kirkwood Community Center, 111 S. Geyer Rd. Kirkwood, MO 63122
AUDITIONS BY APPOINTMENT AND WILL TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER WALK-INS.
- Auditions will be scheduled in 10-minute increments.
- All 3 Directors will be in the audition room. Expect an audience of 8-10 people in your audition.
- Auditions will consist of the actor performing sides with a provided partner.
- Audition Appointment: button below to reserve your audition time. If audition times are filled, please email auditions@ktg-onstage.org to see if an audition may still be possible.
- From this page, download and fill out the KTG Audition Form. Please complete one form for EACH production you are auditioning for. Please bring your completed Audition Forms (w/PHOTO attached – selfies are fine!)
- Audition Sides will be posted to this webpage at the beginning of August and hard copies will be available at the audition as well. Each actor may choose 2 sides for their audition. Regardless of the chosen sides, the actor will be considered for all plays/roles for which they are appropriate, unless the actor specifies limitations on their audition form. Audition tip: Please familiarize yourself with the show(s) you will be auditioning for!
ARRIVE 15 MINUTES BEFORE YOUR APPOINTMENT.
LATE ARRIVALS WILL BE CONSIDERED WALK-INS.
Rehearsals for KTG productions take place at the Kirkwood Community Center. Generally, rehearsals will take place on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, but that is subject to change… so when thinking over conflicts, please consider the entire week.
*Please do not audition if you are not available for all performances!
*Be very specific about any conflicts, but particularly any that would fall during Tech Week, which begins the Sunday before the first performance. Tech Week is mandatory unless the conflict has been considered and pre-approved by the director.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE EMAIL auditions@ktg-onstage.org.
SHOW INFORMATION AND CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
Last Night of Ballyhoo by Alfred Uhry
Dramedy directed by Julie George Carlson
Performance Dates: October 27 – 29, November 2 – 5
Rehearsals begin August 28, 2023
Callbacks by INVITATION ONLY Thursday, August 17
DESCRIPTION: From the author of Driving Miss Daisy comes this story of history and discovery. It is set in Atlanta, December 1939. Hitler has just conquered Poland, Gone With the Wind is about to premiere, and the upper class, German-Jewish Freitag family is so assimilated they have a Christmas tree in the parlor and are looking forward to Ballyhoo, a lavish ball at their restrictive country club. Adolph’s new employee, Joe, is an attractive bachelor and an Eastern European Jew, familiar with prejudice but unable to fathom its existence within his own religious community. His presence prompts college student Sunny to examine her Jewish identity, her biases, and the beliefs with which she was raised.
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
NOTE: All characters have a southern dialect except for Joe, who is from Brooklyn. Pronunciation Notes: Freitag (FRY-tag) & Levy (LEH-vee)
Adolph Freitag (50s) The youngest son of the Freitag family. After his brother Simon died, he took over as president of the Dixie Bedding Company. Adolph has never married. Wealthy, astute, tired, peacekeeper.
Beulah (Boo) Levy (50s) The older sister of Adolph, Boo was married to DeWald Levy, who died three months after Simon, and several years prior to the beginning of the play. An overbearing woman, she loves her family, and she feels entitled to live an upper-class lifestyle. She is highly protective of her daughter Lala, and desperately wants to find a husband for her before it’s “too late.”
Reba Freitag (50s) The sister-in-law of Adolph and Boo, she is the widow of Simon. She lives with her daughter Sunny in the Freitag home. Reba gets along well with Adolph. She mostly minds her own business but has an acerbic side to her. She is a good counter to Boo and knows when to stay out of a conversation. MUST BE ABLE TO KNIT OR LEARN THE SKILL PROFICIENTLY PRIOR TO OPENING.
Lala Levy (early 20s) Lala is the daughter of Boo and DeWald Levy. She is socially awkward, a dreamer who does not quite fit into the world of young people. She has a hopeful countenance, but is constantly pressured by her mother to get out into society to meet eligible men, and she suffers from anxiety, so she does not get out much.
Sunny Freitag (early 20s) Sunny is the daughter of Reba and Simon Freitag. As her name suggests, she has a sunny personality. She is lovely, polished, well-educated, and attends Wellesley college. She is self-assured but still has a lot to learn about life.
Joe Farkas (mid 20s) Joe works for Adolph but is originally from Brooklyn. His family are devout Eastern Orthodox (Russian) Jews. His life growing up as a Jew in Brooklyn is vastly different than the lives of the Freitags. Joe is an attractive, friendly, affable person with a polite demeanor. He is determined and ambitious but not at all pretentious.
Sylvan (Peachy) Weil (early/mid 20s) Peachy is an affluent, red-headed young man from Lake Charles, Louisiana. He is a clown and a practical joker, but most importantly he is an eligible bachelor and Boo insists that Lala invite him to Atlanta for Ballyhoo. RED/GINGER HAIR OR WILLING TO COLOR FOR PRODUCTION.
Audition Notes:
Those reading for LALA will be asked to sing a snippet of The First Noel:
“Nooo-elll, Nooo-elll, Nooo-elll, Nooo-elll. Born is the King of Israel!”
Those reading for ADOLPH will be asked to read the Conductor Line:
“The Station is Wilmington. Wilmington Delaware coming up. This station is Wilmington.”
Picasso at the Lapin Agile by Steve Martin
Comedy directed by Cody Cole
Performance Dates: January 19 -21, 25-28, 2024
Rehearsals begin November 13, 2023
Callbacks by INVITATION ONLY Wednesday, August 16
DESCRIPTION: This absurdist comedy places Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso in a Parisian cafe in 1904, just before the renowned scientist transformed physics with his theory of relativity and the celebrated painter set the art world afire with cubism. The show plays fast and loose with fact, fame, and fortune as these two geniuses muse on the century’s achievements and prospects, as well as other fanciful topics, with infectious dizziness. Bystanders, including Picasso’s agent, the bartender, a mistress, Picasso’s date, an elderly philosopher, Charles Dabernow Schmendiman, and an idiot inventor introduce additional flourishes of humor. The final surprise patron to join the merriment at the Lapin Agile is a charismatic dark-haired singer, time-warped in from a later era.
Character Descriptions
(All roles are open to any and all racial identities.)
Freddy (any gender) – The owner and bartender of the Lapin Agile. A simple-minded individual who occasionally says something truly stunning, and has a terrible tendency to break the fourth wall.
Gaston (male presenting) – An abrupt and direct old Frenchman with prostate problems, who talks plainly and only seems to care about sex and drinking.
Germaine (female presenting) – A waitress at the Lapin Agile. She is Freddy’s girlfriend and a very thoughtful and beautiful woman. She has many ideas of what the 20th century will be like and has slept with Picasso.
Albert Einstein (male presenting) – A 25-year-old scientist with big aspirations. He is a genius, with a book on the way called The Special Theory of Relativity. He often finds himself having to explain his theories and thoughts in a simpler fashion to the rest of the group, as he is wise beyond his years.
Suzanne (female presenting) – A beautiful 19-year-old girl who is infatuated with Picasso. Suzanne and Picasso have already slept together, and she is left hurt and angry when he doesn’t remember her.
Sagot (male presenting) – Picasso’s art dealer, who is obsessed with finding and selling great pieces of art for profit.
Pablo Picasso (male presenting) – A talented and charismatic 23-year-old painter. Extremely egotistical and self-confident, he is a serial womanizer and master of manipulation.
Charles Dabernow Schmendiman (male presenting) – A young inventor with huge dreams and little knowledge. Although he is hardworking, he is overshadowed by the genius and talent of Einstein and Picasso.
The Countess (female presenting) – An extremely intelligent and attractive woman, with whom Einstein is infatuated. She thinks like he does, being the one person to really understand him in the play.
A Female Admirer (female presenting) – A young admirer Picasso assumes is a fan of his, but who turns out to be an admirer of Schmendiman
The Visitor (male presenting) – A polite and talented country boy time traveler, who adds another dimension and point of view to Einstein’s and Picasso’s debate. He is a blue-suede-shoed musician.
The Diviners by Jim Leonard, Jr.
Drama directed by Matt Dossett
Performance Dates: March 15-17, 15-24, 2024
Rehearsals begin January 21, 2024
Callbacks by INVITATION ONLY Wednesday, August 16
DESCRIPTION: The Diviners is set in Zion, Indiana, during the Great Depression. Buddy Layman is a mentally challenged boy whose sweet nature touches those he meets. Buddy is skilled at finding water (divining). When a stranger, a retired preacher, comes to town, he is able to relate to Buddy in ways most people can’t. As the preacher attempts to help him, Buddy’s past is revealed but cannot be escaped.
Character Descriptions
Buddy Layman – An older teenaged boy who has experienced a great deal year prior. That event changed his life forever, and he’s stuck as the young boy who lived through it, while the rest of the town has moved on. This character is both physically and emotionally demanding, and should be as sincere as they come.
C.C. Showers – A young thirties retired pastor who has just moved to town looking for a fresh start. He befriends Buddy and tries to help him overcome his fears. A genuinely good man.
Ferris Layman – A mechanic at the local auto shop, and single widower father to Buddy and Jennie Mae. A simple and honest man that loves his children.
Jennie Mae Layman – Buddy’s sister. The maternal character to Buddy for quite some years. She loves her family with every fiber of her being.
Basil Bennett – A local farmer and the town doctor. He treated Buddy after his traumatic event and diagnosed him. He believes the boy has a gift to find water.
Luella Bennett – Basil’s wife. She doubts there is anything special about Buddy.
Norma Henshaw – The owner of the town’s general store. She is a devout Christian, who firmly believes that C.C. was sent to their town by God to bring the church back.
Darlene Henshaw – Norma’s niece. She is a bit rebellious and fights her aunt with some of her beliefs. She ends up sneaking off to the town dance with Dewey.
Goldie Short – the owner of the town diner. A true diner worker. Up-to-date on what’s going on in town, and she agrees fervently with Norma about C.C.
Melvin Wilder – Basil’s farmhand. He is a simple-minded guy who takes Dewey under his wing to impress Darlene and ask her to the dance.
Dewey Maples – Another farmhand at the Bennett farm. Young and naive. Infatuated with Darlene.
All characters except C.C. have lived in a very small town (population 40) for years. They know each other well, and have tight knit bonds. They each know and love Buddy. They treat him like family wherever he goes.
SIDES
Last Night of Ballyhoo
Sides
(click below for PDF Side)
Picasso at the Lapin
Sides
Callbacks for characters without sides listed will be determined by readings of the character sides that are available. Choose a side that showcases your strengths.
(click below for PDF Side)
The Diviners
Sides
(click below for PDF Side)