AUDITION NOTICE:
REHEARSAL FOR MURDER
Studio Players of Upper Montclair, NJ is casting Rehearsal for Murder, a suspense-filled play-within-a-play murder mystery, adapted by D.D. Brooke from the teleplay by Richard Levinson and William Link, and directed by Janet Sales.
WHEN: Tues, June 30 and Thurs, July 2 at 7:30 PM
WHERE: Studio Playhouse, 14 Alvin Place · Upper Montclair
Performances October 23- November 7, rehearsals to start closer to the fall
When his movie star leading lady (and fiancée) Monica Welles is found dead from an apparent suicide after the opening night of her Broadway stage debut, playwright Alex Dennison is left heartbroken. On the first anniversary of her death, he gathers the cast and crew from that ill-fated night in the same Broadway theater, ostensibly to read a new play he is working on, a mystery in which a famous actress is killed. However, the scenes seem to be uncomfortably close to actual encounters they all might have had with Monica. Alex finally reveals that he believes that Monica was murdered, and that someone at the theater is her killer. What follows is a clever game, where no one and nothing are who and what they seem.
An exhilarating mystery by the writers of “Murder She Wrote” and “Columbo.”
ROLES OPEN:
- Alex Dennison – (30-50) a Broadway playwright. Attractive, intelligent, forceful, charming, witty and sophisticated. He seeks to prove the murder of his fiancée, whose death was a ruled a suicide. The success of the show depends on his ability to control the action, foresee every variable and to anticipate the reaction of every character. Must be able to express the full range of emotions as well: being in love, grief, vengeance, desperation, etc.
- Monica Welles (30-40) – a movie star who seeks to legitimize her acting career by starring in a Broadway play. She falls in love with the playwright and then, seemingly jumps to her death on opening night. Must be able to express the full range of emotions: being in love, fear, desperation, disdain, etc. Also, because she only appears in flashback scenes, must be able to exude an ethereal quality.
- Sally Bean – (20s) Alex’s assistant: young, optimistic, idealistic, recently-graduated, and in the Big Apple for the first time. Seems very innocent amongst the sophisticated theatre people.
- Bella Lamb – (40+) a Broadway producer; Alex’s friend. Successful, confident, no-nonsense.
- Karen Daniels – (30s) an actress. At the play’s beginning she seems sweet, but later shows herself to be ambitious and conniving.
- Leo Gibbs – (30s) an actor/comedian. Awkward, & obnoxious, especially around Karen, his ex.
- David Mathews – (30s) a “serious” actor who is not quite as talented or as good-looking as he thinks he is. VERY full of himself.
- Lloyd Andrews – (40s) a director, although not quite Broadway-caliber. A brisk, capable manner.Frank Heller (40-50) - an out of work actor impersonating an officer, with a dark secret.
These roles will most likely be doubled up:
- Ernie, (40+) the theater janitor
- Stage manager (male or female, any age) Efficient, no-nonsense
- Police officer (male, any age)
- Second police officer assisting the police officer (any age - male or female)
- Mr. Santoro, (any age) a furniture mover. Typical Noo Yawkah. Accent not required, but would be a plus.
- The real Lieutenant McElroy (list in playbill as “Second Man in the Auditorium” (50s)
No monologues required. Sides from the script will be provided and are available prior to auditions online at www.StudioPlayhouse.org
For more information visit the Studio Playhouse website or call 973.744.9752
No Pay, No Fee
