AUDITIONS:
THE WOMEN
WHEN: Sat. February 15th and Sun. February 16th 4pm to 7pm CALLBACKS Thurs. February 20th at 7pm
WHERE: Summit Playhouse | 10 New England Avenue, Summit
Filled with strong, colorful, comedic characters, an abundance of witty dialogue, Clare Boothe Luce’s THE WOMEN is juicy, wicked, and full of guilty fun. It is both a scathing commentary on the life of the superficial, selfish socialite and a knowing, heartfelt depiction of romantic rivalry, toxic friendships all set against the smoke filled, art deco cocktail of 1930s Manhattan. If you love the golden age of Hollywood, this screwball comedy of manners is just up your alley! Bring as much of that old glamour, style and wit as possible to your audition! I would encourage you to watch the original 1939 film which is available to rent on Youtube, prior to the auditions to use as a guide.
We need a wide range of women of all ages and types. In addition to the core group of Women, we are looking for women who are not only strong when it comes to creating different characters within the same show, but who welcome the challenge! There is everything from manicurists to sales girls, from maids to secretaries and everything in between. These 23 roles, each more colorful then the last, weave in and out of the fabric of the story.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:
Nancy Blake: 35 – 50, an authoress, part of Mary’s coterie. An acid wit and dedicated virgin, Nancy is as close as Mary’s society gets to “fighting the power.” She and Mary are really the only ones in this group of friends to see the ridiculousness of their positions. She’s sharp but not mean.
Peggy Day: 20’s-30s, a newlywed, part of Mary’s coterie. Peggy is the youngest of Mary’s group of friends and hasn’t yet defined a façade to present to society. She broadcasts her marital and financial struggles guilelessly.
Sylvia Fowler: mid-30’s,/ early 40’s (could go a bit older) a society matron, part of Mary’s coterie. Sylvia, though she occupies the exact same societal position as Mary, is her polar opposite. She is sleek and feline but prone to vicious gossip and social maneuvering. She is expert at it. This actress should do well with not only rapid-fire banter but physical comedy.
Edith Potter: mid 30’s - early 40s, a society matron, part of Mary’s coterie. Edith is perpetually pregnant and unhappy, trapped and wallowing in her own self-pity and senseof entitlement. This actress should have great deadpan delivery.
Mary Haines: mid-30’s, a society matron. Mary is the center of the play; it is around her life and troubles that the action of the play revolves. She is strong and amiable and does not (as a rule) indulge in cattiness, self-pity, or materialistic greed. She has it all. She’s the ideal of the period.
Little Mary : Mary’s young daughter - a precocious child, 11ish (should read pre-teen) and at times going on 40.
Mrs. Morehead: 50 – 65 (possibly older), Mary’s mother. Mrs. Morehead is a model patrician, expert in the ways and means of polite society. The advice she offers Mary is always correct; she is kind and loving, but reticent to suffer fools.
Crystal Allen: 25-35, a shopgirl. Crystal is Mary’s rival for the affections of her husband. She is drop-dead gorgeous (though her lack of subtlety reveals her tastes as “cheap”), truly savvy, ruthless, tough as nails, seething with social ambition.
Countess de Lage: 40/50 – ??, a serial bride. The Countess is the eldest of Mary’s friends, and a figure of fun among them. She’s a bit dotty, ridiculously pampered and self-deluded, and relies completely on her faith in “l’amour” to get her through life’s more difficult moments.
Miriam Aarons: 30 – 35, a musical comedy actress. Though, like Crystal, Miriam is an ambitious woman who has risen into society by marriage, her no-nonsense attitude and innate sense of right and wrong set her apart from many of these characters in terms of likeability. She tells it like it is, has no illusions about herself, and pokes holes in the ridiculousness of others.
Jane : 20/30 - Jane is Mary’s housemaid who lives vicariously and emotionally through the women she encounters in Mary’s company. A great comic character. (may possibly play one or two of the other minor roles)
In addition to these roles, there are a host of characters that will require actors to play multiple roles. Each of these characters only appear once.
- Hairdresser
- Olga – manicurist
- Miss Shapiro - Head Saleswoman
- Miss Myrtle - a model
- 2nd Saleswoman/girl
- 1st Salesgirl/FItter
- Princess Tamara - a model
- Corset Model
- Exercise Instructress
- Maggie - Mary's cook
- Miss Watts - Stephen's secretary
- Miss Trimmerback - a notary
- Nurse
- Lucy - caretaker in Reno
- Helene - Crystal's maid
- 1st Girl/Girl in Distress - at nightclub
- 2nd Girl - at nightclub
- 1st Woman - at nightclub
- 2nd Woman at nightclub
- Cigarette Girl - at nightclub
- Sadie - bathroom attendant
- Dowager at nightclub
- Debutante at nightclub
