County Players at the Falls Theatre

COUNTY PLAYERS CURTAIN TO RISE AGAIN IN JULY 2021

WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY – County Players, one of the longest running community theatre companies in the area is excited and proud to announce the reopening of the theater for their 64^th Season!

The company is pleased to reopen the theater with the July 2021 production of the romantic comedy “Pride and Prejudice” by Kate Hamill, based on the novel by Jane Austen. The remaining Main Stage Production schedule includes: September 2021 – “Prelude to a Kiss” by Craig Lucas; November 2021 – “The Price” by Arthur Miller; February 2022 – “Seven Keys at Baldpate” by George M. Cohan, based on the novel by Earl Derr Biggers

Finally the 64^th season culminates with the main stage production in May 2022 of the hilariously funny Mel Brooks musical: “Young Frankenstein”, with book by Mel Brooks & Thomas Meehan, with music and lyrics by Mel Brooks, and based upon his comedy film of the same name.

County Players will also continue the well-received CP2 Readers Theater Series with three mini-festivals beginning with:

Mini-Festival #1 October 2021: Reading #1 “The Children” by Lucy Kirkwood; Reading #2 “A Number” by Caryl Churchill

Mini-Festival #2 December 2021: Reading #1 “Mary’s Wedding” by Stephen Massicotte; Reading #2 “Molly Sweeney” by Brian Friel

Mini-Festival #3 March 2022: Reading #1 ‘Grand Concourse” by Heidi Schreck; Reading #2”Uncanny Valley” by Thomas Gibbons

Complete information about the 64^th Season of main stage productions kindly visit countyplayers.org/season-64. And for CP2 Series of Readers Theater visit countyplayers.org/cp2-series. Audition dates for all upcoming shows as they are announced, all information will be found at the County Players website at countyplayers.org under the banner heading for “auditions”.

Covid Plan and Protocols for Theater Safety

In order to reopen the County Players Falls Theatre the company, with guidance from NY State as well as Dutchess County, has created a comprehensive plan to keep everyone safe – from the volunteers to our patrons and audience members. While the governor recently announced a significant easing of COVID-19 restrictions, in order to reopen the theater company must follow the official, written guidance standards from New York State Department of Health for “Small and Medium Scale Performing Arts & Entertainment”. This will include social distancing, timed arrivals and departures, mask wearing when not seated, and electronic ticketing. These protocols and processes will be modified accordingly and as appropriate according to the proper agencies.

Hudson Valley Credit Union proudly sponsors County Players’ 64th Season. This project is made possible, in part, through funding from the Dutchess County Executive Office and administered by Arts Mid-Hudson.

About County Players:

One of the longest running community theatre companies in our area, County Players is an all-volunteer organization which has presented more than 200 productions and has served thousands of theatergoers since 1958.  Located in the Village of Wappingers Falls the all-volunteer theatre company acquired the former Academy Theatre and renamed it the County Players Falls Theatre, their home since 1977.

Accessibility:  If you require wheelchair accessibility, please contact our Box Office at 845-298-1491.

Contacts:          Christine Crawfis, President    president@countyplayers.org                845-380-0155

Joseph Pettignano, Publicity Chair       jpettignano@gmail.com          845-489-3086

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AUDITIONS – MAY 9 & MAY 10

PLEASE NOTE:
Be prepared to list all possible conflicts. Rehearsal schedule will be respectful of performers’ time and conflicts. Please note, that due to Covid restrictions, actors planning to audition are asked not to be traveling out of state during rehearsals or performances. We thank you for your understanding.

COVID AUDITION PROTOCOL: When you arrive for the audition, please be masked and take an audition form from the stage manager. Your temperature will be taken.
Fill out this form in the comfort of your car.

When completed, please return to stage manager who will ask you to remain in your car until you are called on your cell to come in for the audition.
Once inside the audition room, you will be distanced by over 15 feet from the director and you may be unmasked to read.

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
By Kate Hamill
Based on the novel by Jane Austen
Directed by Michael J. Frohnhoefer

Auditions: Sunday May 9 (7pm) & Monday May 10 (7pm) ; Callbacks: Wednesday 5/12

This isn’t your grandmother’s Austen! Bold, surprising, boisterous, and timely, this Pride and Prejudice for a new era explores the absurdities and thrills of finding your perfect (or imperfect) match in life. Literature’s greatest tale of latent love has never felt so theatrical, or so full of life than it does in this effervescent adaptation.

You will be asked to complete a standard form with a COVID risk acceptance.

A standard Daily Health Questionnaire will be used for  all people entering the building.

Auditionees should prepare a 1 – 2 minute monologue.

We encourage actors to print the Sides and bring them for personal use only.

Sides for Pride and Prejudice

Audition_Form_Pride_and_Prejudice Fillable PDF

Audition Form Pride and Prejudice Word Version

On the night of the audition:

Auditionee must choose only ONE NIGHT to audition.  No “second-night” attendance is allowed either.

Only those auditioning will be admitted to the building.

Staff will meet auditionee and review forms and take temperatures.

Seats will be assigned and acting areas marked on the stage.

Call back will be May 12.

Doubling for 8 actors

Actor 1 – Female
JANE: Late 20’s – Early 30s. The eldest and most beautiful Bennet daughter. Kind, idealistic, diffident. Always tries to do the right thing.

MISS DE BOUGH: Lady Catherine’s daughter; a gremlin. Probably allergic to sun. Underneath all her veils, she may be covered in scales.

Actor 2 – Female
LIZZY: A year or two younger than Jane. Clever, spirited; can be sharp-tongued. Gets flustered, which makes her klutzy. Prides herself on good judgement. Not especially beautiful. Very very scared of marriage, after absorbing the lessons of her parents’ marriage.

Actor 3 – Female
LYDIA: Late Teens. The youngest Bennet. Lively, prone to imitating others’ behavior and eavesdropping.

LADY CATHERINE: Patrician Caesar-meets-drill sergeant.

Actor 4 – Male
MR. DARCY: Male. Late 30s-40s. One of the richest men in England. Too proper for his own good; awkward in most social contexts. Prides himself on self-control and good judgement.

Actor 5 – Male
MR. COLLINS: A pedantic, obtuse man. The original mansplainer. Rector to Lady Catherine.

WICKHAM: An unfairly handsome and charming gentleman. Probably a sociopath. Raised with Darcy.

MISS BINGLEY: A very rich, very beautiful young woman. Fancies herself witty.

Actor 6 – Either
MARY: The third Bennet girl. Violent and dark undertones; prone to pedanticism and sulking. A dark goth Bronte character trapped in an Austen world. Coughs to get attention, or to make a point; may fancy that she is dying.

MR. BINGLEY: Late 30s-40s. Loves the world and the world loves him. Mr. Darcy’s particular
friend. Almost literally a dog.

Actor 7 – Either
CHARLOTTE LUCAS: Same age as Lizzy. A practical girl with a good sense of humor.

MR. BENNET: The patriarch of the Bennet family. Finds amusement in absurdity; often looks for respectable escape from the chaos of his family life. Can be somewhat apathetic; probably a bit depressed, under everything. Enjoys antagonizing. Disappointed in marriage.

Actor 8 – Either
MRS. BENNET: The Matriarch of the Bennet family. Mostly a silly woman, of mean understanding and variable temper. Hypochondriac; when she’s upset, she fancies that she’s dying. The business of her life is to get her daughters married. She traumatizes her family with some regularity.

SERVANTS

Mill House Brewing Company – Supporting The Arts!

We are thankful to Mill House Brewing Company for donating a portion of their proceeds from CURTAIN UP IPA to County Players!