County Players at the Falls Theatre

Auditions

COVID AUDITION PROTOCOL: At this time, ALL ACTORS AND CREW MUST BE FULLY VACCINATED. BE PREPARED TO SHOW PROOF OF VACCINATION WHEN YOU ARRIVE TO AUDITIONS. The stage manager will provide the audition form (or you may download it from this page, print, fill it out, and bring it with you to the audition.)

SCHEDULE: Be prepared to list all possible conflicts. Rehearsal schedule will be respectful of performers’ time and conflicts. Please note, due to Covid restrictions, fully vaccinated actors planning to audition are asked to carefully consider travel out of state during rehearsals or performances.

CALENDAR GIRLS
By TIM FIRTH
Based on the Miramax motion picture by
JULIETTE TOWHIDI and TIM FIRTH
Directed by JAMES STEINMEYER

AUDITION DATES
Sunday June 25 at 7pm
Monday June 26 at 7pm

SEPTEMBER 8, 9, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23

Based on the true story of eleven older women who posed nude for a calendar to raise money for the Leukemia Research Fund, Calendar Girls opened at the Chichester Festival Theatre and has since become the fastest-selling play in British theatre history.

Calendar Girls presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. concordtheatricals.com

Process:

Auditions will be based on a series of cold readings using sides and monologues from the script which will be provided at the audition. You are welcome to read for any character and, after everyone has read, you are welcome to read for another.  If time permits, I will request certain of you to read for certain parts.

Audition_Form_Main_Stage

Cast:

Chris *-  50( + or -)a gregarious spitfire, drives the action of the play as well as the calendar, Annie’s best friend and Rod’s wife.

Annie * – 50( + or -) a grounded individual who is emotionally steady, a quiet force, she is Chris’ best friend and John’s wife.

Cora * – 40ish – the subtle jokester in the group but nobody’s fool. College graduate, who comes home bearing a child.  She and her daughter have a strong relationship. Cora does not have to sing like a diva but must start the show and sing pieces of other songs.  Playing the piano would be a plus but we Can manufacture some “play-by-numbers” system.

Jessie* – from early 60’s to early 70’s – she is relentless. She loves life and attacks it. She is a former teacher who still comes from the old school of grammar and apostrophes.

Celia* – between 35-50 – sort of diva who at first glance would seem a strange addition to the WI. She is a bit of a devil who is closer in sensibilities to these girls than the in crowd. Her wardrobe is more stylish, more Avant Garde.

Ruth* – 40’s- is a sweet woman who is eager to please and make everyone happy.  However, during this experience Ruth demonstrates an independent, self-confident woman who is determined to follow her own path. She is Marie’s right-hand woman at the top of the show but her own person at the curtain.

Marie -50’s -She is like the good girl who was shunned by the “Mean Girls” and has spent years protecting herself by being the leader of the WI. She is rigid, very defensive and resists change and any challenge to her authority.

John – 50’s – Annie’s husband.  He is a truly “gentle man”. He leads by example and is the man with whom everybody wants to be friends.  John suffers from Leukemia and is made bald by chemotherapy.

Rod – 50’s – Chris’s husband.  He is the only person in town who could be married to Chris.  He has a dry sense of humor which keeps Chris on her toes.  He enjoys the drink but is far from being a drunk.  He is John’s “mate”.

Lawrence- late 20’s early 30’s – He is a bit of a nerd perhaps because he is capable, smart, very artistic and a bit shy.  He has the courage to accept the job and the focus to see only the photos.

Lady Cravenshire- 60’s – A Lady who is perhaps the only stereotypical character in the show.  She is from the “aristocracy’ and believes everyone else comes from the working class.

Elaine- 20’s – She doesn’t really come from the same world as the rest of the women but assumes she is accepted.  Her costume should be completely white. (Elaine will double as Brenda in Scene I)

Liam -late 20’s – by this time he believes he should be directing shows on the BBC. His fatigue is evident in his false patience and patronizing attitude toward the women.  His is a job and not a career.

Rehearsals:

Standard Rehearsals will be Sunday, 6-9, Monday, 7-10 & Wednesday, 7-10. There will be exceptions when the space is not available, and additional Thursdays for special rehearsals of Act I, Scene VI

An exact schedule will be distributed during the first rehearsal.

Tim Firth states the time is the present and so it shall be. The action takes place in Knapeley village, Yorkshire, England.  No determination has been made regarding accents, but you are asked to attempt one during one of your readings.  The final decision will be made based upon the cast’s facility and comfort with them.

The show requires that the major characters be nude* during one scene. It is intended as a bit of burlesque, using household items as shields so that nothing personal is revealed.  I will take every consideration of your modesty during rehearsals and performances and will design the  backstage area and staging with your privacy in mind.