Auditions are open to anyone and everyone. Some roles may require specific ages and physical characteristics in keeping with the playwright’s intentions or within limitations of our performance agreement (age, gender, weight, race, etc.).
The director of the show has the final decision on casting the actor that they feel is best for the role in any case.
If cast, you will be required to become a member of Monroe Community Players. Memberships start at $20 and may be purchased HERE. Membership is valid from July 1- June 30. There is also a $10 participation fee for each production you are cast in to assist in defraying the costs of production.
Monroe Community Players maintains a policy of open casting at all auditions. This means that unless announced otherwise prior to auditions, you will be auditioning in front of a group of others who are auditioning and may be asked to perform along with them.
Audition Location: MCP Studio Theater at The Mall of Monroe (2121 N. Monroe St, Suite 400) unless otherwise noted below.
Silent Sky
by Laura Gunderson
Audition Dates (subject to change):
Wednesday, December 17 @ 7:00 pm
Thursday, December 18 @ 7:00 pm
Friday, December 20 @ 1:00 pm
Show Dates:
February 27, 28 and March 1, 6, 7, 8 (Friday and Saturday @ 7:00 pm, Sundays @ 2:00 pm)
Director: David P. Wahr
Synopsis:
Silent Sky tells the true story of Henrietta Leavitt, the astronomer ahead of her time. It is 1900, and Henrietta has the opportunity to work at Harvard University as a human computer, one of Dr. Edward Pickering’s “harem,” mapping the stars but receiving no scientific credit. When Henrietta arrives, she is eager to use Harvard’s telescope – the Great Refractor – but is told that she will not be able to do any sort of astronomical discovery as she will only log the stars photographed by the men of the department. However, Henrietta will not be dissuaded, and begins the process of recording the changes in Cepheid stars – a scientific discovery that has profound and lasting impact on the field of astronomy. During her inquiry, Henrietta’s relationships strain under her obsessive work ethic; her sister Margaret, her love interest Peter Shaw, and her colleagues Annie Cannon and Williamina Fleming all find themselves pushed aside in favor of a great cosmic mystery. Silent Sky is the poignant tale of a woman’s dedication to the stars, and the human touch that makes life under the vast sky beautiful and timeless.
Characters:
Note: the play takes place over two decades. Ages indicated are at the start of the play.
Henrietta Leavitt (F), 20s, Raised in Wisconsin, the daughter of a minister, and hired as a Harvard College Observatory “computer,” Henrietta is a non-traditional early 1900s woman. She aspires to work as an astronomer. She is passionate about her work and feels compelled to find answers to her questions about the universe. Brilliant, meticulous, excited. Wears a period hearing aid.
Margaret Leavitt: (F), 20s, Henrietta’s sister, homebody, sweet, creative, plays piano. Henrietta’s younger sister and a gifted musician. She stays at home and is a traditional early 1900s woman. She marries and has a child. She is concerned about Henrietta’s ambition, as it goes against the traditional norms for
women at the time; however, she is supportive of her sister and celebrates her accomplishments.
Peter Shaw: (M), 30s, the head astronomer’s apprentice and supervisor of the women at the observatory. In contrast to Henrietta, he is not passionate about astronomy, although he enjoys the work. He wanted to be an actor. He falls in love with Henrietta.
Annie Cannon: (F), 40s, Henrietta’s co-worker, she has made important scientific discoveries of her own and is a suffragette. A leader of the group of women, terse and sure of herself, a firebrand. In a relationship with Williamina.
Williamina Fleming: (F), 50s, Scottish, smart as a whip and fun. A former housekeeper for Dr. Pickering, head of the Harvard College Observatory, she was hired because Dr. Pickering felt she would do better than the men he had working for him. She is smart and quick-witted. In a relationship with Annie. Scottish accent a plus!
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
book by by Rachel Sheinkin
Music and Lyrics by william Finn
Audition Dates (subject to change):
Monday, February 16 @ 6:00 pm
Tuesday, February 17 @ 6:00 pm
Wednesday, February 18 @ 6:00 pm
Show Dates:
Friday, April 10 @ 7:00 pm
Saturday, April 11 @ 7:00 pm
Sunday, April 12 @ 2:00 pm
Friday, April 17 @ 7:00 pm
Saturday, April 18 @ 7:00 pm
Sunday, April 19 @ 2:00 pm
Director: Sue Sacks
Synopsis: An eclectic group of sixth-graders arrives at the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, each eager to win for very different reasons. Sweet and shy Olive brings only her best friend (the dictionary) with her to the bee; bold and hyperallergic speller William Barfee uses his “magic foot” to propel him to greatness; former champion Chip is struggling with his burgeoning puberty; easily distracted Leaf is unconvinced that he’s smart enough to be a challenger; overachiever Marcy is disappointed by her consistent success; and politically aware Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre only wants to impress her gay dads. In hilarious, touching, and catchy songs, each speller reveals his/her hopes, struggles, and passions as they make their way through the competition. With an engaging, tuneful score by William Finn and a sweet, funny book by Rachel Sheinkin, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee causes audiences to fall in love, both with the show itself and its “perspicacious,” “jocular,” and “effervescent” spellers.
Characters:
Major Characters:
- Rona Lisa Peretti: The number-one realtor in Putnam County and returning moderator. She is a sweet woman who loves children, but she can be very stern when it comes to dealing with Vice Principal Panch, who has feelings for her that she most likely does not return. It is implied that she sees much of herself in Olive Ostrovsky. Her favorite moment of the Bee is told by Rona several times, but her true favorite moment is when the last spellers go head to head for the top spot because it is so suspenseful and filled with hope. Ms. Peretti herself won the Third Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee by spelling “syzygy”, which she recounts at the very beginning of the opening number.
- Vice Principal Douglas Panch: After five years’ absence from the Bee, Panch returns as the word pronouncer. There was an “incident” at the Twentieth Annual Bee, but he claims to be in “a better place” now (or so we think), thanks to a high-fiber diet and Jungian analysis. He is infatuated with Rona Lisa Peretti, but she does not return his affections. For 2 years after the bee, he stalks Rona, resulting in a restraining order.
- Mitch Mahoney: The Official Comfort Counselor. An ex-convict, Mitch is performing his community service with the Bee, and hands out juice boxes to losing students. After the bee, he decides to make his community service life-long, comforting eliminated spellers, and often keeping in touch with them in the future.
- Olive Ostrovsky: A young newcomer to competitive spelling. Her mother is in an ashram in India, and her father is working late, as usual, but he is trying to come sometime during the bee. She made friends with her dictionary at a very young age, helping her to make it to the competition. She longs to be loved by her parents, but they do not provide her the attention she needs.
- William Morris Barfée: A Putnam County Spelling Bee finalist last year, he was eliminated because of an allergic reaction to peanuts. His famous “Magic Foot” method of spelling has boosted him to spelling glory. He has one working nostril and a touchy personality. He has an often-mispronounced last name: it is Bar-FAY, not BARF-ee (“there’s an accent aigu“, he explains with some hostility). He develops a crush on Olive during the second half of the show. In the end he wins the spelling bee, correctly spelling weltanschauung. He wondered if he should throw the bee so that Olive can win it instead.
- Logainne “Schwartzy” SchwartzandGrubenierre: Logainne is the youngest and most politically aware speller, often making comments about current political figures, with two overbearing gay fathers pushing her to win at any cost as they might disown her if she doesn’t win. She is somewhat of a neat freak, speaks with a lisp, is diabetic, and knows she will return to the bee next year. Logainne has progressive views.
- Marcy Park: A recent transfer from Virginia, Marcy placed ninth in last year’s nationals. She is fluent in six languages (though with less-than-stellar pronunciation): French, Spanish, Japanese, Russian, Hebrew, and German. She is a member of an all-American hockey team, a championship rugby player, plays Chopin and Mozart on multiple instruments, and several other impressive skills. But, she also sleeps only three hours a night, hides in the bathroom cabinet, is not allowed to cry, and is getting very tired of always winning. She is a total over-achiever, and attends a Catholic school. When she lost, it was because she didn’t want to win (knowing Jesus would still love her) and threw the bee on purpose.
- Leaf Coneybear: A homeschooler and the second runner-up in his district, Leaf gets into the competition on a lark: the winner and first runner-up had to go to the winner’s Bat Mitzvah. Leaf comes from a large family of former hippies and makes his own clothes. He spells words correctly while in a trance. In his song, “I’m Not That Smart”, he sings that his family thinks he is “not that smart”, but he insinuates that he is merely easily distracted. Most of the words that he is assigned are South American rodents with amusing names. Leaf has severe ADD (now referred to as ADHD), which is implied to be the reason of his family believing he isn’t smart.
- Charlito “Chip” Tolentino (“Tripp Barrington” in the original workshop, “Isaac ‘Chip’ Berkowitz” in the Chicago production): A Boy Scout and champion of the Twenty-Fourth Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, he returns to defend his title. Relatively social and athletic, as he plays little league, Chip expects things to come easily but finds puberty hitting at an inopportune moment. This “inopportune moment” could be called Marigold Coneybear, who happens to be one of Leaf Coneybear’s sisters
- Three or four spellers from the audience: Audience members are encouraged to sign up to participate before the show, and several are chosen to spell words on stage. In touring productions, local celebrities are sometimes selected.
Minor characters
(All can be doubled by the actors playing the major characters.)
- Carl Grubenierre: One of Logainne’s fathers; he has set his heart on his little girl winning the Bee, no matter what he has to do, including sabotaging William’s foot. Usually played by the actor who plays Leaf.
- Dan Schwartz: Logainne’s other father; he is more laid back and content than Carl, but is still intent on his daughter winning the Bee. Usually played by the actor who plays Mitch.
- Leaf’s Dad: Doubtful and finds his son annoying and unintelligent. Usually played by the actor who plays Barfée.
- Leaf’s Mom: Overprotective and doubtful of her son’s abilities to stand up to the competition. Usually played by the actor who plays Logainne.
- Leaf’s Siblings: Not very confident of Leaf’s abilities, to say the least. They often ridicule him for having lower intelligence compared to everyone else in the family. Usually played by the remaining spellers (both cast and the volunteer audience spellers).
- Olive’s Mom and Dad: Olive’s mom is in India, Olive’s dad is working late, but they appear in Olive’s imagination to encourage her and tell her they love her. Sadly, their love is merely an imagination. Usually played by the actors who play Miss Peretti and Mitch.
- Jesus Christ: Appears to Marcy in a moment of crisis. Usually played by the actor who plays Chip.
Love! Valour! Compassion!
by Terrance McNally
Audition Dates: TBA
Show Dates:
June 12, 13, 14 and 19, 20, 21
Director: Brian Burchette-Ross
Synopsis:
Winner of the 1995 Tony Award for Best Play and hailed by many critics as Terrence McNally’s finest play, Love! Valour! Compassion! centers around eight gay men who gather at the upstate New York home of celebrated dancer and choreographer Gregory Mitchell. Over the course of three holiday weekends, the men confront and analyze their lives, relationships, and friendships in a moving and hilarious exploration into love and loss in 90s America. As infidelity, AIDS, romance, and death infiltrate their friendship group, the men must decide who and what is most important when reality hits home. Set upon a mostly bare stage with the scenery imagined, Love! Valour! Compassion! finely treads the boundary between comedy and tragedy.
Characters:
- Gregory Mitchell: A successful, middle-aged Broadway choreographer who is the host of the summer house in upstate New York.
- Bobby Brahms: Gregory’s much younger boyfriend, a blind legal assistant.
- Arthur Pape: A business consultant and Perry’s partner of 14 years.
- Perry Sellars: A long-term partner of Arthur, a lawyer.
- John Jeckyll: A cynical, English dance accompanist who is Ramon’s summer lover. Twin brother to James.
- James Jeckyll: John’s gentle and optimistic twin brother who is also living with AIDS. He develops a relationship with Buzz.
- Buzz Hauser: A witty, HIV-positive costume designer and musical theater enthusiast.
- Ramon Fornos: A flamboyant and outgoing young dancer who is John’s new boyfriend.
Misery
by william goldman
based on the novel by stephen king
Audition Dates (subject to change):
Wednesday, August 19 and Thursday, August 20 @ 7:00 pm
Saturday, August 22 @ 11:00 am
2026
Show Dates:
October 16, 17, 18 and 23, 24, 25
2026
Director: Lisa Ghigliazza
Synopsis:
Misery follows successful romance novelist Paul Sheldon, who is rescued
from a car crash by his “number one fan,” Annie Wilkes, and wakes up
captive in her secluded home. While Paul is convalescing, Annie reads
his latest book and becomes enraged when she discovers the author has
killed off her favorite character, Misery Chastain. Annie forces Paul to
write a new Misery novel, and he quickly realizes Annie has no intention
of letting him go anywhere. The irate Annie has Paul writing as if his life
depends on it, and it does.
Characters:
ANNIE WILKES (Female Presenting, 40s – 60s – any Race) A nurse who
comes to Paul’s rescue (seemingly), Annie seems to be a kind, tender
woman who cares deeply for Paul, even if she does seem slightly off. As
Paul grows to know her it becomes clearer that Annie is manipulative,
cunning, and hides a deep set and terrifying malice behind her cheery
simple façade.
PAUL SHELDON (Male Presenting, Late 30s – Early 60s – any race) A
famed romance novelist tired of the series that has brought him the
most acclaim. Returning from a retreat to finish his most recent work,
he is involved in a terrible car crash that leaves him with broken legs and
unable to care for himself. He’s thoughtful, if not a touch arrogant, and
extremely crafty. He quickly realizes how dangerous his situation is and
must use anything and everything at his disposal to survive.
BUSTER (Male Presenting, Late 30s – Late 60s, any race) The Sherriff of
a nearby town searching for Paul. Very friendly with possible hopes of
something more with Annie.