LEAVING IOWA

By Tim Clue and Spike Manton

Directed by Brian Reilly

Produced by Beaver Dam Area Community Theatre at Beaver Dam Area Community Theatre, 219 N. Spring St., Beaver Dam

Performances: October 17-26, 2014

Performance Times: October 17, 18, 23, 24 & 25 at 7:30 pm; October 19 & 26 at 2:00 pm

Ticket Prices: $15.00 on sale September 29 at the front desk of Rechek's Food Pride

Call 920-887-7675 for reservations or more information.

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Auditions

Auditions will be held on the following days:

9/2/2014
9/4/2014

Auditions for Beaver Dam Area Community Theatre’s (BDACT) Fall Main Stage production of LEAVING IOWA will be held on Tuesday, September 2 and Thursday, September 4 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm both nights. Please use the side entrance of the theatre located at 219 N. Spring St. in Beaver Dam. If you are unable to make either audition, but are interested in a role contact show director Brian Reilly at stargazer_1682@yahoo.com .

You may review a script ahead of time at the Beaver Dam Community Library located at 311 N. Spring St. The evening of the audition will include cold readings from the script either by you or as part of a group. LEAVING IOWA is a comedy play so actors will need a good sense of comedic timing. Please arrive with enough time to fill out paperwork including contact information and past acting experience. Your photo may be taken.

LEAVING IOWA was written by Tim Clue and Spike Manton. The play features the all-too-familiar disastrous family road trip flashbacks from character Don’s Browning’s childhood and vignettes including an assortment of present-day characters he meets along the way. "Simultaneously hilarious and touching. A comedy with a surprisingly deep soul."—Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times

DON BROWNING – the protagonist and narrator; a writer living in Boston. The actor needs charm, sensitivity, and comedic timing as well as the ability to switch between the adult narrator and the child for flashbacks.

DAD -Don’s father and former baseball coach; he is a classic example of the over-eager road trip dad, dorky and unaware at times, but passionate about “fun” family adventures - a good guy at heart. Dad needs a blend of authority and likeability.

MOM – Don’s mother is tender and loving, a dutiful wife, willing to go along with Dad on his lackluster vacations. Mom will need the proper amount of quirk and compassion.

SIS – Don’s little sister; this character appears as the adult version to begin the play but is primarily used in flashbacks as the antagonistic presence in the back seat. The actor will need to portray an endearing, little girl and have enough of a personality to pull off the painfully annoying sibling.


MULTIPLE CHARACTERS – the range of characters in this ensemble is broad; these comedic characters need bold, dynamic personalities and great variety of physical and vocal choices. There are 22 individual characters split between a few male and female actors. Comedy lies in the same actor playing multiple characters.
Rehearsals will begin on Wednesday, September 10. A complete calendar of rehearsal dates will be available at auditions. There will be 7 performances October 17 through October 26. Visit www.bdact.org for more information.

Multiple Characters for male actor:
Bob – hog farmer, missing a hand
Uncle Phil – Don’s uncle, means well, but can be “too much”
Grandpa – Don’s grandfather
Joe Hoefingers – a scary farmer with a hoe
Amish Guy – Amish peddler at a flea market, could be a scam
Hotel Clerk – Unhappy old man
Fruit Cart Guy – man with a roadside produce stand
Cart Chaser – very excited grocery store employee
Jack Singer – Don’s childhood friend, now professor, lectures, is oblivious
Civil War Guy – Civil War performer/narrator, not necessarily good at it
Fred – auto mechanic, works on Don’s car, not too bright
Wayne – stoic waiter with mullet, think of Lurch on the “Adams Family”

Multiple Characters for female actor:
Judy – hog farmer Bob’s wife, almost a philosopher
Aunt Phyllis – Don’s aunt, every bit “as much” as Uncle Phil
Grandma – Don’s grandmother, known for her “krispie” treats
Amish Gal – Amish peddler at a flea market, could be a scam
Drunk Lady – patron in a hotel, very emotional
Fruit Cart Gal – woman helping man with a roadside produce stand
Shopping Lady – woman in grocery store parking lot, a bit frantic
Museum Assistant – Civil War Guy’s assistant, a bit ditzy
Jamie – female auto mechanic, helps Fred, can we say “butch?”
Hotel Maid – no lines, works with Hotel Clerk, not happy
Jessie – a VERY talkative waitress