The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940

By John Bishop

Directed by Bruce Bradley

“The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940” is a fast-paced and deliriously funny farce that takes place in an isolated mansion in the middle of a snowstorm.

Produced by Sheboygan Theatre Company at Leslie W. Johnson Theatre, 2820 Union Ave., Sheboygan

Performances: March 15-23, 2013

Performance Times: March 2013
Friday, 15th: 7:30 p.m.,
Saturday, 16th: 7:30 p.m.,
Sunday, 17th: 2:00 p.m.,
Wednesday, 20th: 7:30 p.m.,
Thursday, 21st: 7:30 p.m.,
Friday, 22nd: 7:30 p.m.,
Saturday, 23rd: 7:30 p.m.

Ticket Prices: (Before Tax) Adult $20.00 each Senior Citzen (60 & up) $16.00 each Student (including college students) $10.00 each

Call 920-459-3779 for reservations or more information.

Auditions

Auditions will be held on the following days:

2/4/2013

Initial Auditions: MONDAY, Feb. 4 @ 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Callbacks: TUESDAY, Feb. 5 @ 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
WHERE: Horace Mann Middle School Auditorium, 2820 Union Ave, Sheboygan, WI

DIRECTOR Bruce G. Bradley

“The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940” (written by John Bishop) is a fast-paced and deliriously funny farce that takes place in an isolated mansion in the middle of a snowstorm.
A group of performers and producers are cut off from the outside world with only a deranged murderer (the Stage Door Slasher) for company.
Complete with secret passages, baffling mysteries and a bewilderingly bizarre cast of characters, this brilliantly plotted play has become a modern comedy classic.

Actors should come prepared to perform a one-minute monologue, preferably comedic. (This may be from a published or an original piece).
The show has characters with different dialects, so the director may ask people to demonstrate their dialect capability.
While NOT a musical, this show has some characters who are very theatrical and sing randomly in the show, so you will be asked to sing a few bars of a favorite song(unaccompanied)
The director will also be working with those auditioning, doing some short improvisations & reading from the script.

AVAILABLE ROLES: Five (or six) men, five (or four) women

*Helsa Wenzel - maid at the Grossenknueten mansion. Can be played by a man or a woman. Ideally, slight of build. German accent required. Mid-20s and up.
*Elsa Von Grossenknueten - owner of the mansion and a financial backer of the musical “White House Merry-Go-Round”. Eccentric and a little bit butch. 40s and up.
*Patrick O'Reilly - a singer. Suspicious, mysterious. Actor must be able to perform in Irish, German and New York dialects. 30s and up.
*Ken De La Maize - archetypal director, bombastic and egotistical. 40s and up.
*Nikki Crandall - chorus girl. Smarter than she looks. Should be fairly athletic. Mid-20s to mid-30s.
*Eddie McCuen - out-of-work comedian, unwittingly becomes the romantic lead. Should be charming and likeable. Mid-20s to mid-30s.
*Marjorie Baverstock - a Broadway producer. Full of theatrical gestures and language. Mid-40s and up.
*Roger Hopewell - composer for "White House Merry-Go-Round." Gay, quick-witted, highly-strung. A piano player is preferred, or a good “faker.” Mid-30s and up.
*Bernice Roth - perpetually intoxicated lyricist, she is Roger's musical partner and foil. Odd and emotional,frequently loses her composure. Mid-30s and up.
*Michael Kelly - an undercover cop. Tough, no-nonsense attitude. Ideally, African American. 30s and up.

If you can, please bring a head-shot and a résumé including your measurements would be greatly appreciated.

If you are unable to attend on these days at these times you are encouraged to contact the director at 608.712.8700 and schedule an alternate audition. Please note that an alternate date cannot be guaranteed, but we’ll do our best to accommodate you.

* A limited amount of scripts/music are available for a 48 hour loan at the Theatre Company’s office in the Community Rec. Dept.(Questions? Call 459-3779)

Rehearsals Begin: Monday, February 11
Production Runs: March 15, 16, 17 & 20 - 23, 2013