January 29 & 30
Interested performers who are auditioning (in-person and virtually) are invited to take a moment and read the Welcome to Auditions link for important information related to this audition.
Both virtual and in-person submissions require the performer to present one of the two provided sides for this audition. See below for more specific information.
VIRTUAL AUDITION
We encourage interested performers to audition in-person for this production. If you must audition virtually, see Audition Information for more details. Video submissions are to include an introduction and one of the two sides provided below.
Virtual Audition Form (must be received by January 29th at 12:00 p.m.)
IN-PERSON AUDITIONS
January 29th and 30th at 7:00 p.m: 13 years and older. Doors open around 6:30 p.m.
Performers interested in auditioning in person can fill out the in-person application and bring it completed to the audition. Performers will be asked to perform one of the two provided sides. You may be called upon to perform the other side if needed at the discretion of the directors.
On the application for this audition are questions related to double casting, understudying, and swinging (not performing unless called upon to). Performers should answer these questions honestly and truthfully, while maintaining transparency about any other needs (will only be cast with a fellow auditionee/conflicts/etc.) Statements alluding to/presenting indirectness as well as vague responses (maybe/will discuss later/etc.) are strongly discouraged from being placed on the application.
SHOW DESCRIPTION
Welcome to opening night of the Cornley University Drama Society’s newest production, The Murder at Haversham Manor, where things are quickly going from bad to utterly disastrous. This 1920s whodunit has everything you never wanted in a show—an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead, and actors who trip over everything (including their lines). Nevertheless, the accident-prone thespians battle against all odds to make it through to their final curtain call, with hilarious consequences! Part Monty Python, part Sherlock Holmes, this Olivier Award–winning comedy is a global phenomenon that’s guaranteed to leave you aching with laughter!
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
The Play That Goes Wrong is a physically demanding show. Actors considering auditioning for this production should be in good physical shape. Most roles will require varying amounts of crawling, climbing up and down a ladder, lifting, running, and/or falling. There is also a carefully choreographed sword fight, repeatable hand—to—hand combat and special “handling” called for in the script. We are looking for kind, hardworking, team first, physically adept actors, with good physical hygiene, who can commit to the upbeat, in-the-moment style of the play and fully inhabit the characters with an understanding of comedy with truth and humanity.
The main accent utilized in this show is Received Pronunciation, or RP for short, the instantly recognizable accent often described as "typically British” (One character must also use a cockney accent in addition to the RP accent) This production will be casting unnamed “shadow” rolls (backstage crew members) who will be fully involved in the rehearsal and performance process; they will be visible onstage and off for “The Murder of Haversham Manof’.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
CHRIS: (Head of the Drama Society and director of the show — also plays Inspector Carter)
A first—time director but a decent actor (maybe he’s been in a Shakespeare play once) who is perhaps a little melodramatic. This play is the biggest day of his life, and everything rides on the play’s success: it is a nerve-wracking and exciting night. He tries his best to keep the show on track while gritting his teeth at the ineptness which surrounds him. Every time someone laughs, he becomes more frustrated at both his fellow actors and the audience. Note: The actor cast in this role will need to be comfortable performing on a seven—foot—high platform with no railing. RP.
Gender: Male Presenting
JONATHAN: (Plays Charles Haversham in “The Murder at Haversham Manor.”)
Poor guy. He’s been cast as a corpse but has trouble playing dead. Don’t worry — he has some lines as the play
progresses. He’s a bad actor but sees himself as very cool. He is excited to be in the show and is having fun. He technically must drive the show; he cares about the play, but not to the same extent as the others; very physical role. Note: The actor cast in this role must be comfortable performing on a seven—foot—high platform with no railing. RP.
Gender: Male Presenting
SANDRA: (Plays Florence Colleymoore, femme fatale and fiancé of the deceased who is having a secret affair with his brother)
She is a diva and the company’s leading lady who thinks she’s more talented than she really is. (Or maybe she’s not too bright? There’s room for interpretation.) Sandra is vain and possesses a huge ego; wants to be loved; has ambitions to go to Hollywood and will hurt anyone standing in the way of what she wants. She is smart enough to stay on the good side of someone who can help her (like the director. You know the type - the stakes are high.) Very physical role. Note: The actor cast in this role will need to be comfortable being in an
enclosed box for up to 5 minutes. RP.
Gender: Female Presenting
MAX: (Plays Cecil, (a sweet dopey ingenue) brother of the deceased who is having a secret affair with Florence — also plays Arthur the gardener in Act II)
He has never been on stage before; he learned his lines and does exactly what he's told to do; he has zero connection with any of the other actors, but when he gets a laugh, he breaks the 4th wall and engages with the audience; his mistakes are fundamental; he doesn't think anything through, just looks for approval. (RP &
Cockney)
Gender: Male Presenting
ROBERT: (Plays Thomas in The Murder at Haversham Manor, the deceased best friend and Florence’s brother)
He wants to be Richard Burton (formidable and a bit pompous) with a declamatory acting style. This is the sort of actor who always gets cast as the ‘best friend’ or ‘brother.’ Earnest and optimistic, he always believes the show is going much more smoothly than it really is. As a result, he doesn’t feel bad when the show goes wrong and never learns from his mistakes. There is a power struggle between Robert and Chris to be president of the Cornley Poly Drama Society (a position that matters a great deal to Robert) Note: The actor cast in this role will need to be comfortable performing on a seven-foot-high platform with no railing. (RP)
Gender: Male Presenting
DENNIS [or DENISE]: (Plays Perkins the butler)
Probably the worst actor of the bunch. S/He has no desire to be in theatre, just wants to be liked and make friends — of which he has none. S/He believes if s/he is successful in the show, they will have success socially. Laughter from the audience is agony for him; s/he may be slightly oblivious but understands when he gets things wrong; the laughter is a personal tragedy/failure. S/He has difficulty pronouncing big words and
must write a cheat sheet on their sleeve. Note: The actor cast in this role will need to be comfortable performing on a seven-foot-high platform with no railing. (Submissive RP)
Gender: Male or Female Presenting
ANNIE: (The stage manager)
The stage manager who can generally solve problems quickly. She has the biggest journey of any of the characters. When Sandra must substitute as the leading lady, she goes from nervous to confident then downright competitive; her initial terror turning to joy by the end of the play. She starts small but grows and grows. American dialect.
Gender: Female Presenting
TREVOR [or TINA]: (The play’s lighting and sound tech guy)
He simply wants to get on with the show; curmudgeonly and doesn’t care for actors; he is easily distracted, occasionally missing cues or forgetting to turn his mic off. He does many things he shouldn’t, including engaging with the audience; when things go really sideways, he is forced to act in the play; he hates acting.
Generally, stays backstage until he too must substitute as the leading lady. (This is the least physically demanding role and is less of a time commitment.) Note: The actor cast in this role will need to be comfortable being in an enclosed box for up to 5 minutes. (American dialect)
Gender: Male or Female Presenting
The Playhouse is currently seeking to cast 4—6 unnamed “shadow” rolls (backstage crew members) who will be fully involved in the rehearsal and performance process; they will be visible onstage and off for “The Murder of Haversham Manor’ and are seen trying to get the play to go RIGHT. Actors in these roles must be physically fit, able to lift, run, prat fall and hold a variety of items including a “dead” body.