Auditions

Please Note: Descriptions listed below are for the characters, not necessarily the actors playing them. Actors of all gender identities are encouraged to audition and will be considered accordingly.

FRANKLIN SHEPARD (Lead, Tenor, actor able to portray age 25-35): Handsome and charismatic, he is one of the movers and shakers. This composer-turned-Hollywood producer barrels forward, climbing the ladder of success – perhaps leaving a few people behind in the dust. He exudes suave confidence, but is deeply sad and flawed.

CHARLEY KRINGAS (Lead, Tenor, actor able to portray age 25-35): Frank’s writing partner. Easily agitated and stubborn, he is passionate almost to the point of a fault. Charley is more comfortable in his own artistic bubble than in being out on the town doing the “business” of show business. This playwright is constantly fighting for things to go back to the way that they were. Rarely budging, he can be quite the hot-head.

MARY FLYNN (Lead, Mezzo-Soprano, actor able to portray age 25-35): A successful novelist-turned-critic who is hopelessly in love with Frank. Having an excessive personality, this sardonic softie goes from a caring, optimistic friend to an embittered alcoholic. Fiercely loyal and quietly reminiscent, Mary implores the boys to forget their differences and get back to the good ol’ days. She is the support system, perhaps at the expense of her own well-being.

GUSSIE CARNEGIE (Supporting, Mezzo-Soprano, actor able to portray age 25-35): Frank’s second wife. An unapologetically narcissistic Broadway star who absolutely thrives off of attention. This secretary-turned-star is flamboyant to the point of insensitivity, feeling empowered by her own ingenuity. She is certainly talented, but also incredibly resourceful. She never changes herself, just the people around her. Gussie is ruled by her impulsive, rarely satisfied, and often unattainable desires.

BETH SPENCER (Supporting, Mezzo-Soprano, actor able to portray age 25-35): Frank’s first wife and mother of his son. Once a Midwestern hopeless romantic trying to make her way in NYC, she becomes the breadwinning wife who longs to settle down and live a “normal” life. She is feminine, but strong. Naïve and tense. At the core of Beth is a set of good, moral values that she holds on to very tightly – which is reflected in her unforgiving honesty. She is Frank’s champion.

JOE JOSEPHSON (Supporting, Baritone, actor able to portray age 45-60): A big-talking producer whose business-smarts are unparalleled in the commercial theatre. Probably smokes a lot of cigars. His marriage to Gussie castrates him, and Gussie’s leaving him for Frank sucks him dry. He ends up poor, pathetically begging for a handout from his ex-wife.

FEATURED ENSEMBLE ROLES:

 Ru (tenor/baritone/bass), Franklin Shepard Jr. (age 6-11, treble/boy soprano), Mr. Spencer, Mrs. Spencer (Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto), K.T. (Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano), Tyler (Baritone), Scotty (Baritone), Jerome (Baritone), Terry (Tenor, Baritone, Bass), Dory (Mezzo-Soprano, Alto), Bunker (Tenor/Baritone), Meg Kincaid (Mezzo-Soprano)

ENSEMBLE: 

TV anchors, party guests, judge, pianist, photographer, stage manager, makeup artist, dance ensemble.