FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 11, 2008

MEDIA CONTACT: Beate Pettigrew, Artistic Director
Phone: 913/432-9100 · Email: ! bpettigr@jccc.edu
For more information, see: www.thebarnplayers.org

A CLASSIC AMERICAN COMEDY…

The Man Who Came To Dinner

By George S. Kaufman & Moss Hart

Directed by Jessica Franz

AUDITION DATES

Saturday, May 3rd 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Monday, May 5th 7:00pm – 10:00pm

CALLBACKS: Tuesday, May 6th 6:30pm – 10:00pm.

Auditions will take place at The Colonial Church at 71st and Mission Rd. in Prairie Village , KS .

PERFORMANCE DATES

July 11-13, 18-20 & 25-27, 2008

BRING

A headshot & resume, and a short monologue are both requested, but not mandatory.

SYNOPSIS

A classic farce written in the late 1930s by Moss Hart & George S. Kaufman, it tells the story of Sheridan Whiteside, noted orator and cultural critic, who, while on a lecture tour in a small Ohio town, slips on the ice outside his hosts’ home and injures his hip. Until his bones heal, the hosts are forced to put up (and put up with) the imperious Whiteside, enduring the unending stream of his whims, caprices, and vitriolic bon mots. Meanwhile, Maggie, Whiteside's assistant and girl Friday, falls in love with the local newspaper editor, forcing Whiteside to enlist the help of Broadway siren Lorraine Sheldon in a plan to keep Maggie from leaving. It’s a three-ring-circus, filled wi! th everything from Lizzie Borden axe-murderesses to a library filled with exotic creatures.

CHARACTERS

Sheridan Whiteside – Falstaffian lecturer & critic, based on New Yorker critic Alexander Woollcott; age 50-70
Maggie Cutler – Whiteside’s Secretary, the only person who can manage him; age 25-35
Bert Jefferson - Local newspaper editor, suitor of Maggie's; early 30's
Mrs. Earnest Stanley - Flighty matriarch, enamored of everything Whiteside; 40-50's
Mr. Earnest Stanley - Solid, substantial American businessman, patriarch of family; 40-50's
Lorraine Sheldon - Chic actress on the New York or London stage, a siren of no mean talent; ageless
Beverly Carlton - Playwright and actor (think Noel Coward), very British, mus! t sing & play the piano; mid-40's
Banjo – A la Harpo Marx, pixie-like gentleman; any age June Stanley - Daughter of the Stanley's; age 20
Richard Stanley – Son of the Stanley’s; age 21
Harriet Stanley - Wraith-like sister of Mr. Stanley; undeterminable age
John - Stanley 's household help; any age
Sarah - Stanley's household help; any age
Mrs. McCutheon - Mrs. Stanley's neighbors & town gossips; age 40-60
Mrs. Dexter - Mrs. Stanley's neighbors & town gossips; age 40-60
Dr. Bradley - Country doctor & aspiring novelist; age 50-70
Professor Metz - World's greatest authority on insect life, slight German accent; 50's
Sandy - June's boyfriend, labor union organizer; early 20's

6 Choir Boys - sing "Silent Night"

Also, 9 non-speaking roles.