Author Archives: robbucher

Mariemont Players, Inc. is pleased to announce auditions for our production of
I’LL BE BACK BEFORE MIDNIGHT A Thriller by Peter Colley

Directed by Eric Day
Assistant Directed by Jennifer Day
Produced by Aimée Ward and Joey Domhoff

Audition Dates/Times:

• Monday, July 14 – 7-9:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, July 15 – 7-9:30 p.m.

Callbacks: (as needed) Wednesday, July 16, 7 p.m.

Please sign up for an audition slot here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E084BA4AE28A6F49-56375329-ill

Location: Mariemont Players – 4101 Walton Creek Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45227

Audition Requirements:

• Auditions will consist of “warm” readings from the script. Sides can be found here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1bIxm5snjdHkDhIiM0LU37e0a6vRSOCpR?usp=drive_link
• Please bring a theatrical resume. Headshots are appreciated, but not required.
• The production team encourages actors of all races, ethnicities, identities, abilities, experience levels, etc. to audition – all are welcome!
• Please contact director Eric Day with questions about the script or audition process at lasher1964@hotmail.com
• If in need of accommodations or questions about accessibility, please contact producers Aimée Ward at howaboutadance@gmail.com or Joey Domhoff at jdom717@gmail.com.

Production Dates: November 6 – 23, 2025

Rehearsal times: Rehearsals will begin in September and run through the opening.

Synopsis:
After suffering a recent nervous breakdown, Jan retreats with her husband Greg, an archaeologist, to a secluded farmhouse in the countryside—conveniently located near his latest dig site. Hoping for peace and quiet, Jan instead finds herself swept up in eerie tales from George, the quirky and comical farmer who owns the house. He warns of a gruesome murder that once occurred there… and a ghost that still haunts the grounds. Just as Jan’s nerves begin to fray, Greg’s alluring and conniving sister Laura shows up unannounced, further disrupting Jan’s fragile sense of calm. Strange noises echo through the night, chilling visions plague her, and Jan begins to question what’s real and what’s not. Is she relapsing—or is someone trying to drive her mad? As the tension escalates, Jan’s fight for sanity takes a shocking turn in a gripping night of suspense, mystery, and psychological thrills.

Character Breakdown:

Jan Sanderson – female-presenting, 20s–30s
Jan is emotionally open, intuitive, and deeply trusting, which makes her instantly relatable to the audience. Her journey is central to the play, and while her past includes time in a psychiatric hospital, she emerges as the most grounded and rational character in the story. Though she has moments of fragility and self-doubt, Jan possesses a resilient, spirited nature that quietly defies expectation. Her strength lies not in dramatic outbursts, but in quiet perseverance and emotional intelligence. She should never be played as neurotic—her vulnerability is authentic, not a flaw, and her ability to endure makes her admirable.

Greg Sanderson – male-presenting, 25–35
Greg is a cerebral and somewhat emotionally distant academic, but beneath his intellectual veneer lies a quirky, appealing charm. He struggles to connect deeply, often appearing insensitive, but the occasional glimpses of warmth and tenderness toward Jan suggest that he’s more than the sum of his cool exterior. His complexity lies in the tension between his emotional repression and his genuine care for Jan. Despite his faults, the audience should be able to understand why Jan loves him—and hope for the survival of their relationship.

Laura Sanderson – female-presenting, 25–35
Laura is strategic, composed, and driven, with a strong sense of self-control and calculation in her interactions. She’s adept at masking her intentions behind a polished, pleasant demeanor, particularly in her scenes with Jan, where surface-level charm conceals deeper motives. However, she isn’t a villain—her emotional motivations, particularly her longing and vulnerability, must be present beneath the surface. The danger with Laura lies in the temptation to flatten her into a one-note antagonist. Instead, she should be portrayed as a fully realized person whose flaws are rooted in desperation, not malice.

George Willowby – male-presenting, 40–70
George brings levity and eccentricity to the play. He’s a lively storyteller with a penchant for spinning outrageous, macabre tales, often at the expense of more naïve listeners. His oddities are endearing rather than off-putting, and his humor often comes from his unapologetic strangeness. Yet beneath his jokes and folklore lies a quiet emotional depth, especially in his connection with Jan. He must be portrayed with nuance—able to land a punchline with ease, but also capable of revealing the loneliness or pain that motivates his colorful behavior.