Get your deerstalker cap on — the play’s afoot! Comedic genius Ken Ludwig (Lend Me a Tenor, Leading Ladies, Moon Over Buffalo) transforms Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic The Hound of the Baskervilles into a murderously funny adventure. Sherlock Holmes is on the case. The male heirs of the Baskerville line are being dispatched one by one. To find their ingenious killer, Holmes and Watson must brave the desolate moors before a family curse dooms its newest heir. Watch as our intrepid investigators try to escape a dizzying web of clues, silly accents, disguises, and deceit as five actors deftly portray more than forty characters. Does a wild hellhound prowl the moors of Devonshire? Can our heroes discover the truth in time? Join the fun and see how far from elementary the truth can be. Full of humor, horror, and plenty of stage magic, five actors play nearly 40 roles in this kooky and spooky caper that will have you howling with laughter.
Audition Dates (please attend 1 and arrive at the posted start time):
- August 22, 2022 at 7:00 PM
- August 23, 2022 at 7:00 PM
Please be prepared to:
- Read provided selections from the script
*You should be able to do a standard British dialect (RP) and several others for those playing multiple parts.
- Be prepared to fill out a conflict sheet at auditions (be as specific as possible about conflicts throughout the rehearsal period)
Performances: October 21-30, 2022
Performers Needed
Performers 18 up are welcome to audition. Experienced or first time performers who enjoy physical acting are invited to audition. Unless strictly and specifically mandated from the playwright, all roles are open and available to anyone regardless of race, ethnicity, or body type.
Roles Available
(All ages listed are playing ages and are just a suggestion and will be adjusted to fit the needs of our casting.)
- SHERLOCK HOLMES
(Male 30s – 40s). Highly intelligent, confident, charismatic, quick-witted, obsessive. Thinks very highly of his close friend Watson. A sophisticated mind who savors adventure and an intriguing mystery, and has a manic gleam of mischief in his eyes. A mind that works overtime.
- DOCTOR WATSON
(Male Early to mid 40s). Smart, grounded, full of heart and wonder, lives to have adventures and assist his close friend Holmes. We see the play through his eyes. The heart and soul of the play.
- ACTOR ONE
(Male 30s – 40s) Must show great versatility and nimbleness physically and vocally (including multiple dialects). Plays multiple roles (over 10), including STAPLETON (seemingly geeky butterfly lover who conceals a psychopath within), BARRYMORE (mournful caretaker of Baskerville Hall), MILKER (scrappy Dickensian urchin boy), LUCY (loving wife of WILSON), and DR. MORTIMER (elegant, friendly, passionate).
- ACTOR TWO
(Male 20s – 30s). Must show great versatility and nimbleness physically and vocally (including multiple dialects). Plays multiple roles, including SIR HUGO BASKERVILLE (a brutal, cruel Cavalier), WILSON (exuberant, hearty head of messenger office), SIR HENRY BASKERVILLE (young Texan relation to Baskervilles, open-hearted, earnest, ready for adventure and to fall in love), and INSPECTOR LESTRADE (cocky police inspector).
- ACTRESS ONE
(Female 30s). Must show great versatility and nimbleness physically and vocally (including multiple dialects). Plays multiple roles, including MISS STAPLETON (STAPLETON’s initially secretive, scared “sister” who passionately falls in love with SIR HENRY), CARTWRIGHT (scrappy Dickensian urchin boy), MRS. BARRYMORE (severe, humorless Swedish caretaker of Baskerville Hall), MRS. HUDSON (older, maternal housekeeper for HOLMES).
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Ken Ludwig’s THE BASKERVILLE: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery
Behind the Curtain Cincinnati 