Tag Archives: Beechmont Players Inc

Auditions Announced for BPI’s INHERIT THE WIND

BPI_logoBeechmont Players, Inc. (BPI) is gearing up for its third production of the 2014-15 season, INHERIT THE WIND, directed by Jerry Wiesenhahn and produced by Darcy Little.

Audition details:
7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 5, and 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6, at the Anderson Center Theatre (7850 Five Mile Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45230).

Call-backs, if needed, will be 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 7, at the Anderson Center Theatre.

Auditions will consist of readings from the script.

Please bring a resume and headshot. Headshots will be taken of those who don’t bring one.

Show synopsis:
This fictionalized account of the Scopes “Monkey” trial in Tennessee addresses basic issues which are still controversial today. Thinly disguised characters portraying William Jennings Bryan and Clarence Darrow oppose each other in this dramatic re-creation of the trial of a teacher for teaching Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution to a high school science class. It’s faith versus science in a play that reflects conflicts that still trouble our society.

The run of the show is May 8 – 16, 2015.

Character descriptions:

Inherit The Wind Characters: Cast size – 21 men, six women, two boys, one girl

Matthew Harrison Brady, a three-time presidential candidate and nationally known attorney. He is a Populist and a dynamic public speaker even though he is in his late 60s or early 70s.

Henry Drummond, another nationally known attorney who was once Brady’s closest friend and political confidante. He is about the same age as Brady. Folksy but can bristle when pushed.

Bertram “Bert” Cates, a Hillsboro high school teacher in his 20s who has taught the theory of evolution in violation of a state law banning its teaching in classrooms; uncomfortable in the limelight.

E. K. Hornbeck, a reporter for the fictional Baltimore Herald newspaper. He is young,sarcastic, cynical, and deeply opposed to religious belief.

Reverend Jeremiah Brown, a fundamentalist preacher who believes fervently in Biblical literalism. He is widowed, and has a daughter – Rachel Brown.

Rachel Brown, the Rev. Brown’s daughter. She is 22, romantically involved with Bertram Cates before all this happened and is now very conflicted about the situation.

The Judge, a local county court judge who is subtly sympathetic to Rev. Brown’s views.

Howard Blair, a 13-year-old high school student who was in Bertram Cates’ class.

Melinda Loomis, a 12-year-old girl who believes strongly in the Bible.

Tom Davenport, the local district attorney who prosecutes Bertram Cates.

The Mayor, the top elected official of Hillsboro who is openly supportive of the Rev.Brown but also deeply political and concerned about the economic future of his town.

Meeker, a bailiff at the Hillsboro courthouse; very laid back.

Mrs. Sarah Brady, Matthew Harrison Brady’s wife; gracious, but protective of her husband.

Mrs. Krebs, a loudly outspoken supporter of Rev. Brown and leader of the Ladies’ Aid Society.

Various other townspeople.

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BPI Announces Auditions for MOVE OVER, MRS. MARKHAM

BPI_logoMOVE OVER, MRS. MARKHAM
Directed by Vern Burns
Produced by Cheryl Boettger

Audition details:

  • 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 10, and 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12, at the Anderson Center Theatre
  • Auditions will consist of readings from the script.
  • Resumes and headshots are preferred but not required.

Show synopsis:
Several naughty couples want to “borrow” the Markhams’ London flat for an assignation. Due to unfortunate confusion they all show up on the same night. The result is a classic door-slamming comedy with frustrated lovers, children’s authors, interior decorators, and the Swedish au pair in a variety of hysterically funny, slightly indelicate situations. The show will run from Feb. 20-28, 2015.

Character descriptions*

  • Joanna Markham – attractive, sophisticated (25-50)**
  • Alistair Spenlow – good looking, interior designer (20-50)
  • Sylvie – Swiss Au Pair (hearty accent), gorgeous big blonde (18-30)
  • Linda Lodge – vivacious, scatter-brained (30-50)
  • Philip Markham – publishes children’s books, pleasant looking, worried (25-50)
  • Henry Lodge – confident, successful, has confidence and swagger (25-50)
  • Walter Pangbourne – slightly stuffy, conservative (30-60)
  • Olive Harriet Smythe – country lady, butterfly mind, author of children’s books, eccentric, dog-loving woman (30-80)
  • Miss Wilkinson – ex-debutant, pretty, cooky, phone operator, Henry’s new love interest, quick to strip down to underwear, runs around wrapped in a sheet (18-40)
    *Except for Sylvie, all characters must have a sophisticated English accent.
    **Stage age will depend on audition turnout.

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CRAZY HORSES Runs Oct. 17-25

BPI_Crazy HorsesCRAZY HORSES
Presented by Beechmont Players
Oct. 17-25
Anderson Township

Directed by James and Sarah Updike
Produced by Donna Surber and Cathy Roesener

Cast: Steven Phelan as God, Vernon Burns as Death, Doug Malcolm as Famine, Jamie Ball as War, Brieanne Sheehan as Plague, Kevin Burnley as Saint Peter, Bryce Willson as Frank, Michael Gunter as Satan, Alan Harland as A Man, Bryce Willson as A Woman, Michael Surber as A Cleaner, Anne Wrider as Satan’s Mum & Rebecca Wiesman as Jules Maloney

Heaven is in chaos. The Department of the Apocalypse is a shambles – overheads are rocketing and the lead time on mortality isn’t cost-efficient. Some consultants have suggested God shake things up a bit by swapping the roles of the Horsemen – or, rather, Horsepeople – of the Apocalypse. But that only brings its own set of problems. To end their misery three of the Horsepeople decide to back the other team and call on Satan to stage a coup and return things to the way they have always been done. Only Satan (who has always fallen some way short of his mother’s high expectations when it comes to being evil) has been grounded. To further complicate things a misunderstanding sees the future of Christianity put instead into the hands of a cleaner. Faced with a plot that’s about to implode, Satan slips into Heaven to oversee the coup himself.

  • Fri-Sat, Oct. 17-18 at 8pm
  • Sun, Oct. 19 at 3pm
  • Fri, Oct. 24 at 8pm
  • Sat, Oct. 25 at 3pm & 8pm

Official page |

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BPI’s THE JESTER PRINCE Available on YouTube

BPI_The Jester PrinceBeechmont Players’ summer production of THE JESTER PRINCE is now available in its entirety online thanks to ACTV Anderson Television and local playwright Frederic Tacon.

For more information on the production, including a cast list visit The Jester Prince production page. You can also read The River City News interview with Frederic Tacon.

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BPI Announces Cast of CRAZY HORSES

BPI_logoBeechmont Players is proud to announce the cast of their 2014-15 season premiere, the North American debut of CRAZY HORSES, Oct. 17 – 25, 2014, at the Anderson Center Theatre:

Directors: James & Sarah Updike
Producers: Donna Surber & Cathy Roesener

  • GOD : Steven Phelan
  • DEATH : Vernon Burns
  • FAMINE : Doug Malcolm
  • WAR : Jamie Ball
  • PLAGUE : Brieanne Sheehan
  • SAINT PETER: Kevin Burnley
  • FRUNK: Bryce Willson
  • SATAN: Michael Gunter
  • A MAN: Alan Harland
  • A WOMAN: Bryce Willson
  • A CLEANER: Michael Surber
  • SATAN’S MUM: Anne Wrider
  • JULES MALONEY: Rebecca Wiesman

Tickets are $15 general admission and $13 seniors, students and active military. Learn more at www.beechmontplayers.org.

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