Tag Archives: CenterStage Players of Ohio

CenterStage Players and director Fred Hunt announce the auditions for CONEY ISLAND CHRISTMAS.

Pulitzer Prize winner Donald Margulies weaves together nostalgia, music and merriment for our annual holiday show for people of all ages and all faiths. CONEY ISLAND CHRISTMAS, based on the story “The Loudest Voice” by Grace Paley, introduces us to Shirley Abramowitz, a young Jewish girl who (much to her immigrant parents’ exasperation) is cast as Jesus in the school’s Christmas pageant. As Shirley, now much older, recounts the memorable story to her great-granddaughter, the play captures a timeless and universal tale of what it means to be an American during the holidays.

Audition location: Lockland High School Auditorium, 249 W. Forrer Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45215 (park in lot and enter Door #10)

Audition dates: Tuesday, September 19th (6PM-8PM) and Thursday, September 21st (6PM-8PM) – Callbacks TBD (if needed)

Auditionees can email the headshot to the director if available – not required.

No appointments are required. Auditions will be held in approximate order of arrival.

Rehearsals begin October 23rd, which is date of the first meeting and script read-through.

Production Dates:  December 7-10, 2017 (7:30PM THU/FRI/SAT and 2PM SAT/SUN)

Characters and Stage Ages (NO roles have been pre-cast):

Adults:

• Shirley Abramowitz – Stage Age 90+ (we can make you look older!) – Modern day Great-grandmother
• Mr. & Mrs. Abramowitz – Young Shirley’s Jewish parents (Approx. Age 35-50)
• Mr. Hilton – Drama teacher (Approx. Age 25-35)
• Miss Glace – Music teacher with a French accent (Approx. Age 25-35 – ability to play the piano is a plus)
• Mrs. Kornblum/Teacher/Coney Island Workers – Roles with a few lines (great for those starting or returning to the stage)

Students (Casting Grade 3 and Older):

• Young Shirley – Age 12 – Jewish girl with “the loudest voice”
• Clara – Shirley’s great-granddaughter (Approx. Age 12)
• Additional speaking roles for 7 other male and female students
  MANY additional speaking and non-speaking roles for pageant members (Approx. Age Grades 3-12)

For questions or information, contact the director, Fred Hunt at nwlsdhunt@fuse.net or 513.266.6755.

CenterStage Players and director John Vanderplough announce the auditions for DARK OF THE MOON.

Since the successful publication of the book TWILIGHT a few years ago, the topic of a love triangle of a girl, a vampire, and a werewolf still captures the public’s imagination.

Based on “The Ballad of Barbara Allen” and set in southern Appalachia about 100 years ago, DARK OF THE MOON tells the story of John, a witchboy, who falls in love with Barbara Allen and wants to become human so he can marry her. The Conjur Woman allows him to do so provided that Barbara remains faithful to him for a year. As the townfolk start to realize John’s true nature, they begin a witchhunt for a real witch.

Audition location: North College Hill City Center, 1500 West Galbraith Road at Marvin Avenue

Dates: Sunday, August 6, 2-5PM; Monday, August 7, 7-9PM.  Callbacks: August 9, 7-9PM.

Auditionees are ​​​required to complete the show’s audition form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf53sB9Csu4yDXI3eu5x9dolog-ExQmf3IE_FQCTARsYFdd3w/viewform?usp=sf_link

Then email your acting resume and headshot to richardjoseph@gmail.com by August 5th.

If you did not fill out an audition form online, you can do so at the auditions.

Full cast meeting: Sunday, August 13, 2-5PM

Full cast read-through: Sunday, August 20, 2-5PM

Rehearsals will be on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Rehearsals may be 1-3 nights per week depending upon role. The week of October 8 is a “no miss” tech week.

Performances: 6 shows– October 13, 14, 15 (matinee), 19, 20, 21, at Lockland High School Theatre (249 W Forrer, Cincinnati, OH 45215)

Auditions will be cold readings from the script which is written in the Appalachian dialect. Note that this is not “southern”. Because the script is challenging to read, it is suggested that– in advance–everyone auditioning review the video of a high school production to get a feel for the play and how its language is used poetically at:  www.vimeo.com/58252023 and www.vimeo.com/58252024.

In addition to the roles listed below, there are the minor roles of the townfolk. Altogether there are 25 speaking roles in the show. Everyone gets lines and hymns.Ages 17+ only– no children’s roles.

Cast of characters and stage age
(*indicates principal roles)

Female Roles

• Barbara Allen – 18-21 (sings the Ballad of Barbara Allen)
• Dark Witch – 20-23 (some dance experience preferred)
• Mrs. Allen – 35-50 (sings duet with Floyd)
• Conjur Woman – 50+
• Fair Witch – 20-23 (some dance experience preferred)
• Mrs. Allen – 35-50 (sings duet with Floyd)
• Ella Bergen – 17-20
• Edna Summey – 17-18
• Mrs. Summey – 35-40
• Miss Metcalf – mid-20s

Male Roles

• John (Witchboy) – 20-23
• Conjur Man – 50+
• Preacher Hagler – 30+
• Mr. Allen – 35-50
• Floyd Allen – 16 (strums guitar chords & sings duet)
• Marvin Hudgens – 20-25 (large mountain man– “the bad guy”)
• Hank Gudger – 17-20
• Mr. Summey – 35-40
• Greenie Gorman – 60+

NOTE: The director is looking for actors who can carry a tune– mainly Mrs. Allen, Barbara, and Floyd. The entire cast sings hymns together in Act 2. These are downhome mountain folk, not professional singers and dancers. The “dancing,” in fact, is a total of about three minutes in the whole show, and it’s more movement than dance.

For questions or information, contact the director via email: geotrav@ymail.com.