Show Title: BROADWAY BOUND by Neil Simon
Director: Jerry Wiesenhahn
Synopsis: Part three of Neil Simon’s acclaimed semi-autobiographical trilogy finds Eugene Jerome and his older brother Stanley trying to break into the world of show business as professional comedy writers while coping with family tensions, parental pressures, and maybe even…love? When their material is broadcast on the radio for the first time, some things about the family portrayed in the sketch seem very familiar…
Audition: Sunday, July 14th and Monday, July 15th both 7:00pm – 9:00pm by appointment on the half hour. Please reserve your time via this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090D44AFAB2FA2FE3-broadway
Audition Requirements: Bring headshot and resume. Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script.
Rehearsal times: Rehearsals will begin on Tuesday, October 1st from 7-9:30pm and will occur every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday (unless there are cast conflicts) until tech week.
Production Dates: Friday, November 8th-8pm, Saturday, November 9th-8pm, Sunday, November 10th-2pm, Thursday, November 14th, 8pm, Friday, November 15th, 8pm, Saturday, November 16th, 8pm, Sunday, November 17th, 2pm and 7pm, Thursday, November 21st, 8pm, Friday, November 22nd, 8pm, Saturday, November 23rd, 3pm and 8pm, Sunday, November 24th 2pm
Description of Characters:
Eugene Morris Jerome – The play’s narrator and the focal character of the Eugene trilogy. Carefree, witty to a fault, and quick to joke, he is 23 years old and working in the stock room of a music company before his brother and writing partner, Stanley, helps them both to break into the world of showbiz. While he maintains his affable and seemingly care-free nature, Eugene cares deeply about everyone in his family, especially for his parents. Neil Simon wrote Eugene as his own self, the playwright’s semi-autobiographical analogue in the work.
Stanley Jerome – Eugene’s older brother. At 28 years old, he is neurotic, high-strung, and constantly obsessing and worrying over the details. He brokers the first opportunity for he and his brother to show their material to NBC Studios and co-writes the sketch with his brother; the two constantly bicker and play as they attempt to write their first big comedy sketch.
Ben Epstein (mide-late 70s/early 80s) – Father of Kate, grandfather to Stanley and Eugene. A born socialist and ardent follower of Trotsky, he lives with his daughter and her family in Brighton Beach. Stan and Eugene find Grandpa, in his age, to be one of their greatest goldmines for accidental comedy. He cares deeply for his daughters and their families, but due to his upbringing and beliefs is not an affectionate man.
Kate Jerome (early-mid 50s) – A strong woman through and through, Eugene and Stanley’s mother has done her best to take care of her father, Ben, while raising her boys and keeping a wary eye on her husband. She values family, and familial experiences – such as the simple act of sitting down and eating together as a family. She knows her boys are grown men, but will never not see them as her babies.
Jack Jerome (mid-late 50s)– The father to Eugene and Stanley, he’s a tough nut for certain. Having worked as a clothier for many years, making ladies raincoats, he’s become a bit numb to the monotony of life. Like Ben, he is not an affectionate man, masked by his exhaustion and his own self-provided frustrations.
Blanche Morton (early 50s) – Kate’s (now) well-to-do sister. She has remarried, and her second husband built himself up to afford a home on Park Avenue and the finer things in life. Ben is at odds with Blanche when she comes to visit – he can only focus on Blanche’s giving in to capitalist society.
Behind the Curtain Cincinnati 