Tag Archives: Middletown Lyric Theatre

MLT Seeks Actor for LAST NIGHT AT BALLYHOO

MLT_logoROLE AVAILABLE: LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOO

Middletown Lyric Theatre
1530 Central Ave.
Middletown, Ohio

Short Rehearsal Period: Last week of October through November –  3 – 4 rehearsals a week until production week.

Production runs: Dec. 5, 6, 12 & 13

CHARACTER
Joe Farkas a late twenties, Brooklyn Jew who has moved to the South to work for Adolph at the bedding company. Joe never went to college, but according to Sunny, he is “very bright.” Proud of his heritage, Joe is surprised to meet a family with no real sense of Jewish identity. Unlike the majority of the characters in the play, Joe manifests concern for the Jews in Europe, not simply because he has relatives there but because he feels a bond with his coreligionists. Joe is extremely sensitive to the prejudice that the Levys hold toward him—and any Eastern European Jews. When he finds out that the Standard Club does not allow his “kind” of Jew to belong, he leaves the dance and Sunny. He also accuses Sunny of “Jew hater talk.”

Please email Charley Shafor, Managing Artistic Director: cshafor@middletownlyric.org for an immediate audition.

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A COUPLA WHITE CHICKS SITTING AROUND TALKING Runs Oct. 24-Nov. 1

MLT_White Chicks logoA COUPLA WHITE CHICKS SITTING AROUND TALKING
Presented by Middletown Lyric Theatre
Oct. 24-Nov. 1
Middletown

Directed by Charley Shafor

Cast: Karen Griesinger as Hannah Mae Bindler &  Lori True as Maude Mix

This two-character comedy takes place in suburban Westchester County, New York kitchen of Maude Mix, who is having a tough day: her husband is off on a weekend spree with his secretary and she can’t get rid of the pesky neighbor who has just moved up from Texas. Hannah Mae Bindler badgers Maude into friendship and the two eventually join forces against their errant and erring husbands. This long running Off-Broadway hit starred Susan Sarandon and Eileen Brennan.

  • Fri-Sat, Oct. 24-25 at 8pm
  • Fri-Sat, Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at 8pm

Official page |

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MLT Stages SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM

MLT_Side by Side by SondheimSIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM
Music by: Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein and
Jule Styne and Richard Rodgers and Mary Rodgers /
Lyrics by: Stephen Sondheim / Continuity by: Ned Sherrin

September 19, 20, 26 & 27
Curtain 8pm

All seats reserved and cost $15
Purchase online at middletownlyric.org or call 513-425-7140

The first musical revue created around the works of this Broadway Musical genius. Taking from shows like: COMPANY, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, ANYONE CAN WHISTLE, GYPSY, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC and many more! All in all over 25 musical numbers, 7 performers and two pianists present this great evening of music.

Featuring: Robin Baker, Julia Bethune, Tonda Hoefler, Melodie LaNicca, Alicia Moore, Kevin Stout and Beth Vestring

Vocal Director: Julia Bethune
Pianist #1: Jay Mills
Pianist #2: Mary Ellen Clinard

Directed By: Charley Shafor

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SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM Runs Sept. 19-27

MLT_Side by Side by SondheimSIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM
Presented by Middletown Lyric Theatre
Sept. 19-27
Middletown

Directed by Charley Shafor
Musical Direction by Julia Abanto-Bethune

Cast: Robin Baker, Julia Abanto-Bethune, Tonda Hoefler, Melodie LaNicca, Alicia Moore, Kevin Stout & Beth Vestring Fischer Reinhart

This dazzling array of some of Sondheim’s best-known songs features numbers from landmark shows that revolutionized the musical theatre with their masterful craft and astounding creativity: COMPANY, FOLLIES, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, ANYONE CAN WHISTLE and PACIFIC OVERTURES, not to mention the classics written with musical theatre giants Leonard Bernstein, Jule Styne and Richard Rodgers, WEST SIDE STORY, GYPSY, and DO I HEAR A WALTZ?

  • Fri-Sat, Sept. 19-20 at 8pm
  • Fri-Sat, Sept. 26-27 at 8pm

Official page |

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MLT Announces Auditions for THE LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOO

MLT_logoTHE LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOO
Written by Alfred Uhry
Directed by Charley Shafor

About the Show:
THE LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOO takes place in Atlanta, Georgia, in December of 1939. Gone with the Wind is having its world premiere, and Hitler is invading Poland, but Atlanta’s elitist German Jews are much more concerned with who is going to Ballyhoo, the social event of the season. Especially concerned is the Freitag family. The family gets pulled apart and then mended together with plenty of comedy, romance and revelations along the way. Events take several unexpected turns as the characters face where they come from and are forced to deal with who they really are.

Audition Dates:
Sunday, August 10 @ 2pm
Monday & Tuesday August 11 & 12 @ 7pm

If you can’t make one of the audition days please email cshafor@middletownlyric.org for an appointment

(Performance Dates: DECEMBER 5, 6, 12 & 13)

Middletown Lyric Theater
1530 Central Avenue
Middletown, Ohio 45044
513-425-7140

Audition Requirements: Cold reading from the script

Character Descriptions:

Ages are used for guidelines this should not keep you from auditioning. 

  • Adolf Freitag, a business man, Adolf is loving, kind, quiet soul. (Late 30’s to late 40’s early 50’s)
  • Boo Levy, Adolf’s sister, a few years older.  Boo is unstoppable force.  She voices her opinions with little regard as to their effect on others. Her main objective is to have her daughter Lala attend ballyhoo and meet a future husband. (Late 30’s to late 40’s early 50’s)
  • Lala Levy, Boo’s daughter, Lala is a dreamer, somewhat immature for her age and just as opinionated as her mother.  She is obsessed with the premiere of Gone With the Wind, as she sees herself as a future novelist.  (18 – to mid-20’s)
  • Reba Freitag, Adolf’s sister. Although Reba often appears oblivious to the family’s on-goings, Reba is the voice of reason and truth.  Her insights as to what is really going on is honest and objective.  She is colorful and warm. (Late 30’s to late 40’s early 50’s)
  • Sunny Freitag, Reba’s daughter.  Sunny is well educated, but struggles with understanding  and accepting her Jewish heritage.  She is pretty and sharp and is many of the things Lala is not. (18 – to mid-20’s)
  • Joe Farkas, Adolf’s business assistant. Joe is the unexpected visitor and the outside voice that causes the Frietag household to re-examine its Jewish identity.  Joe is the intellectual match for Sunny. (18 – to mid-20’s)
  • Peachy Weil, a visitor from Lake Charles. With a name like Peachy, the fun begins.  This well to do young man from a socially acceptable family, is a possible date for Lala and Ballyhoo. Peachy is full of surprises with his outspoken, silly prankster personality. (18 – to mid-20’s)

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