Gaslight Theater has auditions in February for 2 new shows. The musical “Nunsense” by Dan Googin Directed by Bill Haley with Musical Direction by Marcia Gallagher and the play “Four Old Broads” by Leslie Kimbell directed by Lucy Rioux.

“Nunsense”

AUDITIONS: Saturday February 3rd and Sunday February 4th, at 1:00 pm
SHOW DATES: June 6th through the 9th

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“Four Old Broads”

AUDITIONS: Monday Feb 12th and Tuesday February 13th, at 6:00pm
SHOW DATES: April 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14

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All auditions held at Hallowell City Hall Auditorium, located at 1 Winthrop Street in Hallowell.

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“Nunsense” the Musical by Dan Googin
Directed by Bill Haley with Musical Direction by Marcia Gallagher

Bring a song to sing and be ready for cold readings from the show.

Rehearsals expected to take place on Sundays with one midweek evening, dates to be announced. Come join us as we mount Gaslight’s first musical since 2017! Nunsense is a hilarious spoof about the misadventures of five nuns trying to manage a fundraiser. When the majority of the sisterhood dies from botulism after eating vichyssoise prepared by Sister Julia Child of God, the remaining nuns stage a talent show in order to raise the money to bury their dearly departed.

With catchy songs and irreverent comedy, Nunsense is sure to keep audiences rolling with laughter.

Sister Mary Regina – The Mother Superior, a feisty Sophie Tucker-type who can’t resist the spotlight.
Sister Mary Hubert – The Mistress of Novices, the second in command, is always competing with the Mother Superior.
Sister Mary Amnesia – The sweet but befuddled Sister who lost her memory after a crucifix fell on her head.
Sister Mary Leo – The novice, who has entered the convent with the firm desire to become the first nun ballerina.
Sister Robert Anne – The street-wise, tough character from Brooklyn. A constant source of aggravation for the Mother Superior.

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“Four Old Broads” by Leslie Kimbell
Directed By Lucy Rioux

Retired burlesque queen Beatrice Shelton desperately needs a vacation – and NOT another trip up to Helen, Georgia to see that “precious little German village for the umpteenth time.” A Sassy Seniors Cruise through the Caribbean may be just the ticket if she can just convince her best friend, Eaddy Mae Clayton, to stop praying and go with her.

Unfortunately, things have not been very pleasant at Magnolia Place Assisted Living since Nurse Pat Jones began working there. The newest resident, Imogene Fletcher, is suddenly losing her memory. Maude Jenkins is obsessed with her favorite soap opera and planning her own funeral. Sam Smith, retired Elvis impersonator, keeps trying to bed every woman in the building. A mystery unfolds with laughter as the gals try to outsmart the evil Nurse Pat Jones and figure out why so many residents have been moved to “the dark side,” what exactly IS that mysterious pill, and what happened to Doctor Head? Hilarity ensues as Imogene goes undercover and Maude enters the Miss Magnolia Senior Citizen Pageant to throw Pat off their trail. If they can solve the mystery, they may make it to the cruise ship after all.

BEATRICE SHELTON – A former burlesque star with an attitude – Senior Citizen
EADDY MAE CLAYTON – A former nurse and “religious” lady – Senior Citizen
IMOGENE FLETCHER – The newest resident at Magnolia Place – Senior Citizen
PAT JONES – A rude and pushy nurse – 40s–50s
MAUDE JENKINS – A funeral and soap opera obsessed frump – Senior Citizen
SAM SMITH – Retired Elvis impersonator and Casanova – Senior Citizen
RUBY SUE BENNETT – A quiet, romance novel loving nurse – 30s

Note: Although written with senior actors in mind, the roles of the four old broads and Sam can be played by any adult aged actor through the magic of theatrical make-up.

Synopsis

Trying to get their hands on more than a little inheritance group of people hide the body of a dead
tycoon. But what starts as a lark quickly becomes all too serious when they discover that the body is in
fact a murder victim.
A comedy about business and finance with a strong undercurrent of criminal activity, the play combines
humor, intricate plotting, and a confounding murder.

September Audition Dates

Sunday, September 10th at 2:00pm

Tuesday, September 12th at 6:30pm

Character Descriptions

There are roles for 8 men and 3 women.

Gina Jones Pretty, rather timid young girl, not smart, but with possibilities.
Sally Blunt Attractive woman of thirty-eight, full of vitality and brimming over with good humor.
Sam Fletcher Middle aged, a rough, forthright type. Possibly North Country. A bit flashy but likeable.
Felix Bogusian A very large, Croatian man with a beaming smile.
Henry Panhacker A nervous, young man with an occasional stammer, he wears big horn-rimmed glasses
making him look rather owlish.
Jonathan Panhacker Henry’s father
An Air Hostess
Dr. Nolan An elderly man in a tearing hurry.
A waiter in a luxury hotel
Mr. Truscott Elderly and shrewd London solicitor.
Mr. Moss A mournful looking man with black hair and moustache. He is dressed in somber black and
has a deep mourning voice.

Rehearsal Schedule

Sunday 2:00-5:00/ Tuesday & Thursday 6:00-9:00

September
Thursday, 14th 6:00 Read Thru
Sunday, 17th 2:00 Rehearsal
Tuesday, 19th 6:00 Rehearsal
Thursday, 21st 6:00 Rehearsal
Sunday, 24th NO REHEARSAL
Tuesday, 26th NO REHEARSAL
Thursday, 28th TBD
October
Sunday, 1st 2:00 NO REHEARSAL Jellofish Performance
Tuesday, 3rd 6:00 Rehearsal
Thursday, 5th 6:00 Rehearsal
Sunday, 8th 2:00 Rehearsal
Tuesday, 10th 6:00 Rehearsal
Thursday, 12th 6:00 Rehearsal
Sunday, 15th 2:00 NO REHEARSAL
Tuesday, 17th 6:00 NO REHEARSAL
Thursday, 19th 6:00 Rehearsal
Sunday, 22nd 2:00 Rehearsal
Tuesday, 24th 6:00 Rehearsal
Thursday, 26th 6:00 Rehearsal
PRODUCTION WEEK
Saturday, Tech call Info to come
Sunday, 29th 2:00 Rehearsal
Monday, 30th 6:00 Rehearsal
Tuesday, 31st 6:00 Rehearsal
November
Wednesday, Nov 1 6:00 Rehearsal
Thursday, Nov 2 6:00 Rehearsal
Friday, Nov 3 PERFORMANCE
Saturday, Nov 4 PERFORMANCE
Sunday, Nov 5 PERFORMANCE
Wednesday, Nov 8 Brush Up
Friday, Nov 10 PERFORMANCE
Saturday, Nov 11 PERFORMANCE
Sunday, Nov 12 PERFORMANCE
Strike and Cast Party immediately following

Auditions for Don Zolidis’ “The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon” will be at 6:30pm on Sunday, May 21 and Monday, May 22 at Hallowell City Hall Auditorium, located at 1 Winthrop Street in Hallowell.

The fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm are turned on their heads in this fast-paced, rollicking ride as two narrators and several actors attempt to combine all 209 stories ranging from classics like Snow White, Cinderella, and Hansel and Gretel to more bizarre, obscure stories like The Devil’s Grandmother and The Girl Without Hands. A wild, free-form comedy with lots of audience participation and madcap fun. 

Audition will be cold reading. There are no set ages for the cast which features two narrators and at least three other actors playing the characters in the fairy tales.  Outdoor performances are scheduled for the weekends of July 14, 15, 16 (note that July 15 is Old Hallowell Day) and 21, 22, 23.

Update: A 2nd Audition for December 20th, Tuesday at 6p.m. has been added! See you then!

Auditions for Gaslight Theater’s Valentine’s Day Week show, Love is Murder, by Tim Kelly, will be held December 20th, Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Hallowell City Hall. Please bring proof of Covid-19 vaccination to auditions. Auditions are cold readings.

Love Is Murder, by Tim Kelly, Valentina Velour, the Queen of Romance Fiction, opens Honeymoon House to Love Is Murder is a comedic spoof of the romance novel industry written by Tim Kelly which begins when Valentina Velour, the Queen of Romance Fiction, opens her luxurious “Honeymoon House” to a television program. Unfortunately, someone has left a dead man in the closet and a wacko called The Rose Killer is bumping off the love scribblers. Confusion and madness abound as vitamin fanatics, cops, literary agents and writers collide. The whole madcap mess concludes with the exposure of Valentina’s arch-enemy and an affirmation of her philosophy — “Romance will be here when men and women no longer walk the earth!”

Show dates are the weekends of February 10, 11 & 12 and 17, 18 and 19  at Hallowell City Hall Auditorium.

5 Women, 5 Men. All roles are open to all ages 18 years of age and up.

Valentina Hart – The selfmade Queen of Romantic Fiction, dripping with regality, snobbery, and gaudy fashion
Effie – House maid, hopeless romantic, number one fan of Valentina
Tom Burns/Handsome Marine – Butler, fairly good looking, very new and green
Lydecker – Valentina’s agent, loud and aggressive
Leon Ketchem – TV producer, unbothered, unfazed, disinterested
Jane Err – romance novelist, dark, brooding, like she walked straight out of a Victorian gothic novel (But it’s all a facade, she craves the limelight)
Calamity Lovett – romance novelist, dressed like she’s from a glamorous western. Self assured, rough around the edges, with a twang (Again a facade, for publicity)
Pearl Sweet – dressed in dazzling slinky attire. Vogue, posh, strikes a pose, seducing mirrors
Dr. Wintergreen/Pirate/Simon Grundy – Charming, well dressed and health conscious, all of these to a fault
Ed Fish/Don Alfredo – a bumbling policeman/detective

Auditions for Gaslight Theater’s late fall show, THE STRANGER by Agatha Christie, will be held Sunday, September 11th and Tuesday, September 13th at 6:30 p.m. at the Hallowell City Hall.

Please bring proof of Covid-19 vaccination to auditions. Auditions are cold readings.

4 Women, 2 Men—Minimum 5—Doris or Mrs. Huggins can double with Mrs. Birch

Doris West—A nondescript girl of 28. Friend of Enid. Similar age.

Mrs. Huggins—A middle-aged woman, housekeep, singing, cheerfully pessimistic. Husband controlling.

Enid Bradshaw—A pretty girl of 28. Engaged for several years to a man who returns to marry her. Looking for some adventure.

Gerald Strange—An attractive man of about 38. Looks like a man who has lived an outdoor life. He has rather a diffident, boyish manner, which endears him to women. There is nothing bold or flashing about him. Becomes somewhat self-centeredly mad.

Dick Lane—A gentle man of 35, looking older than his years. He stoops a little and has a diffident manner. Rather meek at first but belatedly learns to speak his mind.

Mrs. Birch—A thin, anemic looking woman with a flat depressed voice. She has none of Mrs. Huggins’ cheerful pessimism.

Show dates are November 11, 12, and 13 and November 18, 19, and 20 at the Hallowell City Hall.

Auditions for Gaslight Theater’s fall show, The Whales of August, will be held Sunday, July 17th and Monday, July 18th at 7:00 p.m. at the Hallowell City Hall.

The Whales of August is set at a beach house on an island off the coast of Maine where two widowed sisters have been summering for many years. The play is wistful and autumnal in mood… and filled with the bittersweet recognition that life, despite the alterations of time, must continue as best it can.

Please bring proof of Covid-19 vaccination to auditions. Show consists of two acts with parts for three women and two men. All roles are intended for actors 50 and older. Auditions are cold readings.

Show dates are August 26, 27, and 28 and September 2, 3 and 4 (this is Labor day weekend. Please do not audition if you already have other plans) at the Hallowell City Hall.