OPEN AUDITIONS
Monday and Tuesday, August 8 & 9, 2022
Callbacks (if needed) August 10, 2022
Auditions start at 7 p.m.
Produced by FRANCIE MITCHANER
Directed by BRIAN NOFFKE
Buck Creek Playhouse will hold open auditions for our holiday production of THE GAME'S AFOOT OR HOLMES FOR THE HOLIDAYS by Ken Ludwig on Monday and Tuesday, August 8 & 9, 2022, at 7 p.m. at the playhouse, 11150 Southeastern Avenue.
Director Brian Noffke and Producer Francie Mitchaner are looking for a diverse cast of five women and three men for this production.
All roles are available with this call.
AUDITION PREPARATION
- Please bring resume and headshot, if available.
- You will read selected scenes from the script.
- Please read the script before you attend auditions, if you can. This is a wonderful resource for the actor. The more familiar you are with the characters and the script, the more it can enhance your audition. The script is available from Concord Theatricals HERE, or from Amazon HERE.
- Callbacks will be August 10, 2022, at 7 PM (if necessary).
- THE GAME'S AFOOT is scheduled for nine performances for the weekends of December 2, 2022 – December 18, 2022.
- Please bring a list of all conflicts from October 1, 2022, through December 18, 2022. Conflicts after November 13, 2022 will not be permitted unless approved by the director. There will be no rehearsals the four days of Thanksgiving weekend.
- Rehearsals are tentatively set to begin on October 1, 2022.
It is December 1936, Christmas Eve, and Broadway star William Gillette, admired the world over for his leading role in the play Sherlock Holmes, has invited his fellow cast members to his Connecticut castle for a weekend of revelry and holiday cheer with him and his mother. But when one of the guests is murdered, the festivities in this isolated house of tricks and mirrors quickly turn dangerous. It is then up to Gillette himself, as he assumes the persona of his beloved Holmes, to track down the killer before the next victim appears. The danger and hilarity are non-stop in this glittering whodunit set during the Christmas holidays.
AVAILABLE ROLES
Martha Gillette
(Stage age: 60’s – 70's)
Somewhat vague and dithering. A very kind and generous woman. A touch of Mrs. Higgins in her approach to her son, whom she does adore, but is fully aware he is a bit of a man-child. Martha is also an actress. She may at times seem like the dotty old lady, but she is very strong-willed and in full control of her wits and actions. She adores the flirting Simon and is good friends with Madge and Felix. Some Singing and dancing, mild physical comedy involved.
Aggie Wheeler / Alice
(Stage age: 25)
Beautiful, bright-eyed and full of spunk. She is married to Simon Bright but shows a secret love for William. We see several sides to Aggie: the innocent, young actress hides deep secrets and has a vindictive side that equals her gentle and sweet side. Role also doubles as Alice in the opening ‘Sherlock’ play in Act I. Some Singing and dancing, strong stage combat/physical comedy involved.
Madge Geisel / Marian
(Stage age: 40's-50's)
Flamboyant and wry in a Rosalind Russell smart-mouthed-gal-about-town sort of way. A fine actress, with a wide range of roles under her belt. She is married to Felix, and they are quite the pair. She adores him and yet can match his wits. Her friendships are strong and deep. She loves performing and never misses a chance to quote a play. She also doubles as Marian in the opening ‘Sherlock’ play in Act I. Some Singing and dancing, strong stage combat/physical comedy involved.
Daria Chase
(Stage age: 30's-50's)
Gorgeous, glamorous, and dressed to the nines. She’s one of those people you can’t take your eyes off of; and despite all of her show-biz cattiness, you can’t help liking her – or at least admiring her. She has a sense of humor and has invented herself from the ground up, which is no mean feat. She commands the stage, always. Daria is also a medium and conducts a séance during the first Act, which she takes very seriously. Some stage combat/physical comedy involved. Daria is dragged around the stage several times*
Inspector Goring
(Stage age: 40-60's)
British (or any nationality), eccentric, and one of a kind. One minute she seems wry and clever, the next minute she’s off into a world of her own. She gets things wrong without even knowing it, yet she also seems just the sort of person who can find you out when you’re lying. That makes her formidable. Goring also has aspirations to be an actress and adores show business. Role also doubles as Cook/Maid-a non-speaking character that will be used in the transition between Act I, Scene 1 & Scene 2. Strong comedic timing and some physical comedy is involved.
William Gillette / Sherlock Holmes
(Stage age: 30's-40's)
Based on real-life actor, William Gillette, of his Sherlock Holmes fame, he is a grand presence. He is charming, warm, commanding and sincere. He is strikingly handsome, smartly dressed and good-humored, full of irony and life. A sort of modern-day Ulysses. Having basically originated the role of Sherlock Holmes on the stage, William may be a bit ‘obsessed’ with the pipe-smoking detective and, at times, may assume the persona of Sherlock Holmes to get to the murderer. He is also a bit of a romantic and perhaps a bit melodramatic at times, yet he loves his life and his profession as an actor. Some singing and dancing, strong comedic timing and strong physical comedy/stage combat involved.
Felix Geisel / Moriarty
(Stage age: 40's-50's)
Histrionic and arch in a Lionel Barrymore/Sir Toby Belch sort of way. Felix always seems to know what to say and is never shy to speak his dry wit. He is a consummate character actor, married to Madge, whom he loves and adores. They truly enjoy quoting Shakespeare and performing for the room and each other. He and William are the very good friends, even if he is a bit jealous of William’s fame. Role also doubles as the nemesis Moriarty in the opening ‘Sherlock’ play in Act I. Some singing and dancing, strong comedic timing and strong physical comedy/stage combat involved.
Simon Bright / Count Zerlinsky
(Stage age: 25)
Sweet, charming, enthusiastic. Innately affectionate and good-natured. He has been secretly married to Aggie for 4 weeks. Simon can charm the pants off anyone but sometimes he seems to ‘play’ the fool or idiot very well. He is also a song and dance man, so some singing and dancing is preferred. He plays the ukulele and sings a Christmas carol but it is not required for the actor to play an instrument. Role also doubles as the Hungarian, Zerlinsky in the ‘Sherlock’ play in Act I. Strong comedic timing and strong physical comedy/stage involved. Simon does quite a bit of physicality in Act II.
(Stage age: 60’s – 70's)
Somewhat vague and dithering. A very kind and generous woman. A touch of Mrs. Higgins in her approach to her son, whom she does adore, but is fully aware he is a bit of a man-child. Martha is also an actress. She may at times seem like the dotty old lady, but she is very strong-willed and in full control of her wits and actions. She adores the flirting Simon and is good friends with Madge and Felix. Some Singing and dancing, mild physical comedy involved.
Aggie Wheeler / Alice
(Stage age: 25)
Beautiful, bright-eyed and full of spunk. She is married to Simon Bright but shows a secret love for William. We see several sides to Aggie: the innocent, young actress hides deep secrets and has a vindictive side that equals her gentle and sweet side. Role also doubles as Alice in the opening ‘Sherlock’ play in Act I. Some Singing and dancing, strong stage combat/physical comedy involved.
Madge Geisel / Marian
(Stage age: 40's-50's)
Flamboyant and wry in a Rosalind Russell smart-mouthed-gal-about-town sort of way. A fine actress, with a wide range of roles under her belt. She is married to Felix, and they are quite the pair. She adores him and yet can match his wits. Her friendships are strong and deep. She loves performing and never misses a chance to quote a play. She also doubles as Marian in the opening ‘Sherlock’ play in Act I. Some Singing and dancing, strong stage combat/physical comedy involved.
Daria Chase
(Stage age: 30's-50's)
Gorgeous, glamorous, and dressed to the nines. She’s one of those people you can’t take your eyes off of; and despite all of her show-biz cattiness, you can’t help liking her – or at least admiring her. She has a sense of humor and has invented herself from the ground up, which is no mean feat. She commands the stage, always. Daria is also a medium and conducts a séance during the first Act, which she takes very seriously. Some stage combat/physical comedy involved. Daria is dragged around the stage several times*
Inspector Goring
(Stage age: 40-60's)
British (or any nationality), eccentric, and one of a kind. One minute she seems wry and clever, the next minute she’s off into a world of her own. She gets things wrong without even knowing it, yet she also seems just the sort of person who can find you out when you’re lying. That makes her formidable. Goring also has aspirations to be an actress and adores show business. Role also doubles as Cook/Maid-a non-speaking character that will be used in the transition between Act I, Scene 1 & Scene 2. Strong comedic timing and some physical comedy is involved.
William Gillette / Sherlock Holmes
(Stage age: 30's-40's)
Based on real-life actor, William Gillette, of his Sherlock Holmes fame, he is a grand presence. He is charming, warm, commanding and sincere. He is strikingly handsome, smartly dressed and good-humored, full of irony and life. A sort of modern-day Ulysses. Having basically originated the role of Sherlock Holmes on the stage, William may be a bit ‘obsessed’ with the pipe-smoking detective and, at times, may assume the persona of Sherlock Holmes to get to the murderer. He is also a bit of a romantic and perhaps a bit melodramatic at times, yet he loves his life and his profession as an actor. Some singing and dancing, strong comedic timing and strong physical comedy/stage combat involved.
Felix Geisel / Moriarty
(Stage age: 40's-50's)
Histrionic and arch in a Lionel Barrymore/Sir Toby Belch sort of way. Felix always seems to know what to say and is never shy to speak his dry wit. He is a consummate character actor, married to Madge, whom he loves and adores. They truly enjoy quoting Shakespeare and performing for the room and each other. He and William are the very good friends, even if he is a bit jealous of William’s fame. Role also doubles as the nemesis Moriarty in the opening ‘Sherlock’ play in Act I. Some singing and dancing, strong comedic timing and strong physical comedy/stage combat involved.
Simon Bright / Count Zerlinsky
(Stage age: 25)
Sweet, charming, enthusiastic. Innately affectionate and good-natured. He has been secretly married to Aggie for 4 weeks. Simon can charm the pants off anyone but sometimes he seems to ‘play’ the fool or idiot very well. He is also a song and dance man, so some singing and dancing is preferred. He plays the ukulele and sings a Christmas carol but it is not required for the actor to play an instrument. Role also doubles as the Hungarian, Zerlinsky in the ‘Sherlock’ play in Act I. Strong comedic timing and strong physical comedy/stage involved. Simon does quite a bit of physicality in Act II.
