Roles are available for 12 males, 10 females (older teens or adults), 2-4 young boys and 2 young girls. Auditions will consist of reading and acting from characters that interest you.

Auditions will be held June 9 and 10, 2012, 1-3:30 pm at North Foster Baptist Church, East Killingly Rd, Foster, RI

Distribution of and first read through of the script, Saturday, June 16, 10 am – 12 noon,  North Foster Baptist Church

Rehearsals are tentatively set for Tuesdays and Thursdays,  6:00 – 8:30 pm, starting September 6.

Performance are scheduled for November 30 to  December 9 in the Captain Isaac Paine School Auditorium, 160 Foster Center Road, Foster,RI

To avoid schedule conflicts and a burned-out cast, actors will not be allowed to participate in both Cuckoo’s Nest and Wonderful Life. You are welcome to audition for both plays, but you can accept a role for only one of the two. The directing teams will work together to ensure a smooth audition process.

For information, contact Artie Robillard at onefoot9@aol.com or Sandy Arnold at arnoldri@cox.net

GEORGE BAILEY: the Everyman of Bedford Falls
CLARENCE ODBODY: A-S-2 (Angel Second Class)
MR. GOWER: proprietor of the corner drug store
YOUNG GEORGE: age 12
HARRY BAILEY: George’s younger brother
MOTHER BAILEY: a very kind and understanding women
AUNT TILLY: Uncle Billy’s wife
VIOLET PETERSON: proprietor of a beauty salon
BERT: a patrolman
ERINIE: a mail carrier
UNCLE BILL: George’s uncle and business partner
MARY HATCH (later Mary Bailey): George’s loving wife
HENRIETTA F POTTER (HENRY): owns practically the whole town
MISS POTTER’S GOON: ever-present with Miss Potter
MISS POTTER’S SECRETARY: ever-faithful to Miss Potter
MRS. HATCH: Mary’s mother
SAM WAINWRIGHT: a financially successful young man
MISS ANDREW: a town’s person
MRS. THOMPSON: a town’s person
MR. MARTINI: proprietor of the bar
MRS. MARTINI: his wife
MISS CARTER: a bank examiner
MR.WELCH: the schoolteacher’s husband
NEWSPAPER BOY: age 10
PETE BAILEY: age 12
TOMMY BAILEY: age 10
ZUZU BAILEY: age 7
JANIE BAILEY: age 9

Download audition script (PDF)

Help Wanted

We’re in need of Costume People, Props Person, Back Stage Assistants, Script Prompter, Recorder,  Sound Team & Assistants, Set designer & crew, Make-Up help, Box office lead person & help, Concessions lead person & help.

Plus all the million and one hands it takes to make this wild play come to life. If you would like to help out and share your talents contact our producer Lona at www.miladylona@aol.com.  Many hands always make the task easier and all of us would be very grateful for your time.

Performances are scheduled for October 2012.

To avoid schedule conflicts and a burned-out cast, actors will not be allowed to participate in both Cuckoo’s Nest and Wonderful Life. You are welcome to audition for both plays, but you can accept a role for only one of the two. The directing teams will work together to ensure a smooth audition process.

For information, contact Jake Wolf-Jensen at jwolfjensen@gmail.com

Roles available

Ages given are the characters’, not the actors’. When a minimum age is given, “25+” for example, that means that the character can be anywhere from 25 to infinity, depending on the choice of the actor.

LEAD ROLES

RANDLE PATRICK “R.P.” McMURPHY – 25+, Male
Career petty criminal, comes to the mental ward to avoid serving time in a work camp after being convicted of an unspecified crime. Clashes instantly with Nurse Ratched and incites insurrection amongst the other patients. McMurphy has definite issues with authority, and completely disregards any rules that have been put in place by either the staff of the hospital or the patients themselves. He is also extremely charismatic, and a skilled manipulator, able to become the de facto leader of the patients after only a few minutes. Ostensibly the hero of the play, but is fairly morally ambiguous, and it can be argued that he is only using the other patients for his own ends. However, he is also very protective of them, especially Billy and Chief Bromden. At the end of the play, he is lobotomized by Ratched, but lives on in the patients’ minds as a symbol of freedom and rebellion.

NURSE MILDRED RATCHED – 25+, Female
Head nurse of the facility, and rules with an iron fist. Cold and domineering, Nurse Ratched uses fear and humiliation to keep the patients under control, as well as the rest of the staff. She even has a certain degree of control over the doctor in charge of the hospital, Dr. Spivey. Presents herself as a stern but fair motherly figure, but has a cruel streak that comes out after she is challenged by McMurphy. Ratched is also a master manipulator, even more than McMurphy, though she lacks his easy charisma. It is unclear whether or not she actually wants to cure the patients at the hospital, or is simply enjoying the power that comes with her position. Eventually, she is physically attacked by McMurphy, who crushes her vocal cords. This breaks her power over the patients, even after she has McMurphy lobotomized.

LEAD SUPPORTING CAST

CHIEF BROMDEN – 25+, Male
Chief Bromden is an enormous Native American man who suffers from schizophrenia. He serves as somewhat of a narrator to the play, speaking to the audience in between certain scenes, mainly to show the passage of time. Though physically imposing, his spirit was broken after witnessing his father being cowed and forced into selling his land by the white establishment, who Bromden now refers to as the “Combine.” Bromden is so afraid of the “Combine” that he fakes deafness so as to avoid attention. McMurphy senses this almost immediately, and takes special interest in Bromden, causing him to come out of his shell and stand up to the staff of the hospital. Bromden ends up escaping from the facility, inspired by McMurphy. A difficult role to play, since he spends most of the play silent, and will have to display emotion and reaction without words. Large physical stature a plus.

BILLY BIBBIT – 16- 35, Male
One of the youngest patients at the facility, has a severe stutter and a dysfunctional relationship with his mother. Billy’s mother has an unhealthy degree of influence over his life, which caused his emotional growth to be somewhat stunted. He is very timid and shy, and completely controlled by Nurse Ratched, who uses threats of telling Billy’s mother what he’s done to keep him under control. Billy is the first patient to really befriend McMurphy, who comes to view him almost as a younger brother. McMurphy helps Billy to stand up to Nurse Ratched, after which Ratched verbally humiliates Billy to the point where he commits suicide.

DALE HARDING – 30+, Male
The self-proclaimed leader of the patients before McMurphy’s arrival, Harding an intelligent man, though also a blowhard. The ailment behind Harding’s incarceration is unknown, though it is suggested by the other patients that it is because of repressed homosexuality. He is also frequently emasculated by his wife. Despite appearing at first to be just a blowhard, Harding turns out to be much smarter and more observant than he seems. He also shows genuine care for the other patients. It is Harding who helps Chief Bromden escape at the end of the play.

SUPPORTING CAST (In no particular order)

SCANLON – 20+, Male
Scanlon is a patient obsessed with explosions and destruction. He is the only patient, other than McMurphy and Bromden, who is at the hospital against his will. Scanlon begins the play fairly self-interested, though he does contribute viciously to the group therapy sessions. He ends up standing with McMurphy and the others against Nurse Ratched.

CHARLES CHESWICK – 25+, Male
Cheswick is a loud mouthed patient, who constantly demands changes to ward policy. However, he lacks the courage to back himself up, always ends up folding to Nurse Ratched, and is not generally taken seriously by the other patients. After McMurphy arrives at the hospital, he gives Cheswick the strength to stand up for himself.

MARTINI – 20+, Male
Martini is a short, easily excitable Italian-American who suffers from hallucinations. He is one of the few patients to be genuinely happy much of the time at the facility, as he is often divorced from reality. Everything he does is enthusiastic, whether that’s taking part in the group therapy, or dealing cards for the other patients.

RUCKLY – 25+, Male
A chronic patient who has been through a lobotomy, which leaves him in a generally unresponsive state. He spends most of his time either staring at pictures of his wife, or screaming profanities. According to the patients, he was a hell raiser before his lobotomy, similar to McMurphy. He is kept on the ward by Nurse Ratched as a warning.

CANDY STARR – 20-35, Female
Candy is a prostitute and a friend of McMurphy’s. She comes to visit him at the hospital, and gives him the idea to throw the party at the climax of the play, which she attends. Billy Bibbit becomes enamored with her, and loses his virginity to her at the party, at the insistence of McMurphy. Candy is extremely flighty and fun loving, and is not as nervous around the patients as her friend Sandra.

SANDRA – 20-35, Female
A prostitute and mutual friend of Candy and McMurphy. She has gotten married while McMurphy was in the hospital, but she leaves her husband to attend the party with Candy. She is somewhat more reserved than Candy, because of her anxiety around the patients.

DR. SPIVEY – 30+, Male
The head doctor at the facility. Dr. Spivey is a mediocre doctor who is partially under the control of Nurse Ratched. He falls easily for McMurphy’s charms, and is manipulated into allowing a vote on television privileges, and is almost convinced to allow the patients to hold a carnival. Despite his weakness, he does have genuine concern for the well-being of the patients.

AIDES WARREN and WILLIAMS – 20+, Male
The daytime aides on the ward; they also serve as the security team. Both Warren and Williams have a decidedly violent and sadistic nature, and enjoy taunting and hassling the patients. This draws the ire of McMurphy, and eventually he takes a swing at Warren.

NURSE FLINN – 20+, Male
The young nurse who helps Nurse Ratched on the ward. Flinn is a devout Catholic, and has trouble controlling the patients. She is easily wound up by McMurphy, Warren and Williams, and the other patients.

AIDE TURKLE – 30+, Male
The night aide at the ward. Turkle is much kinder than Warren and Williams, and is more likely to allow the patients freer reign. He is an avid alcohol drinker. Turkle allows McMurphy to throw the party, and even helps him sneak in the prostitutes, in return for a bottle of Scotch.

Auditions will be held May 29, 30, 31, 2012, 6-8pm at the Captain Isaac Paine School, Foster RI.

Rehearsals will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning June 19 at the Woody Lowden Center in Foster.

Performances will be August 15-19.

Roles available:

Ages and genders do not refer to actor’s age, but that of the suggested age/gender of the character. (You can try out for any part that you would like – makeup and costumes will work wonders.)

WILLY WONKA (Male, Ageless)
Willy Wonka is an eccentric character; at once mysterious and mischievous but also charismatic. He should be funny and serious and change between the two on a dime. He sings and dances. Main Character.

CHARLIE BUCKET (Male, 9-11)
Charlie is the hero of the story. He is charismatic, optimistic and plucky. Charlie loves his Grandpa Joe and their relationship is the drive of the play. He is the emotional heart and soul of the musical. Charlie sings and dances in many numbers. Main Character.

GRANDPA JOE (Male, 70+)
Grandpa Joe is the grandfather we all wish we had when we were Charlie’s age. He is caring, patient, sweet and always reminds Charlie to remain cheerful. He sings and dances. Large Role.

VERUCA SALT (Female, 9-12)
Veruca is the wealthy, class-conscious, spoiled brat. She is portrayed with a high Latin accent. Veruca should contrast sharply with Violet Beauregard in terms of look and physical type. She can get whatever she wants. Sings. Large Role.

VIOLET BEAUREGARD (Female, 9-12)
Gum chewer extraordinaire, Violet hails from Snellville, Georgia, so she has a Southern (United States) accent. Violet should stand in stark contrast to Veruca Salt. Violet is more of a bluecollar, middle class brat who doesn’t respect anyone. She sings. Large Role.

AUGUSTUS GLOOP (Male, 9-11)
Augustus is the overachieving eater who represents the evils of eating too much. Augustus hails from Germany and has a terrible sweet tooth. Should be played as over the top happy-German. Augustus sings one song. Large Role.

MIKE TEAVEE (Male, 9-12)
Mike Teavee is a media loving brat. He is bratty, loud and obnoxious. Mike would rather watch TV then go on the Wonka tour. He does not know the word “no” and he does not respect his parents. Mike sings one song. Large Role.

MR. BUCKET (Male, 30-40)
Charlie’s Dad. Natural nurturer. He cares for Charlie, but lacks the confidence to look on the bright side of life. He sings and dances. Medium Role

MRS. BUCKET (Female, 30-40)
Charlie’s mom. Understands the Bucket’s economic struggle the most and tries to make everyone happy. Very Motherly and caring. Sings. Medium Role.

GRANDMA JOSEPHINE (Female, 70+)
One of Charlie’s grandparents. Sings in a couple of songs. Medium Role.

GRANDMA GEORGINA (Female, 70+)
One of Charlie’s grandparents. Sings in a couple of songs. Medium Role.

GRANDPA GEORGE (Male, 70+)
One of Charlie’s grandparents. Deaf and at times mean. Medium Role.

MR. SALT (Male, 40-50)
Mr. Salt’s solution to most problems is to buy his way out. He daughter, He spoils his daughter, Veruca, immensely. He is upper class, and is portrayed with a Latin accent. Medium Role.

MRS. BEAUREGARD (Male, 30-45)
Mrs. Beauregard is a “big wig” Georgian who has invested a great deal of hard- earned money on therapy for her daughter, with less than stellar results. Her accent should match Violet’s and is a huge loud mouth, like her daughter. Medium Role

MR. BEAUREGARD (Male, 30-45)
Father of Violet. Having two loud mouthed females in the house has not done much for his lack of courage and he is afraid of his wife and daughter.No singing or dancing. Small Role.

MRS. GLOOP (Female 40-50)
Mrs. Gloop is Augustus’ mother who has overindulged her son with food. She is overbearing and loving toward Augustus. Accent should match Augustus’. She sings. Medium Role.

MR. GLOOP (Male, 40-50)
Mr, Gloop is Augustus’ father. He too is proud of his son’s ability to eat. He has a German accent. He sings. Small Role.

MS. TEAVEE (Female, 30-40)
Ms. Teavee is a take on all television moms of the distant past. Think June Cleaver (Leave it to Beaver) or Marion Cunningham (Happy Days) or even Carol Brady (The Brady Bunch). She’s perfectly put together and a bit vacant. Some singing. Medium Role.

MR. TEAVEE (Male, 30-40)
A take on all television dad’s (See Ms. Teavee) Small role.

CANDY MAN (Male, 20-35)
Local candy man. Sells candy and loves children. Fond of Charlie. Very talented singer and dancer. Medium Role.

CHARLIE’S FRIENDS (Any 9-12)
There are 6 – 8 of Charlie’s Friends on the street. They all love candy and want the Golden Ticket. They have lines, sing, and dance. Small Role.

OOMPA-LOOMPAS (Ageless)
The Oompa-Loompas are the “mysterious” workers in Willy Wonkas factory. They sing, dance and some have lines. Medium Role.

NARRATOR (Male, 50-60)
Narrates the Story … Roald Dahl … Should have a deep British accent and be mystifying, Grandfatherly. Sings. Medium Role.

PHINEOUS TROUT (Male, 20-29)
Phineous is the reporter who announces some of the winners of the Golden Ticket contest throughout the show. He is over the top energetic. The role requires some singing. Small role.

OTHER REPORTERS (Any)
Help Phineous in reporting about the Golden Ticket Chase. Some Singing. Small Role.

ROSA (Female, 30-50)
Worker in Mr.Salt]s Factory. , She is a hard worker and is happy that she found the ticket for him. Small Role.

SQUIRRELS (Any)
The squirrels are workers in the Nut room that open nuts in Mr.Wonka’s factory. Must be able to follow directions. Minimal Speaking and Movement, Small Role.

COOKS (Any)
These are extra singers and dancers for one scene. Small Role. (May have other roles too)

CHORUS (Any)
This group will act as musical support in the songs to provide quality and volume. They will sing and dance (and may have other small roles.) Medium Role.

In addition to acting, let us know if you can help as:
Stage Hands
Set Builders
Costume Coordinator
Props Coordinator
Sound Engineer and Helpers
Light Engineer and Helpers
Box Office Manager and Helpers
Concession Manager and Helpers

Call Bob Hollis 401-440-7831 or smctbob@gmail.com for more information and audition script.

Captain Isaac Paine Auditorium
160 Foster Center Rd Foster RI

Tickets are $12 Adults – $7 Students/Seniors ($35 Family Max)

Remember those in need… A donation box for nonperishable food items will be available at all SMCT events in support of the Foster Food Pantry.

Hiya Swamp Meadowers! It’s Amelia.

This is just a friendly  reminder, as well as invite that the play I wrote and directed for my senior project is being performed THIS Friday, in the Scituate High School Auditorium at 7:30pm. My play is going on first, and is about 20 minutes long in total. Afterwards there are two other plays being performed, one that’s 10 minutes, and another that is about an hour. If you are able to come your support would be GREATLY appreciated! A dollar of every ticket sale is being donated to Swamp Meadow as part of my project, as my way to give back to all you all have done for me over the years! The play features some familiar faces too… AnaCapri Mauro, Chase Lurgio, Brian Wolf-Jensen, Kyle Inman, Emily Carter, and my project mentor was none other than Bob Hollis himself! I hope to see you there! If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to email me at dancerocks94@cox.net, or leave a message on the official Facebook page which you can find here: http://www.facebook.com/events/191748217592921/.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, and I truly hope to see you there!

Five Divided will be followed by Oh My God Not Another Play and Tracks, a one act play that prompts us to think about our life choices and their potential consequences, whose cast also includes a number of swampers. Admission is $5.

What could be better than sitting around the table exchanging tall tales with friends after enjoying a good old home-style meal? Sitting around the Swamp Meadow Table after enjoying a meal, you did not have to cook or clean up, watching the Tales of Mark Twain come to life right before your eyes!

Swamp Meadow Community Theatre invites you to a charming Dinner Theatre brought to you from the front porch of the Hannibal Country Store. Twain’s Tales, written by David Taylor London, directed by Dennis Chretien and Bob Hollis, introduces you to Hannibal’s Finest as they reacquaint you with some of Samuel Clemens’ favorite stories. Enjoying the play, after a meal of Midwestern Comfort Food, you will find yourself filled with flavor, laughter, and contentment!

SMCT is making all this available to you on three days and at two locations: February 11 at 6:30pm and February 12 at 1:30pm at the Coventry Senior Center on Wood Street in Coventry and on March 3 at 6:30pm at the South Foster Fire Station on Mt Hygeia Road in Foster. Tickets are $30 for Adults and $20 for children under 10.

Paid reservations must be made by February 4th for the Coventry dates and February 25th for the Foster date. To make reservations or for more information, please call 1-888-493-7110.

The cast includes Gary Pickard, Meryn Flynn, Chris Morelli, Brian Cerullo, Bart Hollingsworth, Kaila Rubin, AnaCapri Mauro, Michelle Chretien, Emily Chretien, and Jill Cerullo.

Admission is $15/adults, $10/students & seniors, $50/family max. Come on out for a great night of entertainment and fun with lots of local talent. There will be plenty of music, comedy and more! The Foster Country Club will be open for food and drinks so enjoy yourself while supporting Swamp Meadow Community Theatre.

Please bring any music you will be using and anything else you might need. For more info, please call 1-888-493-7110.

by Raymond Beltran, Motif Magazine

The opportunity to see young people take hold of the performing arts with enthusiasm always proves to be a rewarding experience. Swamp Meadow Community Theater’s production of William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet provides such an experience. The large cast tells the tale of the play’s two young title characters, forbidden to publicly realize their love on account of their warring families.

With the majority of cast members being in their teens, Swamp Meadow’s production has found unique ways to render the play relatable to a youthful cast and contemporary audience. There are dance-infused entrances to the Capulet’s party- Romeo (Zachary Gibb) performs a choreographed spin on Robert Palmer’s Simply Irresistible- along with other liberties. In one scene, Friar Lawrence (Andy Affleck) raps his council to Romeo, as another cast member thuds beats on a hollow box, helping him keep time. The Hip Hop inspired rendition proves an interesting way to deliver Shakespeare’s words and breaks up the lengthy run in an interesting way. So much so, the rest of the play could have easily been done in this form.

Amid the musical numbers and slapstick routines shines a smartly devised executive choice, in the way of narrative. The chorus is played by Leah Fidler, whose well-timed delivery of the plot is conveyed through the modern language of a teenager. When describing Romeo and friends’ party crashing as an attempt to go “trolling for babes,” the tone of the production becomes more clear: one that seeks to take the stuffiness out of a classic in a family-friendly way.

The runtime is lengthy, something to be expected when soaking in Shakespeare. With great satisfaction, audience members witness the houselights dim promptly at the slated start time, 7 pm. Three and a half hours later, patrons are ready to begin the journey back from Foster, Rhode Island. While this is not a chore, per se, there stand many a moment in this production which choose modern garnish over simply moving the show along. If future audience members are okay with watching a show that relies as much on contemporary adornment as it does executing the plot through character portrayal, they will find this production more than worthwhile. The cast works well within the sparse, yet versatile, set. The focus then becomes on the acting, and fine examples of such present themselves. Laura Gibb’s Lady Capulet is the definition of poise and controlled delivery in this production. Her projection is near perfect, as her genuine unravelling at the sight of her daughter, thought to be dead before her wedding. Julie Cox delivers a Juliet that hits every scripted mark, and Amanda Betchy swaps genders with great success to play Juliet’s cousin Tybalt. There is enough capability in this cast of predominately young actors to allow audience members to appreciate the production from a heterogenous standpoint, considering the varying contributions to the overall play.

Zachary Gibb’s Romeo is exceptionally well-thought-out. Capitalizing on the thread of ironic teenage undertones that saturate the production, Gibb presents a character that walks the line between dramatic youth and driven lover. He holds his character closely, choosing a micro delivery of a conflicted character, rather than a trite exhibition that can easily be extracted from the play by a less intuitive actor. Gibb’s future seems bright.

Those looking for a good-hearted and sincere approach to Shakespeare that enables a com- munity passion for performing will find satisfaction in this production.

Romeo and Juliet, Swamp Meadow Community Theatre, the Paine School Auditorium,

161 Foster Center Road, Foster. www.swampmeadow.org Runs Nov 18-20