Auditions: Sunday, Nov. 26 @ 7:00 pm

Tuesday, Nov. 28 @ 7:00 pm

Performances: February 9 - 24, 2024

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It's Only a Play

 Written by Terrence McNally 

 (2014 Broadway script edition) 

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Directed by Scott R. Brill

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A comical play about theater. Playwright Peter Austin anxiously awaits the reviews of his new play after opening night. With his career on the line, he shares his big First Night with his “best” friend, a television star, his novice producer, his doped-up diva, his genius but crazed director, a lethal drama critic, and a fresh-off-the-bus coat check attendant on his first night in Manhattan. It’s alternately raucous, ridiculous and tender—and proves that sometimes the biggest laughs happen offstage.

 
Important Info For Auditions

Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script. Looking for versatile actors with great comic timing who are adept at physical comedy. 

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Character Descriptions

Peter Austin

Male, 40s-50s: The excitable author of a new play, "The Golden Egg;" the type who sincerely believes that ''you can write a serious play for Broadway and still have a place in the Hamptons.''

 

Julia Budder

Female, 50s+: The extremely wealthy, neophyte producer of the play; enthusiastic and passionate devotee of ''the theatre," charmingly dotty and benevolent dilettante, not the most self-aware woman in the world, such as when explaining the concept of ''breaking a leg'' to a roomful of seasoned theatre people.
 

James Wicker

Male, 40s-50s: A witty, sarcastic, middling sitcom star; has been best friends with Peter since their off-off Broadway days, egotistical but insecure, turned down the lead in "The Golden Egg" to remain on his (just cancelled) television series, secretly thrilled with the terrible reviews the play receives.

 

Virginia Noyes

Female, 50s-60s: The pill-popping, Tony-winning leading lady of the play; trying to resurrect her career by returning to Broadway after a series of movie flops and more than a few cocaine hits.

 

Frank Finger

Male, 25-35: the angst-ridden, boy-wonder/enfant terrible, British-by-way-of New Jersey director of "The Golden Egg;" a self-deprecating almost to the point of self-loathing sort who, after a string of 14 theatrical successes, longs for the flop that will reveal him to be the poseur he claims he actually is, prone to bouts of histrionics and kleptomania.

 

Ira Drew

Male, 40s-60s: fawning, sycophantic, two-faced drama critic who is a closet playwright, skewers the theatre world, of which he desperately wants to be a part.

 

Gus P. Head

Male, Late teens-20s: Temporary help for the party and aspiring actor who is fresh off the bus in Manhattan from farm country.

 

"It's Only a Play" is presented through special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc.

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