Staged Reading of Sanctuary Much! Audition Notice

Synopsis

In this full comedy written by Michael Buster McMahon, a jazz bandleader attempts to prove that staged theatre can offer all the entertainment that movies can. To that end, he guides the audience through hilarious takes of the 30s screwball comedy, a murder mystery, and the 80s teen romcom genres.

 

Production Team

Director – Michael Buster McMahon

Assistant Director – Angela Grout

Producers – Michael Borges, Devin Dumas, and Kelly Gagner

 

Preparation

For your audition, please choose and prepare a short comedic monologue of your choice. 

Auditions will be accepted via video submission until 11:59PM on February 17, 2025.

Please upload your audition video when filling out the audition form.

 

All are encouraged to audition regardless of race, gender, age, or sexual orientation.

 

Rehearsals

The rehearsal process for the staged reading of Sanctuary Much! will have a short turnaround time - depending on cast and production team availability, a read through will be held one evening the week of February 23 or March 2, and 3 to 4 evening rehearsals will be scheduled between March 8 and March 12. Some rehearsals may occur over Zoom as necessary. When registering to audition, please note any dates that would conflict with a pending rehearsal schedule and performance dates. Please be honest to the best of your knowledge - this is to build a schedule that works for the entire cast, and this cannot be done without accuracy.

 

Performance Dates and Times

Friday, March 14 at 8:00PM

Saturday, March 15 at 8:00PM

Sunday, March 16 at 2:00PM

 

Performances will be held at Exit 7 Players Theater, 37 Chestnut St., Ludlow, MA.

 

Please note there will be an optional talkback at Sunday’s matinee reading - the cast is welcome to but not required to stay for this.

 

Characters

 

BAND LEADER (male-presenting, age >40) - Narrator. Louis Armstrong type character. Jovial, passionate for theater and should be able to carry a tune.  

 

OSSIE (male-presenting, age ~30) - He is a conman. He never got over his old love, Vanessa. Appears in Part 1: Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off.

 

VANESSA (female-presenting, age ~30) - Law researcher. Good hearted, trusting and sweet but not naive. Appears in Part 1: Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off.

 

MORGAN (male-presenting, age >50 (younger if able to play older) - Mischievous, mentor of Ossie and Sully. Elderly. Appears in Part 1: Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off.

 

SULLY (male-presenting, non-age specific) - A con man that is the comic of the group. Appears in Part 1: Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off.

 

CASSANDRA (female-presenting, age ≥20’s-30’s) - Literary Character in the Michael Bloodsweat Detective Series. She is murdered in an unfinished novel. Nagging the author to solve her crime. Appears in Part 2: Death, Literally.

 

DAVID (male-presenting, age ≥~30) - Author of the Michael Bloodsweat Detective Series. Currently suffering from writer's block & trying to finish his story by figuring out who Cassandra’s killer is. Appears in Part 2: Death, Literally.

 

JONATHAN (male-presenting, age ≥~40) - Literary character in the Michael Bloodsweat Detective Series. Host of a dinner party where Cassandra is murdered. Appears in Part 2: Death, Literally.

 

JESSICA (female-presenting, age ≥~40) - Literary character in the Michael Bloodsweat Detective Series. Jonathan's wife.  Hostess of the party. Unbeknownst to her husband, she is aware of his affair. Appears in Part 2: Death, Literally.

 

BIGGLESWORTH (male-presenting, non-age specific) - Literary character in the Michael Bloodsweat Detective Series. The cook who happens to have a crush on Cassandra. Appears in Part 2: Death, Literally.

 

MRS. KOCKENLOCKER (female-presenting, age ≥50) -  Literary Character in the Michael Bloodsweat Detective Series.  Jessica’s godmother. Sharp tongued and speaks her mind. Appears in Part 2: Death, Literally.


REZA (male-presenting, age ≥~30) - Literary Character in the Michael Bloodsweat Detective Series. He is a Doctor and Cassandra’s boyfriend. He has a strong accent. He is blackmailing Jonathan. Appears in Part 2: Death, Literally.

 

CABELL (male-presenting, age ≥30) - Literary Character in the Michael Bloodsweat Detective Series.A balding man who is a dinner guest at the party.  The other characters think he is so obviously unobvious that he must be the murderer. Appears in Part 2: Death, Literally.

 

STEPHANIE (female-presenting, age ~18-20) - She is funny and free spirited. Must be ok with topics of kissing and pregnancy. Appears in Part 3: Ain’t Even Done With the Night.

 

PAUL (male-presenting, ~18-20) - He is frazzled and shy. He is seduced by Stephanie. Must be ok with topics of kissing and pregnancy. Appears in Part 3: Ain’t Even Done With the Night.

 

JEFF (male-presenting, ~18-35) - Robber. A gun toting opportunist. Must be ok with topics of gunfire. Appears in Part 3: Ain’t Even Done With the Night.

 

GIRL (female-presenting, ~18-35) - Jeff’s Girlfriend and accomplice. Must be ok with topics of gunfire. Appears in Part 3: Ain’t Even Done With the Night.

 

LESLIE (female-presenting, ~18-20) - Friend of Stephanie. Paul has a romantic interest in her. Appears in Part 3: Ain’t Even Done With the Night.

 

WAITRESS (female-presenting, non-age specific) - Waitress in diner robbed by Jeff and the girl. Appears in Part 3: Ain’t Even Done With the Night.

 

JERRY (male-presenting, ≥40) - Owner and cook in the diner that is robbed by Jeff and the girl. Appears in Part 3: Ain’t Even Done With the Night.

 

If you have any questions or encounter any issues submitting an audition video, please contact the production team.