The Man Who Came to Dinner

        Written by: Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman
   Directed by: Ashley Zeh-Perez

Open Call Auditions
Dates: October 17th and 18th
Time: 6PM-8PM

Location: Sam Bass Theatre, 600 N Lee St, Round Rock, TX 78664

Actors should be prepared to read scenes from the script. Folks interested in the role of Beverly Carlton will be asked to sing an excerpt from a song of your choice. 

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Performance Dates:

December 2-4; December 8-11; December 15- 18.
(Thursday - Saturday Evenings, Sunday Afternoons)

Rehearsal Dates:

October 19th- November 30th

Rehearsal Calendar:

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About the show:

Sheridan Whiteside —critic, lecturer, wit, radio orator, intimate friend of the great and near great— having dined at the home of the Stanleys, slips on their doorstep and breaks his hip.  The result is a tumultuous six weeks of confinement. Possibility: "Christmas may be postponed this year." So runs the lead article in the Christmas 1939 issue of Time magazine. Whiteside turns the Stanley household upside down, forcing everyone in town to cater to his egotistical demands. Meanwhile, his essential secretary has given her notice after falling in love with a local reporter, and Whiteside must engage every weapon in his considerable arsenal of guile and manipulation to keep her in his employ—including blackmail, deceit, and the intervention of the fading sexpot actress Lorraine Sheldon and the elegant British wit of playwright Beverly Carlton. A three-ring circus of machinations and celebrity appearances ensues.

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Character Breakdown: 

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• Sheridan Whiteside (Male, 35-60)
  Inspired by real-life drama critic Alexander Wollcott, Whiteside is an obnoxious, but famous, writer, critic and radio host. He travels the country giving lectures on literature and theatre, and is an overbearing and demanding house guest of the Stanleys. 

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• Maggie Cutler (Female, 25-40)
  Whiteside's executive assistant, very businesslike most of the time, but also a romantic who falls in love with Bert Jefferson. Whiteside's private secretary and chief interference runner for years. She is sarcastic and cynical, and she knows where the bodies are buried. Maggie does everything for Whiteside, and until now, he has totally monopolized her time. 

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• Bert Jefferson (Male, 25-40)
  The owner and editor of the Mesalia Journal. He is an “interesting looking young man,” smart, and a genuinely nice-guy. Bert has written a producible play. He is an easy-going man, but can be assertive and ambitious at times. 

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• Lorraine Sheldon (Female, 25-40)
  A snobby, beautiful actress. Based on Gertrude Lawrence. She is the vicious epitome of the glamorous, acid-tongued, self-serving, superficial superstar. She is busy trying to get Lord Cedric Bottomly to marry her (she wants to be a high society woman, and is a bit of a gold digger). She is always dramatic. 

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• Miss Preen (Female, 18+)
  Frantic Nurse attending to Whiteside, not enjoying the task of taking care of him. She tends to be stressed and unhappy. 

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• Dr. Bradley (Male, 45+)
  Whiteside's doctor while Whiteside is in Mesalia. 

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• Beverley Carlton (Male, 25-50)
  English playwright, actor, songwriter, musician. A flamboyant Noël Coward-like character who dashes around the world composing and writing plays and being devastatingly charming. Over the top! Ego as big as a Buick! He breezes in to visit Whiteside and wish him a Merry Christmas. During his visit, he sings a number from his most recent show. Actor must sing a song, and must be able to do an upper-class British accent. 

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• Banjo (Male, 25-50)
  A famous Hollywood comedian in the style of the Marx brothers and Jimmy Durante, a grown-up adolescent. He is as loony off-screen as he is on-screen! 

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• Mr. Earnest W. Stanley (Male, 40-60)
  Wealthy factory owner, uptight. Frustrated and put out by the audacity of his unexpected long-term guest. He tends to be stuffy. Very much the man of the house, whose word is the law--until Whiteside comes along.

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• Mrs. Daisy Stanley (Female, 40-60)
  Mr. Ernest W. Stanley’s wife. Always trying to play the hostess, and keep her husband from flying off the handle. Rarely speaks her own mind, unless she just has to! She is a sweet but somewhat high-strung woman.

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• Richard Stanley (Male, 17-25)
  Grown son of Earnest and Daisy. A talented amateur photographer, who wishes he could travel the world and take pictures.

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• June Stanley (Female, 17-25)
  Grown daughter of Earnest and Daisy. She wants to get married to Sandy, a young labor organizer who is stirring up union trouble at the factory her father owns.

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• Harriet Stanley (Female, 45-65)
  Earnest Stanley's eerie live-in sister, who floats in and out when Whiteside is alone. Harriet is very eccentric, with a sinister past. Character is based on Lizzie Borden.

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• John (Male, 35+)
  The Stanley’s butler, who has been around awhile. Genuinely a very nice person. Efficient, and star-struck by Whiteside.

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• Sarah (Female, 35+)
  The Stanley’s cook and housekeeper, who has been around awhile. She is very sweet, a great cook, and is star-struck by Whiteside.

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• Professor Metz (Male, 30+)
  "A strange-looking little man," an entomologist. He is the first of three eccentrics to visit Whiteside during his recovery. He brings the great man a gift: a colony of ten thousand roaches. Ability to do a German accent a plus!

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• Sandy (Male, 17-25)
  Youthful visionary, handsome, big & strong. A labor-organizer trying to unionize the workers in Mr. Stanley's factory. In love with Mr. Stanley’s daughter, June.

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• Mrs. Dexter (Female, 25+)
  Visiting society friend of Mrs. Stanley. A local busy-body. A fan of Sheldon Whiteside. May also be included in the local choir, or double other small ensemble roles. TBD.

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• Mrs. McCutcheon (Female, 25+)
  Visiting society friend of Mrs. Stanley. A local busy-body. A fan of Sheldon Whiteside. May also be included in the local choir, or double other small ensemble roles. TBD.

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• Local Choir (Various Ages) 

       In the script this is an all boys youth choir, I would like to expand that to include other folks but all must have some experience                     with singing or choir.

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• Additional Roles (Age Varies)
  Luncheon Guests/Prisoners, Westcott (Head Radio Man, who handles Whiteside’s broadcast), Radio Technicians, Mr. Baker (Prison Guard), a Plainclothes Man, Delivery Men and Deputies. These roles will likely be doubled.

Actors of all races, genders, and abilities are welcome to attend.

No sign-up necessary. Please feel free to attend either evening!

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Please feel free to email sambasstheatre@gmail.com with any questions!