Auditions for 'Moon Over Buffalo'
SUSSEX — Cornerstone Playhouse, located at the Historic Crescent Theater, 74 Fountain Square, Sussex, is kicking off its season with the Ken Ludwig comedy, “Moon Over Buffalo”.
This madcap backstage comedy, centers on George and Charlotte Hay, fading stars of the 1950s. At the moment, they are on tour in Buffalo, N.Y. with a repertory consisting of Cyrano de Bergerac and Noel Coward's Private Lives. On the brink of a disastrous split-up caused by George's dalliance with a young ingenue, they receive word that they might just have one last shot at stardom: Frank Capra is coming to town to see their matinee, and if likes what he sees, he might cast them in his movie remake of The Scarlet Pimpernel.
Unfortunately for George and Charlotte, everything that could go wrong does go wrong, abetted by a visit from their daughter's clueless fiance and hilarious uncertainty about which play they're actually performing, caused by Charlotte's deaf old stage manager mother who hates every bone in George's body.
Michael Gillespie of Vernon directs the show, and auditions will be held at the theater on Sunday, Feb. 8 from 5 to 7 p.m., and Monday, Feb. 9, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The show runs April 17 thru the 26, with performances Friday and Saturday evenings, and Sunday matinees. Rehearsals will be scheduled once the show has been cast but will likely occur two evenings during the week, and Sunday late afternoons.
Roles are for four men and four women. This is an adult comedy, and those auditioning should be over the age of 18. All roles are open. Character descriptions and suggested age ranges are as follows:
George Hay: (Late 40s-50s) is very dramatic, a slapstick type, over-the-top actor.
Charlotte Hay: (Late 40s-50s) is very much a drama queen. She helps to run the acting troupe and plays all the leads even the ones she's a bit old for.
Ethel: (late 60s) is Charlotte's mother - close to her daughter, but not happy with her daughter's choice of a husband.
Rosalind Hay: (mid-to-late 20s) George and Charlotte's daughter, used to be an actress and a member of their acting troupe, but she decided that she wanted a real career, so she left - determined never to act again - or be like her parents.
Howard: (late 20s-early 30s) is Rosalind's fiance - a weatherman - so he considers himself to be in the "acting" business. He comes across as a wimp, a little annoying, nervous, and very excitable. A somewhat physical role.
Eileen: (early 20s) is an aspiring actress, eager to please. She has a crush on George and has been having a fling with him.
Paul: (late 20s-early 30s) is a member of the acting troupe, who used to be with Rosalind and still loves her and wants her back; but he is an actor first and foremost, so he wouldn't leave the troupe to be with her.
Richard: (50s) He is George and Charlotte's attorney, but he is in love with Charlotte - always trying to get her to leave George. He is wealthy and used to getting what he wants, and he is both amused and perplexed by the Hay family.
Questions may be directed to Michael Gillespie by calling the theater at 973-702-0687, or sending an email note to Cornerstoneplayhouse@hotmail.com.