Casting Performers for "The House of Blue Leaves" Play
Open auditions for actors for our upcoming production of "The House of Blue Leaves". Please see the details below. About the project: In this Tony-nominated dark comedy, Artie’s schizophrenic wife, his brassy girlfriend, a deaf movie star, marauding nuns, and a bomb upset his plans for the pope’s visit to New York. Additional info: Show Dates: May 2-18, 2025 Fridays through Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 2 pm. Note: There will also be a Saturday matinee at 2 pm on May 17, 2025. How to Prepare: Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script, although anyone auditioning should be familiar with the plot and characters. Please bring a headshot and resume if you have one. Casting is open to all race/ethnicity, gender identity, body types, etc. Also, please be prepared to list all conflicts that you have in February, March, and April. Principles will have light rehearsal infrequently in February. The full cast will begin a regular rehearsal schedule in March. Rehearsals will be in the evenings primarily on Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays. Aside from the three principal roles, you may not be required to be at all rehearsals, however, regular attendance for all will begin the third week of April. If interested, please apply.
9 roles
PRINCIPALS A zookeeper and would-be songwriter. Obsessed by a need to be famous, Artie fears that it may be too late for him. He looks to Bunny for the support Bananas is too sick to give, but he still has a soft spot for his wife. Ideally, the actor that plays this role will have at least basic skills on the piano.
PRINCIPALS Artie’s wife, once a fun-loving woman. She has since suffered a nervous breakdown. She appears in the play in a nightgown she has worn for the past six months; her eyes are red from crying. Frightened of Artie’s threats to send her to a rest home, she does her best to prove that she is still competent and that Artie is wrong to leave her.
PRINCIPALS The Shaughnessys’ neighbor and Artie’s mistress. She hopes to ride Artie’s coattails to fame. It is her idea to have Artie’s music blessed by the pope and to “audition” for Corrinna Stroller. Bunny is a wonderful cook but refuses to cook for Artie until they are married. When it is clear that Artie will not succeed as a songwriter, she leaves him for successful filmmaker Billy Einhorn.
SUPPORTING The son of Artie and Bananas. He is absent without leave from the Army. Another victim of Artie’s thirst for fame, Ronnie once acted like an idiot in front of Hollywood director Billy Einhorn, who was looking for a boy Ronnie’s age to play Huck Finn.
SUPPORTING A movie starlet. She starred in Billy’s film Warmonger but lost her hearing when a prop mine exploded during the filming. Artie sees her as his ticket to fame and plays his songs for her, but she does not hear them.
SUPPORTING A famous Hollywood director and lifelong friend of Artie’s, Billy represents all the fame and fortune Artie wants. Billy arrives in response to Corrinna’s death. Billy’s maudlin sentimentalizing is clearly bogus, and his grief over Corrinna disappears as soon as he sees Bunny.
SMALLER ROLE. They burst into Artie’s apartment to watch the pope on tv. Speaking roles with physical comedy.
SMALLER ROLE. Speaking role with physical comedy.
SMALLER ROLE. Speaking role with physical comedy.
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