Theatre Casting Call for "You Can't Take it With You"
Theatre announces open auditions for "You Can't Take it With You". Seeking cast. ONLY LOCAL TALENT WILL BE CONSIDERED. Please see the breakdwn below. About the project: The family of Martin Vanderhof lives “just around the corner from Columbia University — but don’t go looking for it.” Grandpa, as Martin is more commonly known, is the paterfamilias of a large and extended family of charming eccentrics. His granddaughter, Alice, is an attractive and loving girl who is still embarrassed by her family’s idiosyncrasies. When Alice falls for her boss, Tony, a handsome scion of Wall Street, she fears that their two families – so unlike in manner, politics and finances – will never come together. But why be obsessed with money? After all, you can’t take it with you. Rate: This is a non-paid opportunity. Additional info: No experience is necessary. All are encouraged to audition. Headshots and resumes are encouraged but not required. What to Prepare: Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script. These will be provided to you at the audition. Rehearsals: The exact rehearsal schedule is to be determined, but rehearsals are usually 2-3 days per week, mostly weekday nights, but there may be rehearsals on Saturdays in the daytime and/or Sundays in the evening. Weekday evening rehearsals generally begin at 7 p.m. and can last as late as 10 p.m. (possibly later during tech week) Sunday evening rehearsals generally begin at 6 p.m. and can last as late as 10 p.m. Not all cast members will be called to every rehearsal. There will be a total of approximately 20 rehearsals for this production, plus tech week. The rehearsal schedule intensifies as opening night draws closer. Tech week rehearsals often run later into the evening. Tech Week: August 3rd - 7th, 2025. Performers MUST be available for all tech week rehearsals and all performances. There are no exceptions! PRODUCTION DATES: August 8th - 23rd, 2025. Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. Sundays at 2 p.m. Call time for all performers and crew on performance dates is 1 hour prior to showtime. If you are interested, please apply.
17 roles
(60 and up): Referred to as Grandpa, he is clever, generous, a snake enthusiast, and wanted for tax evasion because he doesn’t believe the government would know what to do with it. Martin is the patriarch of the extended Sycamore brood. The definition of non-traditional, Grandpa provides a welcome home to the artistic and slightly odd. He lives his life by the philosophy: “Don't do anything that you're not going to enjoy doing.” Spends most of the show in his rocking chair.
Referred to as Penny she is the mother of Alice and Essie and the daughter of Martin, Penelope is hardworking, brilliantly creative, and frank. She writes multiple plays at a time, often concerned with less than savory subjects, but only started. She understands that her daughter, Alice, is different from the rest of the family, and desperately wants her to find happiness. On stage the majority of the show.
Husband to Penelope and father to Alice and Essie, Paul spends most of his time in the basement creating new and explosive fireworks. Paul possesses both a genius for chemistry and a childlike wonder, and although he loves his family dearly, he is often singularly focused on his projects.
In a family of distracted artists and erratic geniuses, Alice is remarkably “normal”. She is deeply in love with Tony, but fears that he and his family won’t understand her non-traditional family. Although she loves her off-beat clan, Alice tries to pass them off as normal for the sake of the Kirby’s.
Essie is flighty, distracted, and always dancing. She is often found in the kitchen experimenting on new candies. This role requires extensive dancing, but really bad dancing with a straight face and the confidence of a seasoned ballerina. Comfortable with being physically lifted.
Xylophonist and Printer, Ed’s airy, innocent personality is perfectly suited to his wife, Essie. He provides much of the music that Essie dances to, and likes to block print random phrases he picks up throughout the day. Ed is one of the few members of the Sycamore family who regularly leaves the house, acting as a delivery boy for Essie’s candies. Xylophone skills are a plus.
Housekeeper. Although Rheba’s official job is that of a housekeeper, her culinary and cleaning skills are somewhat lackluster. Rather she functions as a constructive critic and champion of the various artistic pursuits occurring in the Vanderhof household. Rheba is bubbly, quick witted, and flirtatious, the favorite of both Donald and Kolenkhov.
Handyman. Donald is chronically unemployed and performs various odd jobs for the Sycamores. He is sweet, and not the sharpest tool in the shed, but is fiercely loyal to Rheba and his chosen family.
Mr. De Pinna is the mailman turned pyrotechnician assistant to Paul in the creation of explosives. Clever, proud, and a little vain, Mr. De Pinna also moonlights as a model for Penelope’s paintings. Prefer someone with a shaved head, willing to shave their head, or comfortable wearing a bald cap for the production.
Ballet instructor and tsarist, Kolenkhov is Essie’s tough-love Russian ballet instructor. He is aggressive, loud, and still bitter about the Bolshevik revolution. This very physical role requires some fight choreography and lifting Essie while dancing. Speaks with a thick Russian accent.
Young, open-minded, optimistic, and deeply in love with Alice. He is vice president of his father’s Wall Street company, but finds the artistic life of the Sycamores to be much more appealing.
Tony’s uptight, overstressed father. He has constant indigestion, and finds his only joy in the cultivation of expensive orchids. He is deeply unsettled by the alternative lifestyle of the Sycamores. This role also requires minor fight choreography.
The long suffering wife of Mr. Kirby and the mother of Tony. She has a delicate constitution and very particular tastes, but finds emotional solace in spiritualism. She is secretly very bored by her life and would appreciate a little bit of spice in her marriage.
A drunken actress well past her prime, brought to the Vanderhof house to perform in one of Penelope’s plays. She spends most of the play drunk and/or unconscious. This role is especially physical and requires fight choreography.
Formerly a Grand Duchess and cousin to Tsar Nikolai II, but now works as a waitress in a diner. Despite her reduced circumstances she holds herself with immense dignity and is still exceptionally generous. She is an amazing cook and is brought to dinner by Kolenkhov. Speaks with a Russian Accent.
An IRS agent that arrives at the Vanderhof house to alert Martin that he has over 20 years worth of unpaid back taxes. He leaves infuriated and perplexed by the unusual Sycamore family, who seem to play exclusively by their own rules.
These characters come to take the Sycamore’s and the Kirby’s to jail during the show's climax. They only have a few lines each but are very physical roles.
RELATED CASTING CALLS
