Performers Needed for Theatre Audition "Arsenic and Old Lace"
Looking to cast male and female talent for the "Arsenic and Old Lace" theatre show. Please see the details below. ONLY LOCAL TALENT WILL BE CONSIDERED. About the project: The play is a farcical black comedy revolving around the Brewster family, descended from Mayflower settlers but now composed of maniacs, most of them homicidal. The hero, Mortimer Brewster, is a drama critic who must deal with his crazy, murderous family and local police in Brooklyn, New York, as he debates whether to go through with his recent promise to marry the woman he loves, Elaine Harper, who lives next door and is the daughter of the local minister. His family includes two spinster aunts, Abby and Martha Brewster, who have taken to murdering lonely old men by poisoning them with a glass of home-made elderberry wine laced with arsenic, strychnine, and “just a pinch” of cyanide; a brother, Teddy, who believes he is Theodore Roosevelt and digs locks for the Panama Canal in the cellar of the Brewster home (which then serve as graves for the aunts’ victims; he thinks that they died of yellow fever); and a murderous brother, Jonathan, who has received plastic surgery performed by an alcoholic accomplice, Dr. Einstein to conceal his identity, and now looks like horror-film actor Boris Karloff. Throughout the play, Jonathan is plotting to kill his brother, and in fact almost does in one scene. Mortimer is struggling to find solutions to rid his family of the crazy, eventually sending Teddy and his Aunts to a senior living home and letting Officer O’Hara deal with his brother. Additional info: Callbacks - Thurs., Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. Auditioners will be given a brief scene from the play to study and then read. Headshots & resumes are not required, but gladly accepted. PRODUCTION DATES: February 20th – March 15th, 2026 Performances Fri./Sat. at 8 p.m.; Sun. at 2 p.m. Special Performance Thursday, March 12 at 8 p.m. REHEARSAL DATES: Rehearsals will begin in early December and will be held 3 nights a week. If you are interested, please apply.
14 roles
(Female presenting / 50-70 years old) A darling lady, and the very model of Victorian charm and grace, who poisons elderly gentlemen, with her sister as an act of charity. She and her sister Martha seem to be the absolute embodiment of the values and polite society of a bygone age. More dominant, and a bit older than Martha, both ladies are happy, healthy, lucid, and spry.
(Female presenting / 50-70) Very sweet, but more submissive than Abby, Martha still is a strong woman. She and her sister have lived together for many, many years. Their personalities and pecking order around each other have been firmly rooted for eons.
(Female presenting / 25-35) An Attractive girl, daughter of Rev. Dr. Harper, and Mortimer’s fiancée. She is surprisingly wise in the ways of the world for a minister’s daughter. She is a little bit wily, sassy, and absolutely sharp. We witness Elaine progress from casual happiness, to utter bliss, to twisted confusion, to stark fear, to godsend relief, and back to casual happiness again.
(Male presenting / 25-40) Nephew of Abby and Martha, brother to both Teddy and Jonathan Brewster. Very likable, Mortimer is a drama critic who is in love with, & engaged to Elaine Harper. A good-hearted cynic who is about to have his world turned upside down. PHYSICAL ROLE. Special Note: Mortimer controls the show. From the discovery of the first body, Mortimer must be electrified. He carries that energy all the way through the show.
(Male presenting / 35-50) Very likable, kindhearted brother to Mortimer and Jonathan, Nephew of Abby and Martha Brewster, Teddy is a man who believes that he is the 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. Extreme dedication and energy is necessary while charging up a flight of stairs. PHYSICAL ROLE.
(Male presenting / 35-50) Nephew of Abby and Martha Brewster, brother to Teddy and Mortimer. Jonathan is a psychopath who has numerous murders to his credit and no scruples whatsoever. He is creepy. Jonathan is a killer, that loves his business and he’s got an unbelievably short temper. Some PHYSICAL work.
(Male presenting / 40-55) A German plastic surgeon, with an accent to prove it. Right hand to Jonathan, Dr. Einstein is mousey and submissive to Jonathan. Einstein should be viewed as a good guy whose life has gone bad. The audience truly has to sympathize with this guy. With somewhat of a ratty appearance, his face wears the benevolent smirk of a man who lives in a pleasant haze of alcohol.
(Male presenting / 50-70) (Cameo, could double with another role) We only see Elaine Harper’s father in the opening scene; a doctor of divinity, and the minister to the church next door to the Brewster house. The Brewster sisters have seen many ministers come and go over the years, but they seem to be particularly fond of Dr. Harper and vice versa. The actor portraying Dr. Harper should display a sense of polish, refinement, and mild mannered sensitivity towards others.
(Male or female presenting / any age) (Cameo) The first police officer we meet in the show, Brophy is a thoroughly likable sort. Is making rounds collecting Christmas toys for the needy. Some PHYSICAL work.
(Male or female presenting / any age) (Cameo) A flatfoot Brooklyn officer who makes rounds with Officer Brophy collecting Christmas toys.
(Male presenting / any age) (Cameo) He is the quintessential example of an Irish-American police officer: Full of life, good natured and played big. He is on very good terms with the Aunts. O’Hara is a would-be playwright, and needs to plainly display the nagging, persistent drive that’s kindled within him once he discovers that Mortimer is a famous dramatic critic. Well intentioned, O’Hara really doesn’t mean to come across as annoying as he does.
(Male presenting / 55-80) (Cameo, can be double cast) An elderly gentleman who wishes to rent a room from the Brewster sisters; and nearly falls victim to the sisters “charity”. He is a little gruff, but he warms up fairly quickly upon being offered a treat he hasn’t had since he was a child.
(Male presenting / 40+) (Cameo, can be double cast) The man in charge at the local police precinct. Very early in the show we gain a pretty strong understanding of the caliber of men he has to manage under his watch. As such, he has very little patience for blunder and mistakes, and needs to run a pretty tight ship. He is loud, decisive, and clearly in-charge of every situation in which he finds himself.
(Male presenting / 50-60s) (Cameo, can be double cast) The superintendent of Happy Dale Sanitarium. Very mild mannered and kind.
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