Casting call for February stage productions in Waterbury, Waitsfield
December 2, 2024 | By Lisa Scagliotti
Two local community theater groups have put out the call for auditions to cast two unique stage productions scheduled for February.
New Stage Players in Waterbury will hold auditions this Friday-Saturday, Dec. 6-7, for its 2025 Comedy Festival. Auditions will be held at the Grange Hall Cultural Center, 317 Howard Avenue in Waterbury Center, from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, and 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday. The Comedy Festival will be presented Feb. 7-16.
The other set of auditions takes place on Sunday, Dec. 8, at 4 p.m. and Tuesday, Dec. 10, at 6 p.m. with The Valley Players in Waitsfield. The group is looking to cast the world premiere of the play “Wake Up, Gloucester” by Jeanne Beckwith of Roxbury. The auditions will be held at the Valley Players Theater, 4254 Main Street (Rt. 100), in Waitsfield.
Casting a comedy show in Waterbury
Directors will be on hand for both audition sessions with the New Stage Players who invite established theater makers and theater-curious people to try out for what will be a series of short plays. The material has been selected from more than 300 submissions from around the U.S. Then from Feb. 7 to 16, the plays will be stages “as hilarious evenings of shenanigans to brighten our dark winter days,” according to the casting call.
A wide variety of roles will be offered and prospective cast members only need to attend one audition session. No advance preparation is required (although if one has a rehearsed monologue, bring it). Audition material will be provided. Contenders of all ages and all levels of ability, experience and training are invited to audition. The Comedy Festival is meant to be a creative community experience.
Anyone interested in auditioning who cannot make the scheduled times should contact the organizers who are willing to accommodate.
For those who are not actors but have other talents and would like to get involved, the New Stage Players have other roles to fill such as making props, costumes, and sets, helping with social media, etc. For more information email grangehallcc@gmail.com or call 802-244-4168.
Unveiling a new play in Waitsfield
The Valley Players auditions will be fully staged with scripts provided. Director Doug Bergstein of Waitsfield will run the sessions.
The story of the play “Wake Up, Gloucester” takes place in late August 1939, and deals with the lives, hopes, loves, and fears of a group of people who come together at The Dancing Duck, a tavern in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Although the Great Depression is ending, dreams that have been on hold still seem beyond reach. Life is not simple and rumors of a war abroad are coming closer to home every day. The pub owner is starting a new radio station attached to the tavern. His friends, who are also his employees and customers, are supportive, but times are uncertain… and there just might be a sea serpent off the coast.
Roles for the production are available for five men stage ages 20 or older (one in their early 20s and the others between 30 and 60); and three women stage ages 22 or older (two in their 20s and one about 50-60ish).
No preparation is necessary to audition. Each session will be 90 minutes and auditioners should plan to stay for the entire time.
Beginning on Sunday, Jan. 5, two-hour rehearsals will be held on Sundays at 4 p.m. and Thursdays at 6 p.m. The play will be performed Feb. 7-16, on Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m., and on Sundays at 2 p.m.
For more information, email valleyplayers@madriver.com.