The Walpole Footlighters are pleased to announce open auditions for the classic drama SUMMER AND SMOKE by Tennessee Williams on Tuesday, October 14 and Thursday Oct. 16 at 7:00 pm at the Footlighters Playhouse on 2 Scout Road, East Walpole.  Callbacks will be held on Sunday, Oct. 19 at 7:00 pm, also at the Playhouse. Production dates are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm and Sundays at 2:00 pm Feb. 6 – 22. The director is Marianne Phinney.

SUMMER AND SMOKE was first performed in 1948. It portrays the love story between a reserved Southern girl and the unreserved young doctor who lives next door. Each is attracted to the other but they are driven away from each other by their vastly different approaches to life.  Ultimately, the doctor realizes that her idealism was right but it is too late for them to come together.  The play takes place in Glorious Hill, Mississippi, in 1916.

Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script.  This is a non-Equity production and there is no stipend for actors.

Cast:

Rev. Winemiller is Alma’s father. He lives with his wife and daughter in the parsonage next to Dr. Buchanan. He is somewhat worn down taking care of his childish wife. Fifties to sixties

Mrs. Winemiller is the wife of Rev. Winemiller and Alma’s mother. She was “a spoiled and selfish girl who evaded the responsibilities of later life by slipping into a state of perverse childishness” – in other words, a mental breakdown.  She is known as Rev. Winemiller’s “cross”. Fifties to sixties

John Buchanan, Jr. is a young doctor who lives next door to the Winemillers. He is “brilliantly and restlessly alive in a stagnant society” and has “the fresh and shining look of an epic hero.” He also is fond of drink, fast cars, and loose women. Late twenties to thirties

Alma Winemiller is self-conscious, overly concerned about propriety, and seems older than her age, having been the Rectory hostess for many years.  She is noted in the community for her singing and gives singing lessons in the Rectory. Mid-twenties

Rosa Gonzales is the daughter of Gonzales, who owns a gambling casino.  She dresses flamboyantly and is open about her sexuality. Twenties to early thirties

Nellie Ewell is one of Alma’s voice pupils. She is fresh and cheerful.  She is also tainted by the fact that her mother meets traveling salesmen at the train station every day.  Age 16

Roger Doremus is introverted, “like a sparrow”, and is seeing Alma, although there is nothing formal between them. He plays French horn. Mid-twenties to thirties

Dr. John Buchanan, Sr. is John Jr.’s father and has been the local physician for many years.  He is “a fine looking old man in the best Southern tradition.” He’s disgusted with his son’s attraction to gambling and drinking. Late fifties to sixties

Mrs. Bassett is a widow and a member of Alma’s literary club. She knows the neighborhood gossip and has no qualms about expressing her opinion.  Late twenties to thirties.

Vernon is a member of Alma’s literary club and fancies himself a writer. He is shy and retiring. He has written a verse play that he plans to read at the meeting. Twenties to thirties

Rosemary is the public librarian, somewhat older than Alma. She has written a paper on William Blake to read at the meeting. Thirties to forties

Dusty is the bartender and server at Gonzales’ casino. Twenties to forties

Gonzales is Rosa’s father. He is an immigrant from Mexico who made his money from cock fighting and gambling.  Fifties to sixties.

Archie Kramer is a travelling salesman who meets Alma at the square. Mid-twenties to thirties.

Ages are approximate.  The ability to play the age range is more important than actual age.

The Walpole Footlighters will hold auditions for "It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play," directed by Peter Bradley, on Tuesday, Sept. 30 and Thursday, Oct. 2 from 7 pm-10 pm at the Footlighters Playhouse, 2 Scout Road, in Walpole. This is an extra production on the Footlighters schedule, a fund raiser for our capital fund. Performances will be held at 8 pm on Friday, Dec. 5 and Saturday, Dec. 6 and at 2 pm on Sunday, Dec. 7.

We will bring this beloved holiday story to life in the form of a 1940s radio broadcast, complete with live sound effects on stage. Based on Frank Capra's classic film, the story follows the life of George Bailey from childhood until the fateful Christmas Eve is decides to take his own life--until an apprentice angel intervenes. It is a story with more than a score of interesting characters. But we will be looking for just a handful of actors, each of whom will be asked to handle multiple roles. Versatility is a must. Women may be asked to handle the children's roles. The cast will consist of 5-7 men and 2 women.

Among the key characters are:

George Bailey (both as a child and adult), Family man, dreamer, a good man.

Young George

Clarence, an apprentice angel charged with helping George and earning his wings

Mary Hatch, George's girl

Henry Potter, the richest (and meanest) man in town

Rose Bailey, George's mother

Bert, a cop

Violet Bick, a girl who has a thing for George

And many more

Auditions could include both individual readings from the script and scene readings.

For the production, actors on stage will be reading from a script: roles will not have to be memorized. Actors may be asked to assist with sound effects when their characters are "off stage." Rehearsals will be twice a week in the early weeks, perhaps expanding to three if needed. The schedule will be based on cast availability, but could well include Sundays. There will be no rehearsals Monday to Saturday of Thanksgiving week.