THE WALPOLE FOOTLIGHTERS ANNOUNCE AUDITIONS FOR “THE MYSTERY OF MIZ ARNETTE”

The Walpole Footlighters are pleased to announce open auditions for The Mystery of Miz Arnette by Alan Bailey and Ronnie Claire Edwards, directed by Marianne Phinney. Auditions will be held on Sunday, October 21 and Monday, October 22 at 7:00 pm at the Footlighters Playhouse at 2 Scout Road, East Walpole, Massachusetts. Callbacks, if needed, will be held on Tuesday, October 23 at 7:00 pm. Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script. NOTE: The role of Miz Arnette has been cast.

Performances are February 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16 at 8:00 pm and February 10 and 17 at 2:00 pm. All those cast must become members of the Walpole Footlighters. Actors must be available for the period between January 20 and January 31 for technical rehearsals. Actors are expected to participate in work days and set strike on February 17.

Sign Up to Audition: Please fill out and submit our online audition form on TheaterForms and make an appointment for your audition. Have your calendar handy and be prepared to enter rehearsal conflicts. You will be asked to upload a headshot (a JPEG file) and a theatrical résumé (a PDF file) if you have one. If you don’t have either of these files you can still submit the form and bring printed copies with you to the audition.

Summary:
The Mystery of Miz Arnette is set in Hardesty, Oklahoma's devastating Dust Bowl. The time is 1934, when Baby Face Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd along with their gangs roamed the territory. Out of the desolate nowhere arrives Miz Arnette to rent the room that had been advertised and leased four months ago. With the family farm at stake and desperate for the additional income, young Floy Kate strikes a deal and takes in the intriguing stranger who would forever change her life. 

Characters:
Ages are for appearance; the ability to play and look the age is more important than actual age.
Floy Kate Landers: Age 14, daughter of Reuben Landers. Floy Kate is working on an essay for a contest, hoping the money will help her father stave off financial ruin.
Reuben Landers: Mid-forties, weathered, a farmer with nothing left to farm. Floy Kate's father, he picks up money serving foreclosure notices on his neighbors.
Sheriff Trotter: 40-50, local sheriff of Hardesty, OK. He is sweet on Oleta and provides Reuben with a little money to serve foreclosure notices.
Oleta: Forties, a "blowsy blonde," Oleta rents a room from the Landers and works at the local beer joint. She flirts with the Sheriff but she also has a mean streak.
Miz Arnette: (Already cast) A mysterious visitor to Hardesty, she has come about the room the Landers advertised four months ago. She wears worn but elegant clothing and travels with a tamarin monkey named Little Lucifer. Her origin is obscure but she becomes a mentor to Floy Kate and her ambitions to be a writer.

Rehearsals will begin immediately and be scheduled for three days a week. Weekday rehearsals will be in the evenings; Sunday rehearsals may be in the afternoon or the evening depending on cast availability.

For more information, contact the director at [email protected].