The Walpole Footlighters Playhouse at 2 Scout Road in East Walpole, MA is seeking directors for our upcoming 2018 – 2019 season. Our comedy, FLEMMING (An American Thriller), by Sam Bobrick, will open in October, 2018, followed by our drama/mystery, THE MYSTERY OF MIZ ARNETTE, by Alan Bailey & Ronnie Claire Edwards, which will open in February, 2019. Our musical comedy, ADRIFT IN MACAO, by Christopher Durang and Peter Melnick, will be our May production.

The following is a synopsis of each show, as found on the Samuel French website.

FLEMMING (An American Thriller): By Sam Bobrick, is a full length (90 minutes), dark comedy, mystery/thriller, spoof that takes place in present day. Bored by his privileged, but mundane life, Henry Flemming sells his lucrative brokerage firm to become a detective. On his very first case, and to the horror of his wife Karen, and his two crazy neighbors, Suzy and Stan, the Flemming living room begins to fill up with dead bodies.  Karen is further annoyed when one of them turns out to be her father.  Even though Henry keeps showing up at home every day more disheveled and beaten up, he couldn’t be happier. Henry is convinced he’s found his life’s work and Westport Connecticut is safer for it. This play is a spoof of the film noir thrillers from the 1940’s and 50’s.

THE MYSTERY OF MIZ ARNETTE: By Alan Bailey & Ronnie Claire Edwards, is a full length (90 minutes) dramatic comedy whose time period is the 1930’s in Oklahoma’s devastating Dust Bowl.  The set is a farmhouse kitchen in Hardesty, Oklahoma. 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 that would forever change her life.

ADRIFT IN MACAO: By Christopher Durang & Peter Melnick, is a full length (90 minutes) musical comedy, spoof that takes place in 1952 Macao, China. This is a loving parody of film noir movies. Everyone that comes to Macao is waiting for something, and though none of them know exactly what that is, they hang around to find out.  The characters include your film noir standards, like Laureena, the curvaceous blonde, who luckily bumps into Rick Shaw, the cynical surf and turf casino owner her first night in town.  She ends up getting a job singing in his night club – perhaps for no reason other than the fact that she looks great in a slinky dress.  And don’t forget about Mitch, the American who has just been framed for the murder by the mysterious villain McGuffin.
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If you are interested in directing for our 2018 – 2019 season, please send your resume to Christine Grudinskas at [email protected]. The Play Reading Committee will be conducting interviews in January, 2018.

Auditions for Lucky Stiff​ with book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, music by Stephen Flaherty, will be Sunday, January 14th at 3 PM at Walpole Footlighters, 2 Scout Rd, East Walpole, MA. Audition slots are 3-4:30 or 4:30-6.  Please sign up for a 90-minute slot by e-mailing Peter McElhinney, Assistant Director/Stage Manager, at [email protected]. Callbacks (only if necessary) will be Monday, January 15th at 7 PM.

Audition Info:

• Prepare 32 bars of a musical theatre song that showcases your range, personality, and comedic abilities.
• You may sing something from Lucky Stiff (no sheet music needed).
• If you want to sing something else, please bring your sheet music.
• A pianist will be provided; no a cappella singing or recorded karaoke tracks.
• There will be a brief dance audition, so please wear comfortable clothes.
• There will also be cold readings from the script.
• Please bring a list of all conflicts from February – May to add to audition sheet. 

 
Rehearsals: Rehearsals to begin in February.  They will be Tuesday and Thursday nights; Sunday afternoons (pending final cast availability)
 
Performances: May 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19 at 8:00 pm; May 6, 20 at 2:00 pm
Production Team:
Director - Dan Delaporta
Assistant Director/Stage Manager - Peter McElhinney
Music Director - Dan Moore
Choreographer - Lisa Kelleher

About the show
Looking for a versatile comedic ensemble cast who can have a blast creating a musical farce.  If you’re unfamiliar with the show, think “Weekend at Bernie’s” – the musical.  The score is fantastic and it’s the first produced show from the Tony Award-winning writing team (Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty's) behind Ragtime, Seussical, Once on this Island, and most recently Anastasia.  There’s plenty of content from show out there on YouTube.
Based on the novel, The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo by Michael Butterworth, Lucky Stiff is an offbeat, hilarious murder mystery farce, complete with mistaken identities, six million bucks in diamonds and a corpse in a wheelchair. The story revolves around an unassuming English shoe salesman who is forced to take the embalmed body of his recently murdered uncle on a vacation to Monte Carlo. Should he succeed in passing his uncle off as alive, Harry Witherspoon stands to inherit $6,000,000. If not, the money goes to the Universal Dog Home of Brooklyn... or else his uncle's gun-toting ex!

If you want to learn more about the show or have any questions, please contact the director Dan Delaporta ([email protected]).

Character Breakdown:
 
All age ranges approximate – it’s all about if you can believably play that range (with costumes and make up)
 
HARRY WITHERSPOON - A shy, sweet, earnest, insecure, but ultimately charming shoe salesman from England.  He likes to play it safe, feels incapable of taking risks, and steps outside of his comfort zone to head to Monte Carlo to honor his uncle’s last wishes (and potentially inherit $6 million).  Male, British accent, 20s-40s; Range: Bb2 - F#4
 
ANNABEL GLICK - A no-nonsense representative for the Universal Dog Home of Brooklyn. She is a proactive citizen with what seems to an overly attentive, semi-aggressive personality (but it comes from passion for the cause, so she’s still likeable - think Sarah in Guys & Dolls).  She becomes the unexpected love interest of Harry Witherspoon. Female, 20s-40s; Range: F#3 - E5
 
DOMINIQUE DU MONACO - A seductive French nightclub singer in Monte Carlo with a memorable dance number.  Will also play Spinster, Southern Lady #2, and Dancing Roulette Wheel.  Female, 20s-30s .
 
LUIGI GAUDI / VOICE OF TONY HENDON (on tape) - Luigi is a mysterious, boisterous Italian tourist in Monte Carlo who wears a beard and an eye patch. Tony is Rita's lover from New Jersey. Male, 30s-50s.  Range: B2 - F#4
 
RITA LA PORTA - Vinnie's high-strung sister with poor eyesight.  Impulsive, loud, erratic.  Think Karen from Will & Grace or Fran Drescher in The Nanny as potential examples of where to take role with character voice.  Female, 30s-40s.  Range: F#3 - D5
 
VINNIE DI RUZZIO - Rita's neurotic and mild-mannered brother who is dragged into her mess and is forced to travel to Monte Carlo. He is an optometrist with predictably conservative tendencies. Gets an amazing comedic solo!  Male, 30s –40s; Range: A#2 - F#4
 
THE BODY OF UNCLE ANTHONY – The dead guy, who has been preserved.  Think Bernie in Weekend at Bernie’s.  The body of a man believed to be "Uncle Anthony," who Harry brings with him on a very special trip.  Potential for hilarious physical comedy by playing dead in wheelchair throughout show.  Male, late 40s-60s; Non-Speaking Role (so huge plus - no lines to learn!)
 
ENSEMBLE:
Not your typical show, and not your typical ensemble roles!  A huge opportunity to cast strong triple threat character actors to create multiple different quirky and hilarious characters – when else will you get to play so many different types of characters in the same show?  Casting at least 2 men and 1 woman.

MAN 1 - Surly Lorry Driver, Solicitor, Prosperous Man on Train, Clothing Salesman, French Emcee, Croupier, Nun, Old Texan; age range flexible
MAN 2 - Offstage Telegram Deliverer, Vicious Punk, Mr. Loomis the Eye Patient, French Waiter on Train, Stationmaster's Voice (taped), Bellhop, French Waiter in Club, Dapper Gambler, Leper; age range flexible
WOMAN 1 - Landlady, Miss Thorsby the Secretary, Puerto Rican Nurse, Southern Lady #1, French Airline Voice (taped), Drunken Maid; age range flexible