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 are pleased to announce the 2014-2015 season!

Fall 2014 
Boeing, Boeing 
by Cross, Evans, & Camoletti
Directed by Wendy Stuart

This 1960's French farce adapted for the English-speaking stage and revived in 2008 features self-styled Parisian Lothario Bernard, who has Italian, German, and American fiancees, each beautiful airline hostesses with frequent "layovers." He keeps "one up, one down and one pending" until unexpected schedule changes bring all three to Paris and Bernard's apartment at the same time.

Winter 2015 
Summer & Smoke 
by Tennessee Williams
Directed by Marianne Phinney

A play that is profoundly affecting, SUMMER AND SMOKE is a simple love story of a somewhat puritanical Southern girl and an unpuritanical young doctor. Each is basically attracted to the other but because of their divergent attitudes toward life, each over the course of years is driven away from the other. Not until the end does the doctor realize that the girl's high idealism is ultimately right, and while she is still in love with him, it turns out that neither time nor circumstances will allow the two to come together. 

Spring 2015 
Kiss Me Kate 
by Cole Porter 
Directed by Colleen Lavery
Musical direction by John Ferguson

Combine Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew" with Porter's music and lyrics to get KISS ME, KATE an instant success with every cast and audience. This is a play-within-a-play where each cast member's on-stage life is complicated by what is happening offstage. Musical numbers include Why Can't You Behave, So In Love Am I, Wunderbar, Tom, Dick or Harry, Were Thine That Special Face, Too Darn Hot, Brush Up Your Shakespeare, I Hate Men, Always True to You (In My Fashion) and Another Op'nin', Another Show. KISS ME, KATE is fun, melodious and sophisticated. 

The Walpole Footlighters is scheduling interviews for Directors for our upcoming 2014-2015 season. Our fall show will be the comedy Boeing Boeing by Cross, Evans and Camoletti.  The winter drama is Summer and Smoke by Tennessee Williams.  We are also calling for Directors and Musical Directors for the spring musical, Kiss Me, Kate. There is a stipend for stage directors and musical directors.


Boeing Boeing production dates are October 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26.  
Summer and Smoke production dates are February 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22.
Kiss Me, Kate production dates are May 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17.
Friday and Saturday performances are at 8:00 pm; Sunday performances are at 2:00 pm.

We will be conducting Director interviews on Saturday, February 15, 2014 at starting at 11 am. to 1:30 pm. The interviews will be 15 minutes long. We will schedule them at 25 minute intervals. The interviews will be conducted on site at our theater, 2 Scout Road, East Walpole , MA 02032. Email your request,  including which show/shows you are interested in directing, time you would like to interview and a copy of your resume and your phone number to [email protected].