HUDSON PLAYERS - Auditions: November 13 & 14, 2022 7pm

Performances: February 3,4, 10,11,12*, 17,18,19*, 24,25 *special 2pm matinees

Directed by: Dave Stebbins

***We will be requiring proof of vaccination prior to audition

Laughter on the 23rd Floor is a 1993 play by Neil Simon. It focuses on the star and writers of a TV comedy-variety show in the 1950s, inspired by Simon's own early career experience as a junior writer for Your Show of Shows and Caesar's Hour.

Please come prepared to read from the script

7M 2F Character Breakdown:

Lucas- The new guy. Shy, yet ambitious, and wants to prove himself to the other writers, whom he greatly admires.

Milt – Considers himself to be “a wholesaler” while the other comedy writers are “Tiffany’s”. Milt is a flashy dresser who is cheating on his wife.

Val – The head writer. He emigrated from Russia when he was 12. “He still carries his accent” and is “the most politically aware of all of his writers.”

Brian – “He is Irish – a heavy smoker, a heavy cougher, and a heavy drinker, but with a biting sense of humor as caustic as his outlook on life.” He just sold a screenplay to MGM, and will be leaving the Max Prince Show to go to Hollywood.

Kenny – “Neatly dressed…He is surely the most sophisticated of the writers.”

Carol – Has “a strong and quick defense system that comes with being the only female staff writer on the staff.”

Ira – A hypochondriac, who is chronically late to work. “He is all energy with a touch of brilliant madness.” Ira has a grudge against fellow writer, Brian.

Max Prince – “Exudes great strength. His strength comes more from his anger than from his physique. He dominates a room with his personality. You must watch him because he’s like a truck you can’t get out of the way of. He is quixotic, changing quickly from warm, infectious laughter to sullen anger. He is often monosyllabic, offering a word or two to convey his thoughts.”

Helen – Max's secretary who has aspirations to become a comedy writer.