Seeking adult actors of all ages, for two staged readings of a new musical comedy, "Where There's A Will."  These staged readings will be for small test audiences, and will be used to further develop this original script.  

Rehearsal schedule will be fairly minimal--10-15 evenings throughout August and September, leading up to the staged readings, September 11 & 12.  Music and script will not need to be memorized.  No set changes or costumes.  The cast is multicultural and rather male-dominated.  Complete cast list below. 

Written by Tim Shaffer with music by Tim Shaffer and Dustin Oliver, "Where There's a Will" is a musical comedy that follows a cast of inmates as they try to produce a prison's first-ever Easter musical.  

Auditions will be held at the Aurora Community Theatre, 7pm August 4 & 5.  The theatre is located at 115 East Pioneer Trail, in Aurora.  Auditions will be held downstairs (parking in back).  

Auditioners should prepare 16-32 bars of music that they feel show off their abilities.  Bring sheet music for accompanist (provided).  There will also be some reading from the script.  Questions can be directed to tkentzz@gmail.com 

COME HELP US MAKE THIS NEW SHOW HILARIOUS!  


CAST LIST

(Some roles can be doubled)

 

WILL TAYLOR: Early 20s, still somewhat idealistic and naïve.  Timid, sheltered, never before in any kind of serious trouble. 

 

RICKLEY: Any age or sex, Public defender assigned to Will.  Rumpled, hurried, perhaps inept, (s)he definitely has no interest in public defender work.

 

PROSECUTOR: 30s-50s, Slick, conniving, self-righteous.  Dressed in a silk suit and tie.  Justice, for him/her, is a high conviction rate. 

 

JUDGE/GOVERNOR BARNSTROM: 40s-60s.  A member of the Good Old Boys Club.  Initially a judge, later elected governor.

 

JEB YODER: 30s-40s, an inmate.  Scruffy, friendly, mentally unstable & delusional.

 

2-DOWN: 20s-30s, an inmate.  Street-wise thug.

 

BIG DOUG: 20s-30s, an inmate.  Dumb muscle-head.

 

BJ: 20s, an inmate.  Flamboyantly gay Latino, with a strong accent. 

 

DEPUTY WARDEN JOE MENTIRAS: Any age, Latino.  A chauvinist who doesn’t believe that women should be running things, let alone prisons.  Life is black and white for him and he believes that everyone in prison is guilty and should be punished.

 

YESMEN: Any age or sex.  A chorus of non-independent thinkers, totally loyal to the Deputy Warden.

 

WARDEN MIRA BANISTER: Early 40s, hard-working career woman.  A prison reformer who believes in rehabilitation, more than punishment.  Professional, lonely, yet romantic and still a bit optimistic.  Always wearing pink-framed glasses on her face, head, or on a chain around her neck.

 

JARED ANTHONY: 20s-30s, an inmate.  Artistic, poetic, agreeable yet pessimistic.  Has slightly longer hair than other inmates, always seems slightly unkempt.  Prison play author.

 

TONY VINCENS: 30s, an inmate.  The Warden’s clerk.  Incarcerated over 6 years ago for assault, while defending a friend in a fight.  Honorable and caring.  Prison play cast member.

 

SINICA: 35-50, an inmate.  A bad, but enthusiastic, singer.  Prison play cast member.

 

STANCHEK: late 30s to early 50s, an inmate.  Slow moving and even slower thinking; hearing and mobility damaged years ago, in a fireworks accident.  Prison play cast member.

 

JACKSON: 20s, an inmate.  Thug.  Prison play cast member.

 

TOWNSEND: 40s-50s, an inmate.  Fancies himself a great singer, but can’t annunciate a consonant to save his life.  Prison play cast member.

 

JUSTICE: any age, an inmate.  Blind, black, small of stature.  Prison play cast member.

 

HAVERSON: 75-90, a feeble inmate.  Prison play cast member.

 

LANNY: 50-80, long-time inmate and chapel clerk.  Worked his way down from maximum security.  Now rehabilitated, but with little chance of parole.  Humorous, good-natured, resourceful, clothes always impeccably pressed and tailored.  Prison play costumer and set designer.

 

INMATE REPORTER: Any age, a nosey inmate

 

SET BUILDER: Any age, inmate. 

 

TED O’DALEY: 40s-50s, the prison chaplain and close friend to Warden Banister.  Dressed in priest’s collar, heart in the right place, yet not entirely holy. 

 

2 SHERIFF DEPUTIES: Any ages, male or female

 

2 FBI AGENTS: Any ages, male or female

 

VARIOUS CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS/GUARDS: any ages, male or female, barely more professional than the inmates.

 

CHURCH LADY: Any age, prison play audience member