AUDITIONS – The Cassidy Theatre

for the Tony-Nominated  

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

Book by Jeffrey Lane, Music and Lyrics by David Yazbek

Based on the film by Pedro Almodóvar


Sunday, January 24th, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Monday, January 25th, 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Based on the Oscar-nominated film by internationally renowned director Pedro Almodovar (Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!, All About My Mother, Talk to Her, Volver), Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown is hilarious and touching look at women and the men who pursue them... find them, lose them, need them, and reject them. At the center is Pepa, a not quite over the hill actress whose friends and lovers are blazing a trail through 1987 Madrid, Spain. A combination of sex, fame, mayhem, family, and madness abound in this Tony-nominated musical (Best Original Score – David Yazbeck, Best Performance by a Featured Actress – Laura Benanti, Best Performance by a Featured Actress - Patti LuPone). 

OPEN CALL- No Appointment necessary

Non-Equity performers / All Roles Available

Location: The Cassidy Theatre, 6200 Pearl Road, Parma Hts., OH 44130

(In the Greenbrier Commons, behind the Police Station)


Please prepare the following:

*A song of your choice in the style of the show (minimum of 32 bars). Selecting a song from the show is acceptable.

*Bring a headshot or photo and resume if available.  

*You may be asked to read from the script.

*Please bring a list of conflict dates you may have during the rehearsal period.

* Callbacks: If necessary, will be by invitation only, date TBD

*If you wish to audition but are not able to make it to the above dates, please contact the box office at

#440-842-4600 to make alternate arrangements.


Show Information:

Director: Jenna Messina

Music Director: Heidi Herczeg

Choreographer: Jill Smith

Stage Manager: Jim Carrick


Performance dates:

April 8th – April 24th, 2016.

Fridays and Saturdays @ 8:00 PM and Sundays @ 3:00 PM


Rehearsal Information:

Rehearsals will begin on or around February 15th.

Rehearsals will generally be on Sunday-Thursday evenings from 7:00pm until 10:00pm.


PRINCIPLE CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS AND VOCAL RANGES:

Ivan- Handsome and smooth. Pretty much a haircut and a voice, it would be possible to mistake him for a bounder, but the truth is he falls in love with every woman he meets. Character Age: 40-55. Vocal range A2- F4.

Pepa- A working actress. Warm, funny, sardonic, down to earth, emotional, motherly and naturally sexy (i.e., not working it.) Character Age: 30-45 Vocal r

ange: F3- Ab5.

Candela- Pepa's best friend. A working model. Very pretty with small town innocence underneath her cosmopolitan sexiness, she is easily distracted - usually by love. Character Age: 25-35. Vocal range top: F3- C5.

Lucia- Ivan's ex-wife. She has just been released from a mental institution after 20 years. Both comic and scary with a heartbreaking vulnerability underneath it all. Character Age: 40 - 50. Vocal range: F#3- C5.

Carlos- Ivan and Lucia's son. Shy and studious looking, handsome behind glasses. Struggling to break out of his shell. Character Age: 20 - 22. Vocal range: C3- C5.

Marisa- Carlos' fiancé. Very matter-of-fact and no-nonsense. Firmly holding onto her virginity, but with a passion and freedom struggling to break free. Character Age: 20 - 22. Vocal range: C4- C5.

Taxi Driver- Off-center, talkative and big hearted. He takes on the problems of any of his passengers. Still grounded in reality, he is the spirit and energy of Madrid. Character Age: 25 - 45. Vocal range: B2- E4.

Paulina- A lawyer, a 1987 feminist. Despite her cold demeanor, we must also believe she can be swept off her feet. Character Age: late 20s - 40s. Vocal range: Ab3- Ab4.

Ensemble (Chorus) of 4 - 6 Women and 4 - 6 Men 18 - 60+ years old will be cast in the roles below:

Detective- The Chief Inspector's assistant. A bit bumbling.  

Telephone Repairman- Handsome

Ambite- A guy on a Vespa

Two Security Guards- Security Guards.  One Female, One Male.

News Reader On Tv- A News Reader on TV.

Three Magistrates- Magistrates. Two Male, One Female.

Young Lucia- A dancer.

Young Ivan- A dancer.

Pepa's Concierge- Religious and a little loopy.  

Rosalia- A voice-over actress. Very attractive.  

 Doctor- A doctor.  

Hector- The director and owner of the dubbing studio where Pepa works.  

Ivan's Concierge- The self-appointed ruler of her apartment building.  

Chief Inspector- A tough, no-nonsense police detective.

Cristina- A receptionist and a busy body.

If you have any questions please contact the Cassidy Theatre Box Office at #440-842-4600.
The Cassidy Theatre Box Office is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays 9:30- 3:30.

The Cassidy Theatre is supported in part by the residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.