Olde Towne Hall Theatre, Inc.
Announces auditions for:
The Typists and The Tiger
Two one-act plays by Murray Schisgal
(both plays will be a part of a “Night of One-Acts” event running Nov. 15-17, 2024)
Directed by: Dena M. Warmuth
Produced by: Sharon Godsey
Stage Managed by: Holly Masterson
WHEN: Sunday, September 22, 2024 - from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Monday, September 23, 2024 - from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
PLAY SYNOPSIS:
The Typists tells the story of two office workers, spending their lives as typists. When Paul Cunningham reports for work addressing postcards for a mail-order house, he makes it clear to his fellow worker, Sylvia Payton, that his employment is strictly temporary. Paul, a married man, is studying law at night, and with his uncle already in successful practice there is every hope that his future will be a promising one. Sylvia, the "supervisor" of the two-employee office, has a few dreams herself – mostly of the romantic variety so often indulged in by not so young spinsters with widowed mothers to support. Paul and Sylvia hit it off well, and as Paul's "temporary" tenure stretches on from weeks to months to years they become involved in the shared experiences of close daily contact. And, within the short span of the play, they begin to age and gradually grow old at their desks. While they go on sharing the important details of their lives and of the bright future that will be coming up any day, the futility of their existence becomes increasingly evident. And when they finally dodder off with friendly "good night" to their unseen employer we have witnessed a cycle of life complete with the humor, sadness, self-delusion and reconciliation that underlie and infuse the human condition.
The Tiger is the tale of a kidnapper and his victim; eventually their relationship grows into mutual affection and respect. Ben is a naturally bright but slightly unstrung young man in revolt against a system which consigns him to being a disgruntled mail carrier and to living in a tumble-down basement apartment. In a gesture of defiance he kidnaps a young woman and drags her to his lair, the object being that she, at least, will do as and what he orders – fulfilling the urge for domination that life has hitherto denied him. At first Ben is abrupt and sharp with his victim, playing cat and mouse with her in the hope that she will begin to panic and squirm. But while Gloria, a suburban housewife and mother, is hardly used to this sort of thing, she also an equally complicated relationship to the world. At first she must listen, but soon she is the one who leads the touching and funny conversation that ensues. Mutual confessions and confidences are forthcoming, and by the time Ben reveals that his dream of becoming a teacher was shattered by an inability to cope with French, Gloria is ready and willing to take on the job of tutoring him. But he sticks to his resolve to have his way with her and she, in turn, fools him again by being less the protesting victim than the willing conspirator. In the end he lets her go – but already she is making plans to drop by every Thursday when her dull husband will take it for granted that she is off playing bridge with friends.
WHAT TO EXPECT: Please sign up for a one-hour time slot on signup genius. The sign up link is on the" Olde Towne Hall Theatre" Facebook page. Director contact information is below. Auditionees must prepare any monologue that exhibits their ability to portray a range of emotion (2 minutes or less in length). Auditionees will also read from the script. You may be asked to do some movement improvisation if there is time. Please bring a resume and headshot if you have them. Please bring a list of all conflicts in scheduling from September 30, 2024 through November 17, 2024.
WHERE: Auditions and Rehearsals will be held at: Fields United Methodist Church
34077 Lorain Rd.
North Ridgeville, OH 44039
PERFORMANCES: Will be held at French Creek Theatre
4530 Colorado Ave.
Sheffield, OH 44054
DATES OF PERFORMANCES:
Friday, November 15, 2024 @7:30 PM
Saturday, November 16, 2024 @7:30 PM
Sunday, November 17, 2024 @2:00 PM
REHEARSALS: Begin the week of Monday, September 30, 2024, and each play will rehearse two days a week, from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM (with a couple of possible Friday rehearsals right before tech week.) There will be no rehearsals during the week of October 6 – 12, 2024.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR: Dena M. Warmuth is new to directing, but certainly not new to the theatre profession. Dena is making her full directing debut, outside of college, with this project! Dena has received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre (focus in Directing) from Cleveland State University. She directed Sam Shepard’s Fool for Love for her college project (2004); it was this experience that cemented Dena’s desire to be a theatre director. Dena considers herself blessed that OTHT has been her theatre “home” since November 2015. Along with being a member of the OTHT Board of Directors for the past eight years, Dena has served as Assistant Director (and Stage Manager) for numerous OTHT productions – as well as directed a reading of Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House (2018). Having worked on nearly 65 productions in the past 25 years, she has experience in both professional theatres and community theatres throughout the Greater Cleveland area. Credits include Assistant Director for Romeo and Juliet at MAD* Factory Theatre (2022), and Assistant Director for Mrs. Mannerly at Clague Playhouse (2021). Dena loves to stage manage, but looks forward to becoming a professional theatre director in the future.
QUESTIONS? Email director Dena M. Warmuth at: denawarmuth@gmail.com