Casting "The Man Who Came To Dinner"
"Portly Sheridan Whiteside, critic, lecturer, wit, radio orator, intimate friend of the great and near great, met his Waterloo in the shape of a small piece of ice on the doorstep of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest W. Stanley, of Mesalia, Ohio, while trekking across the country on his annual lecture tours. Result: the idol of the air waves rests until further notice in the home of the surprised Mr. and Mrs., Stanley. Possibility: Christmas may be postponed this year." So runs the lead article in the Christmas 1939 issue of Time magazine. Whiteside turns the Stanley household upside down, forcing everyone in town to cater to his egotistical demands. Meanwhile, his beloved secretary has given her notice after falling in love with a local reporter, and Whiteside must engage every weapon in his considerable arsenal of guile and manipulation to keep her in his employ—including blackmail, deceit, and the intervention of the fading sexpot actress Lorraine Sheldon and the elegant British wit of playwright Beverly Carlton. A three-ring circus of machinations and celebrity appearances ensues."
Auditions will be held at the Little Egg Harbor Community Center, 314 W Cala Breeze Way Mystic Islands, NJ 08087 at 10am on Saturday, February 12 and 2pm on Sunday, February 13, 2022.
Auditions will consist of readings of excerpts (sides) from the script. Sides for the audition process will be supplied at auditions. NOTE: All who audition will need to show their COVID vaccine card. All members of the cast and crew are required to be vaccinated.
All backgrounds, ages (over 18), and ethnicities welcome and encouraged to audition! Most actors will be up and down to read multiple times in multiple combinations and scenes. We will do our best to get you up multiple times reading for parts you are interested in. You may also be asked to read for other parts you may not be auditioning for. This show even has roles with no lines! Those roles will be doubled as this is a very large cast.
We’re always on the lookout for new faces. We’re actors too, and we know how nerve-wracking auditions can be. We try to put you at ease and make the audition fun. If you don’t get a part, please come back and try again. We know EXACTLY what it’s like to audition over and over before landing a role.
Tip #1: Try to read the whole script before you audition. You’ll have a better idea of the available roles, and you’ll feel more prepared, which will help you relax and have fun.
Tip #2: Check the preliminary rehearsal schedule in advance and note any conflicts on your audition form. Conflicts for general rehearsals don’t mean you won’t get cast, but they do help the director finalize who rehearses when. Every effort will be made to group rehearsals so that you don't need to attend all of them unless you have a lead role. Everyone should double check that you can be at every rehearsal during tech week and every performance.
Tip #3: Bring a list of shows you’ve been in and roles you've played so you’re ready to fill out the audition form. It’s amazing how one’s mind can go blank when audition nerves kick in.
Rehearsal days and times will be Tuesdays and Thursdays 6:30-9:00pm (approximate) plus one other day each week which will be determined shortly after casting based on crew and actor conflicts. There will be a read thru on February 17th and regular rehearsals will begin February 24th.
Performance Dates and Times:
Evening Performances: Thurs. Fri. Sat. May 19-21 7:30 pm
Matinee: Sunday May 22 2:00 pm
The ages listed for the characters are those actually stated or suggested in the script, however, actors auditioning for these roles can be younger or older than the stated age. For many of the characters, their age in relation to that of the other characters is more important than any specific chronological age.
Actors reading for the role Beverly Carlton will be asked to speak in a British accent and the part of Banjo in a New York accent.
Role Descriptions (ages are flexible)
Lead Roles:
Sheridan Whiteside (40s-50s) - Critic/Lecturer Irascible Cantankerous Mean Famous Intelligent Quick-Witted Orator Charming Manipulative Immature Charismatic Crafty
Maggie Cutler (30s) - Secretary Intelligent Patient Quick Witty Efficient Businesslike Lively Personable Good-Humored Bold Romantic Hopeful Observant Knowing
Supporting Roles:
Ernest W. Stanley (late 40s-60s) Husband/Father Solid Substantial Annoyed Enraged Businessman Self-Important Confused Overwhelmed Authoritative
Mrs. Ernest W. Stanley (Daisy) (late 40s - 50s) Wife/Mother Nervous Anxious Overwhelmed Starstruck Fluttery Excited Socialite Hostess
Richard Stanley (21) Son/Brother Youthful Attractive Pleasant Artistic Adventurous Energetic
June Stanley (20s) - Daughter/Sister Attractive Pleasant Lively Youthful Romantic Earnest
Bert Jefferson (30s) - Newspaperman Personable Persistent Attractive Intelligent Writer Playwright Journalist Direct Outspoken Self-Assured Decent
Banjo (30s-40s) - Comedian Loud Crude Amorous Goofy Mischievous Happy Cheerful Coarse Physical Kind Wise-Cracker New York Accent
Beverly Carlton (30s-40s ) - Playwright/Composer Cheerful Snide Flamboyant Charismatic Traveler Mimic Sophisticated Gossip English Accent
Lorraine Sheldon (20s-40s) -Actress Chic Glamorous Charismatic Beautiful Seductive Gold-Digger Gossip Famous Celebrity Vamp
Featured Roles:
Harriet Stanley (40s-60s) Eerie Creepy Sister/Aunt Odd Batty Delicate Unreal
John (40s-60s) - Butler Professional Friendly Cheerful Pleasant
Sarah (40s-60s) - Cook Amiable Friendly Pleasant Professional
Mrs. Dexter (30s - 60s) - Friend /Neighbor Curious Excited Starstruck Busybody
Mrs. McCutcheon (30s - 60s) Friend/Neighbor Curious Excited Starstruck
Sandy (20s) - Young Earnest Attractive Romantic Political Organizer Worker
Mr. Baker (30s-50s) Prison Warden/Guard Tough Responsible Tense
Expressman - Delivery Driver Curious Wry Businesslike
Plainclothesman (20s-60s) Policeman Plainclothes Undercover Detective Responsible Bribed
Professor Metz - Strange Eccentric Scientist Scientific Disheveled Mild Germanic Pleasant
Dr. Bradley (50s-60s) Doctor Hearty Cheerful Hopeful Dense Persistent Foolish Jolly Needy Ridiculous
Westcott (20s-50s) Technician Electrician Radio Efficient Annoyed Focused
Miss Preen (30s-50s) Nurse Confused Intimidated Awkward Terrified Angry Weary Abused Humorless
Ensemble Roles:
Luncheon Guests (3) - (20s-60s) Guests Criminals Prisoners Murders Villains
Radio Technicians (2) - (20s-50s) Technicians Electricians Efficient Hard-Working Quiet
Deputies (2) - (20s-50s) Deputies Enforcers Strong Silent Burly
*LETCO is a non-profit community theatre troupe. All participation is on a volunteer basis. No members of the cast or crew are compensated.