AUDITIONS:
A 1940’s radio christmas carol
Written by WALTON JONES, DAVID WOHL, and FAYE GREENBERG
Directed by perry shields
vocal direction by bradley hampton
It's Christmas Eve, 1943, and the Feddington Players are now broadcasting from Newark, NJ, and set to present their take on Dickens's A Christmas Carol. Whether it's the noisy plumbing, missed cues, electrical blackouts, or the over-the-top theatrics of a veteran actor, this radio show is an entertaining excursion into the mayhem and madness of a live radio show. In order to save the show, the company must improvise an ending to this holiday classic!
PERFORMANCES:
DECEMBER 7-22, 2024
Thursdays at 7pm (followed by Q & A)
Fridays at 8pm
Saturdays at 8pm (and 2pm on select dates)
Sundays at 2pm (and 7pm on select dates)
Torrance Theatre Company at 1316
1316 Cabrillo Ave Torrance, CA 90501
PRODUCTION CALENDAR:
Please review the calendar HERE, and list all potential conflicts on your submission form below.
AUDITIONS:
By appointment: Tuesday, October 8th beginning at 6:30 pm
call backs:
By invitation: Wednesday, October 9th at 6:30 pm
PREPARE:
Actors will be asked to sing a Christmas carol of their choice, from Joy to the World, Good King Wenceslas, Deck the Halls, or Silent Night.
Readings from the script will happen at call-backs.
All those cast will be required to register as a volunteer for the City of Torrance.
This is a non-union, non-paid gig. No participation fees are required.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:
The dialogue is fast and crisp. There is some opportunity for improv but for the majority the dialogue must be delivered with fidelity to the script. Please research and listen to a 30-minute radio comedy from the 1940s for reference (Jack Benny, Fibber McGee and Molly, Bob Hope, Abbott and Costello, or Fred Allen, for starters).
Clifton Feddington (45-55, male). Mutual Radio announcer, front man for WOV's Nash Kelvinator Mystery Theatre. Strong, solid presence and radio voice. Known for being cheap. Has a crush on Judith.
William St. Claire (60-70, male). Retired star of stage and screen with a long list of Broadway credits and 46 films. Think Ian McKellen, or Peter O'Toole from the film My Favorite Year.
Charles "Cholly" Butts (30-40, male). Married, no kids, works a day job as a baker. Plays a character named Mishke Bibble on the radio. Has an unrequited crush on Margie. Must make Yiddish sound natural.
Fritz Canigliaro (35-45, male). Masher, cynic, wise-guy, and former Florsheim shoe salesman. Does a "Frank Nelson" routine in all his sketches. Search "Frank Nelson" on YouTube.
"Little" Jackie Sparks (17-21, male). Not actually "little," but young. A tenor with a high speaking voice. Lives with his mom. Teased a lot. Like Dennis Day on the Jack Benny Program.
Judith Davenport (35-45, female). Resident leading lady. Funny, determined, and stubborn, Has two kids and two exes and wants no more of either. Considers herself a legit actress. Has Clifton's eye.
Margie O'Brien (30-40, female). Brassy and flippant with a voice to match. Like Cholly, a ham. Ginger Rogers type.
Sally Simpson (20-25, female). Seems sweet and gentle, but is a tough lady. On the radio, she plays babies, animals, insects, and little kids.
Isadore "Buzz" Crenshaw (24-34, male). Sound effectician at WOV. His life is his work. Has a sharp wit and is always agreeable, whistling, and in a good mood. Spends a lot of time with Sally. Lives alone.
Toots Navarre (any age, male or female). Musical director, composer, and pianist. At the piano for most of the show, faking playing (does not need to actually play).
Esther Lewis Pirne (50 and up, female). Backstage audio engineer and transmitter supervisor for WOV Radio. Pops in and out. Smaller role.
Harold J. Mullins (40 and up, male). Concierge of the Hotel Aberdeen in Newark, from where the radio show is broadcast. Pops in and out. Smaller role.
The Torrance Theatre Company is a program of the Cultural Services Division of the Torrance Community Services Department. www.TorranceCA.Gov Sponsored in part by Friends of Torrance Theatre Company.