East Lynne to Hold Auditions for Summer/Fall Season

CAPE MAY – East Lynne Theater Company (ELTC) will have three audition days of open calls for Equity actors. On March 16 from noon to 4 p.m. and on March 18 from 1-5 p.m., the call will be at The First Presbyterian Church, 500 Hughes St., Cape May, where the company is in residence. Sign-up for auditions on March 16 begins at 11 a.m. and continues through 3:55 p.m.; sign-up on March 18 begins at noon and continues through 4:55 p.m.
For the call on March 18 only, Equity actors may contact the theater for a definite time-slot by e-mailing the company at eastlynneco@aol.com. On April 5 from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., the call will be at the Actors’ Equity Audition Center, 165 West 46th St., NYC. Sign-up for auditions begins at 8:30 a.m., and continues through 5 p.m. Lunch break is from 1-2 p.m. Non-union actors will be seen at all auditions, as long as no Equity actors are kept waiting.
The company operates under an Equity SPT 3 Contract with rehearsals beginning on Monday two weeks before the opening-performance week, and a Wednesday through Saturday night performance schedule, with two exceptions, which are noted below. All of the rehearsals will be in Cape May.
Artistic Director, Gayle Stahlhuth will be at the auditions and is directing all three shows. Actors are asked to audition with a brief monologue, preferably humorous, or read from “Lost on the Natchez Trace,” “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” or “The Late Christopher Bean.” Sides will be available at the auditions. A reader will be provided for those auditioning with sides.
The season opener, “Lost on the Natchez Trace” is a three-person show written by Jan Buttram about the encounter in the wilderness between a slave auctioneer and a run-away slave in 1825. The actors who originated the two male roles at Abingdon Theatre Company in 2012 have been asked to perform in Cape May, but actors may audition and be considered for this show, should there be a need for a replacement. Since the NYC run, the role of a female has been added. This play runs from June 12-July 20, except there is no show on July 4, and an added performance on July 7. The roles are: Malcolm Jeters – a fast-talking auctioneer accustomed to getting his way, now wounded and ready to bargain, age range 50-65; Tom – African-American, strong from having spent years working in the fields, moves well and is smart, age range 25-35; and Mary – African-American, experienced tragedy while a slave, which she expresses in movement, since she does not speak, age range 20-35.
All roles for the other two shows are still available.
Seeking actors for the following: “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” a world premiere written by James Rana, based on the haunting tale by Washington Irving, in which five of the six actors play a multitude of characters in this true ensemble piece, running from July 24-Aug. 31; and “The Late Christopher Bean” by Sidney Howard, a clever comedy from 1932 about the sudden fame of an artist who’s been dead for ten years, running from Sept. 18 – Oct. 13. (Note: there will be no performance on Oct. 9, but an added performance on Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m.) “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” moves to Ocean Professional Theatre Company for rehearsals and performances from Oct. 22-27, operating under their contract.
“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow:” Ichabod Crane – the new teacher in town who is not accepted by all of the townsfolk, he falls in love with Katrina, and must play guitar or mandolin and sing, age range late 20s – late 30s; Actor 2: plays Katrina Van Tassel and various townsfolk, must sing and move well, age range 20-30; Actor 3 – plays Mr. Van Tassel, who is wealthy and self-satisfied, also plays other characters in town, age range 45-60; Actor 4 – plays Mrs. Van Tassel, known to speak her mind, also plays other roles, age range 45-60; Actor 5 – plays Pastor Den Hollander, who is set in his ways, and portrays other roles, age range 30-45; and Actor 6 – plays Brom Bones, who will do anything to get Katrina’s attention, and he, too, plays other roles, age range 25-35.
“The Late Christopher Bean:” Dr. Haggett – a rural New England doctor, accustomed to his every day schedule, who’s world is turned upside down, age range 50-65; Mrs. Haggett – his wife, who assumes what she considers “cityfied” airs in dress and bearing, which she believes makes her better than anyone else in town, age range 50-65; Ada Haggett – their daughter, who takes after her mother, but also pretends to be younger and more helpless than she is, age range 25-30; Susan Haggett – sweet, kind, and smart, age range 20-25; Abby – their maid of many years, what she lacks in schooling she more than makes up for with good common sense and a good heart, age range 35-50; Warren Creamer – the village painter and paper-hanger, personable, sure of himself, in love with Susan, age range 25-35; Mr. Tallant – an artist from the city who says and does what he must to get by in the world, age range 25-40; Mr. Rosen – an art dealer from the city who’s always looking for a deal, age range 45-65; and Maxwell Davenport – a distinguished art critic, honest, age range 50-65.
The East Lynne Theater Company is committed to nontraditional casting and equal employment opportunities. Actors wishing to mail pictures and resumes should mail to the office: 121 Fourth Ave., West Cape May, NJ 08204 – and not to the church. To learn more about the company, go to www.eastlynnetheater.org.