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WESTPORT COMMUNITY THEATRE
Westport Town Hall – 110 Myrtle Avenue – Westport, CT AUDITIONS!
Laughter on the 23rd Floor by Neil Simon
Directed by Lester Colodny
Sunday, July 22 at 7:00 PM
Monday, July 23 at 7:00 PM
Callbacks Tuesday, July 24 at 7:00 PM Auditions for our first show of the 2012 / 2013 season, Laughter on the 23rd Floor by Neil Simon, will be held Sunday, July 22 and Monday, July 23 at 7:00 PM, with callbacks Tuesday, July 24 at 7:00 PM. Performance dates are September 14 – 30, 2012 – Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 PM, Sundays at 2:00 PM, with one Thursday evening performance at 8:00 PM on September 20 and a preview performance Thursday, September 13. If you can't make these audition dates but are interested in auditioning, please contact the Box Office at (203) 226-1983.
Note from director Lester Colodny: Please, please, have familiarity with the script (available at most libraries, in select local bookstores or through the Drama Book Shop) before coming to audition. This is one of Neil Simon's most fast-paced, clever comedies – familiarity with the script is important as this is an ensemble comedy; the script relies heavily on timing and pace, and we want to see how actors act and react to these extremely funny lines. All characters are very intelligent, very strong personalities. Playwright Neil Simon got his first big break in the early ’50s as a staff writer on Sid Caesar’s fabled television series Your Show of Shows, and this comedy (adapted by Simon from his play) takes a fictionalized look at the backstage chaos that went into producing one of the landmarks of television’s golden age. The play takes place in 1953 (March – December 24), and the setting is New York City, an office on the 23rd floor of a building on 57th Street. The breakdown is as follows: The STAR:
Max Prince (30s – 40s): Dominating, strong (he dominates a room), manic-depressive and genius comedian who is "on the verge"
The Writers:
Milt Fields (30s – 40s): Veteran writer, quick-witted, dresses in crazy ways so Max will hopefully notice him.
Val Skolsky (40s – 50s+): Russian accent, the senior writer; most politically aware.
Ira Stone (20s – 30s+): Hypochondriac – big time; loud, an attention-getter, a "martyr"
Brian Doyle (30s – 40s): Only Gentile in the group (Irish); smoker (coughs a lot), heavy drinker – biting and caustic sense of humor – recently underwent a hair transplant
Kenny Franks (30s – 40s): The most sophisticated of the writers he is "neat," he is an Ivy League graduate
Lucas Brickman (20s): The youngest, newest writer, he is presumed to be the voice of author Neil Simon
Carol Wyman (20s – 30s): Only female writer, holds her own among the men with a strong, quick defense system.
The Secretary:
Helen (20s): Max's secretary, young and a bit flaky; she is devoted to Max and the group.
About the director, Lester Colodny: Lester’s Westport Community Theatre credits span decades – but he is known nationwide as an Emmy-Award-winning writer, producer and director from the Golden Age of Hollywood. He was a co-creator of “The Munsters” and worked on television classics such as “Get Smart,” “My Favorite Martian” and “Beetle Bailey.” In the early 70s, he co-wrote a Broadway play, “Fun City” with Joan Rivers. Later, he went into work in advertising for famed casino chain owner Steve Wynn, winning several CLIOs for his work for the company. To finish out his career, he worked in the eighties for a well-known billionaire New York real estate tycoon. Lester spent his early career working with some of the biggest names in show business, including Frank Sinatra, Mel Brooks, Jerry Lewis, Peter Sellers, Florence Henderson, Cary Grant and many more. He was writer, producer and director of “The Baja Marimba Band” for which he won his Emmy. He was a writer on “The Today Show” with original host Dave Garroway, when the show was live and mistakes on the set were broadcast nationally. Lester played a role in one of the most famous moments of the early days of "The Today Show" when he was ordered to get three barrels of monkeys to be opened live on television at the bequest of Garroway. The results were an instant classic and make up the first chapter of his autobiography, “A Funny Thing Happened,” released in July 2010.
Please go to www.westportcommunitytheatre and click the "Directions" tab for directions, or visit WCT on Facebook. If you need additional information, please leave a message at the Box Office –
(203) 226-1983. Westport Community Theatre is located at Westport Town Hall, 110 Myrtle Avenue in Westport. |
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