Axelrod Performing Arts Center | Deal Park, NJ
Axelrod Performing Arts Center
100 Grant Ave
Deal Park, NJ 07723
Ample free parking is available - report to lobby entrance; an audition monitor will be set up there.
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum will no longer be produced as a part of this season. This production has been removed from the breakdown.
Sunday, February 8, 2026
11:00 AM – 7:00 PM (E)
Break: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
For Equity members to sign up for a timeslot, please select a timeslot at:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409054BACA72FA2FB6-61920182-axelrod. Equity members are able to make an appointment in advance, but the theatre indicates that non-Equity performers will be seen as time permits. An Equity Monitor will not be provided. The producer will run all aspects of this audition.
Producer: Axelrod Performing Arts Center
Artistic Director: Andrew DePrisco
Casting Director: Michael Cassara, CSA
See breakdown for production-specific dates and other details.
$662 weekly minimum (LOA ref. LORT).
Equity’s contracts prohibit discrimination.
Equity is committed to diversity and encourages all its employers to engage in a policy of equal employment opportunity designed to promote a positive model of inclusion. As such, Equity encourages performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, and ages, as well as performers with disabilities, to attend every audition.
Local Central NJ / Deal Park NJ actors are encouraged to audition. Some roles will be understudied.
Always bring your Equity Membership card to auditions. Please prepare a brief traditional theatre singing selection or a brief semi-contemporary monologue.
Venue: Bell Theater at Bell Works
Playwright: Michele Riml
Director: Jenn Thompson
Rehearsals begin March 23, 2026
First Performance April 10, 2026
Closing Performance April 26, 2026
SYNOPSIS: Alice and Henry, a long-married couple, are attempting to reignite the spark in their relationship by escaping to a trendy hotel with a copy of the book “Sex for Dummies” in hand. As they navigate their vulnerabilities and desires, their weekend getaway to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary becomes a hilarious and heartfelt exploration of love, marriage, and rediscovery.
NOTE: ALL ROLES ARE CURRENTLY CAST
[ALICE] female, 50s, strong comedy ability.
[HENRY] male, 50s, strong comedy ability.
Venue: Bell Theater at Bell Works
By James R. Harris
Musical Arrangements by Mark Hayes
Directed by Daniel Kutner
Rehearsals begin on/about May 26, 2026
First Performance June 18, 2026
Closing Performance June 28, 2026
SYNOPSIS: A patriotic and life-affirming story inspired by the life of Heinz “Henry” Stern, a true American original. After a narrow escape from Nazi Germany in 1937, Henry's family immigrates to America and settles in Alabama. The family is welcomed with open arms to the small town of Opelika, where then 5-year-old Henry and his family find love and acceptance. For more than 60 years, he continues to search for other family members who survived the Holocaust.
[HENRY STERN] 50s/60s+, male, Jewish. A Holocaust survivor now living in the American South, reflecting on his past as he prepares for a long-awaited reunion. Wry, intelligent, emotionally open, with a gentle sense of humor and deep moral gravity. Anchors the piece; a commanding presence with warmth, restraint, and emotional clarity.
[ANNA WILLIAMS] late 20s–30s, female. A thoughtful, compassionate reporter whose curiosity unlocks Henry’s memories. Intelligent, grounded, and empathetic; serves as the audience’s guide between past and present. With excellent listening skills.
[UNCLE JULIUS] 40s–50s, male, Jewish. Henry’s great-uncle living in Alabama. Practical, determined, and quietly heroic, Julius works tirelessly to rescue his family from Germany. A moral anchor with warmth and resolve. A strong singer.
[GRANNY] 60s–70s, female, Jewish. Henry’s grandmother and the spiritual heart of the story. Deeply rooted in faith, tradition, and love of family. Her presence embodies continuity and resilience. Sing Hebrew text with authority and emotional depth.
[HEDWIG STERN (MOTHER)] 30s–40s, female, Jewish. Henry’s mother. Loving, anxious, and increasingly aware of the danger facing her family. Torn between tradition and survival. Dramatic with lyrical singing ability.
[ARTHUR STERN (FATHER)] 30s–40s, male, Jewish. Henry’s father. Proud, principled, and initially hopeful that Germany will remain safe. His arc charts denial, awakening, and decisive action. A strong singer.
[YOUNG HENRY] 8–12, male, Jewish. Henry as a child in Nazi Germany. Sensitive, curious, and frightened, yet resilient. Appears in flashbacks depicting persecution and escape. With emotional availability.
[TEEN HENRY] Mid-to-late teens, male, Jewish. Henry as an adolescent during the later stages of his family’s flight from Germany. Carries greater awareness and emotional weight than Young Henry. May be doubled with ensemble in some productions.
[HAUPTMANN] 30s–40s, male. A former neighbor turned Nazi official. Charismatic, menacing, and ideologically consumed. Represents the seductive brutality of fascism. A strong singer with commanding presence.
[MILLIE O’BRIEN] 20s–30s, female. A warm, personable American woman appearing in 1940s-era sequences. Often part of musical numbers reflecting the period. Strong singer with period style.
[RANDY BAKER] 20s–30s, male. An upbeat, all-American presence in the 1940s sequences, including USO-style numbers. Charismatic, energetic, and musically confident. Strong singer; tenor.
[ENSEMBLE] 18+, strong singers who dance well, to play a variety of ensemble roles.
Venue: Bell Theater at Bell Works
Playwright: Alfred Uhry
Director: Nate Patten
Rehearsals begin July 20, 2026
First Performance August 7, 2026
Closing Performance August 23, 2026
[DAISY WERTHAN] Late 60s–early 80s, female. A sharp-witted, fiercely independent Jewish widow living in Atlanta. Proud, opinionated, and often difficult, Daisy’s intellect and stubbornness mask deep vulnerability, fear of aging, and an aching need for dignity and control. With impeccable comic timing, emotional precision, and the ability to age subtly over the course of the play.
[HOKE COLEBURN] Late 50s–early 70s, male, Black. A warm, patient, and quietly dignified chauffeur with a dry sense of humor and deep emotional intelligence. Though initially deferential, Hoke possesses strong moral authority and a profound inner life, gradually asserting his self-worth and humanity. With tremendous subtlety, restraint, and emotional depth.
[BOOLIE WERTHAN] Early 40s–early 60s, male. Daisy’s son, a successful businessman balancing ambition, responsibility, and guilt. Practical, well-intentioned, and emotionally guarded, Boolie loves his mother but struggles to truly understand her. A supporting role that requires clarity, grounding, and an understated emotional arc.
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