Private Lives at Kentwood Players at Westchester Playhouse

Kentwood Players will hold open auditions for PRIVATE LIVES, a comedy by Noel Coward on Saturday, November 11 from 10:00am to 1:00pm, and Sunday, November 12 from 7:00pm to 10:00pm at the Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90045. Callbacks will take place by invitation only on Monday, November 13 beginning at 7:00pm. This is a non-equity, all-volunteer production directed by Richard Perloff and produced by Gail Bernardi and Rhonda Yeager-Hutchinson for Kentwood Players with rights secured from Concord Theatricals.

Performance dates are Friday, January 19 through Saturday, February 10, 2024 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm, and Sundays at 2:00pm. Saturday matinees at 2:00pm will be added on January 27 and continue through the rest of the run. Auditions and performances take place at the Westchester Playhouse, located at 8301 Hindry Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90045.

PRIVATE LIVES is a uniquely humorous comedy of manners about Amanda and Elyot, a divorced couple who, while honeymooning with their new spouses, discover that they are staying in adjacent rooms at the same hotel. Despite a perpetually stormy relationship, they realize that they still have feelings for each other. It soon becomes clear they cannot live with each other, but also cannot live without each other in this fast-paced, witty, delightful, and passionate Noel Coward comedic romp. 

All roles are open and available to anyone regardless of race, ethnicity, or gender. No appointments are necessary to audition; just arrive to allow time to sign-in and complete paperwork during scheduled audition times. Please bring a current headshot and resume as well as your calendar as a rehearsal schedule will be posted and you will be asked to note any conflicts. For more information, please send an email to PrivateLives@kentwoodplayers.org.

For preliminary auditions, the director requests a 1-2 minute contemporary comedic monologue (not necessarily from the time period of this play). At least part of your monologue should be performed in the dialect appropriate to the character(s) for which you are reading. Callbacks will consist of readings from the script. Please respect the stated age ranges. Elyot and Amanda will be cast as contemporaries; Sibyl is younger, and Victor is older. There is much more flexibility in Louise’s age. All roles require dialect, so be prepared to demonstrate your proficiency during your preliminary audition.

Cast Breakdown

Elyot Chase (30-35): Formerly married to Amanda. Handsome, elegant, and witty. A creature of extreme privilege; to the manner born. Hopelessly attracted to Amanda, but ready to engage her in argument/debate at the drop of a hat. British dialect required.

Amanda Prynne (30-35): Formerly married to Elyot. Beautiful, elegant, and witty. A creature of extreme privilege; to the manner born. Hopelessly attracted to Elyot, but ready to engage him in argument/debate at the drop of a hat. British Dialect required.

Sibyl Chase (23-28): Elyot’s second wife. Overly concerned with how she compares with Amanda. Smitten with Elyot, and a bit insecure about his affections towards her. British dialect required.

Victor Prynne (35-40): Amanda’s second husband. Bluff and hearty; a self-made man. Smitten with Amanda, and a bit insecure about her affections towards him. British dialect (working class) required.

Louise (25-50): Elyot and Amanda’s housekeeper at the flat in Paris. All of her dialogue is in French. A bit sour and cynical. French dialect required.

Those auditioning can take the Metro K Line to Kentwood to the Westchester/Veterans stop, just a short one block walk from the Westchester Playhouse. Those who drive, please note the small lot next to the Westchester Playhouse is reserved for disabled patrons only. Free street parking is available on 83rd Street and in the adjoining neighborhood. Do not park on our block of Hindry or in the RYDER parking spaces (on 83rd across Hindry from the theater) as cars parked there will be towed away. Please read all traffic and parking signs carefully.

For more information about Kentwood Players including our current production, upcoming auditions and shows, please visit the Kentwood Players website at www.kentwoodplayers.org. You can also find Kentwood Players information on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (X), TikTok and YouTube.

Another way to learn more about Kentwood Players and our members is to attend in-person Kentwood Players membership meetings, which are free to the public and usually held on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:30 pm at the Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Ave., Los Angeles 90045. Upcoming meetings will take place on Wednesday, October 18 and November 15. Come on down and find out more about our almost 74 years old and going strong community theater group and how you can get involved as one of our volunteers! 

Kentwood Players is a non-profit theatre group dedicated to enriching, educating, and entertaining our community through the transformative power of live theatre while creating an environment for inspiring human potential. As a 501C3 organization, donations to Kentwood Players in any amount are always greatly appreciated and are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.