91����

"Perfect Arrangement"

By Topher Payne
Directed by Caitlin Kane

Audition Information

91����

It’s 1950, and new colors are being added to the Red Scare. Two U.S. State Department employees, Bob and Norma, have been tasked with identifying sexual deviants within their ranks. There’s just one problem: Both Bob and Norma are gay and have married each other’s partners as a carefully constructed cover. Inspired by the true story of the earliest stirrings of the American gay rights movement, madcap classic sitcom-style laughs give way to provocative drama as two 'All-American' couples are forced to stare down the closet door.

When: August 25 – 6:30-10 p.m. & August 26 – 6-10 p.m.

Where: Kent Center for the Performing Arts (CPA), D-205

Signing Up

Fill out and submit this by Monday, August 24 at 5 p.m.. Please be prepared to upload a headshot (required) and performance resume (if you have one) through this form. At the end of the form there will be a link to sign up for a four-minute time slot. 

What to Prepare

1. Auditions are open to all 91���� students.
2. For the initial audition, all fall shows will be holding combined auditions. 
3. For "Perfect Arrangement," prepare one 30-60 second monologue from the 20th or 21st century. 

Callbacks

When: August 27 – beginning at 6 p.m.

Where: Kent Center for the Performing Arts – Wright-Curtis Theatre

For callbacks, actors will be given excerpts from scenes of the play to prepare and perform with several scene partners. Sides do NOT need to be memorized, but we encourage you to be familiar enough with the material to make strong acting choices, be responsive to your acting partners and be prepared to take direction if/when offered. 

Once you have completed the form, a link at the end will navigate you to the sign-up page. Please be sure to have a headshot and resume (if you have them digitally) ready to upload. 

Auditions will be held in conjunction with auditions for the other fall production, "Bright Star." Directors and stage managers from all production teams will be present for your audition – you may audition for all productions (presenting a monologue and song) or choose to *only audition for the play or musical (presenting either a monologue or a song accordingly). *Please refer to the audition requirements for B.F.A. musical theatre students below. 

Casting Notes

From the Director: Actors are encouraged to audition for any role they feel comfortable portraying, regardless of gender identity, sexuality, race, ethnicity and/or disability. 

Content Notes: Homophobia, derogatory language and profanity.

Suggested Character Action Disclosures: 

Notes: 

1. All intimacy and stage combat will be choreographed. 

2. While the actions described here are included in the script, we are open to adjusting these actions to work within the actors’ boundaries, as long as the choreography still conveys the story of the scene as written. 

3. Additional moments of physical contact/choreographed physical intimacy may be added to the staging, if the director and actors agree that it supports the story. 

Rehearsals

General Rehearsal Start Date: Sunday, August 30th

We rehearse (generally) Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 6-10 p.m., and Sunday from 2-6 p.m.. There will be no rehearsals for Labor Day, Sept. 4-7, and Fall Break, Oct. 8-11. 

Tech/Dress Rehearsal Start Date: Friday, Oct. 16 

Tech Day: Saturday, Oct. 17

Performances

• Thursday, Oct. 22 – Sunday, Oct. 25
• Wednesday, Oct. 28 – Sunday, Nov. 1
• One student matinee performance Wednesday Oct. 28 at 10 a.m.
• Two matinee performances on Sunday, Oct. 25 & Nov. 1 at 2 p.m.
• All other show times are at 7:30 p.m.

Questions or Accessibility Needs

Please email the director Caitlin Kane (ckane18@kent.edu) and production stage manager Becca Rentfrow (rrentfro@kent.edu) with any questions or requests for accommodations. 

Roles

These are descriptions of the characters as identified in the script and in collaboration with the creative team. We will cast the play expansively and intentionally, using identity-conscious casting to attend to the impact of casting across race, gender and disability. We acknowledge the history of systemic exclusionary practices and are working to dismantle barriers to theatre-making and auditioning for all performers. Although the characters in this play are written on the binary, and it is implied that they are all white and able-bodied, we encourage actors of all genders, races, ethnicities, and disabilities to submit for the roles they most identify with. 

Character List

Bob Martindale, 30s-40s – A WWII veteran, reserved. A bit bookish, but a solid man's man. Good-humored and well-mannered. In a romantic partnership with Jim Baxter and a lavender marriage with Millie Martindale. Possible choreographed physical intimacy, partial nudity (removal of shirt) and simulated act of violence. 

Millie Martindale, late 20s-30s – Bob's wife (in a lavender marriage). Plays "the ditzy wife" when people are in the house, but is actually very quick-witted and observant. Smart enough to maintain the act. In a romantic partnership with Norma. Possible choreographed physical intimacy and partial nudity (wearing a robe). 

Norma Baxter, 30s – The knowing, efficient and classy dame. A secretary at the State Department who could just as easily be Secretary of State. A wise woman who's great with a wisecrack and level-headed in a bind. In a romantic partnership with Millie and a lavender marriage with Jim. Possible choreographed physical intimacy, partial nudity (wearing a robe) and simulated act of violence. 

Jim Baxter, 20s-30s – Norma's husband (in a lavender marriage). A prankster type, always ready with a comeback. A high school teacher with lots of energy. A little wired, good with a plan. In a romantic relationship with Bob. Possible choreographed physical intimacy, partial nudity (removal of shirt) and simulated act of violence. 

Theodore Sunderson, 40s-50s – The boss. Bombastic, loud and a bit overbearing. A patriotic windbag. 

Kitty Sunderson, 40s – Ted's wife. Legitimately ditzy. Her brain seems to work on a totally different wavelength than the rest of the world. Very sweet and very genuine. Just doesn't quite "get it." 

Barbara Grant, 40s – A formidable opponent. No-nonsense, beautiful, brilliant and a little scary. Millie’s former lover/former professor. Possible simulated act of violence. 

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS FOR B.F.A. MUSICAL THEATRE STUDENTS

“B.F.A. Musical Theatre candidates are required to audition for all theatre division main stage productions and accept roles if cast. Exemptions to the audition requirement may be granted under certain circumstances. Circumstances include but are not limited to: religious beliefs, moral objection, psychological triggers with the play, and physical concerns. In order to be exempted from the audition requirement, students must submit a written petition to the performance faculty prior to the beginning of the casting process for the production in question. The performance faculty will make a good faith effort to deliberate and come to a decision on the petition at the first performance area meeting after the receipt of the petition. At no point will a student be asked to disclose sensitive personal information.”

For information on all the B.F.A. Musical Theatre requirements, please go to the following. B.F.A. Musical Theatre