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Plays-in-Development 2022

Auditions will consist of readings from the scripts. No experience necessary. No memorization required. Directors will be announced at a later date. 

Living

By G.M. (Bud) Thompson (of Grand Rapids, MI)

Directed by MJ Dulmage

​A mother and son struggle to adapt to the new life they unexpectedly find themselves in. Try as they might to make the best of it, painful memories and frustration complicate their efforts to get on with living. 

• ​Dan Todde - late teens/early 20s, son of Jackie
  
• Jackie Todde - 40s, mother of Dan
• Ted Riddling - 30-40s, husband and father
• Michele Riddling - 12ish, daughter
• Maggie Riddling - 30-40s, wife and mother
• Rev. Valerie Simmons - 30-40s, mother of Michele's friend
• Nick Forskare - 40s or up, paranormal investigator
• Allison Moyen - 40s or up, psychic medium

The Challenge

By Meaghan Bryant (of North Adams, MI)

Directed by Mari Nuñez

All families face challenges. But the Matthews family is facing their biggest challenge yet. Will they rise to the occasion and succeed? Will they fail? Will they kill each other before they reach the finish line? Mom, Amy, is eager to find out.

• Amy Matthews, mother
• Bill Matthews, father
  
• Tyler Matthews, teenage son
  
• Hailey Matthews, pre-teen or teenage daughter
  
• Shirley Matthews, grandmother
  

​A Shore of Abundance

By Pearl Moore (of Cana, Virginia)

Directed by Sarah Gray

​​A Shore of Abundance is about a young seventeen-year-old girl named Eleanor who creates a world in which she is the captain of her own pirate ship in order to escape from her life, in which she has no control or power. In the real world, she wants to search for her biological father after finding out that the father who raised Eleanor her whole life isn't her real father. On top of this, she is pressured to start figuring out what she should do for her future. With it all being too much for her mind she escapes into her pirate world where she goes on a journey to find her pirate father who has been taken by a sea witch. It is up to Eleanor to find items of three in order to trade the items for her pirate father's safe return. This is a play with an epic hero story with sword fights, a sea shanty, and a mermaid rap battle that will have audiences hoping that the adventure never ends.

• Eleanor Brooks/Captain Brooks- A young creative seventeen-year-old girl who is desperate to escape her real world. When she’s Captain Brooks she’s confident, determined, but is reckless in getting what she wants.
  
• Sarah- Eleanor’s best friend since childhood. Sarah loves her friend and would do anything for her. She is very real in both worlds.
  
• JJ/Princess Juniper- He is Eleanor’s older brother who thinks he knows what’s best for Eleanor. When he is Princess Juniper, he is a runaway princess who wants to play his music and keep things fun on the shore for Captain Brooks.
  
• Caroline/Sea Witch/Guard- Caroline is Eleanor’s mother who constantly gets into arguments with Eleanor, but she has a deep heart that cares for her daughter. Eleanor has specifically cast her mother as the villain of her other world.
  
• Alistair/Arctic/King Aldrich/Pirate Father- Alistair is not Eleanor’s biological father but is the one who raised her. Alistair has made many mistakes with his parenting skills, but he is trying his best.

Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella

Auditions are open to anyone age 16 and older. Those planning to audition should prepare 16 bars of a song from any other Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. Bring sheet music. An accompanist will be provided. There are roles for 4 men, 5 women and an ensemble. Trinity Bird will direct this production with musical direction by Kristi Gautsche.

About the Play
Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella is the new Broadway adaptation of the classic musical. This contemporary take on the classic tale features Rodgers & Hammerstein's most beloved songs, including “In My Own Little Corner,” “Impossible/It's Possible” and “Ten Minutes Ago,” alongside an up-to-date, hilarious and romantic libretto by Tony Award nominee Douglas Carter Beane.

Available Roles
ELLA: (Soprano B3 - Eb5)
Though no one notices her beneath her rags and quiet demeanor, she is opinionated, charismatic, passionate, beautiful and funny. Idealistic and hopeful, she courageously challenges the prince to change the policies of his kingdom - and helps him discover who he truly is. Always her late father’s daughter, she is determined to see the good in everyone despite her hardships and suffering. We see her blossom into a confident woman. 

TOPHER: (Baritone C#3 - A4)
A misguided and lost prince who longs to do something important with his life. Though brave and heroic, he feels lonely and unfulfilled. Charming but NOT a stereotypical ladies man, he is thoughtful, appealing and innocent - with an unforced goofy streak. Moral, genuine and kindhearted, he is at a crossroads and must take control of his kingdom and his future. 

JEAN-MICHEL: (Baritone C3-G4)
A feisty, passionate peasant determined to make a change for the starving class. Impetuous. A firebrand, but lacks authority and isn’t taken seriously as a revolutionary. He has a crush on Gabrielle, though her courtship is forbidden because they are from different social classes. 

GABRIELLE: (Soprano C4-G5)
Ella’s stepsister and daughter of Madame. Encouraged by her mother and sister to value material wealth and social status, she unenthusiastically joins them in their abrasive behavior. Quietly passionate, empathetic, and witty, she is drawn to Ella and Jean-Michel. Ironically aware that she doesn’t fit in. 

CHARLOTTE: (Mezzo-Soprano B3-F5)
Ella’s stepsister and daughter of Madame. Brash, self centered, materialistic, snooty, loud, sassy and bratty, she has a ridiculously high, but unfounded opinion of herself. She never passes up an opportunity to be the center of attention. 

MARIE: (Soprano A3 - Ab5)
A friend to Ella and the town’s resident crazy lady and beggar woman, Marie is actually a fairy godmother in disguise. Wise, warm, otherworldly, and charming. Marie rewards Ella for her kindness by making her dreams a possibility. 

MADAME: (Mezzo-Soprano C4-D5 - Character Voice)
Ella's selfish stepmother. The epitome of vanity and fashion. A ravenous social climber who values wealth, status and material possessions above all else. Unapologetically dismissive and sometimes cruel, Madame schemes her way up the social ladder. 

SEBASTIAN: (Baritone C3 - F4)
The kingdom’s Lord Chancellor. Though he is Topher’s trusted advisor, he is devious and selfish. Using propaganda and dishonesty, he keeps Topher isolated and in the dark about his kingdom. Sebastian rules without regard for the lower class, or anyone other than himself - and truly believes he deserves to rule the kingdom. 

LORD PINKLETON: (Tenor D3 - A4)
The Lord Chancellor’s right hand man. Announces royal balls, banquets and even the weather to the villagers. 

Ensemble:
Footman, Coachman, Knights, Peasants, Serfs, Townspeople, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Court, Giant, Puppets, Servants, etc.

Desert Song

Audition requirements will be announced at a later date. This production will have a non-traditional rehearsal period. There are roles for 1 man and 1 woman. Trinity Bird will direct this production. Michele Harmon is stage manager.

About the Play

​Desert Song is about a young, struggling musician who seeks out the reclusive muse for one of the most famous love songs ever written, an early seventies tune called “The Ballad of Eliza.” It’s a song that he has loved all his life. This muse, a woman now in her sixties, has long retreated from public view, and lives as a simple maid. Set in the sparse lodgings at Ghost Ranch, a remote retreat in Northern New Mexico, the play explores the elusive and magical nature of inspiration. This play was workshopped during The Sauk’s 2021 Plays-in-Development. A world premiere. This play contains strong language and a moment of self harm including blood. 

Available Roles

• ​The Musician, male, late 20s.
  
• The Maid, female, late 60s. 
  

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Steel Magnolias

Audition requirements will be announced at a later date. There are roles for six women. Ron Boyle will direct this production. 

About the Play

​The action is set in Truvy’s beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies who are “anybody” come to have their hair done. Helped by her eager new assistant, Annelle (who is not sure whether or not she is still married), the outspoken, wise-cracking Truvy dispenses shampoos and free advice to the town’s rich curmudgeon, Ouiser, ("I’m not crazy, I’ve just been in a bad mood for forty years"); an eccentric millionaire, Miss Clairee, who has a raging sweet tooth; and the local social leader, M’Lynn, whose daughter, Shelby (the prettiest girl in town), is about to marry a “good ole boy.” Filled with hilarious repartee and not a few acerbic but humorously revealing verbal collisions, the play moves toward tragedy when, in the second act, the spunky Shelby (who is a diabetic) risks pregnancy and forfeits her life. The sudden realization of their mortality affects the others, but also draws on the underlying strength—and love—which give the play, and its characters, the special quality to make them truly touching, funny and marvelously amiable company in good times and bad.

Available Roles

• Truvy Jones - 40ish. Owner of the beauty shop.
  
• Annelle Dupuy-Desoto - 19. Beauty shop assistant. 
• Clairee Belcher - 66ish. Widow of former mayor. Grande dame. 
• Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie - 25. Prettiest girl in town. 
• M'Lynn Eatenton - 50ish. Shelby's mother. Socially prominent career woman. 
• Ouiser Boudreaux - 66ish. Wealthy curmudgeon. Acerbic but loveable. 

The Nutcracker

Audition requirements will be announced at a later date. There are roles for 10 males and 12 females (children and adults). Mari Nuñez will direct this production. 

About the Play
The legend of the wonderful Nutcracker is now available in this captivating play. At a gala Christmas Eve party, Clara's godfather presents her with an amazing Nutcracker in the form of a wooden soldier. Too excited to sleep, she suddenly finds the Nutcracker brought to life. He tells her he is a prince under the wicked enchantment of the Mouse King, and she joins him in a series of adventures in strange lands as he seeks to regain his throne. When she wakes, she finds the Nutcracker gone. Was it a dream or not? Then her godfather returns with his nephew—who just happens to look exactly like the prince! This charming play is enhanced with dances to the music of Tchaikovsky.

Available Roles

• Clara
• Frank/Krakatuk
• Aunt Harriet/Snow Queen
  
• Mickey/Mouse King
  
• Father
  
• Mother/Sugar Plum Fairy
  
• Godfather Dross
• The Nutcracker
• Four Mice
• Two Snowflakes
• Irmagarde - a Candy Cane
• Hildegarde - a Candy Cane
• Coffee
• Tea
• Daisy
• Rose
• BonBon
• Prince/Ned
• Ensemble who play toy soldiers, mice, snowflakes and flowers. ​