Fair Lawn, NJ 07410
Old Library Theatre, Fair Lawn Recreation Department’s resident theater company, will hold auditions for John Guare’s Drama Critics Circle and Obie Award-winning play The House of Blue Leaves on Sunday, October 2 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. and Monday, October 3 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Auditions will be held at the Fair Lawn Community Center, at 10-10 20th Street, Fair Lawn, NJ, in the Teen Room, located in the lower level. The production will be directed by Bob Russell and produced by Craig Tiede and run for three performances: December 9, 10 & 11.
ABOUT THE SHOW
The lives of a Queens, New York, family get turned upside down as Pope Paul VI visits New York City. Artie Shaughnessy, a zookeeper/failed singer-songwriter, longs to find fame in Hollywood with his girlfriend, Bunny. Artie’s mentally ill wife, Bananas, with whom he lives, imagines herself to be animals. Artie has found an
institution for her–with trees with blue leaves–and will take her there before moving to California with Bunny, hopefully to find fame, fortune, and favor from his best friend, Billy, a Hollywood director. Artie and Bananas’ son, Ronnie, is illegally home from the Army attempting to assassinate the Pope, and soon, the family’s evening is disrupted by three nuns and Billy’s deaf actress-girlfriend. Chaos erupts when characters’ lives intersect as they all try to be in the presence of the Pope on this historic day.
AVAILABLE ROLES
We are seeking a total cast of 11, ages 18+. All roles are available. If a specific gender identity, age, race, or ethnicity is required/indicated by the script, it has been noted below.
ARTIE SHAUGHNESSY (male, 40-60 years old) - The story’s protagonist. His life is at a turning point and he is frustrated on a number of levels. His marriage is empty; his girlfriend is selfish and controlling; he works as a zoo keeper, but is really a frustrated songwriter. Actor with piano-playing skills preferred, but not required.
RONNIE SHAUGHNESSY (male 18-21 years old) - Artie’s teenage son. He’s in the army, but has gone absent without leave to return home; also suffers from severe mental problems.
BUNNY FLINGUS (female, 35-45 years old) - Artie’s girlfriend and downstairs neighbor, who plans on marrying Artie and moving to California with him. She tries to control Artie’s life and takes every opportunity to express her jealousy of Bananas. She is a woman of enormous power and rage, and is the comic engine of the play. That said, she must be a three dimensional human being and not cartoony.
BANANAS SHAUGHNESSY (female, 40-60 years old) - Artie’s wife. Has been suffering from mental illness for a long time. Although ill, she provides lucid and insightful comments at certain moments of the action. Calls for a performer able to play instant drastic mood changes ranging from stark alarming reality to farce.
CORRINNA STROLLER (female, 20-25 years old) - Billy’s girlfriend, a famous actress. Partially deaf from an accident that happened on the set of a movie, she has not worked since then. She is a very kind person.
BILLY EINHORN (male, 40-50 years old) - Artie’s childhood best friend and famous Hollywood movie director. Corrinna’s boyfriend.
HEAD NUN (female, 40-60 years old)
SECOND NUN (female, 30-40 years old)
LITTLE NUN (female, 18-25 years old)
MILITARY POLICE (any gender, 21+)
WAITER/A MAN IN WHITE (male, 21+)
ABOUT AUDITIONS
Auditions for The House of Blue Leaves will be held:
● Sunday, October 2, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
● Monday, October 3, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Pre-registration, via the links above, is encouraged, but not required. Those who pre-register for an audition date will be seen before those who walk in. Sides will be given to actors at the audition. If you have a headshot and resume, please bring a copy of each with you. If you do not have a headshot, we may ask to take a photo of you at the audition.
This show has a place for performers with a wide range of theatrical skills and experiences. If you’re even considering auditioning, we want to see you there!
Old Library Theatre, Fair Lawn Recreation Department’s resident theater company, will hold auditions for John Guare’s Drama Critics Circle and Obie Award-winning play The House of Blue Leaves on Sunday, October 2 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. and Monday, October 3 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Auditions will be held at the Fair Lawn Community Center, at 10-10 20th Street, Fair Lawn, NJ, in the Teen Room, located in the lower level. The production will be directed by Bob Russell and produced by Craig Tiede and run for three performances: December 9, 10 & 11.
ABOUT THE SHOW
The lives of a Queens, New York, family get turned upside down as Pope Paul VI visits New York City. Artie Shaughnessy, a zookeeper/failed singer-songwriter, longs to find fame in Hollywood with his girlfriend, Bunny. Artie’s mentally ill wife, Bananas, with whom he lives, imagines herself to be animals. Artie has found an
institution for her–with trees with blue leaves–and will take her there before moving to California with Bunny, hopefully to find fame, fortune, and favor from his best friend, Billy, a Hollywood director. Artie and Bananas’ son, Ronnie, is illegally home from the Army attempting to assassinate the Pope, and soon, the family’s evening is disrupted by three nuns and Billy’s deaf actress-girlfriend. Chaos erupts when characters’ lives intersect as they all try to be in the presence of the Pope on this historic day.
AVAILABLE ROLES
We are seeking a total cast of 11, ages 18+. All roles are available. If a specific gender identity, age, race, or ethnicity is required/indicated by the script, it has been noted below.
ARTIE SHAUGHNESSY (male, 40-60 years old) - The story’s protagonist. His life is at a turning point and he is frustrated on a number of levels. His marriage is empty; his girlfriend is selfish and controlling; he works as a zoo keeper, but is really a frustrated songwriter. Actor with piano-playing skills preferred, but not required.
RONNIE SHAUGHNESSY (male 18-21 years old) - Artie’s teenage son. He’s in the army, but has gone absent without leave to return home; also suffers from severe mental problems.
BUNNY FLINGUS (female, 35-45 years old) - Artie’s girlfriend and downstairs neighbor, who plans on marrying Artie and moving to California with him. She tries to control Artie’s life and takes every opportunity to express her jealousy of Bananas. She is a woman of enormous power and rage, and is the comic engine of the play. That said, she must be a three dimensional human being and not cartoony.
BANANAS SHAUGHNESSY (female, 40-60 years old) - Artie’s wife. Has been suffering from mental illness for a long time. Although ill, she provides lucid and insightful comments at certain moments of the action. Calls for a performer able to play instant drastic mood changes ranging from stark alarming reality to farce.
CORRINNA STROLLER (female, 20-25 years old) - Billy’s girlfriend, a famous actress. Partially deaf from an accident that happened on the set of a movie, she has not worked since then. She is a very kind person.
BILLY EINHORN (male, 40-50 years old) - Artie’s childhood best friend and famous Hollywood movie director. Corrinna’s boyfriend.
HEAD NUN (female, 40-60 years old)
SECOND NUN (female, 30-40 years old)
LITTLE NUN (female, 18-25 years old)
MILITARY POLICE (any gender, 21+)
WAITER/A MAN IN WHITE (male, 21+)
ABOUT AUDITIONS
Auditions for The House of Blue Leaves will be held:
● Sunday, October 2, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
● Monday, October 3, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Pre-registration, via the links above, is encouraged, but not required. Those who pre-register for an audition date will be seen before those who walk in. Sides will be given to actors at the audition. If you have a headshot and resume, please bring a copy of each with you. If you do not have a headshot, we may ask to take a photo of you at the audition.
This show has a place for performers with a wide range of theatrical skills and experiences. If you’re even considering auditioning, we want to see you there!