Auditions

Arsenic and Old Lace

Six performances will run from January 16 - January 24, 2027.

ACCEPTANCE THROUGH AUDITION ONLY

In-person auditions scheduled as follows:

Sunday, October 18, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.
Callbacks: Monday, October 19, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.

LOCATION

All auditions will be at the Algonquin Arts Theatre, 60 Abe Voorhees, Manasquan, NJ.

AUDITION FORM

ACTORS MUST FILL OUT THIS AUDITION FORM PRIOR TO ATTENDING AN OPEN-CALL AUDITION:
Complete the Audition Form

Please submit the following via this form:

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Audition Sides

Audition Sides (PDF)

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION

Arsenic and Old Lace is a classic comedy. It's physical, it's farcical, and it's heartfelt. The director is looking for actors comfortable with transatlantic accents, strong physical performers, and hard workers. Stage combat experience would be helpful but is not required.

TECH WEEK

Tech Week will take place January 10-15, 2027. Attendance is mandatory for these rehearsals.

PERFORMANCE DATES

Saturday, January 16
Sunday, January 17
Friday, January 22
Saturday, January 23
Saturday, January 23
Sunday, January 24

ROLES AVAILABLE

The following roles are open to auditioners. Please note that the roles of Teddy, Mr. Witherspoon, and Lt. Rooney have already been cast.

ABBY BREWSTER (50-70)
A darling lady and the very model of Victorian charm and grace who, along with her sister, poisons elderly gentlemen as an act of charity. She and her sister Martha seem to be the absolute embodiment of the values and polite society of a bygone age. More dominant and a bit older than Martha, Abby is happy, healthy, lucid, and spry. She is the aunt of Teddy, Jonathan, and Mortimer.

MARTHA BREWSTER (50-70)
Very sweet, but more submissive than Abby, Martha is still a strong woman. She and her sister have lived together for many, many years, and their personalities and pecking order around each other have been firmly rooted for eons. Martha always wears a high collar. She is the aunt of Teddy, Jonathan, and Mortimer.

ELAINE HARPER (25-40)
An attractive young woman, daughter of Rev. Dr. Harper, and Mortimer's fiancée. She is surprisingly wise in the ways of the world for a minister's daughter. She is a little wily, sassy, and absolutely sharp. We witness Elaine progress from casual happiness, to utter bliss, to twisted confusion, to stark fear, to godsend relief, and back to casual happiness again.

MORTIMER BREWSTER (30-50)
Nephew of Abby and Martha and brother to Teddy and Jonathan Brewster. Very likable, Mortimer is a drama critic who is in love with and engaged to Elaine Harper. He is a good-hearted cynic who is about to have his world turned upside down. PHYSICAL ROLE.

JONATHAN BREWSTER (40-60)
Nephew of Abby and Martha Brewster and brother to Teddy and Mortimer. Jonathan is a psychopath who has numerous murders to his credit and no scruples whatsoever. He is creepy, loves his business, and has an unbelievably short temper. Dr. Einstein has changed Jonathan's face three times, currently resulting in a Boris Karloff resemblance, to which he is a bit sensitive. Some PHYSICAL work.

DR. EINSTEIN (45-55)
A German plastic surgeon, with an accent to prove it. Right hand to Jonathan, Dr. Einstein is mousy and submissive to him. Einstein should be viewed as a good guy whose life has gone bad, and the audience truly has to sympathize with him. With somewhat of a ratty appearance, his face wears the benevolent smirk of a man who lives in a pleasant haze of alcohol. LOOKING FOR A PETER LORRE VOICE.

THE REVEREND DR. HARPER (50-70)
We see Elaine Harper's father only in the opening scene. He is a doctor of divinity and the minister of the church next door to the Brewster house. The Brewster sisters have seen many ministers come and go over the years, but they seem to be particularly fond of Dr. Harper, and vice versa. The actor portraying Dr. Harper should display a sense of polish, refinement, and mild-mannered sensitivity toward others. He is not in favor of Mortimer and Elaine's relationship.

OFFICER BROPHY (25-45)
The first police officer we meet in the show, Brophy is a thoroughly likable sort of fellow. He is making his rounds collecting Christmas toys for the needy. Some PHYSICAL work.

OFFICER KLEIN (25-45)
A Brooklyn police officer who makes his rounds with Officer Brophy collecting Christmas toys.

OFFICER O'HARA (ANY AGE)
He is the quintessential example of an Irish-American police officer: full of life, good-natured, and played big. He is on very good terms with the aunts. O'Hara is a would-be playwright and needs to plainly display the nagging, persistent drive that is kindled within him once he discovers that Mortimer is a famous dramatic critic. Well-intentioned, O'Hara really doesn't mean to come across as annoying as he does.

MR. GIBBS (55-80)
An elderly gentleman who wishes to rent a room from the Brewster sisters and nearly falls victim to the sisters' "charity." He is a little gruff, but warms up fairly quickly upon being offered a treat he hasn't had since he was a child.

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