Upcoming Auditions

Fat Shirley’s: A Trailer Park Opera

by Tom J. Brown & david B. crawford

Directed by josh ruben

Auditions will be in June: Monday the 17th (7:00P-9:00P) and Tuesday the 18th (7:00P-9:00P), with possible call backs on Thursday, June 20th.

Performances August 23, 24, 25, 29, 30, 31
 
Fat Shirley’s is an original two-act musical comedy written by local legends Tom J. Brown and David B. Crawford and opens our 2019 season celebrating 150 years of theater in Dalton. It follows the lives of the trailer park’s residents following the untimely demise of their beloved landlady, Fat Shirley.

Last performed on the Dalton Little Theatre stage in 2015 to sold out audiences every night, the show has gone on to perform throughout the Southeast as well as in the United Kingdom, including the Redgrave in Bristol, the Bristol Folk House, and at the Bath Theatre Festival.
Performers are asked to prepare a short section of a favorite “old school” country, gospel or bluegrass song (Think anything that was performed on the “Grand Ole’ Opry” or “Hee Haw”).  Singers may perform with a track on a flash drive, acapella, or own instrument.
 
Bluegrass musicians are invited to audition to be part of the live band and possibly perform some roles. 
 
FAT SHIRLEY’S: A TRAILER PARK OPERA
Character Breakdown
 
Helpful info.: 

  • Most roles are for adults 18 to ancient (the Bulware “twins” can be played by middle-school age kids).

  • Some roles can be consolidated and lines cut or combined.

  • Musicians can play characters and sing if needed

  • All characters sing (except Shirley).

  • Dance skill will be considered but is not required of any particular role. Strong dancers will be featured.

 FAT SHIRLEY: Voice only, she's too large to get out of her 
trailer. Various celebrities (male or female) will be recruited. No memorization or singing necessary. Shirley is only heard in the opening minutes of the show.
 
LAFAYETTE BROYHILL JACKSON: One of the Jackson brothers, a classic ne'er-do-well, good for very little, good old boy. Inclined towards wagering, the imbibing of fermented beverages, habitual loafing, and the siring of illegitimate offspring.
 
MARVA JACKSON: Sharp tongued, fed-up wife of the above good old boy. She is ready for a change.
 
BREEZEWAY JACKSON: The oldest of the Jackson brothers. The epitome of a dissipated life, the quintessential reprobate.
Can be eliminated and lines delivered by Ray Conn.
 
CRANDALL FUTON JACKSON: The previously married (nine times) third Jackson brother. Good natured, inclined towards sloth and minor vices, but not quite the dissipated life of his older brothers. 
 
CAMARO MACON JACKSON: Older teen/young adult. The youngest never-been-married Jackson brother. He holds down a steady job and on a superficial level appears to be somewhat upstanding when compared to his brothers. In love with Angel Louvin.
 
DELMORE SHIFFLET: The somewhat demented maternal grandfather of the JACKSON brothers. He is shuffled around between relatives since he was kicked out of the "home" for repeatedly making unwelcome advances of a lewd and lascivious nature toward female staff members and residents. Can be in a wheelchair and/or pushing around an IV pole. Although married to a much younger woman, her whereabouts cannot be established.
 
RAY CONN: Not overly intelligent husband and first cousin of Connie Ray Conn, slight inbred look.
 
CONNIE RAY CONN: Vivacious wife and first cousin of Ray Conn.
 
LAMAR or LAMARA BULWARE: A somewhat eccentric recluse and part time preacher, characterized by that fried brain look, carries scripture. Easily changed to female character.
 
INEZ BULWARE: Gossipy and flirtatious wife of Lamar (but not his cousin) OR Sister to Lamara. She always seems to be making eyes at some other fellow in the trailer park.
 
TERRANCE BULWARE: Teen or younger. Pogo savant son of Inez. Prone to picking his nose. Character can be merged with Durkey Anne below.
 
DURKEY ANNE BULWARE: Teen or younger. Child of Inez. If played by a boy, the Anne is dropped from the dialogue. 
 
ANGEL LOUVAIN: Innocent somewhat naive teen/young adult waitress at the Hungry Fisherman, Camaro’s betrothed. Sweet and idealistic.
 
FAT SHIRLEY’S BROTHER, JOHN EARL TEMPLE: Conceited arrogant “countrified gentleman,” who considers himself the moral and cultural superior of the trailer park residents. 
 
APPRAISER: Government employee, all business. Appears at the end of the show (can also play Shirley, if needed).

The Lion in Winter

by James Goldman

Directed by Melissa Adams

Presented by special arrangement with

Samuel French, INC.

Auditions will be in June: Monday the 24th (7:00P-9:00P) and Tuesday the 25th (7:00P-9:00P).

PLEASE NOTE: This production will be DLT’s 2019 submission to the Georgia Theatre Conference (GTC.) As such, its cast will be traveling to compete at GTC in Americus, GA, during the week of October 19th.

Rehearsals times TBD.

Production Dates: One competition performance during the week of October 19th and four performances at DLT on November 1st (Fri), 2nd (Sat), and 3rd (Sun.)

Audition Instructions:
Auditions will be readings from the script. No prior experience required. Roles for men and women of various ages. Please come during the audition times, fill out a brief form with your information and the director will then give you details on how their auditions will run. Arrive early to give yourself and the director plenty of time for your audition. 

Description: Sibling rivalry, adultery, and dungeons – The Lion in Winter, by James Goldman, is a modern-day classic. Comedic in tone, dramatic in action – the play tells the story of the Plantagenet family, who are locked in a free-for-all of competing ambitions to inherit a kingdom. The queen, and wealthiest woman in the world, Eleanor of Aquitaine, has been kept in prison since raising an army against her husband, King Henry II. Let out only for holidays, the play centers around the inner conflicts of the royal family as they fight over both a kingdom and King Henry’s paramour during the Christmas of 1183. As Eleanor says, “Every family has its ups and downs,” and this royal family is no exception. (samuelfrench.com)

Setting: Christmas, 1183. Henry's Castle at Chinon, France.

Cast Details:

Henry II - King of England, a patriarch. (casting ages early 30’s and up)

Eleanor - Queen of England, Henry’s wife. (casting ages early 30’s and up)

Alais - A French princess, Henry’s love interest. (casting ages 40 and younger)

John - Henry and Eleanor’s youngest son. (casting ages 40 and younger)

Geoffrey - Henry and Eleanor’s middle son: clever. (casting ages 40 and younger)

Richard the Lion Heart - Henry and Eleanor’s oldest son. (casting ages 40 and younger)

Phillip II - King of France. (casting ages 40 and younger)

NOTE: The director intends on double casting this production. Though only one cast will compete at GTC, both casts will perform twice, in Dalton.