Our Town
By Thorton Wilder
Directed By: Lynn Polan
Performance Dates
- January 23, 24, 30, 31, February 6, 7 at 8:00 pm
- January 25 and February 1 at 3:00 pm
Description:
Our Town is the beloved American classic that recently wowed Broadway audiences! This funny, touching, and surprisingly modern play takes you into the heart of small-town life, where ordinary moments become unforgettable. With themes of love, family, and what truly matters, it’s a story that feels more relevant than ever. Winner of the 1938 Pulitzer Prize, Thornton Wilder’s timeless, classic American play, Our Town, is humorous, poignant, and profound. It examines the day to day life of tiny Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire at the turn of the 20th century. Guided through the play by the Stage Manager and performed with minimal props and sets, the play shows the simple daily lives of the Webb and Gibbs families as their children fall in love, marry, and eventually die. The play shines a light on our human journey, through our daily life, love, marriage, family, joy, & pain. It’s a play that appeals across generations, locales, and cultures.
“People have it in mind that Our Town is old. [But] Our Town is synonymous for our world, for our time.” — Vogue
Audition Dates and Process:
- Saturday October 11 at 12:00PM
- Monday October 13 at 7pm
- Callbacks (by request only): Wednesday October 15 at 7pm
Studio Players has a non-traditional, inclusive casting policy. All roles are open and everyone is encouraged to audition.
Those auditioning will be asked to read a scene from the play. See below.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
All characters can be any race or ethnicity.
Stage Manager (Male or Female, 40 +) The host, story teller, and narrator of the play. Straight-forward, benevolent, engaging & grounded. Has a good sense of humor. The Stage Manager cues the other characters, interrupting their scenes with information and opinions. (S)he occasionally assumes other roles, such as an old woman, a druggist, and a minister. (S)he interacts with both the audience and the play’s characters.
George Gibbs (Male, 20’s) George is 16 years old in Act 1 and ages through the play to late 20’s or early 30’s. Dr. and Mrs. Gibbs’s son & Rebecca’s older brother. A naive, earnest all-American boy. A high school baseball star pitcher. He is eager, energetic, upstanding and well-meaning. In love with Emily.
Emily Webb (Female, 20’s) Emily is 16 years old in Act I and ages through the play to late 20’s or early 30’s. She is the Webb’s daughter and Wally’s older sister. Emily is George’s schoolmate and next-door neighbor. She is lively, honest, intelligent, curious, articulate & a conscientious daughter. Despite her anxious nature, she falls in love with George Gibbs.
Dr. Gibbs (Male, 40’s-50’s) George’s father and the town doctor. Hardworking & warm, he’s a family man and a romantic, as well a Civil War expert. He and his family are neighbors to the Webbs.
Mrs. Julia Hersey Gibbs (Female, 40’s-50’s) George’s mother and Dr. Gibbs’s wife. She is loving, pleasant, practical and down to earth, yet has always dreamed of visiting Paris. She finds joy in her marriage and hopes her son finds the same.
Mr. Webb (Male, 40’s-50’s) Emily’s father and the publisher and editor of the Grover’s Corners Sentinel. By the-book, an intellectual rather than emotional man, but still warm & has a good sense of humor.
Mrs. Webb (Female, 40’s-50’s) Emily’s mother and Mr. Webb’s wife. A maternal, serious, energetic woman who works hard caring for her family. Good-hearted, but no-nonsense.
Mrs. Soames (Female, 40 +) A chatty, sentimental, gossipy woman who sings in the choir along with Mrs. Webb and Mrs. Gibbs. The town busybody.
Simon Stimson (Male, 30’s-40’s) The local church choirmaster, whose alcoholism and undisclosed “troubles” have been the subject of gossip in Grover’s Corners for quite some time. He is a tortured soul. (***Ability to play piano is a plus***)
Rebecca Gibbs (Female, around 11 years old) George’s younger sister. Lively and smart as a whip. Excitable contrarian.
Wally Webb (Male, around 11 years old) Emily’s younger brother. Eager and energetic. A lovable boy scout.
Howie Newsome (Male, 40’s-60’s) Grover’s Corners milkman. Simple, friendly, hard working. Has a good-natured small-town sensibility. Delivers news as well as milk. May sing in choir.
Joe Crowell, Jr. (Male, around 11 years old) Gover’s Corners’ paperboy. Curious, polite, smart, respectful young boy. May double with Si Crowell.
Si Crowell (Male, around 11 years old) Joe’s younger brother, also a paperboy. Si assumes his brother’s former job as the years pass. He is eager to prove his ability. Also curious, polite, smart, respectful, like his brother. May double with Joe Crowell.
Professor Willard (Male or Female, 40 +) A professor at the State University & rural expert in local history. Knowledgeable and warm, s/he is gregarious yet serious about their work and loves their analyses. A bit of a know-it-all, but in the nicest way. May sing in choir.
Constable Warren (Male, 40 +) Longtime Grover’s Corners policeman. Helpful, protective and caring. He keeps a watchful eye over the community and the very small level of crime. He knows everything there is to know about the town’s citizens. May sing in the choir.
Sam Craig (Male or Female, 20’s-30’s) Emily Webb’s cousin, who has left Grover’s Corners and now lives in Buffalo. Returns to mourn Emily. Though originally from the town, Sam has the air of an outsider. Curious and rather matter-of-fact. May sing in the choir.
Joe Stoddard (Male, 40’s-50’s) Govers Corners’ undertaker. Gentle & not unsympathetic, but still rather business-like. May sing in the choir.
Female Townspeople Ensemble. Seeking 2-3 actors: (Female, 30’s-60’s) Including: WOMAN IN THE BALCONY / LADY IN THE BOX / WOMAN AMONG THE DEAD / WOMAN IN THE AUDIENCE. ALL WILL BE CHOIR MEMBERS.
Male Townspeople Ensemble. Seeking 2-3 actors: (Male, 30’s-60’s) Including: MAN IN THE AUDITORIUM / THREE BASEBALL PLAYERS / MR. CARTER / FARMER McCARTHY / A MAN AMONG THE DEAD. ALL WILL BE CHOIR MEMBERS.