Audition Information

Auditions are

Tuesday, July 21 @ 7pm

Thursday, July 23 @ 7pm

I Bet Your Life by Fred Carmichael

Part clever mystery and part fast-paced farce, this hilarious comedy follows a struggling author whose high-stakes wager turns a New England living room into a revolving door of suspicious characters and frantic misunderstandings. We are seeking a vibrant ensemble of character actors to bring this chaotic puzzle to life, from fast-talking leads to a colorful parade of eccentric scene-stealers. Roles of all sizes are available, including several fantastic, punchy roles that are perfect for busy actors with limited schedules or talent looking for a fun speaking role without the pressure of heavy memorization. Come join a tight-knit comedic cast where every character gets a moment to shine!

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS:

STACY KINGSLEY  [Lead]  F · Late 20s–30s

Greg’s quick-witted, capable secretary. Vivacious and sharp, she serves as the grounding, resourceful anchor amid the evening’s escalating chaos. She is close to both men, effortlessly balancing Greg’s neuroses with Matt’s charm.

GREGORY LARSON  [Lead]  M · 30s–40s

A sharp talent agent with a pronounced timid streak that constantly battles his sense of humor. He loathes the country, arrives under protest, and becomes the increasingly desperate, paranoid target of the evening’s deadly wager.

MATTHEW STODDARD  [Lead]  M · 30s–40s

A successful, devil-may-care soap opera writer and Greg's best friend. Charming, witty, and deeply confident, he is the mastermind behind the weekend’s high-stakes wager to prove his script's plausibility.

LAURA PUDNEY  [Supporting]  F · Any

The blunt, no-nonsense local cook hired for the weekend. Delivering deadpan commentary alongside cold supper, her regional speech and unbothered attitude provide a hilarious contrast to the high-strung city characters.

GERTA  [Supporting]  F · Any

An intensely earnest, eccentric author who bursts through the windows clutching a massive, handwritten manuscript. Dressed in bohemian attire, she speaks with fierce theatricality and refuses to leave until her "genius" is recognized.

BURTON FINLEY  [Supporting]  M · 30s–40s

A cheerful, unassuming plumber in white overalls who wanders through the front door carrying a toolbox. He is entirely unphased by the strange gathering and happily joins the party.

HENRIETTA SQUIRES  [Supporting]  F · Any

A warmly folksy, neighborly woman who claims to live down the road. She projects a quaint, picture-perfect "homespun country neighbor" vibe—perhaps a bit too perfectly.

IRA WATSON  [Supporting]  M · 50+

An affable, undemanding man who also claims to be a new neighbor invited to stop by. His sudden arrival alongside Henrietta raises immediate comedic suspicions.

LILA LANGFORTH  [Supporting]  F · 30s–40s

A glamorous, vain television personality who claims her car ran out of gas. Highly conscious of her public profile, she expects to be recognized and is openly disdainful of anything beneath her station. 

Auditions are:

Sunday, September 13 @ 7pm

Monday, September 14 @ 7pm

Callbacks will be held

Wednesday, September 16 @ 7pm

Check back for details

Auditons will be:

Sunday, November 8 @ 7pm

Tuesday, November 10 @ 7pm

Callbacks will be held

Wednesday, November 11 @ 7pm

Auditions will be

Sunday, January 17 @ 7pm

Tuesday, January 19 @ 7pm

Callbacks will be held:

Thursday, January 21 @ 7pm

Check back for details

Auditions will be:

Sunday, March 7 @ 7pm

Monday, March 8 @ 7pm

Callbacks will be held:

Wednesday, March 10 @ 7pm

Check back for details

Director Robin Werkema invites you to audition for this Tony Award-winning comedy!

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike

by Christopher Durang

Having spent the first thirty years of their adulthood as full-time caregivers to their parents, Vanya and Sonia now find an uneasy solace in their mundane lives. Masha, their sister, has provided for the family with her successful acting career, but does she feel any more fulfilled than her siblings? One summer weekend, when an earnest neighbor girl, a sexy paramour, a prophetic housemaid, and the trio all collide at their farmhouse, the siblings will be forced to reckon with the realities of their lives, with what they have been and haven’t been and still could be — in the most absurd and hilarious ways possible!

This show contains strong language and is recommended for mature audiences. 

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Auditions are

Sunday, June 7th @ 2pm

&

Monday June 8th @ 7pm

Callbacks will be held

Wednesday, June 10th @ 7pm

*link to audition form found below

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Character Descriptions

Vanya - male presenting, appears 50-60 years old, a gay man. Creative, intelligent, calm, and resigned: Vanya tries to accept life as it is, even if it’s disappointing. He has a passionate side that has yet to be nurtured. As the eldest sibling, he’s often a steadying hand for his younger sisters.

Sonia - female presenting, appears 50-60 years old, the adoptive sister of Vanya and Masha. Restless and regretful, in need of self-confidence. Sonia is jealous of her sister’s acting career. Her mind inhabits two extremes — soaring through elaborate alternate lives she might have lived, and plunging into the most punishing interpretations of the life she has. Sonia does an impression of Dame Maggie Smith in the play. The director is open to the idea of this being either a good impression or a comically bad one.

Masha - female presenting, appears 50-60 years old, a glamorous B-list movie actress who provides her family with financial support and dominates them with her ego. Narcissistic and insecure, Masha struggles with aging and with her career not being all she hoped it would be. Not unlike her sister, she can be hysterically over-dramatic. **Actors should note that Masha and Spike share several kisses of differing levels of passion. An intimacy coach will be working to ensure the safety and comfort of the actors.**

Spike - male presenting, appears in his late 20s - early 30s, Masha’s sexy young boyfriend. Gregarious and charming but also highly self-absorbed, he uses older actresses to climb his way up the showbiz ladder. Spike is comically vapid and a one-dimensional foil to the middle-aged siblings. **Actors should note that Spike is extremely comfortable with his body and strips down to his briefs more than once. He also shares several kisses of differing levels of passion with Masha. An intimacy coach will be working to ensure the safety and comfort of the actors.**

Cassandra - female presenting, any age in appearance. Vanya and Sonia’s quirky housekeeper, a soothsayer with a soft spot for the family (despite her surly exterior). Boisterous and unapologetic. In a cheeky nod to Greek tragedy, Cassandra’s ominous, melodramatic prophecies often come to pass.

Nina - female presenting, appears in her 20s, a hopeful young actress visiting her family in the neighborhood. Starstruck by Masha, Nina is sincere, naive, innocent, and kindly, with an earnest enthusiasm for the theater.

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The Barley Sheaf Players warmly welcomes and strongly encourages individuals of all races, ethnicities, ages, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and backgrounds to audition.

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Please fill out our audition form at the link below. We look forward to seeing you!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeoHSIiCJERFRDFL8Al3cDCUCY7G2xy3z3DmpBkSxaTguN7dg/viewform?usp=header