Mayhem on the Air (past show)

By Neil Hollands
Director: Neil Hollands
From January 27 to February 12, 2022

Audition Information

Audition Notice for Williamsburg Players
Mayhem on the Air
Written and directed by Neil Hollands
Stage Manager Karen Foley
Production Manager MJ Devaney
Music Direction Rosemary Allmann

Auditions Sunday, November 7 or Monday, November 8 at 7 pm. James-York Playhouse 200 Hubbard Lane, Williamsburg, 23188

You may bring an acting resume but this is not required. Please come prepared to list any potential conflicts with the rehearsal schedule.

Actors are required to have received COVID vaccination if their age group is eligible.

Rehearsals generally Sunday through Thursday mid-November through January with a break for the Christmas holiday

Performances Thursday-Saturday, January 27-February 12, 2022

Mayhem on the Air is a comedy that recreates the action in one day at radio station WTTY in 1948. The cast performs a variety of material: a western melodrama, a news segment, a tops-of-the-pops countdown, a suspense/horror piece, a comedy panel show, and the conclusion of a serial mystery. Between radio segments, we see the interaction of the actors and studio personnel who play these parts, and the tensions that lead to a very funny disaster in the final scene. Period radio jingles and live sound effects are created on stage.

The script is available for preview. Send an email request to president@williamsburgplayers.org if you would like to take a look before auditioning.

Auditions will consist of readings from the script, learning and singing along with radio jingles, and improvisation of vocal sound effects. Those interested in performing one of the tops-of-the-pops songs are encouraged to prepare a one-minute maximum cut from a song from the 1940s and provide sheet music or sing a cappela.

PROGRAM MANAGER (any gender, 25 up)-harried, harassed, but always competent

CRAWFORD BANKS, the senior actor, 45 up-"the man of a thousand voices", very talented, but kind of a creep-needs Jersey accent, British, German and others

VENICE DARDEN, the senior actress, 40 up-a tart sense of humor and great diction, Crawford's rival for ruling the roost; being a bit plus-sized is a plus

JUNE TRACY, the young actress, 25-35-an appealing ingénue type, but a single mother to her orphaned niece; usually plays winsome and appealing, but she has a great featured bit as the deranged killer in a suspense segment

RICK RYAN, the young actor, 25-35-leading man type (at least his voice must convey this); he's earnest and affable

JAMES DOXEY, Announcer (any age)-a golden radio voice… and the ability to play progressively drunk

TOMMY, the station intern (12 to 18)-he does it all, from running errands to playing juvenile roles on air, to collecting fines and helping the foley artist-a very physical role; he's a bit full of himself, as his father owns the station

OLIVE TRACY, June's niece (7 to 10)-an orphan, brought to the station with her aunt; she tries to be good, but with mixed results; she's obsessed with the sound effects. Needs a good attention span and the ability to stay in character, as like the adult actors, she is always on the stage.

DOC FOLEY, a Foley Artist-this role is precast as it will be filled by the show's lead sound designer

ESTELLE PEARL, the music director/organist-this role is precast as it will be filled by the production's music director

The four lead actors, Tommy, and Doxey must be able to portray a variety of characters, sometimes switching at very short notice, and be believable as radio voice talents. Some singing ability will help, as all actors perform radio jingles, and some will be featured as part of a “tops of the pops” countdown. Ethnicity does not matter as long as you can project the various radio types with your voice. The vitality of your voice means a lot on this show, as there is less stage movement than usual. Creativity also helps, as this show is written in-house, and the script will change as the director and cast find bright ideas in rehearsal. Many segments of this script will allow you to work with script in hand.

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