By James Roose-Evans
Presented by special arrangement with Samuel French Inc.
Director: Julie King
From January 20 to February 5, 2023

Auditions: 84 Charing Cross Road
Sunday, November 6, and Monday, November 7 at 7:00 PM
Readings from the script and improvisations.
Open call. No appointments.

Directed by Julie King; Stage Managed by Jason Kriner
Based on the book by Helene Hanff, adaptation by James Roose Evans
Presented by special arrangement with Concord Theatricals

Show Synopsis
This charming show is a dramatization of business letters between a young struggling writer in New York and an antiquarian bookstore in London. In a sense, these are also love letters, the love of good literature. The play takes place over a twenty-year period, beginning in 1949 when Helene Hanff first writes Marks & Co. and ends in 1969 with the death of Frank Doel, the delightfully dusty supplier of so many old volumes to Helene who has shown her gratitude through the years by sending "care packages" to the staff of Marks & Co.

Characters

Frank Doel—40ish, aging to 60ish; dapper, scholarly. (major part)
Helene Hanff—30ish, aging to 50ish; Eccentric and reclusive, she is a bibliomaniac (a person with a preoccupation for acquiring and owning books), in her case, old books. (major part)
Cecily Farr—30s, bookstore clerk (supporting part)
Megan Wells—20s, bookstore clerk (supporting part)
George Martin—60+, bookstore owner (bit part)
William Humphries (Bill)— 30ish, bookstore clerk (supporting part)
Maxine Stuart—ageless, actress friend of Helene (bit part)
Joan Todd—40ish, secretary at the bookstore (bit part)
Thomas—teenager, bookstore go-fer (bit part)

Performance Dates
January 20 To February 5, 2023
(Includes 3 Saturday matinees and 2 Sunday matinees)

Rehearsals
11/9-10 Read thru
11/27 Begin regular Sun-Thu schedule

(Holiday schedule
12/18-21
12/27-29
01/2-01/5)