Audition Dates: Monday, January 15 and Tuesday, January 16, 2024
Auditions begin at 7:00 p.m. The registration will close at 7:30 p.m.
Performances: March 8-10, 16–17, & 22–24, 2024
Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., Sundays at 2:30 p.m.
Auditions will be held at the Players Guild of Dearborn: 21730 Madison, Dearborn, MI 48124.
You must complete the audition form and conflict calendar found at www.playersguildofdearborn.org before arriving. Please list all actual and possible conflicts.
Director
BRIAN TOWNSEND
Described by Edward Albee as “the greatest American play ever written,” Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Our Town tells the story of a small town— Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire— in order to tell the story of every town, the whole world over. Narrated by a Stage Manager, we follow the Gibbs and Webb families through twelve years of life changes— from the mundane “Daily Life,” to the romantic “Love and Marriage,” to the devastating and illuminating “Death and Eternity.” Through young lovers Emily and George, their strong and loving parents, and many other Grover’s Corners’ locals, Our Town turns the simple events of life into universal musings of what it means to be human.
From the director:
With beauty, warmth, and humor, Our Town speaks to universal experiences. Ideally, it is an opportunity to show as diverse a community as our community actually is. Everyone may find a human connection to the story (“I’ve felt that, I’ve been there”) and the people (“I know him, I understand her”) who inhabit Grover’s Corners, enhanced by subtle theatrical effects.
The Players Guild of Dearborn is open to diverse casting. Actors of all backgrounds — race, gender, sexuality, age, socio-economic, disability, faith — are welcome and encouraged to audition. The vision is to represent our town and community (Dearborn, Detroit, Southeast Michigan, diverse, multicultural, generational) by telling the story of Our Town.
The age ranges shown are suggested by the characters and need not reflect an actor’s actual age. Actor’s may be asked to read/perform roles that are younger or older than their own age. Actors may be asked to play multiple roles. The goal is to be true to the character(s), emotions and experiences.
We encourage performers of all races and ethnicities, gender identities, sexualities, abilities, and ages to audition for any role.
The ages listed in the descriptions are the “playing ages” of characters. Actors who fall out of these parameters with respect to their own chronological age may still audition for any role.
Stage Manager: (30s and up) Our narrator, commentator, and guide through Grover’s Corners. A natural storyteller — engaging, personable, perhaps a little all-knowing. The Stage Manager speaks directly to the audience and interacts with the characters, assuming roles in the action of the play periodically. This role is open to both men and women.
Emily Webb: (18 to early 20s) A conscientious young woman, intelligent and occasionally romantic. We follow her from a precocious young girl through motherhood as she gains awareness of the preciousness of everyday life.
George Gibbs: (18 to early 20s) A decent, upstanding young man. He’s the boy next door, an avid baseball player, equal parts innocent and neglectful — an irresponsible teenager who matures over time.
Dr. Frank Gibbs: (40s and up) George’s father and the town doctor. He is dutiful, and believes others (especially his son George) should be as well. Knowledgeable and aware of what’s going on in the town. A Civil War expert. He truly loves his family although it may be difficult for him to say it.
Julia Gibbs: (30s and up) George’s mother. A pleasant woman, one who’s willing to forgo her own desires for the sake of others — for years, she’s had a desire to visit Paris, France. Loving and perhaps a bit overprotective of her family.
Charles Webb: (40s and up) Emily’s father and the publisher/editor of the Grover’s Corners Sentinel, the town paper. Hard working, good natured, practical — ready to roll up his sleeves and dig in. He has a soft spot for his daughter Emily.
Myrtle Webb: (30s and up) Emily’s mother, “a crisp and serious woman,” as Wilder calls her. She has a no-nonsense personality that can cloud her caring nature. Sometimes her true love and concern for her family comes out a little late.
Rebecca Gibbs: (12 and up) George’s younger sister. Bright and observant; a little wise beyond her years.
Wally Webb: (12 and up) Emily’s younger brother. Not as book smart as his sister, easily distracted but focused when it’s something he finds interesting.
Mrs. Louella Soames: (50s and up) A gossipy townswoman and member of the choir. She believes others value her opinion as much as she does herself.
Simon Stimson: (30s and up) The choir director and church organist, and the cause for much gossip in the town. An alcoholic. It’s been observed that he’s “seen a peck of troubles.” He has a dark vision of the world.
Howie Newsome: (30s and up) The milkman, a fixture of Grover’s Corners and possibly the last of his kind. Dependable and friendly.
Professor Willard: (40s and up) A rather long-winded lecturer from State University, who enjoys the position of informing the audience about the town’s history, land, and people. This role is open to both men and women.
Joe Crowell, Jr. and Si Crowell: (15 and up) Local paperboys, brothers. Joe is older — bright, personable, had his knee tended to by Dr. Gibbs. Si is younger — athletic, baseball enthusiast, maybe not as well-read as his older brother.
Constable Bill Warren: (50s and up) One of the town’s policemen, well-connected with the community.
Woman in the Balcony, Belligerent Man at the Back of Auditorium, and Lady in a Box: (any age) Attendees of Mr. Webb’s political and social report who are concerned with temperance, social justice, and culture and beauty, respectively. These roles may be divided up among the members of the cast as needed.
Three Baseball Players: (any age) George’s contemporaries who mock him at his wedding. These roles are open to both men and women.
Sam Craig: (any age) Emily’s cousin, who left Grover’s Corners to travel west. He’s an outsider now, having returned to town for a funeral.
Joe Stoddard: (50s and up) The town’s undertaker, dutiful to his job but also moved by it.
Mr. Carter, A Man and A Woman: (any age) Deceased townspeople of Grover’s Corners, who watch and respond to the actions of the living.
Other questions regarding the show or auditions may be sent to: pgdcastinggovernor@gmail.com