Center Stage Productions Announces Auditions for "The Pink Lace Diamond"

[Dee]

Center Stage Productions, a ministry of Southport Presbyterian Church, will hold open auditions for its production of "The Pink Lace Diamond" on Monday and Tuesday, January 30 and 31, 2012, from 7:00-9:00 p.m., at its Southview campus, 1427 Southview in Homecroft. Call-backs, if necessary, will be at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 1.

During a dinner party at the Prince Regent Hotel, a scream rings out, and before she faints, a hotel cleaner says there is a dead man in her broom cupboard. Who is this dead man? Did he die in the maid's broom cupboard or somewhere else? Who among the hotel's guests has a motive for murder, and what is found in the cleaner's pocket when she is also murdered? The hotel's guests (our audience) help Det. Ian Buchanan Clueless unravel the clues and solve the mystery of "The Pink Lace Diamond."

Roles include 4 men (including one who can play piano well) and 4 women, all ages mid-20s and over. Auditions will include cold reads from the script. Please also bring all conflicts between February 6 and March 26, 2012. There will be no conflicts permitted during the week before opening night. This is an opportunity to work on character development, the art of ad-libbing and improvisation in character, with the structure of a set story line and script. The director welcomes questions at sopranodee53@gmail.com.

Performance dates are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, March 16-24, as well as a 2:00 p.m. matinee performance on Saturday, March 24.

This is not an Encore-eligible production.

[Dee]

What a wonderful turnout for auditions last night! I'm looking forward to seeing more of you at auditions tonight. I am especially interested in seeing some men come out tonight. Character summaries are below. This is an opportunity to work on character development and ad libbing skills.

See you tonight.


Alice Gordon (Wife of the Deceased)
Description: Alice Gordon is on a business trip with her husband Peter. She likes to think of herself as rich and enjoys spending. Alice is friendly and outgoing. She has a likeable personality but can be gullible and is not too good at problem solving. Understandably, she finds the whole investigation difficult, not least because it is her husband that is dead. She is devastated by his death and cries a lot of the time.

Colonel Geoffrey Simons (Millionaire)
Description: Colonel Geoffrey Simons is pompous and arrogant, his wealth was inherited, and he is very used to living the high life. He can be aggressive and sarcastic, and has little time for the lower classes, or investigations. Colonel Geoffrey Simons is on holiday with his wife.

Ian Buchanan Clueless (Detective) (This could also be a female role.)
Description: The detective sent to solve the crime.
Efficient in his own peculiar way, Ian Buchanan Clueless has an unusual method of solving crimes—he involves everyone! If anything, he is more like a bungling detective than a methodical one, but it has to be said, he does get results.

Julie McAndrews (Widow)
Description: Fitted with common sense and down-to-earth-ness, Julia isn't particularly bothered by blood or death and is quite happy to be involved in the murder investigation. She is Scottish and is used to fussing over people. She has been a widow for some time, but is beginning to enjoy male company again and will attempt flirting with single men that she finds attractive.

Mrs. Felicity Simons (Colonel Simons' Wife)
Description: Felicity Simons is on holiday with her husband Colonel Geoffrey Simons.
Born rich and married to a rich man, Felicity has never associated with the lower classes, except to do shady business. She is dazzlingly beautiful and, although she isn't loud or aggressive, she is more than capable of manipulating people and situations to her advantage. She appears friendly, but there is that touch of ice about her.

Patricia Johnson (Hotel Cleaner)
Description: Patricia Johnson cleans for the hotel. She has a cheerful and sunny disposition, but is not what you would describe as bright. She missed out on her education and has been cleaning ever since. She is more than a little outclassed when compared with the rest of the cast.

Rodney Bell (Property Investor)
Description: Rodney Bell is staying in the hotel on business. Although blunt and businesslike, Rodney Bell likes women and can be quite charming when he wants to be. He is a man who likes to take charge—a real man's man, even if he does disagree with blood sports.

[Dee]

Emergency casting! CSP is still looking for two actors for the roles of Rodney Bell and Felicity Simons as described above. The minimal dialogue is very easy to learn, and there are no costume changes. It's all about the "character" that's put into the characters. I'm in a tight spot to cast these characters. If you want to have some fun in a role that you can embrace and make your own, with a minimum of rehearsal time and effort, but lots of personal satisfaction with a group of great, highly-motivated folks, please PM me here on IA or shoot me an E-Mail at sopranodee53@gmail.com. Thanks all!