BREECHES CHRONICLE: How to Audition for Into The Breeches

By Barbara Biddison
First of all, just show up!  Understand that I love auditions.  I have auditioned for roles that I really wanted but didn't get, and I have auditioned for roles that I doubted I would get but I did.  I understand that the director of the play is considering the "whole picture," and that factor accounts for why it "takes a while" sometimes before a cast is announced.  But the auditioning process is fun.  Sometimes there aren't very many people at an audition and so each one there gets to read several different parts.  That's fun.  Or maybe all men show up and it's a primarily female cast, and a man or two reads a girl's role.  Or all women are there and there are two male roles.  Everybody loosens up and dives in. 
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 BREECHES has a cast of 8 (6 women and 2 men).  One woman must be African American because that's how George Brant wrote it, for very good reasons.  Ages range from 60s to late teens in "real life" in this story, but they play the various King Henrys and Falstaff and the Kates in the show they are putting on.  And since it is set during World War II, the men are gone fighting the war so the women must play all the characters.  But never mind all this detail.  To me, this just makes it sound like fun.  I'm working in a different capacity for this show, but maybe, as long as I'm there, I'll get to read for a part or two.

How to prepare?  Well, you can ask to borrow a script and read it if you must, but that is really not necessary.  Like I said, just show up.  And, since you'll be asked to fill out an audition sheet, check your calendar for any commitments between now and the end of April.  The director needs to know your contact information and when you can be available for rehearsals and, of course, for the five scheduled performances.

Celeste, the "diva" in her 50's or so, has this line which I think would be so much fun to say (in character of course):
"None of the women in the company have ever
been paid before, but our men?  Our men have always
been paid.  I am now playing a male role, ergo. I shall
be paid."

I can think of about a half dozen ways to say that!  What fun.
Come on out for a good time , January 26, 29, 30, and take part in these auditions!

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