Auditions for comedy “A Christmas Twist”
Burien Actors Theatre announces auditions for the comedy A Christmas Twist, written by Doug Armstrong, Keith Cooper and Maureen Morley. The show calls for 7 adult actors of any ethnicity to play 18 characters ranging in age from children to characters in their 70s. Characters can be any ethnicity so actors of all ethnicities are invited to audition.
SYNOPSIS: A Christmas Twist is an irreverent mash-up of the beloved Charles Dicken’s tales A Christmas Carol and Oliver Twist with plenty of pop culture and an absurd cast of characters that includes Little Orphan Annie. The result is a humorous parody of Christmas stories about the poor versus the rich that still manages to spread the spirit of the season. Combining the energy and spontaneous humor of improv with clever satire, this show brings to mind a Mel Brooks creation.
Performances are at Burien Actors Theatre in Burien from Nov. 27 hrough Dec.20, 2015 on weekends. Rehearsals begin mid-October. No rehearsal on Thanksgiving.
The stage director is Ken Holmes.
$100 stipend provided.
Auditions are Wednesday, Oct. 14 and Thursday, Oct. 15 from 7 to 10 p.m. Callbacks are scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17 from noon to 4 p.m.
To audition, please prepare two short contrasting contemporary monologues (serious/comedy) totaling 3 minutes maximum. Bring resume and headshot. Callbacks will consist of cold readings from the scripts.
Please make audition appointment: audition@burienactorstheatre.org, 206-242-5180. Auditions will be held at Burien Actors Theatre, 14501 Fourth Ave. S.W., Burien. For directions, go to www.burienactorstheatre.org.
Character Descriptions/Requirements
TINY TWIST – Composite of Tiny Tim from A Christmas Carol and the title character from Oliver Twist. Lame orphan who is sent to work for Fagin and eventually goes to live with the Cratchits. Good-hearted and an object of pity, made all the more pathetic by the fact that he is in his twenties.
FAGIN – Based on the character of the same name from Dickens’ Oiver Twist. Filthy, conniving, and leads a gang of orphan pickpockets.
MR. BUMBLE – Scrooge’s nephew, based primarily on the character of Mister Bumble from Oliver Twist. Pompous, greedy, prone to coining unusual phrases and words.
ANNIE (Little Artful Annie) – Composite of the Artful Dodger from Oliver Twist (with a touch of the character Nancy from the same novel, evident in her conscience, her befriending of Twist, and her eventual punishment at the hands of Fagin) and Little Orphan Annie. Annie is Fagin’s best pickpocket. Very smart, sly. Dirty appearance should reflect a Little Orphan Annie who has been on the streets for too many years.
EBENEZER SCROOGE – Old, greedy miser with no affection toward anyone, especially his clerk, Bob Cratchit. Has a particular dislike for the holiday of Christmas.
BOB CRATCHIT – Long-suffering clerk of Scrooge. Overly kind and optimistic, as well as somewhat naïve.
EMILY CRATCHIT – Bob Cratchit’s wife and protector. Loves Bob, but has a more practical outlook on life than her husband.
GHOST OF JACOB MARLEY – Scrooge’s late business partner, who comes to Scrooge as a ghost to warn him of his fate. Somewhat but not overly solemn.
GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST – Sweet but slightly inefficient old ghost.
YOUNG SCROOGE – Hard-working but happier and kinder Scrooge.
BELLE – Young Scrooge’s fiancee. Bright and bubbly at first, but turns cold as a result of Scrooge’s neglect.
FUZZIWIG – Based on the character of Mister Fezziwig from A Christmas Carol, a man to whom Scrooge was once apprenticed. An overly cheerful sort.
GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT – Middle-aged, loud, obnoxious drunk of a ghost.
GHOST OF CHRISTMAS YET TO COME – Frightening. Fully cloaked and does not speak.
Other minor characters include two CAROLERS, GRAVEDIGGER (Cockney) and LIBBY (an old crone), as well as a few never-seen characters whose voices we hear from offstage.