Auditions
Failure: A Love Story and The Play That Goes Wrong Audition Dates & Times
Friday, August 30th: 6-10:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 31st: 12-5:00 p.m.
Callbacks - Sunday, September 1st: 12-5:00 p.m.
&
Casting Policy
½ûÂþÌìÌà values creating a space in which all beings can flourish, thrive, and create, knowing that their personhood will be respected and honored. We also recognize that each person carries with them a multitude of experiences and cultural influences.
In short, we recognize and honor the brilliant complexity of our humanity.
We are in the process of building our anti-racist framework and guidelines to aid in our creation of a compassionate, dynamic, inclusive artistic space.
In the meantime, we know and will hold to the following:
- The ½ûÂþÌìÌà Theatre Department recognizes the importance of a clear and transparent casting process. We invite students of all gender orientations, ethnicities, body types, abilities, races, religious beliefs, and experience levels to audition for our productions.
- We invite non-binary, gender non-conforming and trans students to audition for any roles they feel comfortable playing on stage.
- We aim to serve the needs of student growth while honoring inclusive casting practices and faithfulness to the playwright’s intentions.
- We aim for consent-based processes in our casting, including transparency around staged intimacy in our casting notices as well as bringing on an intimacy director for all productions.
The Department recognizes the intrinsic educational value in its productions, and endeavors to provide significant performance opportunities. Therefore, a student may be cast in only one faculty directed production per semester.
Once a student is cast in a production, they are expected to attend all rehearsals to which they are called; we expect full attendance for tech week and performances.
The Department encourages students to direct any questions about casting to the director, production manager, and/or department chair.
More Information on both Fall '24 shows below.
Failure: A Love Story - FAQs
When and where are auditions for Failure: A Love Story?
Auditions for Failure: A Love Story will be held August 30 – September 1, 2024 in the Allen Theatre.
Students interested in auditioning need to fill out both the and
What do I need to prepare?
For auditions, please come prepared with a monologue (from a 20th or 21st century play or musical). All students are encouraged to sing a 16 bar or 1 minute a capella song (required if auditioning for Mortimer, John N, and Nelly).
At callbacks students are asked to come ready to move/roll around; please note your body/skin may be touching the floor. All students will be required to sing; students auditioning for Mortimer, John N, and Nelly will sing a solo. Music will be provided.
Who is directing?
Camille Jenkins is joining us as a guest artist to direct Failure: A Love Story. You can learn more about Camille at
A word from the director:
Hi Pomona Community!
I'm thrilled to start the journey of Failure: A Love Story with you all. I believe this play reminds us that the only real failure in life is when we fail to live! So I hope you join me as we explore the here and now in the near future ;) Looking forward to failing forward soon!
Your director,
Camille Jenkins
What is the play about?
Failure: A Love Story by Philip Dawkins
By the end of 1928, all three Fail sisters will be dead -- expiring in reverse order, youngest to oldest, from blunt object to the head, disappearance, and finally consumption. Tuneful songs, and a whimsical chorus follow the story of Nelly, Jenny June, and Gerty as they live out their lives above the family clock repair shop near the Chicago River, before their time unexpectedly runs out. A magical, musical fable where, in the end, the power of love is far greater than any individual’s successes or failures.
Content Notice for Failure: A Love Story
This show includes dialogue about, staging of and/or narratives connected to the following:
- death, grief (main themes and plot points of the whole play)
- car accidents
- drowning
- Still birth
- animal euthanasia (medically putting down a dog in pain)
- JOHN N. FAIL - administers euthanasia medicine to dog (p. 30)
- death of a younger sibling
- death of parents
- death of fiancé
Feel free to ask any questions about the charged content in this show if you need more information in order to consent to a role/being a part of this production.
Who are the characters?
Cast of Characters
The Failures:
NELLY FAIL, the youngest
JENNY JUNE FAIL, the middlest
GERTRUDE (GERTY) FAIL, the eldest
JOHN N. FAIL, the brother
MORTIMER MORTIMER, the lover
THE CHORUS, members play a significant role in the play as this is an ensemble piece. The Chorus may take a number of shapes: multiple people, one person, shadow puppets.
Note: Some roles may be doubled, including for Henry and Marietta Fail, Grandfather Clock, Gramophone, Dog, Snake, Birds, and Grantland Rice.
Please also note: the roles of Mortimer, John N, and Nelly require solo singing. The role of Mortimer requires dancing and the entire cast/Chorus will dance/stage group movements.
Intimacy/Physical Notices for Casting Failure: A Love Story
Please read the following so that you can make informed consent if you are offered a role in this production. We will be working with an intimacy director in rehearsals.
ENTIRE CAST/CHORUS - the staging of this play will include a lot of physical theatre ensemble choreography, including group movements, lifts, close proximity of bodies, etc.
NELLY FAIL - shares a sweet gentle kiss with Mortimer (p. 26); slaps Mortimer in the face (p. 28)
JENNY JUNE FAIL - shares a romantically charged hand touch with Mortimer (p. 45)
GERTY FAIL - has her hair lovingly stroked by Mortimer (p. 56)
MORTIMER MORTIMER - shares a sweet gentle kiss with Nelly (p. 26); is slapped in the face by Nelly (p. 28); shares a romantically charged hand touch with Mortimer (p. 45); lovingly strokes Gerty’s hair (p. 56)
HENRY FAIL - will show closeness and relationship through physical touch with his wife Marietta; moment when he wrestles with Marietta during her mental breakdown (p. 16)
MARIETTA FAIL - will show closeness and relationship through physical touch with her husband Henry; moment when she wrestles with Henry during her mental breakdown (p. 16)
Feel free to ask any questions about the intimacy/physical theatre in this show if you need more information in order to consent to a role.
When are rehearsals/performances?
Failure a Love Story by Philip Dawkins
Allen Theatre
September 3rd through October 6th
(September 2nd Labor Day observed)
Auditions: August 30th - September 1st, 2024
Rehearsals: September 3rd – 27th
(Tuesday's through Saturday's - weekdays 6-10pm, Saturday 1-6pm, and Monday 9/23 6-10pm)
Designer Run: Friday, September 20th or Saturday, September 21st
Tech: Saturday, September 28th
Dress Tech: Sunday through Tuesday, September 29th through October 1st
Preview: Wednesday, October 2nd
Performances: Thursday, October 3rd, Friday, October 4th, Saturday, October 5th at 7:30pm; Saturday, October 5th and Sunday, October 6th at 2pm
Strike: Sunday, October 6th, following the performance
Where can I find the script?
Here is the .
THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG - FAQs
When and where are auditions for THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG?
Auditions for THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG will be held August 30 – September 1, 2024 in the Seaver Theatre.
Students interested in auditioning need to fill out both the and
What do I need to prepare?
Auditions will happen in small groups of 3-4. Come to auditions prepared for high physicality. Wear clothes that you are comfortable getting messy. We will provide smocks.
Who is directing?
Tim Giles and Bobby Gutierrez are co-directing THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG.
A word from the directors:
We are beyond excited to co-direct TPTGW! We look forward to a great collaboration between us and the students filled with joy, fun, and laughter!
What is the play about?
THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer & Henry Shields
From Mischief, Broadway masters of comedy, comes the smash hit farce. Welcome to opening night of the Cornley University Drama Society’s newest production, The Murder at Haversham Manor, where things are quickly going from bad to utterly disastrous. This 1920s whodunit has everything you never wanted in a show—an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead, and actors who trip over everything (including their lines). Nevertheless, the accident-prone thespians battle against all odds to make it through to their final curtain call, with hilarious consequences! Part Monty Python, part Sherlock Holmes, this Olivier Award–winning comedy is a global phenomenon that’s guaranteed to leave you aching with laughter!
Overall Content Advisory:
THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG is an ambitious physical comedy with many intricate and demanding high-contact physical sequences.
Comedic sequences include: Accidentally/Purposefully being injured and injuring other characters; being knocked unconscious and lifting unconscious characters; spitting out drinks and being spit on; carrying, touching, and maneuvering other actors; unexpected kissing; sword fighting; tussling; tumbling; handcuffing and restraining other characters; accidental poisoning; and falling from a two-story set, through a window, down stairs, and off furniture.
Characters in the whodunit speculate about the cause of death for a character, including murder and suicide.
A prop gun will be held and pointed at/by several characters, and gunshots will be heard.
The set will have a seven-foot platform with no railing.
Please see individual character notices for more information.
Who are the Characters?
CHARACTERS
As with any play-within-a-play, you have the complication of the characters of the actors doing the play-within-the-play and the characters within the play-within-the-play. To make it a little simpler, the names are laid out below in two lists: firstly the members of the Cornley Drama Society who are putting on the play, and secondly the characters of The Murder at Haversham Manor. The text always uses the actors' names rather than the characters' names.
MEMBERS OF THE CORNLEY DRAMA SOCIETY (in order of appearance)
ANNIE is the company's stage manager. American accent.
STAGE CREW, the Cornley Drama Society stage crew. (These two crew members are an integral part of the cast! They are responsible for all The Play That Goes Wrong magical effects. Although they are called crew members, they will be seen on stage during the show and will be expected to attend all rehearsals. This is a great opportunity for technicians that also love to perform or actors that want to learn more about technical work. This is not running crew these positions are cast members!)
TREVOR is the company's lighting and sound operator. American accent.
CHRIS is the head of the drama society, directed the play and plays Inspector Carter.
JONATHAN plays Charles Haversham.
ROBERT plays Thomas Colleymoore.
DENNIS plays Perkins.
MAX plays Cecil Haversham and Arthur the Gardener.
SANDRA plays Florence Colleymoore.
The action takes place on the opening night of the Carnley Drama Society's production of The Murder at Haversham Manor by Susie H. K. Brideswell. Present day.
CHARACTERS IN THE MURDER AT HAVERSHAM MANOR (in order of appearance)
CHARLES HAVERSHAM, the deceased.
THOMAS COLLEYMOORE, Charles' old school friend.
PERKINS, Charles' butler.
CECIL HA VERSHAM, Charles' brother.
FLORENCE COLLEYMOORE, Charles' fiancee and Thomas' sister.
INSPECTOR CARTER, an esteemed local inspector.
ARTHUR THE GARDENER, the gardener at Haversham Manor.
The action takes place in Charles' private rooms at Haversham Manor on the evening of Charles and Florence's engagement party. Winter 1922.
Intimacy/Physical Notices for Casting THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG
Please read the following so that you can make informed consent if you are offered a role in this production. We will be working with an intimacy director in rehearsals.
ANNIE: The character Annie unexpectedly steps into the role of Florence Colleymoore in the whodunuit, who has fits of "hysteria," for which they take prop pills. This character may have a number of choreographed simulated moments of comedic stunts, including being injured and injuring other characters. The actor playing Annie will lift another unconscious character in the play, engage in an extended tussle, and restrain another character with tape.
STAGE CREW: The person(s) playing STAGE CREW members may handle prop weapons, lift an unconscious character in the play, and be involved in a number of choreographed stunts.
TREVOR: The character Trevor will unexpectedly step in to play the role of Florence Colleymoore. This character may have a number of choreographed comedic stunts, including accidentally being injured and injuring other characters. The actor playing Trevor may have a choreographed simulated kiss with the character Max while Trevor is in the role of Florence. The character Trevor will accidentally knock the character Sandra unconscious and will appear to be crushed by a set piece.
CHRIS: The character Chris will play the role of Inspector. This character may have a number of choreographed comedic stunts, including accidentally being injured and injuring other characters. The actor playing Chris may have several complicated falls and jumps. This actor will hold a prop gun and will have a prop gun pointed at their character. This actor will lift the unconscious character Annie in the play.
JONATHAN: The character Jonathan will pretend to be a dead body within the play. This character may have a number of choreographed comedic stunts, including accidentally being injured and injuring other characters. The actor playing Jonathan will hold a prop gun and will lift the unconscious character Sandra in the play.
ROBERT: The actor playing Robert may have a number of choreographed comedic stunts, including accidentally being injured and injuring other characters. The actor playing Robert will lift the unconscious characters Sandra and Annie in the play, and will hold a prop gun, point it, and (mis)fire it at another character, eventually firing it at the floor and injuring their hand. The actor playing Robert may use and operate a fire extinguisher.
DENNIS: The character Dennis plays a butler in the play. This character may have a number of choreographed comedic stunts, including accidentally being injured and injuring other characters. The actor playing Dennis may pretend to smoke a cigarette and accidentally start a fire. The actor playing Dennis may be handcuffed to a chaise lounge for an extended period in Act II and maneuver around an uneven second story of the set.
MAX: The character Max plays two roles within the play: Charley and the gardener. This character may have a number of choreographed comedic stunts, including accidentally being injured and injuring other characters. The actor playing Max may have a choreographed simulated kiss with the characters Sandra and Trevor, who both play Florence Colleymoore. This character engages in a tussle and sword fight and holds a prop gun.
SANDRA: The character Sandra is knocked unconscious twice within the play. This character may have a number of choreographed comedic stunts, including accidentally being injured and injuring other characters. The actor playing Sandra will almost kiss the character Max and may appear on stage in undergarments. The character Sandra plays the role of Florence Colleymoore in the whodun-it, who has fits of "hysteria," for which they take prop pills.
When are rehearsals and performances?
THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields
Seaver Theatre
September 16th through November 17th
(October 14th and 15th - Fall Break)
Auditions: August 30th - September 1st, 2024
Rehearsals: September 16th – November 8th (20 hours over 7 days; typically M-F 6-10pm or M-Thursday 6-10pm and Saturday afternoons.)
Designer Run: November 1st, 2nd, or 3rd - TBD
Tech: Saturday, November 9th
Dress Tech: Sunday through Tuesday, November 10th – 12th
Preview: Wednesday, November 13th
Performances: Thursday, November 14th, Friday, November 15th, Saturday, November 16th at 7:30pm; Saturday, November 16th and Sunday, November 17th at 2pm
Strike: Sunday, November 17th, following the performance
Where can I find the script?
Here is access to the .