Written By: Jerome Lawrence & Robert E. Lee

Directed By: Julie Hult

AUDITION DETAILS:

WHEN: Monday, December 18 or Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 6pm. Choose ONE date to audition.

WHERE: Columbus East High School, Room C104 (230 S Marr Rd, Columbus). Enter through door 33 in the tennis court parking lot.

WHO: Actors, aged 13+. There are 26+ speaking parts available for a diverse cast.

HOW TO PREPARE:
Wear comfortable clothing
Bring list of potential rehearsal conflicts
Audition will consist of readings from the script in a collaborative environment.

VIRTUAL AUDITIONS: If you cannot make the scheduled audition but would like to audition, email director Julie Hult at jdcalfee@hotmail.com .

CASTING AND REHEARSALS: Cast list will be released on the MRTC website and social media pages by December 22, 2023. Rehearsals begin January 14th, 2024. Many of the principals will be called 3-4 rehearsals per week. Featured roles 1-2 times per week. The final two weeks of production will require more rehearsal. Please be mindful of your schedule as you think about the characters that interest you. For a full character list breakdown, scroll to the bottom section and click on it to expand it.

PERFORMANCE DATES: February 23rd-25th, 2024. Cast will be expected to be at all shows and all rehearsals during the week leading up to the show.

There are plenty of ways to get involved backstage or on staff. Please visit our “Get Involved” page and fill out the form, or send us a direct message on Facebook or Instagram.

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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Legacy Sponsor:
William Eggleston

Director’s Circle:
Tracy Haddad

Executive Season Sponsors:
First Class Catering

Season Sponsors:
WWA Planning & Investments
Nancy & Eric Andrews
Jim & Sue Lindhorst

Activities are made possible in part by the Columbus Area Arts Council, Indiana Arts Commission, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

Generously supported by Columbus Area Visitors Center (www.columbus.in.us).

Many of the principals will be called 3-4 rehearsals per week. Featured roles 1-2 times per week. The final two weeks of production will require more rehearsal. Please be mindful of your schedule as you think about the characters that interest you.

FP=Female Presenting MP=Male Presenting Y=Youth

Principals

Rachel Brown (FP) The Reverand’s daughter, elementary school teacher, Bert Cates’ girlfriend. She follows rules and doesn’t understand why Bert isn’t following the law.

Betram Cates (MP) High school teacher who reads the state approved textbook to his class and is arrested and tried for it. He’s a thinking man with big questions.

Rev. Jeremiah Brown (MP) The moral voice of the town. His daughter fears him as does his congregation.

EK Hornbeck An out of town writer who comes to report on the trial. He’s always looking for the angle and the headline. What will sell a newspaper? Hornbeck will spin it. He’s not a journalist, he’s a “critic.”

Mayor The political voice and face of the town.

Matthew Harrison Brady (MP) Larger than life, charismatic politician/prosecutor who smells an opportunity for publicity in a high profile case. He seems to have his own spotlight everywhere he goes. When he walks into a room, you know it. Calls his wife “Mother.”

Mrs. Brady (FP) Brady’s better half who is happy to support her husband’s ambitions dutifully.

Tom Davenport The local district attorney who assists Brady with prosecuting the case.

Henry Drummond The defense attorney who is set to battle Brady in a landmark case.

Howard Blair (MP-Y) Young boy who has Bert in class and later testifies in court. Likes to scare Melinda with worms.

Judge Tasked with the job of controlling the circus. Impartially. With elections coming up, he has to be careful.

Meeker Baliff and jailor; jokes with Cates about being dangerous. Eats, sleeps and breathes his job.

Featured

Melinda Loomis(FP-Y) Young girl who believes Howard engages in “sinful talk.” Budding entrepreneur with her lemonade stand

Mrs. Loomis (FP) Melinda’s mother. Wants to protect her daughter from the evils of the world.

Mrs. Blair (FP) Howard’s mother. Spends most of her time trying to wrangle him when she’s not busy with the Hillsboro Bible League or canning prize winning apricots

Mrs. Krebs (FP) Outspoken townsperson who arranges the pitch in lunch on behalf of the Hillsboro Ladies Aid; runs a nice boarding house; resistant to change

Elijah A mountain person. The illiterate Elijah sells Bibles to the townspeople and preaches his beliefs to the crowd.

Sillers (MP) City work crew. Seated as a juror when he tells Drummond that he focuses on making a living while his wife worries about religion for the both of them

Bannister One of those “guys who sits around the barber shop” talking politics and making policy. Wants to be “in the know.” Eager to become involved in the hoopla. Seated on the jury even though he hasn’t read the Bible or Darwin. He can’t read.

Jesse H. Dunlap A farmer and cabinetmaker. Dunlap stands as a potential juror, but Drummond dismisses him because of his enthusiastic support of Brady.

Harry Y Esterbrook A radio host from WGN in Chicago. Esterbrook broadcasts the announcement of the verdict and Cates’s sentencing and cuts off Brady in the middle of his victory speech.

Goodfellow The haberdasher, store owner. Has no opinions because they are bad for business.

Bollinger City band leader, helps to usher Brady into town

Phil Cooper City work crew

Reuters Reporter/Photographer An extension of the Hornbeck press contingency; looking for spin, trying to sell the story through pictures and words

Hot Dog Man/Hawker Somebody gets to capitalize on the hungry crowds. It’s this person.

Ensemble

scientists, townspeople, hawkers, reporters, jurors, and spectators.