Open Auditions for Moon Over Buffalo

Written by Ken Ludwig

 Directed by Lisa Roth

Saturday, March 8 |  2-6 pm 

Monday, March 10 |   6:30-9 pm

You do not need to attend both days.

Callbacks, if needed:

Tuesday, March 11 | 6:30-9 pm

It all happens at The Bingen Theater. 210 Oak St Bingen, WA

This is an open audition, no need to sign up for a slot. Everyone will be in the theater at the same time (and cheering each other on, we're big on showing support for our fellow actors!) After filling out your audition form and notating what role/roles you would like to audition for, you'll be called up with other actors to read a scene.

ACTING: Be prepared for short cold readings from the script which we will have available when you arrive if you'd like to look over the scenes.

Don't be afraid to make big choices. Try different voices for different characters. Try standing in different ways. If you're asked to read for a part you don't want, DON'T "tank" it on purpose. Look at it as a way to show a range of abilities.

Once the show is cast -

Rehearsals begin the following week. This is a tight rehearsal time frame so be prepared to hit the ground running. Memorize on your own time and as quickly as you're able. This will make the process more enjoyable for you and give you more time to "play" with your character when you're not holding your script.

Full Rehearsals begin on Sunday, March 16 at 2p with our first read through. Rehearsals from there on out will be 6:30p-9p on weekdays and occasionally 2p-5p on the weekend. Prepare for at least 3 days a week and potentially more depending on your character and how many scenes you are in.

Performances - April 25, 26, May 2, 3, 9, 10- at 7:30 pm

April 27 & May 4 - Matinees at 2:00 pm

Please come prepared with a calendar of any conflicts you may have during the rehearsal period. This is important.

About the Director

Lisa Roth holds a BFA in acting and has a lifelong passion for theater. Before moving to Chicago in 2021, she acted and directed with theater companies in Hood River and Eugene, Oregon, including Oregon Contemporary Theatre, The Very Little Theatre, Plays for Non-Profits, and Columbia Center for the Arts. She is currently an Associate Artist with the Chicago Playback Theatre Ensemble. When not immersed in her artistry, Lisa works as a psychologist, tries to keep her four houseplants alive, and answers to her lovable yet neurotic dog, Dashiell.

 Show Synopsis

In the summer of 1953, George and Charlotte Hay, former Broadway stars, bring their run-down touring company to Buffalo, New York, performing pared down versions of Cyrano de Bergerac and Private Lives while lamenting missed Hollywood opportunities. Chaos erupts when George’s off-stage affair with the troupe's young ingenue results in an unexpected pregnancy, prompting Charlotte to consider running off with their lawyer, sending lightweight George on a grief-stricken drinking binge. It turns out that Frank Capra is headed to town on a talent scouting mission looking to potentially hire the couple for his swashbuckling Scarlet Pimpernel epic if he likes what he sees. As a result, the Hay family -- including sharp tongued, hard-of-hearing mother-in-law Ethel, determinedly practical daughter Rosalind, and dashing actor Paul, Rosalind’s ex-boyfriend -- must work overtime to get sloppy drunk George into his Cyrano hat and nose. With the entrance of Rosalind’s fiance, anxious TV weatherman Howard -- one man with two mistaken identities -- and Richard Maynard, the wealthy lawyer hoping to lure Charlotte away to his mansion -- the confusion only intensifies. With a plethora of pratfalls, slamming doors aplenty, and backstage shenanigans, Ken Ludwig’s Moon Over Buffalo is a fast-paced, hilarious screwball comedy in the old tradition, a throwback farce, a valentine to the stage, and the larger-than-life personalities that inhabit the world of the theatre.

Character Descriptions

1. George Hay

Age: 50s

Personality: Boisterous, egotistical, dramatic, and deeply passionate about theater. A classically trained actor who still sees himself as a great star, despite his waning career.

Role in the Play: George is the center of the chaos. He is part of a struggling repertory theater troupe in Buffalo, desperately hoping for one last shot at fame when he hears that famous film director Frank Capra might come to see his performance. However, his womanizing and drinking create endless misunderstandings, including a disastrous mix-up over which play they are performing.

Intimacy Note: Kisses Charlotte passionately in an attempt to win her back.

Physicality Note: This part requires strong physical comedy including pratfalls, running, wrestling and swordplay.

2. Charlotte Hay

Age: 50s

Personality: Strong-willed, intelligent, and dramatic, but more grounded than George. She has spent years balancing her devotion to the theater with her exasperation over George’s antics.

Role in the Play: Charlotte is George’s long-suffering but equally dramatic wife. She is frustrated by his affair with Eileen and briefly considers running off with Richard. However, her love for George—despite his many flaws—keeps her in the fray. She helps drive the farcical confusion as she tries to keep the company together while dealing with personal betrayals.

Intimacy Note: Kisses George passionately during a dramatic reconciliation.

3. Ethel

Age: 70s–80s

Personality: Hard-of-hearing, sharp-tongued, sarcastic, and unimpressed by George’s theatrics. She disapproves of his behavior and isn’t afraid to say so.

Role in the Play: Ethel is Charlotte’s mother and provides a comedic contrast with her bluntness. Her hearing problems create several comedic misunderstandings, particularly when she misinterprets important information and inadvertently worsens the chaos.

Intimacy Note: No kissing or intimacy.

4. Rosalind “Roz” Hay

Age: Late 20s – early 30s

Personality: Smart, practical, and independent. Unlike her parents, she does not romanticize theater life and wants a more stable career.

Role in the Play: Roz is George and Charlotte’s daughter, who left the family’s chaotic theatrical life to pursue a normal job and a relationship with Howard. However, when she visits, she gets unwillingly pulled back into the madness. Throughout the play, she is torn between her sensible fiancé Howard and her lingering affection for her ex-boyfriend Paul, who is still part of the troupe.

Intimacy Note: Kisses Paul in a romantic moment, rekindling their old relationship.

5. Howard

Age: Late 20s – early 30s

Personality: Sweet, nervous, and well-meaning, but hopelessly out of his depth when it comes to the fast-paced, dramatic world of the Hays.

Role in the Play: Howard is Rosalind’s fiancé, a TV weatherman who has no theater experience. He becomes an unwitting victim of the farcical mix-ups, especially when George mistakenly believes he is Frank Capra. His awkwardness and misinterpretations add to the play’s confusion and comedy.

Intimacy Note: No kissing or intimacy.

6. Eileen

Age: Early 20s

Personality: Naïve, eager, and somewhat starstruck by George. She is sweet but not particularly sharp.

Role in the Play: Eileen is a young actress in the troupe who has been having an affair with George. Early in the play, she reveals she is pregnant with his child, setting off much of the chaos. She is heartbroken when she realizes that George will never truly commit to her.

Intimacy Note: No kissing on stage, but past intimacy with George is referenced.

7. Paul

Age: Late 20s – early 30s

Personality: Level-headed, loyal, and deeply in love with Rosalind. He is devoted to theater, despite the craziness around him.

Role in the Play: Paul is the stage manager and former actor in the company. He is also Rosalind’s ex-boyfriend and still wants her back. While trying to keep the show from falling apart, he also competes with Howard for Rosalind’s affection.

Intimacy Note: Kisses Rosalind in a romantic moment, confirming their rekindled relationship.

8. Richard

Age: 50s – 60s

Personality: Polished, sophisticated, and wealthy. He is pragmatic but also clearly infatuated with Charlotte.

Role in the Play: Richard is a successful lawyer who has long admired Charlotte and wants to take her away from the chaos of her marriage to George. He provides an escape route for Charlotte, but ultimately, she chooses to stay with George.

Intimacy Note: Attempts to woo Charlotte, but no on-stage kissing.