Auditions

Theatre People, or The Angel Next Door

 Comedy by Paul Slade Smith
Directed by Glenn Frail    

Auditions:

Sunday, July 19 at 4:30pm

Monday, July 20 at 7pm

At the Old Opera House Theatre in Charles Town, WV

Performance Dates:

September 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 2026

Paul Slade Smith also wrote The Outsider and Unnecessary Farce.

In this rollicking comedy, young Oliver Adams is on the brink of a major success. His novel The Angel Next Door is set to be published, and famed Broadway playwrights (and married couple) Charlotte and Arthur Sanders have already adapted his book for what is sure to be a huge stage hit. And who do they have their eye on as the leading lady? Margot Bell, of course, the very person Oliver adores and about whom he has written his novel (though he hasn’t told her yet). When they all converge for a weekend in Newport, Rhode Island, the thin walls of the well-appointed mansion reveal that the angel may not be angelic, and only the power of theatre can save the play, Oliver’s novel and perhaps most importantly, his heart. Adapted from Ferenc Molnaìr’s 
Play at the Castle.

Characters:

  • Charlotte Sanders, a successful Broadway playwright. Quick-witted, resourceful, optimistic, the engine of the play. Female 40s to 70s.

  • Oliver Adams, a young novelist. Naive, sincere; a romantic with both the brilliant mind and unwary heart of a poet. Male, 20s to 30s.

  • Arthur Sanders, Charlotte's husband, and co-playwright. A pessimist to her optimist who delights in being her foil, a skilled writer of quips, both on the page and in life. Male, 40s to 70s.

  • Olga, the housekeeper. A nebulous Eastern European accent from the Old Country; a proudly uncaring, unhelpful servant; intimidating if not frightening. Female, 40s to 70s.

  • Margot Bell, a Broadway singer, and actress. Easily cast as the sweet and beautiful ingenue but realizing she’s wiser and stronger than the characters she plays. Female, 20s to 30s

  • Victor Pratt, a Broadway leading man – and an idiot. Impressively self-involved; the handsomest, sexiest, manliest man on Broadway according to him; always a beat behind. Male, 30s to 40s.

The auditions will consist primarily of cold readings from the script. You do not need to prepare anything for the auditions, but becoming familiar with the story and the characters is helpful. Please bring your calendar or a list of dates that you are not able to rehearse (such as vacations, evening, or weekend work, etc.) Rehearsals are held primarily in the evening and weekends.    

Do you want to be involved in a show but don’t like being on stage? We will also need backstage and tech crews. If you have an interest in helping backstage, please let our Production Manager, Lee Hebb lee@oldoperahouse.org, know. No prior experience is required.

Please pass this along to anyone who might be interested.