12/06/2016
Laughter on the 23rd Floor auditions!
by Neil Simon
Laurel Mill Playhouse is an all volunteer non-profit community theater.
Play Description: Inspired by Neil Simon’s early career experience as a junior writer for Your Show of Shows, the play focuses on Sid Caesar-like Max Prince, the star of a weekly comedy-variety show circa 1953, and his staff, including Simon’s alter-ego Lucas Brinkman, who maintains a running commentary on the writing, fighting, and wacky antics which take place in the writer’s room.
Audition Dates:
Monday: December 12 from 7:00 pm – 9:30pm at Laurel Board of Trade located at 383 Main Street Laurel, MD 20707
Tuesday: December 13 from 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm at Laurel Mill Playhouse located at 508 Main Street , Laurel, MD 20707
Callbacks (If needed) Thursday: December 15 from 7:00 pm – 9:30pm at Laurel Mill Playhouse
` 508 Main Street, Laurel, Maryland 20707
Produced by Maureen Rogers
Directed by John D’Amato
Read through: December 19 at 7:00 pm to get scripts out prior to holiday. Location to be determined.
Rehearsals will begin 1st week of January, 2017 and 3 days a week thereafter prior to tech week
Performances: Friday: February 17 & 24 and March 3 & 10 2017 at 8:00 pm
Saturday: February 18 & 25 and March 4 & 11, 2017 at 8:00 pm
Sunday: March 5 & 12, 2017 at 2:00 pm
No roles are precast and roles open to all ethnicities and could cast women for a couple of the men’s roles
Bring resume and headshot and list of conflicts from December 12, 2016 through
March 12, 2017
Audition will consist of telling a joke and then be prepared to read from the script
Note: Play is dialogue driven and characters are quick witted. Expectation is actors will be off book by end of January
If you have questions prior to the audition please contact John D’Amato at [email protected]
Character Breakdown
Character (Real Life Counterpart)
Lucas Brickman (Neil Simon): age 20 - 30 - The youngest and the newest member of the writing staff for "The Max Prince Show" - a live, hour and a half topical comedy show on NBC in 1953. Lucas is shy, yet ambitious, and wants to prove himself to the other writers, whom he greatly admires.
Max Prince (Sid Caesar): age 40 – 60 - A bigger-than-life comic actor who is the mega-star of a hugely popular television variety show “The Max Prince Show.” Based on Sid Caesar and “Your Show of Shows.” He cannot help but dominate a room entirely
Val Slotsky (Mel Tolkin): age 40 – 50 - The head writer. He emigrated from Russia when he was 12. "He still carries his accent" and is "the most politically aware of all of his writers."
Milt - Considers himself to be "a wholesaler" while the other comedy writers are "Tiffany's". Milt is a flashy dresser who is cheating on his wife.
Val - The head writer. He emigrated from Russia when he was 12. "He still carries his accent" and is "the most politically aware of all of his writers."
Brian - "He is Irish - a heavy smoker, a heavy cougher, and a heavy drinker, but with a biting sense of humor as caustic as his outlook on life." He just sold a screenplay to MGM, and will be leaving the Max Prince Show to go to Hollywood.
Kenny - "Neatly dressed...He is surely the most sophisticated of the writers."
Carol - Has "a strong and quick defense system that comes with being the only female staff writer on the staff."
Ira - A hypochondriac, who is chronically late to work. "He is all energy with a touch of brilliant madness." Ira has a grudge against fellow writer, Brian.
Max Prince - "Exudes great strength. His strength comes more from his anger than from his physique. He dominates a room with his personality. You must watch him because he's like a truck you can't get out of the way of. He is quixotic, changing quickly from warm, infectious laughter to sullen anger. He is often monosyllabic, offering a word or two to convey his thoughts."
Helen - An attractive secretary who has aspirations to become a comedy writer.
Milt - Considers himself to be "a wholesaler" while the other comedy writers are "Tiffany's". Milt is a flashy dresser who is cheating on his wife.Milt Fields (Sheldon Keller): age 30 - 50 - The flamboyant “gag” man. A joke a minute wholesaler who deals in fast paced patter. Considers himself to be "a wholesaler" while the other comedy writers are "Tiffany's". Milt is a flashy dresser who is cheating on his wife.
Kenny Franks (Larry Gelbart & Carl Reiner) age 30 – 50 - Considered the “boy genius” of the group but also the most sophisticated of the writers.
Brian Doyle (Tony Webster) age 30 – 50 - "He is Irish - a heavy smoker, a heavy cougher, and a heavy drinker, but with a biting sense of humor as caustic as his outlook on life." He just sold a screenplay to MGM, and will be leaving the Max Prince Show to go to Hollywood.
Ira Stone (Mel Brooks) age 30 - 50 - A hypochondriac, who is chronically late to work. "He is all energy with a touch of brilliant madness." Ira has a grudge against fellow writer, Brian.
Carol Wyman (Lucille Kallen & Selma Diamond) age 30’s- Has "a strong and quick defense system that comes with being the only female staff writer on the staff."
Helen age 20 – 35 - Max’s female secretary who has aspirations to become a comedy writer. Completely out of her element in the writer’s room.
Further questions can also be directed to maureencrogers@gmail. com or 301-452-2557.
