Acting Can Be Murder

by John Gaspard

Directed by Matthew Anderson

DESCRIPTION:

After fleeing a failed relationship in New York, actress Leah Sexton finds herself as the new Executive Director of the Como Lake Players–a small community theater nestled in a sleepy St. Paul neighborhood. The initial calm of this new position is shattered immediately when a local critic–who had just panned the theater’s latest production of Dial M for Murder–is found murdered on the show’s set. Acting Can be Murder is centered around a community theatre with a striking resemblance to Theatre in the Round Players, complete with clever in-jokes and a warm satire of local theatre makers and lovers.

PERFORMANCE DATES:

Runs Fridays/Saturdays/Sundays December 4 through January 10, plus a Monday Pay-What-You-Can performance on December 14. This show is running in partial rep with Dial M for Murder (with a different cast), so the schedule will be a bit different than other Theatre in the Round shows. There are NO Performance on December 25, 26, or 27. Cast and crew are required to participate in strike immediately following the final performance.

REHEARSALS:

Weekday rehearsals will be in the evening, times TBD based on cast availability. There will be some Saturdays/Sundays with times also based on cast availability. Whenever possible actors will be scheduled on an as needed basis.

AUDITION DATES:

September 14 & 15, 7:00-9:00pm. Doors open at 6:30p. Callbacks on September 17, at 7:00pm.

AUDITION FORMAT:

Auditionees will read sides from the script. Memorization not required.

Sides will be available: https://www.theatreintheround.org/home/get-involved/auditions/

Please note that all roles at Theatre in the Round are volunteer; however, as of the 2024-2025 season all actors will be offered a $100 honorarium and be provided a new professional headshot, with rights to use digitally or print.

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS:

Except as noted, roles are open to actors of all identities – racial, ethnic, sexual, gender – and no roles assume the presence or absence of disability.

Leah Sexton (new Executive director). 30-ish - Actress turned administrator but her heart is still onstage. Recently left a bad relationship, moved to a new city and started a new job.
Betsy (Admin/Stage Manager). 60-ish - Carries the emotional and physical history of the theater in her bones. A straight-shooter. Never without her ball cap.
Detective Mark Albertson. 30-ish - a charmingly inexperienced rookie detective, he is a keen observer. A little baffled by the theater world.
Gloria (Board Chair). 40-50-ish - a skillful corporate player who uses her considerable talents to keep the Board in line and the theater afloat.
Alex (plays Inspector Hubbard). 30-ish - Actor and jack-of-all trades around the theater. Acts, builds sets, does lighting and sound. A good actor and a good guy.
Joan (plays Margot). 30-40 - A fixture at the theater. A feared diva but gets away with it because she can deliver the goods.
Doris (plays Maxine). 30-40 - A sweetheart getting back into theater after years away. Tentative about the whole process. A peacemaker.
Archie (plays Tony). 40-50 - Been there, done that. Toured in one man shows for years and is not used to an ensemble. Not above giving line readings.
Brian (plays Lesgate). 30-ish - a late bloomer. His first speaking role. He’s a gifted natural but still learning the ropes.
Police Operator