Audition Announcement for The Play That Goes Wrong
Written by Henry Lewis, Henry Shields, and Jonathan Sayer
Director: Ryan Schmitt
Assistant Director: Abi Overdorf
Audition Dates: Sunday, June 22nd, 2025: 6:30 - 9:00 pm
Monday, June 23rd, 2025: 6:30 - 9:00 pm
Rehearsals Start: Sunday, July 6th, 2025: 3:00 - 6:00 pm
Production Dates: September 26, 27, 28 & October 3, 4, 5! Two fabulous weekends for this awesome show.
This is an adult production age 18 and up due to the nature of the physical comedy in the show.
You can either bring your completed audition form with you to the audition or there will be
audition forms available to fill out.
**All auditionees will be required to provide an accurate and comprehensive list of conflicts
between July 6 and the production dates. Because of the physical nature of this show,
conflicts will be carefully considered during the casting process and beyond.
For any and all questions, please call or text Ryan Schmitt at 765-210-3585
Audition Form: https://drive.google.com/.../1dT3meFNz3ELuf8fXCPi.../view...
About the Play
The Play That Goes Wrong is easily summarized: The Cornley Polytechnic Dramatic Society
is presenting The Murder at Haversham Manor, and everything that could go wrong with
their production, does. It is devastating for the actors; it is hilarious for the audience.
TCT is looking for funny & physically adept performers who can commit to the style of the
play and fully inhabit the characters. It is vital to believe in the characters who are
performing the play-within-the-play, because that is where the heart-breaking (to the cast)
and gut-busting (to the audience) comedy originates. With that in mind, auditioning actors
must have a keen ability and understanding of comedy and also play the truth of the scenes.
PLEASE NOTE: This show is physically demanding. Most roles require varying amounts of
crawling, balancing, climbing, lifting, running, and/or falling. There is also a sword fight and
some hand-to-hand combat. We will work with actors to ensure that this is done safely and
properly. Actors should come to auditions dressed comfortably and ready to move. Auditions
will include cold readings from the script.
Character Descriptions:
Chris Bean: Is the head of the drama society and plays “Inspector Carter” in The Murder at Haversham
Manor. Rigid, uptight, everything really matters to him. He is the director of the show, and this is the
biggest day of his life; everything is riding on this nerve-wracking and exciting night. His pain is evident and every time someone laughs, his pain deepens. He has equal amounts of contempt for his fellow actors
and the audience watching the play. Gender: Male
Robert Grove: Plays “Thomas Colleymore” in The Murder at Haversham Manor. He wants to be like
Richard Burton as evidenced by his declamatory style. He is, however, not a parody of a bad actor. He is
unaware of others around him. He does not feel badly when things go wrong and never learns from his
mistakes. There is a power struggle between Robert and Chris to be president of the Cornley
Polytechnic Drama Society (a position that matters a great deal to Robert). Seeking an actor with real
vocal power. Gender: Male
Max Bennett: Plays “Cecil Haversham” in The Murder at Haversham Manor. He has never been on stage
before. He learned his lines and does exactly what he is told to do. He has zero connection with any of
the other actors, but when he gets a laugh, he breaks the fourth wall and engages with the audiences.
He is childlike and naïve. His mistakes are fundamental. He doesn’t think anything through, just looks for
approval. Gender: Male
Dennis Tyde: Plays the butler, “Perkins,” in The Murder at Haversham Manor. He has no real desire to
be involved in theater; he just wants to make friends (of which he has none). He believes if he does well
in the show, he will be more successful socially. Laughter from the audience is agony for him. He may be
slightly oblivious but understands when he gets things wrong. The laughter is a personal tragedy/failure.
Gender: Male or Female
Trevor Watson: The play’s lighting and sound operator. He simply wants to get on with the show. He is
curmudgeonly and doesn’t care for actors; he is easily distracted and does many things he shouldn’t,
including engaging with the audience. When things go sideways, he is forced to act in the play (even
though he hates performing). Gender: Male
Jonathan Harris: Plays “Charles Haversham” in The Murder at Haversham Manor. A bit bland but sees
himself as a James Bond type: exciting and having fun, but not naïve. He technically must drive the show.
He cares about the play but not to the same extent as others. Very physical role. Gender: Male
Sandra Wilkinson: Plays “Florence Colleymoore” in The Murder at Haversham Manor. She is vain and
possesses a huge ego. Wants to be loved. Has ambitions to go to Hollywood and will hurt anyone standing
in the way of what she wants, but she is also smart enough to stay on the good side of someone who can
help her. The stakes are high for her. A very physical role. Gender: Female
Annie Twilloil: The stage manager. She has the biggest journey of any of the characters. When Sandra
is indisposed, Annie (who cannot bear to be on stage) must step in. Initially terrified by acting, she is
willing to kill for it by the end of the play; her initial terror turns to joy, and then to fury. She starts
small, but grows and grows. Gender: Female
Stage Crew: Anyone not offered a named role, will be offered the role of Stage Crew. The stage crew
will be fully involved with rehearsal and performances, will be visible onstage and off for “The Murder
of Haversham Manor” and are seen trying to get the play to go RIGHT. Gender: Male or Female
Written by Henry Lewis, Henry Shields, and Jonathan Sayer
Director: Ryan Schmitt
Assistant Director: Abi Overdorf
Audition Dates: Sunday, June 22nd, 2025: 6:30 - 9:00 pm
Monday, June 23rd, 2025: 6:30 - 9:00 pm
Rehearsals Start: Sunday, July 6th, 2025: 3:00 - 6:00 pm
Production Dates: September 26, 27, 28 & October 3, 4, 5! Two fabulous weekends for this awesome show.
This is an adult production age 18 and up due to the nature of the physical comedy in the show.
You can either bring your completed audition form with you to the audition or there will be
audition forms available to fill out.
**All auditionees will be required to provide an accurate and comprehensive list of conflicts
between July 6 and the production dates. Because of the physical nature of this show,
conflicts will be carefully considered during the casting process and beyond.
For any and all questions, please call or text Ryan Schmitt at 765-210-3585
Audition Form: https://drive.google.com/.../1dT3meFNz3ELuf8fXCPi.../view...
About the Play
The Play That Goes Wrong is easily summarized: The Cornley Polytechnic Dramatic Society
is presenting The Murder at Haversham Manor, and everything that could go wrong with
their production, does. It is devastating for the actors; it is hilarious for the audience.
TCT is looking for funny & physically adept performers who can commit to the style of the
play and fully inhabit the characters. It is vital to believe in the characters who are
performing the play-within-the-play, because that is where the heart-breaking (to the cast)
and gut-busting (to the audience) comedy originates. With that in mind, auditioning actors
must have a keen ability and understanding of comedy and also play the truth of the scenes.
PLEASE NOTE: This show is physically demanding. Most roles require varying amounts of
crawling, balancing, climbing, lifting, running, and/or falling. There is also a sword fight and
some hand-to-hand combat. We will work with actors to ensure that this is done safely and
properly. Actors should come to auditions dressed comfortably and ready to move. Auditions
will include cold readings from the script.
Character Descriptions:
Chris Bean: Is the head of the drama society and plays “Inspector Carter” in The Murder at Haversham
Manor. Rigid, uptight, everything really matters to him. He is the director of the show, and this is the
biggest day of his life; everything is riding on this nerve-wracking and exciting night. His pain is evident and every time someone laughs, his pain deepens. He has equal amounts of contempt for his fellow actors
and the audience watching the play. Gender: Male
Robert Grove: Plays “Thomas Colleymore” in The Murder at Haversham Manor. He wants to be like
Richard Burton as evidenced by his declamatory style. He is, however, not a parody of a bad actor. He is
unaware of others around him. He does not feel badly when things go wrong and never learns from his
mistakes. There is a power struggle between Robert and Chris to be president of the Cornley
Polytechnic Drama Society (a position that matters a great deal to Robert). Seeking an actor with real
vocal power. Gender: Male
Max Bennett: Plays “Cecil Haversham” in The Murder at Haversham Manor. He has never been on stage
before. He learned his lines and does exactly what he is told to do. He has zero connection with any of
the other actors, but when he gets a laugh, he breaks the fourth wall and engages with the audiences.
He is childlike and naïve. His mistakes are fundamental. He doesn’t think anything through, just looks for
approval. Gender: Male
Dennis Tyde: Plays the butler, “Perkins,” in The Murder at Haversham Manor. He has no real desire to
be involved in theater; he just wants to make friends (of which he has none). He believes if he does well
in the show, he will be more successful socially. Laughter from the audience is agony for him. He may be
slightly oblivious but understands when he gets things wrong. The laughter is a personal tragedy/failure.
Gender: Male or Female
Trevor Watson: The play’s lighting and sound operator. He simply wants to get on with the show. He is
curmudgeonly and doesn’t care for actors; he is easily distracted and does many things he shouldn’t,
including engaging with the audience. When things go sideways, he is forced to act in the play (even
though he hates performing). Gender: Male
Jonathan Harris: Plays “Charles Haversham” in The Murder at Haversham Manor. A bit bland but sees
himself as a James Bond type: exciting and having fun, but not naïve. He technically must drive the show.
He cares about the play but not to the same extent as others. Very physical role. Gender: Male
Sandra Wilkinson: Plays “Florence Colleymoore” in The Murder at Haversham Manor. She is vain and
possesses a huge ego. Wants to be loved. Has ambitions to go to Hollywood and will hurt anyone standing
in the way of what she wants, but she is also smart enough to stay on the good side of someone who can
help her. The stakes are high for her. A very physical role. Gender: Female
Annie Twilloil: The stage manager. She has the biggest journey of any of the characters. When Sandra
is indisposed, Annie (who cannot bear to be on stage) must step in. Initially terrified by acting, she is
willing to kill for it by the end of the play; her initial terror turns to joy, and then to fury. She starts
small, but grows and grows. Gender: Female
Stage Crew: Anyone not offered a named role, will be offered the role of Stage Crew. The stage crew
will be fully involved with rehearsal and performances, will be visible onstage and off for “The Murder
of Haversham Manor” and are seen trying to get the play to go RIGHT. Gender: Male or Female
general audition info for tct:
What to prepare: For a musical audition - If you are singing a song that requires an accompanist, have your sheet music with clear instructions of the cut of the song. If you will be using our speakers, make sure you use a karaoke track so that we can hear your voice to see your ability to sing along with the track. For a straight play - exerts from the scripts may be available at the Tipton County Library (varies per show).
General expectations: The solo portion of the audition is done in front of anyone else auditioning, as well as the directors and some crew members. Come in with a great attitude and willingness to be patient! Oftentimes, there are many students who audition for our youth shows so you may be there for a while. For our straight plays, be prepared to watch others and audition in front of the directors as well as others auditioning.
What we provide: An accompanist on piano, a Bluetooth speaker, the scripts for the cold read and singing portion.
General expectations: The solo portion of the audition is done in front of anyone else auditioning, as well as the directors and some crew members. Come in with a great attitude and willingness to be patient! Oftentimes, there are many students who audition for our youth shows so you may be there for a while. For our straight plays, be prepared to watch others and audition in front of the directors as well as others auditioning.
What we provide: An accompanist on piano, a Bluetooth speaker, the scripts for the cold read and singing portion.
