Audition: Arsenic & Old Lace


All roles available and open to any race. Ages in listings is their on-stage appearance, not the age of the actor to be cast. This is a fast paced, dialogue heavy script, so comic timing is a must. Actors will do improv exercise and then read from script.

The play is set in 1940 in Brooklyn, NY.

Mortimer Brewster (25-40, lead role, heavy physical comedy skills). Nephew of Abby and Martha, Mortimer is a drama critic who is engaged to Elaine; he is a nice man who cares for his aunts.

Abby Brewster (50-70, lead role). A darling spinster lady who poisons elderly men; Abby is the sister of Martha and an aunt to Teddy, Jonathan, and Mortimer.

Martha Brewster (50-70, lead role). A sweet elderly woman with Victorian charm who poisons elderly men, Martha is the sister of Abby and an aunt to Teddy, Jonathan, and Mortimer.

Teddy Brewster (40-50, large supporting role, physical comedy skills). Nephew of Abby and Martha Brewster, Teddy plays the bugle (badly) and thinks that he is President Theodore Roosevelt.

Elaine Harper. (25-40, will match age of Mortimer, supporting role). A spunky woman and Mortimer’s fiancee, Elaine is the daughter of the Rev. Dr. Harper; she is surprisingly wise in the ways of the world for a minister's daughter.

Jonathan Brewster (30-40, large supporting role). The villain of the show. Nephew of Abby and Martha Brewster, Jonathan is a psychopath who has had plastic surgery and now looks like Boris Karloff.

Dr Einstein (40-60, large supporting role). A plastic surgeon and an alcoholic "doctor", Dr. Einstein has changed Jonathan's face three times. May use a bad German accent.

Officer O'Hara (30+, supporting role). A police officer, O’Hara is a would-be playwright who pesters Mortimer to read his play.

Rev. Doctor Harper (50+, single scene). Minister who lives next to the cemetary, and father of Elaine.

Mr Gibbs (any age, single scene). A man who wishes to rent a room from the Brewster sisters.

Lt Rooney (50+, single scene). A tough and dominating police officer.

Mr Witherspoon (40+, single scene). Owner of Happy Dale Sanatorium.

Officer Brophy & Officer Kline. (any age, may double with other single scene roles). Beat cops.

Rehearsals will start in late January with performances in the Bartell Theatre Drury (upstairs) Theatre from March 14-22. Contact director Steve Noll (sdnoll@yahoo.com) with questions.