Town and Country Players is thrilled to announce auditions for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
by Dale Wasserman
Based on the novel by Ken Kesey
Directed by Brandon Bacorn
Produced by Kierney Corliss
Assistant Producer Kristin Sheridan
We are seeking 16 actors ages 21+. All roles are OPEN to actors of all genders, races, and abilities!
AUDITIONS:
Sunday, June 14 from 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday, June 15 from 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM
CALLBACKS (by invitation only):
Thursday June 18th; 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Auditions and Callbacks will be held at the Buckingham Township Building
4613 Hughesian Drive, Buckingham, PA 18912 (Lower Level)
SHOW DATES:
Sept 25, 26, Oct 2, 3, 9 & 10 at 8:00PM
Sept 27, Oct 4 & 10 at 2:00 PM
OTHER KEY DATES & DETAILS:
All rehearsals and performances take place in Buckingham, PA.
First Rehearsal: Wednesday, July 1st
Rehearsal Process: July 7th - Sept 18th (3 to 4 days per week)
Tech: Saturday, Sept 19th & Sunday, Sept 20th
Dress Rehearsals: Sept 21st -24th
Mandatory Strike: Sunday October 11th
PREPARATION:
Sides will be emailed to you after you have signed up for an audition slot.
Be prepared to read for additional characters if you’d like to be considered for more than one role.
SIGN-UP:
Sign up using the link below. Walk-ins are welcome but appointments are preferred.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B044BACA82AA6FB6-64043327-auditions
CLEARANCES
***PLEASE NOTE: IF CAST, ADULTS (18 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER) WILL BE REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR AND PROVIDE A PENNSYLVANIA CHILD ABUSE CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PRODUCTION***
Child Abuse Clearances | Department of Human Services | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
This is a non-Equity production.
All roles are unpaid and open to performers of any race, gender, or identity. Town & Country Players Theater is committed to our mission of diversity, equity and inclusion. We desire to cast shows that reflect our common humanity and create safe, welcoming environments. All roles are open to performers of any race, gender or identity.
A NOTE ABOUT STAGE INTIMACY:
"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" is a show set in the middle of the 20th century that largely critiqued (and in some ways led to reforms in) the way we talk about and treat mental health. Our production staff includes an intimacy coordinator to navigate these discussions and inform our staging choices. Please read the descriptions of the characters carefully when determining which roles you would consider, and audition with the knowledge that physical contact, intimate and sexual touch, and talk/action about sensitive topics - including outdated and exaggerated modes of discussing mental health, gender, and staff-patient relationships - are necessary for the presentation of this show.
No one will be asked at auditions to make physical contact or perform intimate scenes, but we ask that all auditioners come informed about the content of the show. As a cast and production team, we will do the work in rehearsals to create and evolve our collaborative, informed, consensual, safe, and truthful telling of this story.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:
RANDLE P. MCMURPHY (Male Presenting, Patient ‐ Late 20’s to 40’s)
A gambler, a con man, and a backroom brawler. Has a devilish grin and has a wide open extroverted air which is in harsh contrast to the environment of the ward.
(Will have kissing scenes and a choreographed fight scene; Wears just a towel in another scene; Uses foul language)
NURSE RATCHED (Female Presenting, Staff ‐ 40’s to 60’s)
The head of the hospital ward. She masks her humanity and femininity behind a stiff, patronizing façade. She weakens her patients through a psychologically manipulative program designed to destroy their self‐esteem. Ratched’s emasculating, mechanical ways slowly drain all traces of humanity from her patients.
(Will have a choreographed fight scene)
CHIEF BROMDEN (Male Presenting, Preferably Native American, Patient ‐ 20’s to 50’s)
The huge, (6’3”+) bull‐muscled, half‐breed son of an Native American Chief. He has been in the hospital for more than ten years, longer than any other patient in the ward. Bromden sees modern society as a huge, oppressive conglomeration that he calls the Combine, and the hospital as a place meant to fix people who do not conform.
AIDE WARREN (Male Presenting, Preferably African American, Staff ‐ 20’s to 40’s)
The Day Time Aide. Cruel and demeaning, they are Nurse Rached’s stooges.
(Fight scenes, uses foul language)
AIDE WILLIAMS (Male Presenting, Preferably African American, Staff ‐ 20’s to 40’s)
The Day Time Aide. Cruel and demeaning, they are Nurse Rached’s stooges.
(Fight scenes, uses foul language)
NURSE FLINN (Female Presenting, Staff ‐ 20’s To 50’s)
A vapid woman with apprehensive eyes. She wears a gold cross at her throat, a sign of her strict Catholic upbringing. She is fearful of the patients’ sexuality. She is fearful in general.
DALE HARDING (Male Presenting, Patient ‐ 35 plus)
College‐educated with a sharp mind and tongue. He is President of the Patients’ Council. Although he is married, he is effeminate and questions his own masculinity.
BILLY BIBBIT (Male Presenting, Patient ‐ 20’s to 30’s)
Shy and has a bad stutter. He seems younger than his age. Dominated by his mother, one of Nurse Ratched’s close friends. Billy is voluntarily in the hospital.
(Will have kissing scenes)
SCANLON (Male Presenting, Patient ‐ 20’s to 60)
Involuntarily committed to the hospital. He has fantasies of blowing things up.
(Uses foul language)
CHESWICK (Male Presenting, Patient ‐ 30 ‐ 60)
Eager and quick to argue or fight. Aggressively defiant yet cringing. All talk, no action.
MARTINI (Male Presenting, Patient ‐ 25 to 60)
A little Italian man who lives in a world of delusional hallucinations.
RUCKLY (Male Presenting, Patient ‐ 25 to 50)
A Chronic patient. Was once curable but was transformed into a Chronic due to a botched lobotomy.
(Uses foul language)
DR. SPIVEY (Male Presenting, Staff ‐ 40 to 70)
The administrator and psychiatrist of the mental institution. He doubts that anything is wrong with McMurphy’s mind, but he defers to the opinion of Nurse Ratched.
AIDE TURKLE (Male Presenting, Preferably African American, Staff ‐ 50s to 70s)
The nighttime orderly for Nurse Ratched’s ward. He is an elderly Tech / night watchman who smokes marijuana. McMurphy bribes him to help arrange the novel's final party.
CANDY STARR (Female Presenting, Other ‐ 21 to 30)
A prostitute from Portland with a "heart of gold." She is physically attractive and passive, and relieves Billy Bibbit of his virginity.
(Will have kissing scenes with multiple partners)
SANDY GILFILLIAM (Female Presenting, Other ‐ 30 ‐ 45)
Candy's older and less‐physically attractive friend, comes with her to the party on the ward.
(Will have a kissing scene possibly with multiple partners)
Sign up using the link below. Walk-ins are welcome but appointments are preferred.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B044BACA82AA6FB6-64043327-auditions
Sides will be emailed to you after you have signed up for an audition slot.
Be prepared to read for additional characters if you’d like to be considered for more than one role.
