The Palos Village Players are auditioning for their winter production, Rehearsal for Murder, adapted for the stage by D.D. Brooke.

A year following the untimely death of Monica Welles, a famous onscreen actress and an up-and-coming Broadway star, playwright Alex Dennison (and the former fiance of Monica) assembles all those who last interacted with the actress under the pretense of reading excerpts from a new play he is writing.

Even though the actress's death was ruled as a suicide, the playwright believes otherwise, and he plans to prove it and trap a killer as the scenes from his new play come to life.

This is more than just a rehearsal as the playwright has found a novel way to catch a killer. No one and nothing are who and what they seem!

REHEARSAL FOR MURDER is an exhilarating mystery by the creators/ writers of Murder She Wrote and Columbo which promises to leave you laughing and guessing "who did it" all the way through!

This story is part comedy and part melodrama. There are also a few dramatic moments. Setting: New York City. A Broadway Stage & Monica's Study Time: 1940s

Cast of Characters
Alex Dennison. Male. Lead. A playwright in his late 40s to mid-50s, Alex is handsome, debonair, witty, intelligent, and willing to do just about anything to trap the killer of his beloved fiance. Alex is the lead of the play and keeps the pacing of the entire story. The success of this show depends on his ability to control the action, foresee every variable and to anticipate the reaction of every character. Must be able to express the full range of emotions as well: being in love, grief, vengeance, desperation, etc.

Monica Welles. Female. The famous and beautiful film actress, fiance of Alex, and victim. Plays 30s to mid-40s. Although Monica dies early in the play, she is "brought to life" through flashbacks in order to help Alex trap her killer. Cast as the lead (her first time on stage) in Dennison's comedy Chamber Music, she was in her early- to mid-40s when she met her early demise. In preparing for Monica, think Hollywood movie star of the silver screen, Lauren Bacall, Rita Hayworth, Greta Garbo, etc. Must be able to express the full range of emotions: being in love, fear, desperation, disdain, etc.

Lloyd Andrews. Male. The play's director for the Alex's show Chamber Music (and the last time Monica was on stage), Lloyd is at the very least in his early 40s although he could play older. He is handsome, although a bit nerdy. Although not quite Broadway caliber, he has an excellent reputation.

Bella Lamb. Female. The play's producer for the show Chamber Music. Bella is bright, extremely wealthy, glamorous, and sophisticated. She is extremely confident, but not nasty! She is in her late 40s to early 60s.

Karen Daniels. Female. Merely an up-and-coming Broadway actress when the play begins, Karen is now a sought-after star. She was Monica's understudy a year prior in Chamber Music, but she quickly reached her way to the top. Karen is in her mid- to late 30s; she is beautiful and no longer the innocent ingenue she was. She starts the show meek and mild, but then shows herself to be ambitious and conniving.

David Mathews. Male. A tall, popular, and handsome Broadway actor, David is also very smug and full of himself, believing that every woman worships him. He approaches each show with the belief that he'll have to dust off his fireplace mantle for another Tony. He had played lead in Chamber Music, opposite Monica. David is in his mid-40s to early 50s.

Leo Gibbs. Male. A supporting Broadway actor, Leo is in his mid - to late 40s. He, too, was in Chamber Music. Leo is a tad awkward, & obnoxious, especially around Karen, his ex, but he is a team player and doesn't let his supporting role get in his way.

Sally Bean. Female. Alex's new assistant/secretary from Maine. She is young (18 to 22), energetic, bright but naive. She is very excited to help Alex with his new play. She is a bit ditzy, and wide-eyed at the Big Apple. Frank Heller. Male. An observer in Act One to everything occurring on-stage during the present and "flashbacks" Frank, however, intervenes in Act Two, at first portraying Lieutenant McElroy, the detective who closed the Monica Welles' case, and then himself. Frank, who is in his late 30s to early 40s, is a jack-of-all-trades: actor (often out of work), bartender, cab driver, etc.

The Following Roles can be doubled.
Ernie. Male. Any age. The gruff, no-nonsense backstage theater manager who reveres Alex and was genuinely fond of Monica.

Loretta. Female. Any age. The play's stage manager for Chamber Music (and the last time Monica was on stage). She is very efficient and determined.

Policeman. Male. Any age. One of NY's finest in his late 30s to early 50s; he assists in the investigation of Monica's death.

Policewoman. Female. Any age. One of NY's finest in her late 20s to mid-50s; she assists in the investigation of Monica's death.

Santoro. Male. Any age. The delivery man who brings in Monica's Study - set up exactly as it was on the day of her death and perfect for a re-enactment.

Mac. Male. Any age. An observer to everything that is happening on-stage during the present and "flashbacks." During the last portions of Act Two, he joins in the action. He is in his 50s.

Audition Address
All Saints Lutheran Church
13350 S. La Grange RD
Orland Park, IL
(Take the driveway to the left. Enter the last door and go downstairs)