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Upcoming
Auditions
Audition Dates:
NEW DATE ADDED:
October 27th 2025
October 28th and 29th 2025
Performance Dates:
February 20th to 28th 2026
Rehearsals: (Starting December 1st)
Monday evenings (7pm-10pm)
Wednesday evenings (7pm to 10pm)
Saturday (10am to 2pm)
Drama critic Mortimer Brewster’s engagement announcement is upended when he discovers a corpse in his elderly aunts’ window seat. Mortimer rushes to tell Abby and Martha before they stumble upon the body themselves, only to learn that the two old women aren’t just aware of the dead man in their parlor, they killed him! Between his aunts’ penchant for poisoning wine, a brother who thinks he’s Teddy Roosevelt, and another brother using plastic surgery to hide from the police—not to mention Mortimer’s own hesitancy about marriage—it’ll be a miracle if Mortimer makes it to his wedding. Arsenic and Old Lace is a classic black comedy about the only thing more deadly than poison: family.
AUDITION
DATES & TIMES
OCTOBER 27th
7:00pm to 7:30pm
7:30pm to 8:00pm
8:00pm to 8:30pm
ADDITIONAL DATE ADDED:
OCTOBER 28th
7:00pm to 7:30pm (full)
7:30pm to 8:00pm (full)
8:00pm to 8:30pm (full)
8:30pm to 9:00pm (full)
9:00pm to 9:30pm (full)
OCTOBER 29th
7:00pm to 7:30pm (full)
7:30pm to 8:00pm (full)
8:00pm to 8:30pm (full)
8:30pm to 9:00pm (full)
9:00pm to 9:30pm (full)
Pre-registration is required.
Each audition session is 30 minutes, with 4 people able to register per session.
Auditions consist of cold-reads from side from the script.
Full character descriptions can be found below.
Location: Workshop Theatre's Rehearsal Space
Bay H - 1003 55th Ave NE
You will be redirected to our Programs & Auditions Booking page
CHARACTER
DESCRIPTIONS
Abby Brewster
Female 50-70 years old
A darling lady, and the very model of Victorian charm and grace, who poisons elderly gentlemen, with her sister as an act of charity. She and her sister Martha seem to be the absolute embodiment of the values and polite society of a bygone age. More dominant, and a bit older than Martha, both ladies are happy, healthy, lucid, and spry. The Aunt to Teddy, Jonathan, and Mortimer.
Elaine Harper
Female 25-40 years old
An attractive girl, daughter of Rev. Dr. Harper, and Mortimer’s fiancée. She is surprisingly wise in the ways of the world. She is a little bit wily, sassy, and absolutely sharp. We witness Elaine progress from casual happiness, to utter bliss, to twisted confusion, to stark fear, to relief, and back to casual happiness again.
Teddy Brewster
Male 40-60 years old
Very likable, kindhearted brother to Mortimer and Jonathan, Nephew of Abby and Martha Brewster, Teddy is a man who believes that he is the 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. This is a very physical role
Dr. Einstein
Male 45-55 years old
A German plastic surgeon, with an accent to prove it. Right hand to Jonathan, Dr. Einstein is mousey and submissive to Jonathan. Einstein should be viewed as a good guy whose life has gone bad. With somewhat of a ratty appearance, his face wears the benevolent smirk of a man who lives in a pleasant haze of alcohol.
Officer Brophy
Male 25-45 years old
(Cameo) The first police officer we meet in the show, Brophy is a thoroughly likable sort of fellow. Is making his rounds collecting Christmas toys for the needy. This role has some physicality
Officer O’Hara
Male any age
(Cameo) He is the quintessential example of an Irish-American police officer: Full of life, good natured and played big. He is on very good terms with the Aunts. O’Hara is a would-be playwright, and needs to plainly display the nagging, persistent drive that’s kindled within him once he discovers that Mortimer is a famous dramatic critic. Well intentioned, O’Hara really doesn’t mean to come across as annoying as he does.
Martha Brewster
Female 50-70 years old
Very sweet, but more submissive than Abby, Martha still is a strong woman. She and her sister have lived together for many, many years. Their personalities and pecking order around each other have been firmly rooted for eons. The Aunt to Teddy, Jonathan, and Mortimer.
Mortimer Brewster
Male 30-50 years old
Nephew of Abby and Martha, youngest brother to both Teddy and Jonathan Brewster. A very likable, Mortimer is a drama critic who is in love with, & engaged to Elaine Harper. A good-hearted cynic who is about to have his world turned upside down. This is a very physical role
Jonathan Brewster
Male 40-60 years old
Nephew of Abby and Martha Brewster, brother to Teddy and Mortimer. Jonathan is a psychopath who has numerous murders to his credit and no scruples whatsoever. He is creepy and is a killer, that loves his business and has an unbelievably short temper. Dr. Einstein has changed Jonathan’s face three times, currently resulting in a Boris Karloff resemblance (to which he is a bit sensitive.) This role has some physicality
The Reverend Dr. Harper
Male 50-70 years old
(Cameo) We only see Elaine Harper’s father in the opening scene; a doctor of divinity, and the minister to the church next door to the Brewster house. The Brewster sisters have seen many ministers come and go over the years, but they seem to be particularly fond of Dr. Harper and vice versa. Dr. Harper should has a sense of polish, refinement, and mild mannered sensitivity towards others. He is not in favor of Mortimer and Elaine’s relationship.
Officer Klein
Male 25-45 years old
(Cameo) A flatfoot Brooklyn officer who makes his rounds with Officer Brophy collecting Christmas toys
Mr. Gibbs
Male 55-80 years old
(Cameo) An elderly gentleman who wishes to rent a room from the Brewster sisters; and nearly falls victim to the sisters “charity”. He is a little gruff, but he warms up fairly quickly upon being offered a treat he hasn’t had since he was a child.
Lieutenant Rooney
Male 50’s
(Cameo) The man in charge at the local police precinct. Very early in the show we gain a pretty strong understanding of the caliber of men he has to manage under his watch. As such, he has very little patience for blunder and mistakes, and needs to run a pretty tight ship. He is loud, decisive, and clearly in-charge of every situation in which he finds himself.
Mr. Witherspoon
Male 50-60s years old
(Cameo) The superintendent of Happy Dale Sanitarium. Very mild mannered and kind.
Casting Note:
Multiple cameo roles may be played by one actor.
Workshop Theatre encourages individuals of all ethnicities, genders, and experience to audition!
Please note, we are a volunteer theatre company and do not pay our actors or crew members.
Questions?
Email us at info@workshoptheatre.org
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