Calliope Auditions: The Cemetery Club
a dramatic comedy by Ivan Menchell

Three Jewish widows in Forest Hills, Queens, New York City, meet once a month for tea before going to visit their husbands’ graves. After Sam encounters them while visiting his wife’s grave, he takes an interest in Ida. Doris and Lucille eventually squash the budding romance between Sam and Ida, and they are guilt-ridden when this nearly breaks Ida’s heart.

The Cast

  • 4 female
  • 1 male

    • All actors will be considered for all roles, regardless of gender identity/expression, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, age, ability, etc.

     

    The Director

    Director: Matt Carr
     

    The Rehearsals

    Rehearsals begin Sunday, January 26, for two weeks. No rehearsals during the week of February 9. Rehearsals resume on Sunday, February 16, for four weeks. Sunday afternoons (2:00 – 6:00 PM). Monday and Wednesday evenings (7:00 – 10:00 PM). Tech Week begins Sunday, March 16. We rehearse every day during tech week.
     

    The Location

    All rehearsals and performances will be at Calliope Theatre, 150 Main Street, Boylston, MA
     

    The Performances

    March 20, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30, 2025 (Thu. – Sat. at 7:30 pm; Sundays at 2:00 pm)

    The Auditions

    • Sunday, December 8, 2024 from 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm (arrive at 7:00)
    • Monday, December 9, 2024 from 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm (arrive at 7:00)
    • Call-backs (if needed): Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at 7:00 pm
    REQUIRED: Email your preferred audition date along with your resume to the director at mattcarr@charter.net. Include a recent photo; it need not be a professional headshot; a recent “selfie” will do. Auditions will consist of prepared monologues and readings from the play.

    Audition material may be downloaded here:

     

    Preparation

    • Read the play. See above.
    • Prepare a short monologue from the play (2 minutes MAX).
    • Prepare selected readings from the play (to be provided a few days before auditions).
     
     

    The Characters (all in their late 50s - 60s)

    Ida (Female) – Diplomatic, friendly, modest, well-mannered, and well adjusted. She had a close and happy relationship with her late husband. Ida is a nurturing and sweet person – but she delivers her share of wisecracks. She is ready to move on to find male companionship again.

    Lucille (Female) Outrageous, funny, and extroverted. Ida is the feisty girl with the big personality, who just wants to have fun. Although she often provides comic relief and competes for attention from men, she also hides her heartache which she covers up with humor.

    Doris (Female) Conservative, judgmental, and reluctant to change. She still lives for her late husband, although he’s been dead for four years. Sensitive and sometimes defensive, Doris disapproves of her friends who are trying to find love again - but values their friendship and shared bonds.

    Sam (Male) The neighborhood butcher, a widower. He is easy-going, a thoroughly nice person, and a people-pleaser. Sam loved his late wife, but he is lonely and wants to have female companionship again.

    Mildred (Female) Sam’s unexpected date for a wedding party he is attending along with the three widowed friends. She is chatty, intrusive, and totally out of sync with the other three women - and with Sam too.