Tafe

One Stoplight Town
by Tracy Wells

IF you are unable to make an audition date, please email info@tafepa.org for an alternate date

Audition sides can be viewed here: Audition sides

SHOW SYNOPSIS
One Stoplight Town is a story about people from a town so small that you might drive through without taking a second look. But if you stopped for just a moment, you might see a young boy and girl fall in love, a cantankerous grocery store owner coping with change, a son returning home while a daughter thinks about leaving, a beauty queen and a drum major striking up a friendship, and a handyman taking it all in while he fixes what is broken. These stories and more are filled with fun characters, lots of humor, plenty of heart, and the theme that change comes for us all, whether we are ready or not.

CASTING

Cast of 18 plus crew 

Note: although an adult perspective, 4-5 kids are needed.

Character Breakdown:

TOM/TRISH: Town handyman. An everyman type, and often the voice of wisdom. Adult.

BOB/BARB: Grocer. Cantankerous and afraid of change. Adult.

SALLY: Girl/Woman in love. She has a sarcastic sense of humor and a teasing relationship with Jim. Is an older teen in the beginning of the show, and an adult at the end. 

JIM: Boy/Man in love. Knows how to dish it out and take it in his teasing relationship with Sally. Is an older teen in the beginning of the show, and an adult at the end.

CLARENCE/CLARA: Older Member of the community who has seen and heard it all. Provides humorous observations of town life, not unlike a certain pair of mpuppets often found in theater balconies.

MELVIN/MAUDE: Counterpart to Clarence/Clara

CASEY: Young adult who is fearful of crossing the street for reasons unknown. Eventually is able to confront their fears and succeeds.

KIDS (4+): Approximately 8-12 years old. Have an affinity for drag racing - on bicycles, that is. They idolize the older kids in town, and it shows as they try to act more grown-up. 

FLAG GIRL: Approximately 8-12 years old. Holds the flags to start the race.

TEEN GIRL: Flag girl but older, 16-17.

YOUNG EMMETT/EMMA: Jim and Sally's child. Approximately 5-7. No lines.

EMMETT/EMMA: Jim and Sally's child on his/her way to college.

RUNAWAY: A teen feeling misunderstood by her small town, contemplating leaving it all behind for the big city.

PRODIGAL SON/DAUGHTER: An adult child of the town, returning home after living in the big city for many years.

POLICE OFFICER: Keeper of the peace.

POLLY/PAULIE: Beloved diner owner and chef of the best burgers and malts in town.

FLASH: New flashy restaurant owner who believes that both sprouts and fried eggs have their place on a burger - and in this town.

GREEN BEAN QUEEN: Local Beauty Queen who is ready to die of embarrassment when she shows up for the parade on the wrong day.

DRUM MAJOR: Drum Major in the school band who also shows up on the wrong day, but who is ready to make a new friend.

MULTIPLE PROTESTORS AND TOWNSPEOPLE

General Audition Information:

An audition is one of the first pieces of a production. Whether this is your first audition or your hundredth, we would love to have you, no experience is required. Every theatre and director will do things a little differently. For main stage shows here at TAFE, everyone interested in being involved in any capacity needs to fill out an audition form. There’s no need to prep any lines, just bring yourself and a list of availability during the rehearsal period. Children under 18 must bring their parents as well.

We will call you back to read and audition with a group. This means that the first person at auditions may not be the first person to audition, as they may not fit into the group being auditioned first. We do try to take younger kids first when and if possible.

Audition material will be provided for you. Helpers are available for those who need help reading. You may leave as soon as you read unless you are asked to read again. We try to give everyone an equal amount of time so you can expect to have some wait time – we encourage all to bring a book/homework! First-timers and experienced performers all receive the same consideration. Feel free to ask questions and visit with the other parents and people auditioning.

TAFE is an educationally oriented community theatre, thus our focus is on people of all ages both in the show and in the audience. GOOD SHOW!