Tafe

Witches?! In Salem?
by Matt Cox

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

No advance preparation needed.

SHOW SYNOPSIS
Welcome to Salem Village. 1692. It’s a bad time to visit. Here, wealthy landowners want your land, local magistrates want your confession, unpopular reverends want your respect but more importantly your firewood, and everyone wants someone to be punished for something. Oh! And the newest Salem villagers, the Bloodkravens are here too. They are confused, but not letting it get in their way of having a good time.

CASTING

The original production of Witches!? In Salem?! was performed by eleven actors playing multiple characters. All roles are open to any gender for actors 16 and older. There is the possibility for up to 34 actors. 

ROLES

JENNY ANNE BISHOP
An eighth grader who got way too into her class lesson plan on the Crucible. Eventually realizes history’s fun facts may not be so fun.

THOMAS PUTNAM
A conniving, greedy soul who will do what it takes to get what he wants. His plot goes awry immediately, but he does his best to keep up with it throughout the play.

REVEREND PARRIS
A spineless, petty narcissist of a Reverend who cares most about his personal needs, gains, and firewood. He demands a respect no one gives him, at least until he becomes the defacto spiritual leader braving the new discovered evil within the village.

COTTON MATHER
A rigid Puritan minister. A real fire & brimstone type. An author who really needs to sell more pamphlets and knows how to scare his audience. His dad maybe didn’t hug him enough.

JOHN PROCTOR
A real everyman, leading actor type. Loves a good powerful monologue.

ABIGAIL WILLIAMS
A twelve-year-old girl who has seen some stuff. Intelligent, perhaps too intelligent for her own good.

BETTY PARRIS
The Reverend’s daughter. Full of confidence and nerves and the proper fear of God.

MARY WARREN
An awkward teenager of the village. She struggles with public speaking and also public accusings of her neighbors of being witches.

ANN PUTNAM JR.
A frightening child - very intense. A bit like she crawled out of a horror movie.

BELLA’LOCH
Your stereotypical witch living her best life. Has some concerns about being discovered but isn’t too worried.

XANATAR
Your stereotypical wizard. Is loving this Salem place.

GOODY GOOD
A messy street vagrant. Loves the sound of her own name.

SARAH DUSTIN
A rather ordinary woman who finds herself on the wrong side of the law.

GOODY BIBBER
A real show biz type. An older woman who joins in on the accusing, realizing that’s a pretty safe way to not be accused.

BRIDGET BISHOP
A village woman who has been through this before. Tired, confused, hoping for the best.

LYDIA DUSTIN
Quick to point fingers. Is always sending thoughts and prayers and wants everyone to know it.

MARTHA COREY
A gospel woman.

FARMER JOHN #1
A simple farmer with not many opinions.

FARMER JOHN #2
A simple farmer without too many opinions.

FARMER GEORGE
A simple farmer with one concern: farming rye.

REBECCA NURSE
The kindest, oldest woman in Salem. Great at bringing a room full of people together.

REVEREND INCREASE MATHER
An even rigid-er puritan minister. A powerful, commanding presence.

THE MAGISTRATE
An amalgamation of various magistrates, judges, and more. A monster delivering their own form of justice.

DOCTOR GRIGGS
An old doctor who really loves getting paid.

EDWARD BISHOP
A member of the Salem congregation with lots of loud and aggressive opinions.

EPHRAIM WILDES
A constable lacking confidence and conviction. Really wants to get paid above all else, but doesn’t love people being angry at him.

THOMAS PUTNAM SR.
A man on his deathbed, until he isn’t.

GOVERNOR PHIPS
A dandy English gentleman. Not a lot of government experience.

JOSEPH BALLARD
A Massachusetts man who wants to get to the bottom of his wife’s illness and is pretty sure it's witches.

A BOSTONIAN
A Bostonian with a wicked accent and lots of money.

WEIRD MEMBER OF THE CONGREGATION
A weird member of the congregation. Excited to be able to speak and for people to listen.

SIGN PERSON
A person who holds up a sign. Has strong notions towards the level of applause.

UNNAMED VILLAGER
A villager with some accusations to throw around.

SATAN
Your typical casual immortal being. Doesn’t like that their name is mixed in with this whole Salem thing. 

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!