The Actor’s Attic
The Actors’ Attic is excited to announce auditions for the first show of our 2026 season!
FAILURE: A LOVE STORY
by Philip Dawkins
Directed by MaryBeth Babcock
PERFORMANCE DATES
February 13, 14, 15 (matinee) & 19, 20, 21, 22 (matinee)
AUDITION DATES (by appointment only)
Sunday, December 14th 2-5pm
Tuesday, December 16th 5-8:30pm
(RESERVE YOUR AUDITION SLOT here: https://bit.ly/FailureAuditions
Callbacks (by invitation only)
Saturday, Dec 21 • 1–4pm
OR Sunday, Dec 22 • 1–4pm (TBD)
Auditions, rehearsals, and performances will take place at:
The Village Actors’ Theatre
425 Louisa Ave Dupo, IL
SUMMARY
Set in Chicago in 1928, Failure: A Love Story is a whimsical, musical fable that explores the impermanence of life and the permanence of love. Told in an ensemble-based, story-theatre style, the play blends vaudevillian humor with moments of authentic emotional truth. Though the story contains elements of tragedy, it remains warm, hopeful, and anything but cynical.
Nelly, Jenny June, and Gerty Fail live above their family’s clock shop near the Chicago River. By the end of 1928, each sister will meet an untimely end—one by blunt object, one by disappearance, and one by consumption. Through tuneful songs and a magical chorus, we witness their vibrant lives and discover that in the end, love endures far longer than any individual success or failure.
We will cast 8–12 actors to bring this imaginative ensemble production to life.
Audition materials will be provided inadvance. Those auditioning will be asked to prepare two of the provided monologues.
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
FEMALE-PRESENTING ROLES
Nelly Fail: early 20s, a star-to-be, sunshine, optimism and pluck
Jenny June Fail: 25-30 a go-getter, no nonsense, competitive and fiercely determined
Gertrude Fail: 25-40 oldest sister, quiet, orderly, practical…runs the family clock shop
MALE-PRESENTING ROLES
Mortimer Mortimer: 25-35 idealistic, wealthy, self-made man, optimistic; falls in love with all three Fail sisters and is devastated as he loses them one by one
John N Fail: 25-40 adopted brother of the Fail sisters, a loner, more at home with animals than humans
GENDER FLEXIBLE
The Chorus: all ages (adults over 18) encouraged (several actors will be cast): the storytellers who also play a variety of roles; this is a very large and important part of the story; looking for actors with a wide range to play multiple parts, including animals.
The Gramaphone: actor must play at least one string instrument (ukulele, guitar, banjo) and will possibly be asked to create some original music.
Please direct questions to actorsattic@gmail.com