Website URL Monroe Actors Stage Company
AUDITIONS for Beth Henley’s dark comedy, CRIMES OF THE HEART will be held November 18 & 19 at the Historic Capitol Theatre (202 S. Main St. Waterloo, IL 62298). Check-in will be upstairs in the lobby, and auditions will take place in theatre.
Audition times will be in 15-minute increments. Please sign up for your time slot on SignUp Genius (https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4BA9AB2BAAF9C52-47706136-masc). If there are no time slots available, please email the director to set up an alternate time.
Brief synopsis: The three MaGrath sisters are back together in their hometown of Hazelhurst, Mississippi for the first time in a decade. Lenny, the eldest, never left Hazelhurst — she is the caretaker of the sisters’ cantankerous Old Granddaddy. Meg, the middle sister, left home to pursue stardom as a singer in Los Angeles, but has, so far, only found happiness at the bottom of a bottle. And Babe, the youngest, has just been arrested for the murder of her abusive husband, Zackery Botrelle. Under the scorching heat of the Mississippi sun, past resentments bubble to the surface and each sister must come to terms with the consequences of her own “crimes of the heart.”
Directed by Reagan Posey-Mank. Please direct all questions and inquiries to Reagan at reaganposey.stage@gmail.com.
There are roles for 4 female-presenting actors and 2 male-presenting actors. Auditions will consist of monologues or sides pulled from the script. Please visit the MASC website at masctheatre.org if you would like to view the side options beforehand. Character breakdowns will be listed below.
There is no specific “age limit” for this show, however, there are no children’s roles. It is suggested that auditionees be at least eighteen years old, but not mandatory. Due to some mature content, if anyone under the age of eighteen is cast, they will need to provide a parent or guardian’s signature on a parental consent form to participate.
All rehearsals and performances will take place at the Historic Capitol Theatre in Waterloo (202 S. Main St. Waterloo, IL 62298). No roles are precast; all roles are available. We will not be accepting any virtual auditions at this time. No roles in this production are paid; everyone at Monroe Actors Stage Company is a volunteer!
Rehearsals will be held Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings from 6:30-9:30pm unless otherwise specified. Tech week rehearsals will be Jan. 26-30. Performance dates are Jan. 31-Feb. 2 and Feb. 7-9, 2025.
CONTENT WARNING: Crimes of the Heart contains references to attempted suicide and verbal descriptions of domestic violence.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWNS:
(Age ranges are guidelines and not set in stone.)
Rebecca “Babe” Botrelle (née MaGrath) – (Female-presenting, 18-30) The youngest MaGrath sister, this character has shot her husband, Zackery, a powerful and wealthy lawyer.
Chick Boyle – (Female-presenting, 21-35) The sisters’ first cousin, this character is a very demanding relative, extremely concerned about the community’s opinion of her.
Barnette Lloyd – (Male-presenting, 18-30) Babe’s lawyer, an ambitious, talented attorney, who also seems to have a strong attraction to Babe.
Lenora “Lenny” MaGrath – (Female-presenting, 25-40) The oldest MaGrath sister, this character is frustrated after years of carrying heavy burdens of responsibility; she loves her sisters but is also jealous of them.
Margaret “Meg” MaGrath – (Female-presenting, 21-35) This character is the middle sister who returns to Mississippi from Los Angeles, where her singing career has stalled and where she had a nervous breakdown.
Doc Porter – (Male-presenting, 25-40) Meg’s old boyfriend.