Auditions for “The Miss Fire Cracker Contest”

Auditions for “The Miss Fire Cracker Contest”

Ramona Hillside Players in Hemet, CA will hold open auditions for “The Miss Fire Cracker Contest”.
Written by Beth Henley
Directed By Kami Martin

Auditions September 23 – 24, 2019
All auditions begin at 7:00 PM

Performance dates are November 15, 16, 17, 22, 23 & 24, 2019 @ RHP in Hemet

The audition will consist of cold readings from the script. Please come prepared with a resume, headshot, pen/pencil, and a list of conflicts.

PLOT:
The place is the small Mississippi town of Brookhaven, the time a few days before the Fourth of July. Carnelle Scott (known locally as “Miss Hot Tamale”) is rehearsing furiously for the Miss Firecracker Contest—hoping that a victory will salvage her tarnished reputation and allow her to leave town in a blaze of glory. The unexpected arrival of her cousin Elain, a former Miss Firecracker winner, (who has walked out on her rich but boring husband and her two small children) complicates matters a bit, as does the repeated threat of Elain’s eccentric brother, Delmount, (recently released from a mental institution) to sell the family homestead and decamp for New Orleans. But, aided by a touchingly awkward seamstress named Popeye (who is hopelessly smitten by Delmount) and several other cheerfully nutty characters, Carnelle perseveres—leading to a denouement of unparalleled hilarity, compassion and moving lyricism as all concerned finally escape their unhappy pasts and turn hopefully toward what must surely be a better future.

CAST OF CHARACTERS:

*** All Ages are Relative ***

Carnelle Scott – The play’s central character, Carnelle is a vulnerable and self-conscious young woman. She longs to
receive the respect and admiration that her cousin Elain won with the community years ago. Kind, generous, and a little
bit naive, she hopes to wipe away her scandalous past in Brookhaven by winning the Miss Firecracker Contest and
leaving town in a blaze of glory. The actress must be willing to dye their hair bright red, not a wig. (Lead: 20’s)

Elain Rutledge – Carnelle’s cousin and Delmount’s older sister, Elain is a former beauty queen desperately trying to hang
on to her youth and looks. As a former Miss Firecracker winner, Carnelle worships the ground she walks on. Her
confidence and elegance conceal a terrible secret: she is trapped in a marriage she has come to resent. (Lead: 30’s)

Delmount Williams – Delmount is Carnelle’s first cousin and Elain’s younger brother. He deeply loves his family but
suffers from an extremely volatile temper. Recently released from a state mental hospital, he intends to sell his
deceased mother’s home and leave town forever. Delmount is a true romantic and a connoisseur of beauty. His
obsession haunts him in the form of strange nightmares. (Lead: Late 20’s-Early 30’s)

Popeye Jackson – Popeye is a quirky young seamstress hired by Carnelle to make costumes for the contest. She wears
massive Coke-bottle glasses as the result of a childhood accident and keeps strange habits like sewing tiny outfits for
frogs. She is kind and loyal and almost immediately falls madly in love with the fiery Delmount. (Character Lead: 20’s-30’s)

Mac Sam – Mac Sam is a local carnie currently peddling balloons at the Miss Firecracker Contest. A former lover of
Carnelle’s, his “magnetic eyes” hold a great power over women. He is quite the ladies’ man but has always carried a
special torch for Carnelle. Mac Sam suffers from a number of medical maladies including alcoholism, tuberculosis, and
venereal disease which he contracted from Carnelle during her checkered youth. (Supporting Character Role: 30’s-40’s)

Tessy Mahoney – Tessy is one of the coordinators of the Miss Firecracker Contest and the ugliest girl in town. Conniving
and manipulative, she once had a brief fling with Delmount and seeks to rekindle that flame. (Supporting Character Role:
20’s-30’s)

2 responses to “Auditions for “The Miss Fire Cracker Contest””

  1. Dennis Rowley says:

    I’d like to hear about future auditions for senior roles

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