Portland Players is excited to announce auditions for The Play That Goes Wrong.

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From the publisher: “From Mischief, Broadway masters of comedy, comes this smash-hit farce. Welcome to opening night of the Cornley University Drama Society’s newest production, The Murder at Haversham Manor, where things are quickly going from bad to utterly disastrous. This 1920s whodunit has everything you never wanted in a show: an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead, and actors who trip over everything (including their lines). Nevertheless, the accident-prone thespians battle against all odds to make it through to their final curtain call, with hilarious consequences! Part Monty Python, part Sherlock Holmes, this Olivier Award-winning comedy is a global phenomenon that’s guaranteed to leave you aching with laughter!”

AUDITIONS:

 

Monday, November 16, 2026, 6 pm-9 pm

Wednesday, November 18, 2026, 6 pm-9 pm

Callbacks: Friday, November 20, 2026, 6 pm-9 pm

 

*We strongly encourage prior registration. Please use Schedule Your Audition to select a 30-minute slot. Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to complete the full audition form.

**If you are unavailable on either audition date or have any other questions regarding auditions, please email volunteer@portlandplayers.org  to inquire about other arrangements.

***Everyone who auditions at Portland Players will be contacted with the result of their audition. Those asked to return for callbacks will be contacted by the Director or Producer and provided with additional details.

LOCATION: Portland Players, 420 Cottage Rd., South Portland, Maine 04106

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CASTING

Please note that this production will require significant physical acting on the part of performers and will require a commitment to and comfort with physicality, including:

• Comfort with heights

• Pratfalls/tumbling

• Stage combat

• Lifting/being carried by other performers

• Stunts

• Staged Intimacy

Previous experience in the above is not required, but a willingness to learn and the confidence to engage in them are a must!

 

PERFORMANCE DATES:

Dates: February 5, 2027 - February 21, 2027

Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.

Sundays at 2:30 p.m.

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AUDITION TEAM:

Director: Jeff Servetas

Assistant Director: Sumner Pratt

Stage Manager: Alex Garbeck

Producer: Giselle (Gigi) Paquette

REHEARSALS:

Rehearsals will generally be scheduled for Sunday afternoon, Monday night, Tuesday night, and Thursday night. Not all performers will be required at every rehearsal, and the team will do their best to accommodate schedules.

*You must be able to attend all of tech week and performances to be cast.

Tech Week will be Sunday, January 31, 2027 - Thursday, February 4, 2027

WHAT YOU NEED FOR THE AUDITION:

• Please be familiar with the story and content of this show before auditioning.

• You may bring a current resume and headshot if available.

• If unable to complete the audition form prior to your audition date, be prepared to list all of your conflicts between November 20, 2026, and February 21, 2027.

• Please arrive approximately 15 minutes prior to your scheduled audition time. Remember to complete the audition form that will be emailed to you after you sign up.

Please prepare a “1 Minute” (45 seconds to 1 minute 15 seconds) monologue from either the examples provided below or your own chosen alternative. Please note: there will be no preference given to performers who choose either a provided monologue or bring their own; they are just there to help if you want them.

View Sample Audition Monologues

During auditions, you will be asked to give a short 1-2 sentence context for your monologue and then perform it once. You will then be asked a few short questions by the audition team and then be given one more chance to perform your monologue, supported by directions given by the audition team.

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:

The production team encourages all actors of any identity (ethnic, gender, body type, etc.) to audition for whatever role inspires them. Casting decisions will be made agnostic of the identity of the auditioner.

CHRIS – The head of the drama society. Chris directed the play and plays Inspector Carter. Professional; a fairly competent performer and woefully under-prepared director. Chris works hard to steer the show in the prescribed direction, no matter how far off the rails it gets.

ROBERT – Plays Thomas Colleymoore. A brassy, boorish performer. As far as Robert is concerned, he’s a professional actor. If you ask him, he’s never made a poor acting choice in his life, and if everyone would just listen to him, everything would work perfectly.

DENNIS – Plays Perkins. Easily confused and timid under pressure. Almost certainly involved in the production as a favor to someone else. Surprisingly capable at remembering lines and stage directions, just not his own.

MAX – Plays both Cecil Haversham and Arthur the Gardener. A consummate ham discovers his appreciation for audience attention the moment he steps onto the stage. He is having the most fun of anyone in the Drama Society.

SANDRA – Plays Florence Colleymoore. Over the top and dramatic. A true diva, she is not lacking in talent but makes no effort to lose herself in her role. Rather, she hopes she is noticed as much as possible in it so she can secure her next.

JONATHAN – Plays Charles Haversham. Dutiful and somewhat scattered. Jonathan is doing his best in a relatively small role in “Haversham Manor” but appears at the end of the play to both culminate the narrative as a character and to try to steer the show as a performer, helping it to limp over the finish line.

ANNIE – The company’s stage manager. Immensely anxious and overworked. Annie likely hasn’t taken a stand for herself during the whole production process. In a crisis, she accidentally discovers she might enjoy being in front of the curtain as much as being behind it.

TREVOR – The company’s lighting and sound operator. Aloof and casual. Trevor has a job to do, and that’s what he’s focused on. He can’t help it if things go wrong in the meantime.

NOTE: While not explicitly characters in the script, this production also has a need for a heavily involved crew, which may also participate in some gags/jokes. If you would like to be considered for involvement backstage, please email volunteer@portlandplayers.org with a theater resume to express your interest.

**If you have questions, trouble signing up or accessing materials, need any accommodations, or have access needs (i.e., large print or audio/visual materials, physical accommodations, adapted space, or sensory needs), don’t hesitate to contact volunteer@portlandplayers.org. If you would like a tour or video of the audition spaces ahead of time to determine your access needs, please reach out as well.