The Odd Couple by Neil Simon AUDITIONS: Monday, January 13 at 6:00 PM
Directed by: Matthew Kraft
Summary
The Odd Couple is a satirical play by American playwright Neil Simon. It opened on Broadway in 1965 and chronicles the unconventional relationship between friends turned roommates, Oscar Madison and Felix Ungar. This classic comedy opens with a friendly card game in the untidy apartment of divorced Oscar Madison. And if the mess is any indication, it’s no wonder his wife left him. Late to arrive is Felix Ungar, who has just been separated from his wife. Fastidious, depressed, and none too tense, Felix seems suicidal, but as the action unfolds, Oscar becomes the one with murder on his mind when the clean freak and the slob ultimately decide to room together. The action unfolds with hilarious results as The Odd Couple is born.
Audition details:
All are welcome to audition for The Odd Couple. For this production we are seeking performers age 18 and up.
No need to sign up for a time slot, but you need to register online before you are seen. Audition times are allocated in order of arrival. If you don’t like to wait, we recommend arriving later.
Audition date:
- Monday, January 13th – 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Location: Northern Starz - Main Stage. 5300 Alpine Drive NW. Ramsey, Minnesota 55303 (visit our website to find out more about our location here)
Callbacks:
- Wednesday, January 15th – 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
- Callbacks will be requested for select roles as needed.
- Location: Northern Starz - Main Stage
Preparing for auditions:
- Please prepare a 1-2 minute contemporary, comedic monologue and be prepared for some in-the-room discussion and direction. Callbacks, if needed, will consist of sides from the script.
- Bring a listing of all your potential rehearsal conflicts from January through the end of March 2025.
- Bring a headshot. A simple selfie is all that is needed.
- In-person auditions are strongly preferred. If you need to send in a video audition, please send in the above requirements to [email protected] no later than Monday, January 13th.
Rehearsals:
- Rehearsal will be Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings from 6-9pm January 20th - March 20th. (A few Saturday rehearsal will be scheduled depending on actor availability. All Saturday rehearsals will be 10am - 3pm).
- All cast members must be available for rehearsals during tech week March 21st - 26th, 2025 (no tech on Sunday)
Performances:
- March 27, 28, 29 at 7:00pm and March 29, 30 at 2:00pm.
- All performances will be held at Northern Starz Center for the Performing Arts
Registration: Click here to register for auditions.
Character descriptions:
Oscar Madison- a carefree, good-natured, divorced sportswriter who lives alone in a messy eight-room New York apartment. He is completely oblivious to dirt, clutter, and the overdue child-support payments about which his wife telephones weekly.
Felix Ungar- a fussy man who knows that he is difficult to live with but cannot—or will not—make any concessions or compromises.
Gwendolyn Pigeon and Cecily Pigeon- English sisters who live in the apartment building. Attractive, intellectually lightweight, and somewhat flirtatious, they accept Oscar’s invitation for dinner.
Murray- an atypical New York policeman, a good-natured clod who will never become a detective. He is one of the weekly poker players.
Roy- Oscar’s accountant. Somewhat critical of Oscar’s behavior, Roy routinely loans him money to “stay in the game.” He is another of the weekly poker players.
Vinnie- a cheapskate who goes to Florida in midsummer to take advantage of low rates and who leaves the poker game when he is ahead.
Speed- a man of simple tastes who enjoys the male camaraderie of the weekly poker sessions. He is disgusted when Felix turns their poker nights into “tea parties.”
About Us:
Welcome to Northern Starz, a nonprofit center for the performing arts located in Ramsey, MN. At Northern Starz, we celebrate the transformative power of theater, music, and dance. Our mission is to partner with the community and families to provide innovative, diverse, and quality performing arts education. All are welcome here, and we invite you to join us in our journey of creativity and expression.