OUR TOWN by Thornton Wilder

AUDITION INFORMATION

Children Auditions: Monday, July 18th, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Adult Auditions: Monday, July 18th, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
CALLBACKS: TBA
Auditions will be held at Cambria Center for the Arts
Address: 1350 Main St, Cambria, CA 93428

● Cambria Center for the Art auditions are open to all actors and actresses, including those
who may be auditioning for the first time and professional actors.
● Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script and some ensemble-based movement
work; there is nothing formal that actors need to prepare prior to their audition slot. Actors
should wear comfortable clothes.
● No prior experience necessary; newcomers are welcome!
● Bring a headshot and resume, only if you have one!
● Know your conflicts from August 29th through October 23rd to list on the audition sheet.

Please be thorough. Some conflicts can be scheduled around if we know about them
ahead of time.

● Not all roles require callbacks. Actors needed at callbacks will be notified following each
audition (or by 10am the day of Callbacks).
● All actors will be notified of casting results following callbacks.

REHEARSAL & PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
Rehearsals will begin August 29th

(Rehearsals are usually scheduled M-TH 6-9 pm)

Performance Dates: October 7th – 23rd

SYNOPSIS
Act I: Daily Life
The Stage Manager introduces the audience to the small town of Grover's Corners, New Hampshire, and
the people living there as a morning begins in the year 1901. Professor Willard speaks to the audience
about the history of the town. Joe Crowell delivers the paper to Doc Gibbs, Howie Newsome delivers the
milk, and the Webb and Gibbs households send their children (Emily and George, respectively) off to
school on this beautifully simple morning.

Act II: Love and Marriage
Three years have passed, and George and Emily prepare to wed. The day is filled with stress. Howie
Newsome is delivering milk in the pouring rain while Si Crowell, younger brother of Joe, laments how
George's baseball talents will be squandered. George pays an awkward visit to his soon-to-be in-laws.
Here, the Stage Manager interrupts the scene and takes the audience back a year, to the end of Emily and
George's junior year. Emily confronts George about his pride, and over an ice cream soda, they discuss the
future and their love for each other. George resolves not to go to college, as he had planned, but to work
and eventually take over his uncle's farm. In the present, George and Emily say that they are not ready to
marry—George to his mother, Emily to her father—but they both calm down and happily go through with
the wedding.

Act III: Death and Eternity
Nine years have passed. The Stage Manager opens the act with a lengthy monologue emphasizing
eternity, bringing the audience's attention to the cemetery outside of town and the characters who have
died since the wedding, including Mrs. Gibbs (pneumonia, while traveling), Wally Webb (burst appendix,
while camping), Mrs. Soames, and Simon Stimson (suicide by hanging). Town undertaker Joe Stoddard is
introduced, as is a young man named Sam Craig who has returned to Grover's Corners for his cousin's
funeral. That cousin is Emily, who died giving birth to her and George's second child. Once the funeral
ends, Emily emerges to join the dead; Mrs. Gibbs urges her to forget her life, but she refuses. Ignoring the
warnings of Simon, Mrs. Soames, and Mrs. Gibbs, Emily returns to Earth to relive one day, her 12th
birthday. The memory proves too painful for her, and she realizes that every moment of life should be
treasured. When she asks the Stage Manager if anyone truly understands the value of life while they live
it, he responds, "No. The saints and poets, maybe—they do some." Emily returns to her grave next to Mrs.
Gibbs and watches impassively as George kneels weeping over her. The Stage Manager concludes the play
and wishes the audience a good night.

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN

Stage Manager (M – 35-55) – (This role is pre-cast.)
The Stage Manager is the audience’s guide and the conductor of the play’s action. An
omniscient narrator, the Stage Manager knows both past and future. He is a calm force,
focused, sometimes funny, sometimes serious. The audience should feel safe that they
are in good hands with him as their guide through the world of the play.

Dr. Gibbs (M – 45-55)
“Doc” Gibbs is husband to Julia Gibbs and father to George and Rebecca. He is a
stalwart member of the community, sometimes stern with his children, but also gentle
and humorous. He loves his family, and he loves his role as the town’s doctor.

Joe Crowell (M – 10-15)
The paperboy. Joe takes pride in his job and enjoys his regular interactions with the
other townspeople. He is polite and courteous, a quintessential ‘good boy’.

Howie Newsome (M – 20-30)
The local milkman. Gregarious and likeable. Enjoys the routine of his morning deliveries
and keeping up with the goings on around town. His appearances really help to point
out the continuity of life in Grover’s Corners.

Mrs. Gibbs (F – 35-45)
Wife to Doc Gibbs and mother to George and Rebecca. A loving but no-nonsense
mother. Has high expectations of her children and is fierce in her loyalty to her family.
She is also a romantic, who dreams of traveling to Paris, but also realizes that everything
she needs is right here in town.

Mrs. Webb (F – 35-45)
Wife to Mr. Webb and mother to Emily and Wally. Like her good friend and neighbor,
she is no-nonsense and chooses to hide her emotions sometimes in order to remain
strong for her family. We see glimpses of her softer side from time to time, and it is
obvious that she takes her role as mother very seriously.

George Gibbs (M – should be able to convincingly play 16-25)
A typical teen/young adult of the period, George is upstanding, thoughtful, smart and
sincere. His friendship and eventual love for and marriage to Emily are central to the
narrative of the play. His desire to always do the right thing and please those around
him are at the core of who he is.

Rebecca Gibbs (F – 11-14)
George’s younger sister. She is curious, insightful, smart and tenacious. Her
relationship with her brother both annoys and delights her. She thinks the world of him.
In her character, we see the potential for what all young girls can become through
changing societal expectations.

Wally Webb (M – 11-14)
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Webb and Emily’s younger brother. A typical pre-teen. A
procrastinator in school. Takes great pleasure in teasing his sister.

Emily Webb (F – should be able to convincingly play 16-25)
Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Webb and Wally’s sister. Emily is a conscientious and
excellent student. She likes helping others, especially George, be the best they can be.
She loves her family ferociously. She loves life ferociously. The play centers on Emily’s
journey to a realization that life is precious and fleeting.

Professor Willard (M – any age)
A professor at the state university. Smart, articulate and a good representative to share the statistical
data relative to the town of Grover’s Corners.

Mr. Webb (M – 45-55)
Husband to Mrs. Webb and father to Emily and Wally. Publisher and editor of the
Grover’s Corners Sentinel. He is well-read, congenial, thoughtful and loves his family
very much. He enjoys his life in Grover’s Corners and is proud of his work.

Simon Stimson (M – 30-40)
While a minor character, his struggles with hidden alcoholism and depression represent
many important things in the thematic fabric of the play. He is the choir master at the
church, and truly wants his choir to be good. He wants to be a better man than he is,
but, ultimately can’t escape his demons.

Mrs. Soames (F – 35-45)
The town gossip who sings in the choir with Mrs. Gibbs and Mrs. Webb. She is highly
energetic, almost frenetic sometimes. Her presence gives the audience a sense of other
goings on in the town. She loves a good wedding.

Constable Warren (M – 40-50)
The local policeman and a moral compass of Grover’s Corners. He is prideful, loyal and
enjoys his role as ‘protector’ in his town.

Si Crowell (M – 11-14)
Joe Crowell’s younger brother, who takes over the paper route in later years. He
possesses the same politeness and courteousness of his older brother.

Sam Craig (M – 25-35)
Cousin to the Webbs. Sam returns home for Emily’s funeral. He has the air of an
educated ‘outsider’. He left Grover’s Corners years ago and his unawareness of the
things that have happened in the town mirror that of the audience at the top of Act III.

Joe Stoddard (M – 50-60)
The town undertaker. A sensitive and compassionate man who takes his role very
seriously – knowing that he must help families do one of the hardest things that they
will ever do.

For questions, email CCATJill@gmail.com

Download the full audition packet here: