The Sheboygan Theatre Company announces that open auditions for “Our Town,” the third production of the Seventy-Fifth Anniversary season, will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 9 and 10.

Written by Thornton Wilder, “Our Town” is an American classic and a Pulitzer prize-winning play. An incredibly beautiful and theatrically rich piece that describes life in Grovers Corners, New Hampshire, at the turn of the 19^th century, this literary masterpiece explores life, death and the hereafter as experienced by small town America.

The show is an actor’s dream and the perfect show for anyone who ever wanted to be on stage. Of the 36 performers needed, over half will be seen in small, extra, walk-on parts.

The Stage Manager narrates the story through a series of long monologues, while the central characters, Emily Webb and George Gibbs, are involved in life’s biggest moments. Their parents – Mr. and Mrs. Webb and Dr. and Mrs. Gibbs – are also large roles.

Supporting parts include eleven-year-olds Joe & Si Crowell, Wally Webb and Rebecca Gibbs as well as townspeople Howie Newsome, Mrs. Soames. Constable Warren, Simon Stimson, Sam Craig and Joe Stoddard. The remaining cast members double and triple as assistant stage managers, wedding guests, choir members, dead people at the cemetery, mourners and even audience members

Though auditions do imply some competition, the process is made as pleasant as possible. Nothing need be prepared and everyone is given ample opportunity to try out multiple times. Direction is given along the way and no one needs to fear that he or she will in any way be embarrassed. While much of the audition will merely involve reading scenes from the script, there will be some pantomime, which is crucial to the style of the show.

Initial auditions will take place at the Horace Mann Middle School Library, 2820 Union Avenue, Sheboygan, on Tuesday, December 9, with sessions beginning at 5:00 p.m. for youngsters 11 to13 years of age and at 6:30 for adults. If callbacks are required they will be held on Wednesday, December 10.

Scripts are available for loan through the Theatre Company’s office in the Community Recreation Department. They may be picked up Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. but must be returned by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 9.

“Our Town” will run from February 6 through 14, 2009, with rehearsals beginning Monday, December 15. Over an eight-week period there will be approximately 30 rehearsals, the majority of which will be Monday through Friday, 6:30 to 10:00 p.m. There will be two weekend rehearsals on the afternoons of January 31 and February 1. There will be no rehearsals between December 19 and January 4.

For further information contact Ralph Maffongelli at 459-3779.