The Joliet Drama Guild will be extending their  open auditions for “You Can’t Take It With You,” by George S. Kaufman & Moss Hart, to Monday, August 25 and Tuesday, August 26 at 7 pm inside the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre at 201 W. Jefferson.   Director  Marty Kaspar will be looking for 9 men and 7 women (3 extras) of various ages for this comedy, Alice Sycamore is love with Tony Kirby, yet Alice is reluctant to let Tony’s family meet her family, for the Sycamores are an eccentric clan of fierce individuals, each pursuing their own unusual interests with uncommon zeal. Led by tax-evading Grandpa, the Sycamores see no reason to conform to anyone else’s idea of “normal”.  Although he had very talented people already audition on the 18th & 19th, Marty still needs a lot more people to fill all the parts.  Although you don't have to be 21 or older, you need to at least look that old.  Readings will be taken from the script.   

The cast descriptions follow:
Penelope Sycamore:  Mother of Essie and Alice, wife of Paul, and daughter of Martin. She writes plays and paints as hobbies but is terrible at both. She never finishes any job she starts.
Essie Carmichael:  Wife of Ed, daughter of Penelope and Paul Sycamore, Granddaughter of Martin, sister of Alice. She is childish. As a hobby she makes candy that Ed sells. Essie dreams of being a ballerina. She has spent 8 years studying with Boris Kolenkhov but in reality is terrible at dancing.
Rheba:  The maid and cook to the Sycamore family. She is dating Donald. In the words of Mrs. Sycamore, "The two of them are really cute together."
Paul Sycamore:  Father of Essie and Alice, husband of Penelope, Son-in-law of Martin. He is a tinkerer who manufactures fireworks in the basement with the help of his assistant Mr. De Pinna. His hobby is playing with erector sets.
Mr. DePinna:  The ice man who came inside to speak to Paul and never left. He helps Mr. Sycamore build fireworks, and moonlights as a model in Mrs. Sycamore's paintings.
Ed Carmichael:  Husband of Essie, son-in-law of Paul and Penelope. He is a vibraphone player, and helps distribute Essie's candies. Ed is an amateur printer who prints anything that sounds good to him. He prints up dinner menus for his family and little quotes that he places in the boxes of Essie's candy. Those quotes get the whole family in big trouble.
Donald:  The boyfriend of Rheba. In the words of Mrs. Sycamore, "The two of them are really cute together." He loves cornflakes.
Martin Vanderhof:  Referred to mostly as Grandpa in the play. Father-in-law to Paul, father of Penelope, grandfather of Alice and Essie. He is an eccentric old man who hunts snakes and has never paid his income tax because he doesn't believe in it. He lives his life by the philosophy, don't do anything that you're not going to enjoy doing.
Alice Sycamore:  Fiancee of Tony Kirby, daughter of Paul and Penelope, Granddaughter of Martin, sister of Essie. She the only "normal" family member. She has an office job, and is rather embarrassed by the eccentricities of her family, yet deep down, she still loves them.
Wilbur C. Henderson:  An employee of the IRS. He comes to collect the tax money owed by Martin, and can't understand why Martin won't pay income tax.
Tony Kirby:  Fiancé of Alice, Son of Mr. and Mrs. Kirby. He sees how even though the Sycamores appear odd, they are really the perfect family because they love and care about each other. His own family is very proper and has many issues none of them will admit. He tries to show his parents how the Sycamores are a good family.
Boris Kolenkhov:  A Russian who escaped to America shortly before the revolution. He is very concerned with world politics, and the deterioration of Russia. He is friends with many ex Russian leaders including the Grand Duchess Olga Katrina. He is the ballet instructor of Essie, he knows she's not good at dancing, but knows that she enjoys dancing so he keeps working with her. He has a very renaissance attitude, meaning he likes the Greeks and the Romans, questions society, and is interested in world affairs.
Gay Wellington:  An actress who Mrs. Sycamore meets on a bus and invites home to read one of her plays. She is very drunk and passes out shortly after arriving at the Sycamore's home.
Anthony Kirby:  Husband of Mrs. Kirby, father of Tony. He is a very stuck up man who works at Wall Street and secretly despises his job. His hobby is raising expensive orchids.
Miriam Kirby:  Wife of Mr. Kirby, mother of Tony. She is a very prim and proper woman. She stays up with the fads of the times. Her hobby is spiritualism.
The Grand Duchess Olga Katrina:  She was the Grand Duchess of Russia before the revolution. Since then she has been forced to flee to America where she has found work as a waitress. The rest of her family has had a similar fate. She loves to cook for a hobby.

Show dates are October 31, November 1, 2, 7, 8 & 9.  For more information click here or call 815-722-1001 and press 2.

At the March Membership Meeting, we had our best turn out ever to vote for the plays for the next season.  Selecting from a wonderful list of plays from the Play Reading Committee, democracy in action selected the following shows in order will be:

You Can't Take It With You, by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart
    Director: Marty Kaspar, Producer: Jan Novotny
    Show dates October 31, November 1, 2, 7, 8, & 9, 2008
Moon Over Buffalo by Ken Ludwig
    Director: Marie Salvaggione, Producers: Jan & Tom Novotny
    Show dates February 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, & 22, 2009
The Musical Comedy Murders Of 1940, by John Bishop
    Director: Mike Manolakes, Producers: Tina Matriciano & Rae H. Williams
    Show Dates April 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, & 26, 2009
The King And I by Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein II
    Directors: Jan & Tom Novotny, Producer: Mike Manolakes
    Show dates July 24, 25, 26, 31, August 1, 2, 7, 8, & 9, 2009

Season tickets are available NOW!!  They are $35 for Adults, and $30 for Seniors or Students.  For more information on purchasing season tickets click here.

The new playreading committee will be starting up soon to decide our 77th season, which will be chosen in March 2009.  Click here if interested in helping on the new playreading committee.

If interested in helping in any of these productions or co-producing click here.

THE JOLIET DRAMA GUILD ANNOUNCES THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE 76TH SEASON

On Sunday, June 22, the JDG members voted for the new board of directors, and the new board held its first meeting recently deciding the positions.  The new board is as follows:
President                                Tom Matriciano
Vice President                       Tina Matriciano
Treasurer                                 Mike Manolakes
Secretary                                 Clare Branson
Committee Chairs:
Advertising                            Robin Christopher & Marty Kaspar
Callboard Editors                 Mike Manolakes & Rae H. Williams
Corporate Sponsors              Marty Kaspar
Group Sales                            Clare Branson
Facilities                                 Tom Novotny
House                                      Rae H. Williams
Park Liaison                           Tom Novotny
Play Reading                          Robin Christopher & Tina Matriciano
Publicity                                 Jan Novotny

If you are interested in helping on any of these committees please click on the appropriate one and you will be put in touch with the appropriate person.

Thank you to all of those who are continuing on the board and to Brenda Gilmore for her work in the last year on the board, and Marie Salvaggione for her help at the meetings.