Written by Julia Scotti
Production Team
Directed by Anita Rowland
PLOT SYNOPSIS
The 1960s have not only unleashed the power of the atom, but also the Age of Aquarius. Sex, drugs and rock are turning America upside down, and young people look to build the future through peace, love and understanding. But at 359 Walker Street in Fairview, NJ, all hell is about to break loose.
Frank Gagliardi, the patriarch of this family, is struggling to keep his family together the old-fashioned way, but while the times they are a-changin, he isn’t. He battles constantly with his contentious sister-in-law, Maria, while his wife, Nina, does her best to act as peacekeeper. His daughter Angelica has enlisted in the sexual revolution and has come out as lesbian, while his son Michael is in Vietnam, fighting in a war that Frank doesn’t understand.
It's a tale of its time, full of family, foibles, fun and of course, food.
AUDITIONS DATES: Sunday, February 9, and Monday, February 10, 2025, from 7:30 to 9:30 pm. Callback Date: TBA, only if needed.
AUDITION LOCATION: The Village Playbox, located at The First Presbyterian Church of Haddon Heights on Green Street between 7th and 8th Avenues in Haddon Heights, NJ.
PERFORMANCE DATES: (2) April 11 and 12, 2025, at the First Presbyterian Church of Haddon Heights. Curtain is 8:00 p.m. PARTICIPATION IN BOTH PERFORMANCES IS MANDATORY.
REHEARSALS: Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 7:00 - 9:30 pm.
TECH REHEARSALS: April 8 and 10, 2025 ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY.
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS: You will be asked to do cold readings from the script.
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
Age ranges listed are for the characters, not necessarily the actors.
Frank- Male, 55-60. The father of Angelica and Michael and the husband of Nina. Loud and rough around the edges, Frank has made his living as a bricklayer. The proud son of Italian immigrants, he comes from the school of hard knocks. For him, family is everything, and he has worked hard to provide for them. Frustrated by his lack of financial success, he feels like a failure despite his tough attitude. He gets mean when he drinks too much and likes to gamble. While he loves both his children, he is very proud of his soldier son but uncomfortable with Angelica’s sexuality. Frank finds himself overwhelmed by the social changes of the 1960s-. He is a die-hard Mets fan.
NINA- Female, 55-60. Wife of Frank and mother of Angelica and Michael. Nina is also of Italian heritage. She plays the traditional role of a devoted wife, deferring to her husband whom she adores, but she isn’t afraid to stand up to him when necessary. As matriarch, she is the glue that holds the family together. When cracks in the family foundation appear, she is ‘mason’ who repairs them.
ANGELICA- Female, 25-30. Daughter of Frank and Nina. Angelica is a middle-school teacher in the inner city. While still deeply immersed in her Italian culture and often forced to play referee at the noisy family dinner table, she is a contemporary woman, caught up in the cultural revolution of the 1960s. Angelica is gay, out only to her immediate family because she fears being ostracized or fired from her job if anyone else finds out. After meeting Cassie, she becomes more outspoken about the gay rights movement taking hold in the country.
MARIA- Female, 50s-60s. A retired teacher and the younger sister of Nina. She has never married. She is loud and feisty and a closeted lesbian. She loves nothing better than to needle Frank. Their verbal fencing matches take place every Sunday over the dinner table. She adores her niece Angelica and is happy she can express her sexuality in ways that she secretly wished for herself. Maria still grieves the tragic loss of a woman she loved when she was in college.
CASSANDRA (CASSIE)- Female, 25-30. African-American. Also a middle school teacher, Cassie is outgoing, bright, and funny. Despite shifting attitudes in the 1960s, Cassie and Angelica are cautious about their relationship when they fall in love. Cassie has been deeply hurt by her father’s rejection over her sexuality and in need of the acceptance, love, and closeness of family.
MICHAEL- Male, 20-25. Frank and Nina’s son, currently serving in Vietnam. Michael has a quiet strength and a good sense of humor. He and Angelica are very close and she knows she can confide in him.
FEATURED ROLES
CHRISTINE CAVANAUGH – Female, 25-30. friend of Angelica and colleague. Straight. She is actively seeking a significant other in her life.
JOANNE KAVAKIAN – Female, 25-30. Another colleague of Angelica. She’s loud, colorful and boisterous. She’s the kind of person who can’t be ignored when she enters a room.
SKIP THE GAS STATION ATTENDANT/YOUNG LIEUTENANT- 20-25. Boyish looks.
TOLL TAKER/ARMY CHAPLAIN- Middle aged.
Any questions, please email at [email protected]
Event Venue
28 Seventh Avenue, Haddon Heights, NJ, United States, New Jersey 08035
