AUDITIONS for THE FRONT PAGE, directed by Sara James will be at Theatre Downtown on Monday, 11/11 and Tuesday, 11/12, both days at 6:30pm.* Please bring a resume and headshot if you have one and be prepared to read from the script. All roles are available. Most roles will be gender swapped from the original script. *Please arrive as close to 6:30 as you can, people will be seen in groups and individuals may be asked to stay after reading the first time.
The show will run 1.10.25-1.26.25. Rehearsals will be Sun, Mon, Tues, Thurs, and Fri starting 11.18.24.
Available Roles:
WILSON (F) a reporter for The American. A typical, hard-edged journalist, focused more on getting the scoop than on any ethical concerns
ENDICOTT (F) a reporter for The Post. A rich man who is disconnected from the hustle and bustle of the reporters' world.
MURPHY (F) A reporter for The Journal. Jaded by the sensationalism and lack of ethical boundaries in the world of journalism.
McCUE (F) a reporter for The City News Bureau. Enthusiastic for the scoop, cynical, and generally unscrupulous in journalism, with a sharp wit and humor.
SCHWARTZ (F) a reporter for The Daily News. Quick to mock or dismiss the seriousness of events. Street-smart and willing to seize any opportunity for a story.
KRUGER (F) a reporter for The Journal of Commerce. Slightly more laid back than the rest of the newsroom, but just as quick as the next guy. *Must play a stringed instrument that can be picked
BENSINGER (F) a reporter for The Tribune. Tidier and often more couth than the other reporters, she still embodies the ruthless, dog-eat-dog attitude of the newsroom.
MR. SCHLOSSER (M) The spouse of an accused person, a middle-aged man who is portrayed as somewhat frantic and emotional
WOODENSHOES EICHHORN (M/F) A police officer. Somewhat bumbling, yet fully absorbed in his craft
DIAMOND LOU (F) a small-time crook and a hustler who occasionally appears in the newsroom, to provide information or to sell a story
HILDY JOHNSON (F) A reporter for The Herald-Examiner. Witty, sharp, and ambitious but also weary of the chaotic, morally questionable world of journalism. A skilled reporter, capable of both cynicism and genuine compassion, though she’s often caught up in the whirlwind of the newsroom.
JENNIE (M/F) Member of the cleaning staff. Deadpan.
MOLLIE MALLOY (M/F) A sex worker who often works as an informant and claims she is Earl Williams' alibi.
SHERIFF HARTMAN (M/F) The sheriff of Cook County. A stereotypical lawman: dull, unhelpful, and interested mostly in maintaining his authority.
PEGGY GRANT (M) Hildy Johnson’s fiancé. Sweet, but more worldly than given credit for. Dreams of a life away from the drama of the newsroom.
MRS. GRANT (F) Peggy's mother. She’s concerned for her son’s future, particularly his marriage to Hildy.
THE MAYOR (F) The corrupt mayor of Chicago. Deeply entrenched political corruption in the city.
PINCUS (M/F) A courier for the Governor. Jittery and lacking confidence, seemingly unaware of the more manipulative aspects of the press world.
EARL WILLIAMS (M/F, Caucasian) The alleged murderer to be executed in the morning. Imprisoned for the murder of a black police officer, his mental state complicates the question of whether he is truly guilty or if his actions were the result of confusion or insanity.
WALTER BURNS (F) Editor of The Herald-Tribune. A manipulative and charismatic editor who thrives o. chaos and sensationalism. A master of persuasion, willing to go to great lengths to keep Hildy in the newsroom.
Character descriptions to come!
"The Front Page" is a fast-paced comedy by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, first produced in 1928. Set in a bustling newspaper office in Chicago, the play follows the reporters working for the Morning Post, led by the seasoned and cynical Hildy Johnson. The plot primarily revolves around Hildy's impending departure from the newspaper business to marry his fiancée, Peggy Grant, and start a new life. However, his plans are disrupted when a sensational news story breaks—a notorious criminal, Earl Williams, is about to be executed for murder, and he manages to escape from custody.
As Hildy and his colleagues race to cover the story, Hildy becomes reluctantly drawn back into the chaos of the newsroom, driven by his journalistic instincts and the pressures of the story. Meanwhile, the corrupt political figures, police officers, and other journalists add to the absurdity, each trying to capitalize on the situation for their own benefit.
The play is a satire of the sensationalism and ethics of the media industry, portraying the cutthroat competition, manipulation, and chaos that often underpin the quest for breaking news. Through its fast dialogue, humorous characters, and physical comedy, The Front Page critiques the nature of news reporting while delivering a sharp commentary on ambition, morality, and the absurdities of modern life.
The play has been adapted multiple times for film and television, most notably in the 1940 film version, His Girl Friday.
Event Venue
3004 4th Avenue S, Birmingham, AL, United States
