Auditions

Download Audition Calander here

All auditions are cold readings from the script and are held at the theatre,  at 2705 C. North Kaufman, Ennis, Texas 75119.  Cold readings from the script for plays and cold readings plus a prepared piece of  music for musicals. 

Rehearsals are weekday evenings with a possible pick up the 2nd weekend of the run. Please prepare a schedule of written conflicts and present it at the audition. You may also email conflicts to Bill Rhoten, Director at ennispublictheatre@yahoo.com.

If you have a conflict with the audition date, but not the run or rehearsal schedule you may arrange a different audition date with the Director through the above listed email address or by calling the theatre at 972.878 PLAY (7529)

Depending on the size of the cast and your role, you may not be required to attend all the rehearsals. 

Cold Reading from the script

The play revolves around the dysfunctional family consisting of single mother Beatrice and her two daughters, Ruth and Tillie, who try to cope with their abysmal status in life. The play is a lyrical drama, reminiscent of Tennessee Williams' style.

Shy Matilda "Tillie" Hunsdorfer prepares her experiment, involving marigolds raised from radioactive seeds, for the science fair. She is, however, constantly thwarted by her mother Beatrice, who is self-centered and abusive, and by her extroverted and unstable sister Ruth, who submits to her mother's will. Over the course of the play, Beatrice constantly tries to stamp out any opportunities Tillie has of succeeding, due to her own lack of success in life. As the play progresses, the paths of the three characters diverge: Tillie wins the science fair through perseverance; Ruth attempts to stand up to her mother but has a nervous collapse at the end of the play, and Beatrice—driven to the edge of sanity by her deep-seated enmity towards everyone—kills Tillie's pet rabbit Peter and ends up wallowing in her own perceived insignificance. Despite this, Tillie (who is much like her project's deformed but beautiful and hardy marigolds) secretly continues to believe that everyone is valuable.

Characters
This play features a small array of main characters with varying personalities. These variations and the ensuing actions of the characters induce conflicts with one another, allowing the characters to develop thoroughly, effectively making their development a driving force in the plot of the play.

Matilda "Tillie" Hunsdorfer
The main protagonist of the play. A quiet and introverted character who is teased at school. She copes with her life by immersing herself in science, hoping to reach a philosophical epiphany. Her untiring quest for her individuality stands in open defiance of her mother's wish for total control over the family. Because of this, she receives the brunt of the abuse. Tillie also owns a rabbit named Peter, given to her by her science teacher, Mr. Goodman.

Ruth Hunsdorfer
Tillie's older sister. A brash but confused adolescent, she looks to others for advice, but often gains this insight from Beatrice. Although abused as well, she often bends to her mother's will, putting her in her favor and sheltering her from the full extent of her abuse. She also takes a liking to Tillie's pet rabbit, to the point where she threatened to kill her mother if she harms him. There is evidence in the story suggesting that Ruth may have epilepsy.

Beatrice Hunsdorfer
Tillie's and Ruth's mother. A single mother whose life has gone awry, she copes with it through self-loathing, cynicism, and drug abuse, and by verbally (and at times physically) abusing her two daughters. As the play's main antagonist, Beatrice is mainly narcissistic, domineering, and lethally short-tempered, which is only worsened by the drugs. However, her plight is sympathetic, as her past reveals a life spiraling steadily downward from serendipitous circumstances, leading her to self-destruction.

Mr. Goodman
Tillie's science teacher. He serves as a mentor to Tillie. Mr. Goodman is mentioned on many occasions, but never seen, although the dialogue often implies that he is the only positive role model in Tillie's life.

Nanny
An elderly boarder in the Hunsdorfer household. Silent throughout, she doesn't contribute much beyond being yet another burden to the already stressed-out Beatrice who verbally abuses her as she does her daughters.

Mr Frank
Beatrice's Father. A deceased vegetable vendor. After his wife (Beatrice's mother) died, he raised Beatrice on his own. Although he had a lowly status, Beatrice holds him in high regard—"He makes up for all the men in the world"—and smiles imagining her daughters meeting him.

Janice Vickery
Tillie's rival at the science fair. Her experiment involved boiling the skin off a dead cat so she may use its skeleton. She plans to use a dog in her next science fair project.