Early One Evening at the Rainbow Bar and Grille

by Bruce Graham
Directed by Michael Day
Produced by Kate Charlesworth-Miller
Stage Manager Casey Merkey

Production Kickoff: August 06, 2023

Audition: August 13, 2023

Performance Dates

Oct. 20, 21, 27, 28, Nov. 3, & 4, 2023 at 8:00PM
Oct. 29 & Nov. 5, 2023 at 2:00PM

Unless specifically noted, all roles are open to all regardless of race or ethnicity.

  • Character ages are targets, but the director is not locked into them.
  • These are real people, facing their potential ends (with one notable exception).
  • Please refer to special notes for Shep, Shirley, and Virginia.

  • Shep – (plays early 30s) A writer on the brink of publication. Now working as a bartender in a little off-the-highway town. Sees the good in everyone. Has occasional bouts of sarcastic humor. Pragmatic, almost to the point of being too black-and-white. Stays calm, for the most part, while all around him are melting down. Resigned to his fate.
    Must have moments of "intimacy" with Shirley (at the very least being kissed by her) and later with Virginia (full consensual mouth-on-mouth kissing). There will be an intimacy coordinator involved in the production.
  • Roy – (20s to 50s) Car mechanic. Good natured. Gullable. A few bricks shy of a load. The elevator doesn't go all the way up. Kind of dumb. But loveable.
  • Willy – (30s to 40s) Has a survivalist mentality. Angry, with a temper with a short fuse. Has a "list" and has begun checking people off it.
  • Bullard – (plays 50s) Blowhard traveling salesman. Flashy. What he lacks in personal charisma, he believes he can make up for with cash and his car.
  • Shirley – (plays late 30s to late 40s) Co-worker of Shep at the bar. Been treated hard by life, but is a survivor. More intelligent than anyone has ever given her credit for. Desperate to be loved and appreciated.
    Must have moments of "intimacy" with Shep (at the very least kissing him). Must also have a physical altercation with Virginia. There will be an intimacy coordinator and fight choreographer involved in the production.
  • Virginia – (plays lates 20s to mid 30s) Health and Phys-Ed teacher - NOT GYM - at the local school. Professional, no nonsense. Suspicious. Loves her family.
    Must have moments of "intimacy" with Shep (full consensual mouth-on-mouth kissing). Must also have a physical altercation with Shirley. There will be an intimacy coordinator and fight choreographer involved in the production.
  • Joe – (50s to 70s) Charming, compassionate, avuncular with a sense of humor. Self-deprecating. Insistent on convincing Shep to take on his writing project. Is God.
    Special Note: Over the years, the question frequently arises - Can Joe be played by a woman? Unfortunately, based on various script elements, Joe needs to be played as male.

It's the mid-80s, and the whole world is on fire - literally. Aspiring writer Shep, currently tending bar in a little out of the way town, is resigned to his fate. A mysterious stranger - who happens to be God - arrives in town offering, Shep the opportunity to survive the apocalypse - IF he'll write a new Holy Book - including all the good parts and leaving out all the bad parts from all of the sacred texts from around the world. The stranger has also decided that the school's phys-ed teacher, Virginia, should be the editor. Four other characters from the town join Shep and Virginia, and each will decide how they will deal with the apocalypse.

Michael is excited to be returning to the director chair at Curtain Playerss for Early One Evening at the Rainbow Bar and Grill. Past CP shows he has directed include Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Dial M for Murder, and Arsenic and Old Lace (the 2008 production). In 2022, he directed One Slight Hitch and Slow Food at Eclipse Theatre. At CP, in addition to directing, Michael has also stage managed multiple productions, including Proof, Dinner With Friends, and Our Town, has designed multiple sets, including Proof, ...Virginia Woolf, and Gods of Comedy. He has also served on the CP board in the past as both Treasurer and Production Manager. He's a computer geek by profession and the father of 3 adorable 4-legged kids.

When

  • Production Kickoff: Sunday, August 06, 2023, 6:30 pm
  • Audition: Sunday, August 13, 2023

Where

Production Kickoff, auditions, and performances take place at:
Curtain Players Theatre
5691 Harlem Road, Galena, OH 43021

Curtain Players offers an information session for each of its productions as a help for actors seeking roles, but attendance is not required to audition. The event is an opportunity for actors to become acquainted with the community theatre organization, to discuss the play with the director, and to ask questions about the audition process, rehearsal period, and production plans. Those interested in working behind the scenes are also invited to attend.

Curtain Players conducts open auditions for its productions. Roles are not cast in advance, and, unless specified otherwise in the role's description, are open to all without regard to race or ethnicity. Casting decisions are made by the director and a casting committee comprised of a member of the theatre board, a general member of the organization, and individuals of the director's choosing.

Those auditioning are asked to prepare a 1-minute monologue, any genre, which does not need to be memorized. These monologues should NOT be from this script. If you are not able to prepare one ahead of time, you will be given one to work. This is asked so that I get a feel for how you approach the script work.

Readings from the script will also be performed. Each person will be given the opportunity to read at least twice.

Please come prepared to note all of your rehearsal conflicts, including weekend afternoons.
Please see What to Expect at Rehearsal tab for more information.

Questions can be emailed to the director at curtain.rainbow.director@gmail.com.

Requests for an early audition for Early One Evening at the Rainbow Bar and Grill must be made no later than July 30, 2023.

Questions related to the audition process may be directed to production@curtainplayers.org.


My hope is to distribute scripts as soon as possible after casting. The first couple of weeks will consist of table work, during which we will work on character and relationship development. After that, we will get on our feet as soon as possible to begin blocking work.

I anticipate we will begin with 3 to 4 rehearsals per week, moving to 4 to 5 per week a few weeks prior to opening.
My ideal is to rehearse at least one weekend afternoon each week; we will never rehearse both Sunday afternoon and evening, except on Tech Sunday.

The rehearsal schedule will be determined based on cast availability and conflicts.
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