Menomonie Theater Guild is excited to announce the upcoming auditions for our winter production of The Play That Goes Wrong. Shake off those old winter blues, and join us to take part in this hilariously problematic show! Rehearsals begin January 5, 2026 with a table read at the MTG studio building, and performances will be held at the Mabel Tainter Theatre on the weekends of 2/20/2026 - 2/22/2026 and 2/27/2026-3/1/2026.
Show Synopsis:
The Cornley University Drama Society is thrilled to present their newest production, Murder at Haversham Manor—a classic 1920s whodunit. Unfortunately, nothing goes as planned.
From the moment the curtain rises, the show begins to fall apart: forgotten lines, missing props, collapsing sets, misplaced cues, and actors who are wildly out of their depth. As the accidents grow bigger and the chaos builds, the determined cast and crew fight to keep the performance going, insisting “the show must go on” even as everything around them crumbles.
What results is a fast-paced, high-energy comedy full of slapstick, surprises, and escalating mayhem. The Play That Goes Wrong is a love letter to live theatre—and a hilarious look at what happens when absolutely everything goes spectacularly, disastrously wrong.
Character List:
Chris Bean / Inspector Carter (Male Presenting):
The tense, uptight head of the company and director of the play-within-a-play. Plays Inspector Carter. He’s desperate for the show to succeed, hates when people laugh, and has equal contempt for his cast and the audience.
Jonathan Harris / Charles Haversham (Male Presenting):
Plays the “dead body,” Charles Haversham. Mild and a little dull, but sees himself as a suave James Bond type. Physical role.
Robert Grove / Thomas Colleymoore (Male Presenting):
He plays Thomas Colleymoore. Dramatic and self-important, trying hard to be a Richard Burton type. Oblivious to others, unfazed by disasters, and locked in a power struggle with Chris Bean.
Max Bennett / Cecil Haversham / Arthur the Gardener (Male Presenting):
Brand-new actor who follows directions exactly. Childlike, eager for approval, and lights up when the audience laughs. Breaks the fourth wall often. His mistakes are huge and innocent.
Sandra Wilkinson / Florence Colleymoore (Female Presenting):
Plays Florence Colleymoore. Vain, ambitious, and desperate to be adored. Dreams of Hollywood and will do anything to get ahead. A very physical role.
Dennis Tyde / Perkins (Male Presenting):
Plays Perkins the butler. Doesn’t care about acting—he just wants friends. Audience laughter devastates him. Slightly clueless but knows when he’s messed up.
Annie Twilloil / Stage Manager (Female Presenting):
The stage manager and secretly the best actor in the company. Starts annoyed but steps in when needed. As the show falls apart, her hidden talent shines, and by the end she’s fighting for her moment.
Trevor Watson / Lighting & Sound Operator (Any Presenting):
The cranky tech who just wants the show to run. Doesn’t like actors, gets distracted easily, and sometimes interacts with the audience. Forced onstage when things go wrong—and hates it.
Stage Crew / Swing (Anyone):
The supportive backbone of the production. Loyal to Annie and willing to do anything to help keep the show afloat.
Also check out other Arts events in Menomonie, Theatre events in Menomonie, Performances in Menomonie.
