Audition Notice – It’s Only a Play
Old Academy Players is pleased to announce the audition date for its 2025 production of It’s Only a Play by Terrence McNally. It’s Only a Play will be performed at the Old Academy Players theater located at 3544 Indian Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA from November 7th, 2025 through November 23rd, 2025. The play is directed by Sarah Labov (Recent: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Fast Girls).
Audition Date and Time: Saturday June 14th, 2025 at 10:30 am.
Actors will be seen in the order they arrive. Upon arrival please sign in at the desk. Sign in will close at 12:30 pm.
*All roles are non-union, non-paying*
*Old Academy Players is committed to inclusive casting *
Location of Auditions: Old Academy Players is located at 3544 Indian Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA in East Falls. There is free parking on site, located behind the theater.
Audition Requirements:
Director, Sarah Labov, is seeking 2 women and 5 men for this hilarious comedy.
• Auditions are in person, on site at the listed date and time.
• Prepare a 1-minute comic monologue in addition to the monologue linked here [
https://oldacademyplayers.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Its-Only-a-Play-Audition-Monologues.pdf] for your character: Virginia, Julia, James, Peter, Frank, Ira, Peter, Gus
o Some auditioners may be asked to do a cold reading from the script.
o Gus needs to sing – see his role description and monologue for more info
• Bring an up-to-date headshot
o (photo will not be returned)
• Bring your theater resume
• Be prepared to list your possible conflicts with the rehearsal schedule.
Rehearsals:
• 2-3 different weekday evenings at 7pm
• Not all roles will be called for each rehearsal.
• Full schedule will be developed with casts availability – can include weekends.
• Mandatory Full cast dates provided at auditions
Performance Dates:
Fridays and Saturdays: November 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, and 22 at 8:00 pm.
Sundays: November 9, 16, and 23 at 2:00 pm. *Additional performance may be added
If cast, you will also be required to:
• Assist hospitality for one performance of “Crimes of the Heart”
• Attend the free club night for “Crimes of the Heart” on September 10th”
• Assist with Set & Strike/Build on Sunday September 28th 5pm
Story:
It’s the opening night of The Golden Egg on Broadway, and the wealthy producer Julia Budder is throwing a lavish party in her Manhattan townhouse. Downstairs the celebrities are pouring in, but the real action is upstairs in the bedroom, where a group of insiders have staked themselves out to await the reviews. The group includes the excitable playwright; the possibly unstable wunderkind director; the pill-popping leading lady, treading the boards after becoming infamous in Hollywood; and the playwright’s best friend, for whom the play was written but who passed up this production for a television series. Add to this a drama critic who’s panned the playwright in the past and a new-in-town aspiring singer, and you have a prime recipe for the narcissism, ambition, childishness, and just plain irrationality that infuse the theatre—and for comedy. But don’t worry: This play is sure to be the hit they have all been hoping for.
Roles:
• James Wicker: An egotistical but insecure comic actor, a TV series star who passed up the chance to play the lead role, originally written for him.
• Peter Austin: A nervous and excitable playwright, struggling to reach the level of past playwrights.
• Julia Budder: A first-time producer, a genuine and kind person amidst the chaos.
• Virginia Noyes: A dissolute actress star of the play, facing legal issues and substance abuse. Wears an ankle monitor. Diva of all Divas, she has left Hollywood returning to Broadway in a final attempt to re-ignite her career.
• Frank Finger: An egomaniacal, "genius" British director.
• Ira Drew: An insecure theater critic with writing aspirations of his own.
• Gus: A polite, naive farm boy with dreams of a Broadway career. Arrived in NYC today, was spotted by a “manager” who got him his first break – coat check at this opening night party. H is star struck and believes he is ON HIS WAY! He has a sweet, clear, true singing voice. He sings "Defying Gravity" from Wicked.
If planning to audition, contact the director in advance if you can. You may email a digital copy of your headshot and resume as well as bringing a hard copy to the audition.
Contact: Director Sarah Labov:
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