Forget the saying about "a few good men," Summerset director wants men, women and children.

Monday, May 01, 2000

Forget the saying about "a few good men," Summerset director wants men, women and children. Auditions for the summer season – which will feature "Fiddler on the Roof", "Mass Appeal" and "Midsummer Mink" – are this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on May 8, from 6-9 p.m.

"Anybody that’s ever thought about coming and trying out, should give it a shot," executive director Jerry Girton said. "I would especially encourage families – it’s fun when the whole family takes part."

Girton will be directing Fiddler, which is the first largest show of the summer and the only musical. It will be performed June 18-24. Set in a small peasant town in Czarist Russia, the memorable musical revolves around the Tevye, a dairyman, his wife Golde and their five daughters, who are one of the hardworking Jewish families living as their forefathers did, observing the ways handed down to them. Girton needs 10-15 children aged six-15 for the musical, and 25-30 people aged 16 and up.

The summer’s second show, "Mass Appeal," is set for July 12-15, and will directed by James Douglass. A "brilliantly funny yet compassionate play," the two-man show had a long, critically hailed Broadway Run.

The play tells of two men, Father Tim Farley, a lover of the good things in life, and Mark Dolson, an intense and idealistic young seminarian. Farley interrupts the well-ordered world of Farley, who is comfortably ensconced as the priest of a prosperous Catholic congregation. In the final essence, according to Girton, their confrontation is a touching, yet funny, examination of the nature of friendship, courage and the infinite variety of love.

Only two actors will be chosen for the show, between the ages of 20 and 55.

"Midsummer Mink" needs four men and seven women in the cast. Robert Dudley will direct this comedy about a charity campaign manager who finds success by patterning his operations after the infamous Robin Hood.

Brigadier Rayne and his cohorts are inspired to run an operation receiving stolen furs and giving their profits to charity, but gradually their well-intentioned operations become more dangerous.

Finally, with the house full of furs and a police inspector making inquiries, they decide to retire -temporarily.

"Midsummer Mink" runs July 26-29.

Girton said any prospective actors or actresses who can’t make the tryouts may phone him at 433-0595 and reschedule.