Eventide Arts Theatre
and director Steve Reynolds
will be holding auditions for
"Dancing at Lughnasa" by Brian Friel

This extraordinary play, widely regarded as Friel’s masterpiece, is his haunting memory of the five unmarried Mundy sisters. Named for Friel’s mother and aunts, they live in a modest cottage in County Donegal in north-west Ireland. On the threshold of the festival of Lughnasa, in the autumn of 1936, the household revolves around seven year old love-child, Michael, the Mundy’s brother, Uncle Jack, recently returned from 25 years of missionary work in a leper colony in Uganda, and the drifter Gerry who makes a surprise visit allowing Michael to observe his father for the first time. The sisters, with unfailing courage and sweet forgiveness share their hopes and frustrations and sometimes dance in wild celebration of their way of life before it changes forever.

DANCING AT LUGHNASA opened on Broadway in October, 1991 and won the 1992 Tony Award for Best Play.    

AUDITION TIMES:

Tuesday, June 16th @ 6:30 pm

Thursday, June 18th @ 6:30 pm

(You will be given the chance to briefly prepare a reading from the script)

Auditions will be held at

The Gertrude Lawrence Stage,

Dennis Union Church,

713 Main Street, Rte 6A, Dennis Village

Rt 6A & Old Bass River Road

(Back Entrance)

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Audition Details

Roles to be cast:

Kate Mundy 40’s-50’s

Kate is the eldest of the Mundy sisters and behaves as a Mother figure as a result. As a schoolteacher, she is the only wage-earner in the house, but her reputation as 'The Gander' in the schoolroom is seen to extend into the household.

Maggie Mundy 30’s-40’s

In place of a career, Maggie acts as the chief family homemaker. Throughout the play she is revealed as serving a deeper purpose as the "joker" of the family, defusing tensions as they arise.

Christina Mundy 20’s-30

Chris is the youngest of the Mundy sisters, and, like Maggie, has no paid job. Gerry Evans fathered her son, Michael, seven years ago.  Chris, though described as “far too pale,” is the family “beauty.”

Rose Mundy 30’s

Rose behaves much younger than her years, due to a developmental disability. This condition makes her particularly vulnerable yet full of innocent joy. She is particularly close to her older sister, Agnes, with whom she knits gloves to sell in the town.

Agnes Mundy 30’s-40’s

Agnes is quiet and contemplative, knitting gloves with Rose whilst also helping to keep the house in order; along with Maggie. She appears to be silently infatuated with Gerry and is quick to leap to his defense.

Gerry Evans 30’s-40’s

Gerry Evans is initially portrayed as an intensely negative character, for having left Chris after fathering her illegitimate son, Michael. However, upon his first appearance in the play, Gerry is shown to be charming and genuinely affectionate towards Chris. His current job as a gramophone salesman (and his former job as a ballroom dancing instructor) represent his freedom in sharp contrast to the stagnant lives of the Mundy sisters. He is seen walking and dancing  in and out of their lives as he chooses.

Michael Evans (main character) 40’s-60’s

Michael does not appear onstage as a child, but his 7 year old presence is alluded to by the other characters.  The adult Michael acts as a warm and sympathetic narrator, not only dictating the action as it goes on, but revealing the futures of the other characters in the play.

Rehearsals begin August 24th with performances starting October 15th and running for four consecutive weekends through November 8.

Questions can be directed to:

Toby Wilson, Eventide Arts Artistic Director, at 774-521-8055

There is a small stipend available for actors and stage crew.