Press release:

Burien Little Theatre announces auditions for the hilarious holiday comedy "Inspecting Carol," written by Daniel J. Sullivan and The Seattle Repertory Theatre. Characters range in age from teens to 60s.

Synopsis: A sidesplitting holiday hit since premiering at the Seattle Rep in 1992, "Inspecting Carol" is part "Noises Off," part "Waiting for Guffman." Almost broke, Soapbox Theatre Company is struggling to mount their annual cash cow, the holiday classic "A Christmas Carol." An inspector from the National Endowment for the Arts is expected any minute. When a young actor is mistaken for the inspector, cast and crew cater to his every whim to try to win their government funding, The result: the most hilarious and disastrous production of "A Christmas Carol" ever.

Performances and rehearsals are at Burien Little Theatre in Burien from Nov. 25 through Dec. 18, 2011.
Auditions are Tuesday, Aug. 9 and Wednesday, Aug. 10 from 7 to 10 p.m.

Callbacks are Thursday, Aug. 11 from 7 to 10 p.m. Rehearsals begin in October.
Stage director Maggie Larrick.
$100 stipend provided.
Please prepare two contrasting short contemporary monologues (serious/comedy) totaling 3 minutes maximum. Bring resume and headshot. Callbacks will consist of cold readings from the script.

Please make audition appointment: audition@burienlittletheatre.org, 206-242-5180. Auditions and callbacks will be held at Burien Little Theatre in the Annex to the Burien Community Center, 4th Ave. S.W. and S.W. 146th St.

For directions, go to www.burienlittletheatre.org.

Character Descriptions

Zorah Bloch - Founding director of The Soapbox Playhouse. Extremely self-involved. 40s/50s.

Sidney Carlton - A founding member of The Soapbox Playhouse. Kind but somewhat addled. 60s.

Dorothy Tree Hapgood - Sidney's wife. English and unable to lose her accent. Also a founding member. 60s.

Larry Vauxhall - Tough, intellectually vain. Constantly agitating to alter the Soapbox's Carol so it is more socially relevant. A founding member. 40s/50s.

Phil Hewlitt - Obsessive, usually plays the intellectual character in any Soapbox production. Also a founding member. 40s/50s.

Walter E. Parsons - African-American. Has recently taken up acting again after a stint in the armed forces. Good-natured, excitable. Mid-20s/30s.

Luther Beatty - 12-year-old. Really too big to be playing Tiny Tim, a role he has been performing two years too long. Extremely friendly. Could be played by youthful looking actor in late teens or 20s.

Kevin Emory - Nervous, in the impossible position of managing director. Afraid of Zorah. 30s-50s.

M.J. (Mary Jane) McMann - Stage manager. A realist who long ago realized the Playhouse had hit bottom. She looks on now as a bemused observer. Sharp, ironic sense of humor; cracks herself up. Also a founding member. 30s-50s.

Betty Andrews - An inspector for the National Endowment for the Arts. A forbidding appearance. 40s/50s.

Bart Frances - A pleasant youth. Dresses in motorcycle jacket and torn jeans. 20s/early30s.

Wayne Wallace - In search of a new career in acting but has no training and less talent. Affable, eager to please. Mid 20s/30s.