All posts by Scott Fudali

Main Stage, Past Auditions, Previous Shows

Audition Notice: Is Murder Tax Deductible?

for West Allis Players’ production of:
Is Murder Tax Deductible?
by Katherine Beeson

We are so excited to present this vintage murder mystery/comedy for our summer show in 2024!  This show is written and directed by Katherine Beeson.  It was recently performed in Michigan, will be performed in Florida and a publisher in Oregon is considering publication; needless to say, Katherine is thrilled!!!

Audition Dates:
May 5 & 6, 6:30 pm
Central Auditorium
West Allis Central High School
85th and Lincoln Ave

Looking for 11 actors. 6m/5f

We are looking for energetic actors who want to have fun while delving into great characters and honing their craft. Hope to see you there! Preregistration is not needed! Photos may be taken.

Auditions will consist of reading from the script. The script can be downloaded from the link below if desired.  A short explanation of the show will begin each audition night.  (There will be no warm-up games.)  Reading will include Helen and the Detective, Bella and Carol and the Detective and Harry Perkins

Show Synopsis:
The show is set in spring of 1951.  Brian Merring, the co-owner of the CPA firm, Dett and Merring, is supposedly found murdered in his office. Suspected of his murder are two disgruntled clients, an unhappy ex-wife, a sleazy landlord and a wise-cracking secretary. But his personal appointment book listed a mysterious late-night meeting – did his last visitor have a motive for murder?

Character Information:
Brian Merring: 35+ accountant, lead role
Bella Matthews:  30+ Loyal company secretary, lead role
Detective Phillip Bartholemew: 45+, “Columboish” yet grizzly detective with an attitude, lead role
Carol Matthews: 35+ ex-wife with an agenda, supporting role
Harry Perkins: Any age; an “honest” businessman with shady background, supporting
Melvin Temple: Any age, disgruntled client with a dark side, supporting
Barry Silks: Any age, landlord of building, a bit slimy, supporting
Helen Conor: Any age, cleaning lady who does not miss much, supporting
Ben: Janitor – tiny role and may be eliminated
Jane: Another cleaning lady whose role may be expanded.
Another Secretary: Tiny but pivotal

Performances will be July 12 – 14 and 19 – 21 2024.

Script Download: Here
Audition Form: Here

For more information contact us
at info@westallisplayers.org or directorlady@att.net
 
Main Stage, Previous Shows

A Thank You Letter from The West Allis Players

With our run of Love Letters coming to a close, we thought it appropriate to write a little letter of our own….

Dear Community,

We want to thank you for coming out to see our production of Love Letters by A.R. Gurney!

It was a short rehearsal process, with only a month to prepare for a one weekend run, but our six actors were more than up to the task of bringing the fifty years of written communication between Andy Ladd and Melissa Gardener to life!

To Ben, Maria, Lance, Valentina, Paul, and Antoinette: Thank you for sharing your talents with not only the West Allis Players, but the audiences as well. We were glad to have you and we hope to see you again at future auditions!

To Sarah, our stage manager: Despite being behind the scenes, your contributions have NOT gone unnoticed! Thank you for all that you were able to do to keep everything running!

To Stacy Madson, our director: Thank you for taking a unique approach to this incredible story! From staging the show in the round to having more actors take on the role of Andy and Melissa, this was an incredible staging and we are fortunate that you choose to share your talents with us!

To the Audience: THANK YOU for coming to see Love Letters! We are so glad we could share this incredible story with so many of you!

We look forward to seeing you again at West Allis Central in July for Is Murder Tax Deductible?

Sincerely,
The West Allis Players

Main Stage, Previous Shows

Love Letters Cast List & Ticket Info

By: A.R. Gurney
Directed By: Stacy Madson

Performance Location:
Liberace Auditorium
5048 W. Greenfield Ave.
West Milwaukee

The Cliff Notes:
When Andrew Makepeace Ladd III accepts an invitation to Melissa Gardner’s birthday party, and Melissa writes a thank-you note to ask just why he got her “The Lost Princess of Oz” (answer: she looks like a lost princess), a romantic friendship and correspondence destined to last for almost half a century is born. Both from affluent, East Coast families — Melissa has more money, but Andy has better parents — the friends communicate with each other through angst-ridden boarding school experiences, European adventures, failed marriages, and the ups and downs of career. Over the course of their lives, Andy and Melissa’s relationship goes through many changes, as the sometimes-sweethearts/sometimes-friends go through periods of estrangement, and the intense, clandestine affair which will accelerate Melissa’s emotional breakdown. Despite the painful differences which will ultimately tear them apart, they remain each other’s most trusted confidante, and are “true lovers” on paper, if not on the earth. A.R. Gurney’s Love Letters is a tender, tragi-comic, and nuanced examination of the shared nostalgia, missed opportunities, and deep closeness of two lifelong, complicated friends.

The Cast List:

Character NameActor Name
Younger MelissaMaria Bunczak Schmidt
Younger AndrewBenjamin Binversie
Middle MelissaValentina Fox Sales
Middle AndrewLance Odom
Older MelissaAntoinette Stikl
Older AndrewPaul Weir





Production TeamTeam Member
DirectorStacy Madson
Stage ManagerSarah Moglia
Set DesignerScott Fudali / Stacy Madson
Set ConstructionScott Fudali & Cast/Crew
Lighting DesignerScott Fudali
Sound DesignerScott Fudali
Lighting TechnicianKatherine Beeson
Sound TechnicianKatherine Beeson
Props MastersStacy Madson
Box OfficeMike Jablonski



Ticket Information
Tickets can be purchased ahead of time by visiting our online ticket site here. *Note, this will open in a new tab.

Tickets can also be purchased at the door.
Adult: $18.00
Seniors: $16.00
Children (12 and under): $12.00

For any additional show questions, feel free to drop us a note at info@westallisplayers.org. See you at the show!

Main Stage, Past Auditions, Previous Shows

Audition Notice: Love Letters

for West Allis Players’ production of:
Love Letters
by A.R. Furney

February 5 & 6, 6:30 pm
Liberace Theater
West Milwaukee Intermediate School
55th and Greenfield Ave

Looking for 6 actors. 3m/3f
Ages 14 to 65+

Auditions will consist of reading from the script.  Actors are also invited to present a monologue (no need to memorize) if desired.

Show Synopsis:
Love Letters follows a couple’s relationship ebbs and flows through their writings to each other from age 8 to adulthood.  Since Love Letters requires little memorization, rehearsals will include deep character study, offering actors a chance to hone their craft with director Stacy Madson.

Character Information:
The show will be cast with three couples playing all the ages of the two characters.

Performances will be March 8, 9, 10, 2024.

For more information contact us
at info@westallisplayers.org or directorlady@att.net
 
General

Here Ye, Here Ye…the Bard Is Back!

But only for one night – November 11th at 7:00 PM!

if you missed the West Allis Players Spring 2023 production of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised], you’ve got a one night chance to see it, and help benefit Mt. Hope Theatre and community theater. Tickets are only $10 and will be available at the door.

Performance Location:
Mt. Hope Lutheran Church
8633 W. Becher St.
West Allis, WI 53227

The Cliff Notes:
Want a show that parodies the plays of the great William Shakespeare? Think that Shakespeare is normally too long to go see? Do you lose count of how many characters there are in Shakespeare’s shows? Do you want actors to break the fourth wall and talk to you and with you rather than at you?

If you answered yes to any of those questions, then do we have the show for you! For those keeping track, that would be 37 plays in less than two hours. That’s only a little over $0.27 per play. An crazy amazing value!

The Cast List:
This is one of those shows…everyone is playing tons of Shakespearean characters. So many in fact, we’re just going to list the talent that will be bringing the characters to life.

Mary Beth TopfPat Kaiser
Derek JacobsBill Kaiser
Randy Tranowski
The Cast