Audition Notice: The Cemetery Club

The Lee County Arts Center is excited to announce auditions for The Cemetery Club by Ivan Menchell.

This bittersweet comedy-drama follows three Jewish widows in Queens, New York, who meet monthly for tea before visiting their husbands’ graves. Filled with humor, heart, friendship, and emotional honesty, The Cemetery Club explores the tension between honoring the past and finding the courage to move forward.

All auditions, rehearsals, and performances will take place at the Lee County Arts Center.

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Audition Information

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Audition Dates:
Friday, August 31 at 6:00 PM
Saturday, September 1 at 1:00 PM

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Audition sessions are expected to last approximately one hour each.

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Location: Lee County Arts Center
Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script. No monologue is required.

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Please plan to stay for the full audition session.

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Callbacks are not currently anticipated.

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Rehearsal Information

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Rehearsals are scheduled to begin Monday, August 3.

Regular rehearsals will generally be held:

• Mondays

• Wednesdays

• Thursdays

Typical rehearsal times will be approximately 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM (ish), though additional time may occasionally be needed closer to opening.

Not every cast member will be called to every rehearsal. A tentative rehearsal schedule will be provided at auditions.

 

Tech Week

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Technical rehearsals are scheduled for:
September 7–10

Attendance during tech week is mandatory unless otherwise approved by the director.

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Performance Information

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Performance dates are:

• September 18, 19, and 20

• September 26 and 27

Please note: There may be opportunities to add additional performances or performance locations after the initial run of the show closes. Auditioners will be asked whether they are available and interested in participating should those opportunities arise.

Who Can Audition

 

Adults ages 18 and older are encouraged to audition.

This production calls for:

• 4 women

• 1 man

Actors should generally be able to portray characters age 60+, with the exception of Mildred, who may appear somewhat younger.

A New York Jewish accent is preferred for many of the roles, though not required.

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Character Descriptions

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Ida

Female, 60s+
Sweet-tempered and the most emotionally balanced of the trio. Ida often acts as the peacemaker between her more combative friends. After 39 years of marriage to her late husband, Murray, she is finally beginning to consider the possibility of moving forward and finding love again.

Lucille

Female, 60s+
Feisty, flirtatious, and vibrant. Lucille embraces fun and humor while masking the pain left by her late husband’s infidelity. Outspoken and larger-than-life, she is eager to date again and refuses to spend the rest of her life grieving.

Doris

Female, 60s+
Traditional, conservative, and deeply loyal to her late husband, Abe. Doris struggles with the idea of moving on and often reacts critically to her friends’ attempts to embrace life again. Sharp-tongued but ultimately vulnerable underneath her rigid exterior.

Sam

Male, 60s+
A widowed local butcher who quietly enters the women’s world after visiting his own wife’s grave. Sam is gentle, sincere, and soft-spoken, eventually developing a tender relationship with Ida.

Mildred

Female, 40s–60s
A smaller but important role. Mildred appears briefly as Sam’s wedding date, unintentionally stirring jealousy and emotional conflict among the widows.

Additional Information

• Please arrive 10–15 minutes early to complete an audition form.

• Headshots and resumes are welcome but not required.

• Scripts and audition sides will be available at auditions.

• All roles are open.

• This production contains themes of grief, aging, friendship, and romance, balanced with significant humor and warmth.

• Those cast should be prepared for an emotionally honest, character-driven rehearsal process.

Questions may be directed to: [Insert Contact Name and Email/Phone]

Join us for this touching, funny, and deeply human story about friendship, love, and second chances.

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