Elgin Theatre Company to audition for "Beau Jest"

The Elgin Theatre Company will hold auditions for its production of "Beau Jest."

The comedy, written by James Sherman, will be directed by Julie Price. "Beau Jest" is the final production of Elgin Theatre Company's 2014-2015 season.

Auditions will be held at the H. Rider Center on the fourth-floor of Elgin Academy, Kimball Street and Dundee Avenue in Elgin.

You can see the ETC website, www.elgin-theatre.org, for driving and parking information.

Auditions will be held on Monday, April 6, from 7 to 9 p.m.; Tuesday, April 7, from 7 to 9 p.m.; and Wednesday, April 8, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. for possible callbacks. You will be notified.

You will do a one-minute comedic monologue. Be prepared to stay until 9 p.m. or until dismissed for cold readings of the script. Bring a list of all scheduling conflicts.

Rehearsals will be Sunday afternoons, with two evening rehearsals a week. Tech week will be June 7-11. Attendance is required.

The cast consists of 2 women and 4 men. The characters are:

• Sarah Goldman - late 20s to mid 30s

• Chris, her boyfriend - late 20s to late 30s

• Bob, her escort - late 20s to late 30s

• Joel, her brother - late 20s to late 30s

• Miriam, her mother - 50-plus

• Abe, her father - 50-plus

"Beau Jest" will be presented at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays, June 12-21, at the H. Ryder Center, Kimball Street Theater, Elgin Academy, Elgin

In the play, Sarah is a nice Jewish girl with a problem; her parents want her married to a nice Jewish boy. They have never met her boyfriend, a WASP executive named Chris Kringle. She tells them she is dating a Jewish Doctor and they insist on meeting him. She plans a dinner party and, over the heated protests of Chris, employs an escort service to send her a Jewish date to be Dr. Steinberg. Instead, they send Bob Schroeder, an aspiring actor who agrees to perform the impersonation. Happily, he's extremely convincing in the role and Sarah's parents are enraptured. Soon, even Sarah falls for Bob.

It is produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.

This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.