Auditions
California Suite
Author: Neil Simon
Director: Drew Mason
Genre: Comedy
Agent: by arrangement with Origin Theatrical, on behalf of Samuel French, a Concord Theatricals company.
A humorous confection divided into four parts:
In Visitor from New York, Hannah, a magazine writer, is joined by her ex-husband, the question being with whom should their daughter spend the next six months? The banter flies fast and furious, but Hannah’s well-wrought artifice crumbles as her fears take hold.
The Visitor from Philadelphia is a wife who arrives at the suite, catching her husband with a drunken hooker in his bed.
In Visitors from London Academy Award nominee Diana returns from the ceremony empty-handed to her husband, Sidney, whose homosexuality will be no comfort tonight, yet with whom she is desperate to find affection.
The Visitors from Chicago are two couples ending a disastrous vacation they should not have shared.
Neil Simon at his most humane, compassionate best.
Season Dates: 11 Mar 2027 - 20 Mar 2027
Showtimes:
2:00pm on:
Sun 14th Mar 2027
8:00pm on:
Thu 11th Mar 2027
Fri 12th Mar 2027
Sat 13th Mar 2027
Wed 17th Mar 2027
Thu 18th Mar 2027
Fri 19th Mar 2027
Sat 20th Mar 2027
Acting Roles
Hannah Warren
A sharp, workaholic Manhattan magazine writer in her 30s or 40s. She tries to maintain a tough, cynical exterior, but her protective defenses crack when discussing her life and family.
Gender: Female
Ages: 30-40, 40-55
Bunny
An unconscious, heavily intoxicated call girl left stranded in Marvin's bed. Non-speaking role, but quite physical.
Genders: Female
Ages: 20-30, 30-40, 40-55
Beth Hollender
Mort’s wife, who ends up with bizarre physical injuries and a bad temper after a tennis accident on the trip. Very physical character.
Genders: Female
Ages: 30-40, 40-55
William Warren
Hannah’s successful ex-husband, a laid-back Hollywood screenwriter. Ex New Yorker, now proudly Californian. Sees little of his daughter, until she has run away to stay with him, prompting Hannah’s arrival
Gender: Male
Ages: 30-40, 40-55
Diana Barrie
An Academy Award-nominated British actress who uses sharp, self-depreciating wit to mask her deep anxiety and insecurity about aging, her career, and the upcoming ceremony. She is somewhere past her 40s…aging for a screen actress, at least in her own mind she is.
Genders: Female
Ages: 30-40, 40-55, 55-65
Stu Franklyn
Mort’s less physically intimidating, highly competitive friend and vacation companion. Has had enough of being told what to do.
Genders: Male
Ages: 30-40, 40-55
Marvin Michaels
A nervous, middle-aged businessman from Philadelphia who arrives early for a family event. He panics after waking up to find a comatose and drunken call girl in his hotel bed just before his wife arrives.
Gender: Male
Ages: 30-40, 40-55, 55-65
Sidney Nichols
Diana’s sophisticated, long-suffering, and playfully sardonic husband. His quiet patience and hidden personal life provide a complex backdrop to their marriage of convenience.
Genders: Male
Ages: 30-40, 40-55, 55-65
Gert Franklyn
Stu's wife, who also suffers comical physical mishaps and minor injuries during the escalating tensions of the double-date vacation.
Genders: Female
Ages: 30-40, 40-55
Millie Michaels
Marvin's loyal, trusting, and unsuspecting wife who arrives eager for the trip, completely unaware of the chaos in the room. Similar age to Marvin.
Gender: Female
Ages: 30-40, 40-55, 55-65
Mort Hollender
A physically imposing or intimidating businessman on what turns into a frustrating, disastrous joint vacation with longtime friends. Very happy to be the man in charge.
Genders: Male
Ages: 30-40, 40-55
Backstage Roles
Stage Manager, Assistant Stage Manager, Lighting Design, Lighting Operating, Sound Operating, Set Build Set Crew, Costumes, Front of House
Audition Information
Dates and Times
10:00am on Sat 7th Nov 2026
7:00pm on Wed 4th Nov 2026
Venue
STAG, Strathmore Community Hall
50 Loeman St, Strathmore
(corner of Loeman and Napier Sts)
Auditions will be open call. Actors will be provided with selected scenes from the script and given time to practice together before presenting their auditions. The Director will be looking for how actors respond to and influence each other. Please plan on spending the full time (2 hours) at the audition.
No need to prepare in advance, but it would be good to read the script prior to auditions. Copies can be obtained from the VDL library, the Internet Archive or by emailing the director.
Please register your interest in either the Wednesday or the Saturday audition by emailing the director: drew.mason@optusnet.com.au. Please also state which roles are of interest.
There are no individual appointments; this is a group audition. Therefore, spaces will not be limited.
Rehearsals will be held most likely on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons. This will be negotiated with the successful cast members.
Cast must be available for all scheduled rehearsals, tech rehearsals and performance dates. Please inform the Director of any conflicts during the rehearsal period when auditioning.
Each playlet will rehearse once per week for the first half of the rehearsal period: one Tuesday, one Thursday, two on Sundays. These can be rotated or stagnant based upon successful casting and actor availability.
Rehearsals will commence Sunday 6 December with a break for the Christmas/New Year holidays.
Various American and British accents will be required of cast. Accent coaching will occur during rehearsals. Cast can be as small a four or as large as 11.
Enquiries Contact
Drew Mason, Director: drew.mason@optusnet.com.au
or call 9382 6284