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RUMORS
A farce by Neil Simon
Directed by Mr. Dan Fabrizio






AUDITION PACKET
Attached to the back of this packet is an audition sheet.
Please fill it out, detach it, and bring it with you to your audition.

Audition Dates: May 29 & 30, 2012
Callback Date: May 31, 2012
Show Dates: November 1, 2, & 3, 2012
in the Performing Arts Center








Questions?
E-mail Mr. Fabrizio (daniel_fabrizio@newton.k12.ma.us) or
Mr. Brown (adam_brown@newton.k12.ma.us)
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Play Synopsis
Act 1
Chris and Ken Gorman, a well-to-do couple dressed for a dinner party, are frantically trying to
piece together the scene of an apparent crime. Upon showing up to their friends the Brocks home to
celebrate their anniversary, Chris and Ken find that the help is nowhere to be found, the food is sitting
uncooked in the kitchen, Myra Brock is missing, and her husband Charley is in his bedroom with a
gunshot wound through his ear. Chris frantically calls Charleys doctor, Dr. Dudley, to get him help, but
Ken insists on lying to him, not wanting rumors of what seems to be an apparent suicide to ruin their
friend Charleys reputation, as he is the deputy mayor of New York.
The two agree to hide the truth from the rest of the party guests just as the doorbell rings. Ken
goes to try to help Charley and disappears into the bedroom as Chris answers the door. Lenny and Claire
Ganz, another wealthy couple and friends of the Gormans and Brocks, enter in a disheveled state,
having just gotten into a minor car accident in their brand BMW. As Claire tends to her swollen lip and
Lenny nurses his whiplash-stricken neck, Chris tries to explain away the absence of Myra, Charley, Ken,
and Mai Li, their cook. Lenny phones Dr. Dudley (who also happens to be his doctor), but hes seeing
The Phantom of the Opera. When Chris goes to check up on Charley and Ken, Claire and Lenny have a
chance to discuss the fishy events of the evening. They worry that some gossip they had heard is true,
that Charley has been having an affair. They deduce that Myra had found this out and left him.
When Ken comes down from Charleys bedroom, Lenny and Claire confront him with their
suspicions that something is afoot. Ken gives in and tells them all that he knows that Charleys been
shot through the ear and that it looks like a suicide attempt the bottle of Valium he found on the
bedside table supports this theory. Ken reports that Charley had what seemed like a suicide note in his
hand but he flushed it down the toilet before anyone could read it. They all agree its best to keep this
story from the rest of the dinner guests just as the doorbell rings.
At the door are Ernie and Cookie Cusack, late for the anniversary party. Claire, Lenny, and Chris
try to keep calm as Ken invites the newly-arrived couple in. Cookie is suffering from severe back spasms
and tries to take a seat. Chris invents a story that Charley and Myra are still upstairs getting ready but, as
a surprise for their guests, they sent the help home so that they could all cook together, just like in the
good old days, before the wealth. While not thrilled at the prospect, Cookie, who is the host of her own
cooking show, agrees to cook dinner. As they start towards the kitchen, a gunshot is heard up in
Charleys bedroom. Lenny convinces the Cusacks that Myra and Charley have been blowing up
balloons and one of them mustve popped. Not fully convinced, the couple exit to start cooking dinner.
Having checked upstairs with Ken, Lenny reveals to Claire that Ken was trying to hide the gun
from Charley when he slipped and the gun went off, making him temporarily deaf. Dr. Dudley calls and
Lenny answers, not knowing that Chris had called him again from upstairs looking for help to restore
Kens hearing. Chris takes the call in the other room. With his hearing completely gone, Ken goes to lie
down in the guest room. A crash rings out from the kitchen and Ernie bursts in, nursing burnt fingertips.
He relates that Cookie dropped her bag of ice and caused a series of incidents that resulted in Ernies
burns and scratches from shattered glass on Cookies arms.
A car is heard pulling up in the driveway. Looking out the window and seeing an Audi, the guests
figure out that Glenn, who is a candidate for state senate, and his wife Cassie have arrived. Chris is
surprised that they are out together, as she had heard theyd been having trouble. The couple enter,
clearly on edge, and proceed to bicker. After every other guest excuse themselves for various reasons,
Glenn and Cassie find themselves alone in the room. Cassie accuses Glenn of recklessly flirting and
keeping a mistress. Stressed, she produces her crystal, which she rubs to calm herself down. As she
excuses herself to the bathroom, the other guests re-enter, and various reasons for Kens temporary
deafness are told, including a head-cold, an exploding manhole cover, and a punctured can of shaving
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cream. When another couple calls to wish Charley and Myra a happy anniversary, Glenn bangs on the
door of the powder room to get Cassie to talk to them on the phone. She screams and storms out into
the living room, wildly upset because the noise of the banging startled her and caused her to drop her
crystal into the toilet and down the drain. As Lenny frantically handles the telephone call, Ken
drastically mishears everything said, and Glenn desperately tries to calm down his wife, Ernie and
Cookie enter with a delicious looking meal.

Act 2
Dinner is over and it is clear that, during the meal, Lenny revealed the true story to Cookie, Ernie,
Cassie, and Glenn. Ken still cant accurately hear a word anyone is saying. They discuss Cassies lost
crystal which upsets her and she exits again to the bathroom. Ken reminds everyone that they should be
checking up on Charlie, which leads to a discussion about how everyones reputation is at stake based
on what really is happening here at the Brock residence. Suddenly, the bathroom door opens and Cassie
reemerges, clearly made-up in such a way as to attract attention from all of the men (except Glenn,
whom she ignores). As she flirts with the male guests, the intercom on the phone buzzes. Lenny answers
and reveals that Charley is on the other end he says he needs some time to think. Miraculously, Kens
ears pop and his hearing is suddenly super acute. Upset that no one is paying her any attention, Cassie
storms out and Glenn follows her to the driveway.
With the Coopers outside fighting, Chris deduces that it might actually be that Myra is having an
affair and that the other man is Glenn, which would explain Charleys suicide attempt. As the guests
discuss how to approach Charlie, Cookie notices from the window that the couples fight has escalated
and Cassie has hit Glenn in the nose. The phone rings a mysterious female voice asking for Glenn.
Lenny suspects it is actually Myra, but after speaking with her on the phone, decides it sounds more like
Meryl Streep. The woman hangs up. Glenn bursts in the door and reveals that a cop car has just pulled
into the driveway. Looking out the window, Cookie can see that the two officers are questioning Cassie.
The woman calls back and asks for Glenn, who takes the phone. The doorbell rings, causing panic.
They quickly decide that they will lie they never heard the gunshots because they were
listening to very loud music. It is decided that one of the men will have to pretend to be Charley, since it
would seem suspicious if the owner of the house was missing. Lenny loses a game of odds and evens
and heads upstairs to be summoned at a later time, playing the part of Charley Brock. Claire turns on the
music and they start dancing just as Officers Welch and Pudney burst in.
Officer Welch tries to get a grasp on the situation but can sense that the guests are being
extremely evasive. Finally, he asks whose car is the near-totaled mess in the driveway. He reveals that
the car that hit Lennys BMW had been stolen off the lot earlier that day, and that it had been purchased
by Myra Brock as an anniversary gift for her husband Charley. Ken comes forth as Lenny, since the real
Lenny is upstairs waiting to pretend to be Charley. The guests actually manage to convince Welch that
everything is okay. As the officers are leaving, Glenn accidentally mentions the gunshots, which neither
Pudney nor Welch had previously brought up. Concerned, Welch resolves to stay until the owner of the
house reveals himself and explains what is going on. Lenny descends from the bedroom wearing
Charleys bathrobe and proceeds to tell an elaborate story to explain away the events of the night to the
officer, culminating in an accidental gunshot wound to the head as he (Charley) tried to protect himself
from a perceived intruder, and Myra getting accidentally locked in the basement after she tripped and
fell down the stairs. Welch says the story is crazy enough to be true and leaves with Pudney. Lenny
reveals that he made up the entire, impressive story on the spot. The guests are endlessly relieved when
the intercom rings it is Charley, who is ready to tell them what really happened. As the group ascends
the stairs, they hear a pounding on the basement door and a voice, yelling for help. It is Myra,
demanding that someone let her out.
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Character Breakdown
12 characters (6 men, 6 women)

Ken Gorman (40) A well-to-do lawyer. Wealthy, but by no means pretentious. Takes
charge of the situation. Married to Chris. Halfway through the show, a gunshot causes his
temporary deafness.

Chris Gorman (mid-30s) Another lawyer, married to Ken. Beautiful, easily flustered.
Frantically tries to maintain normalcy at the party. Has recently quit smoking, which
drives her to drink a bit more.

Lenny Ganz (Late 30s, early 40s) A wealthy accountant, distraught over the recent
destruction over his new car. Starts the show with an extreme case of whiplash. Intolerant
of the gossipy-lifestyle that he is often involved in.

Claire Ganz (Late 30s) Claires wife. Very concerned with appearances (hers and
others). Starts the play with a swollen lip. Likes to gossip.

Ernie Cusack (Early 50s) a psychiatrist. Affable, smokes a pipe. Loves his wife very
much. Tries to be as helpful as possible cooking the evenings dinner.

Cookie Cusack (40s) has her own cooking show. Suffers from extreme back spasms.
Loves her husband very much. A bit absent-minded at times.

Glenn Cooper (30-40) A handsome man running for State Senate. Worried about his
own reputation. Struggles with placating his wife, who is convinced he is having an affair
(which he may or may not be).

Cassie Cooper (late 20s, early 30s) Glenns beautiful wife. Obsesses over her
husbands relationships with other women. Quick to anger. Must rub her quartz crystal to
calm herself down.

Officer Welch (M) (30-50) A city police officer having a rough night. Does not
tolerate lying. Sees through the classy faade that these high-society types put up.

Officer Pudney (F) (20-30) Welchs partner. A strong but silent type.




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The Audition Process

All interested auditioners will be asked to memorize and present one 1.5 2 minute monologue at their
audition. This monologue should be contemporary and comedic. If possible, look for something from
another Neil Simon play, or perhaps another contemporary comic writer such as Christopher Durang,
Alan Ayckbourn, Steve Martin, etc. A monologue from Oedipus would be an example of an undesirable
choice.

Rumors is a farce that relies heavily on strong characters, physical comedy, and quick wit. Therefore,
Mr. Fabrizio is looking for actors who are unafraid to take risks, who exhibit a dynamic physicality, and
who have a good sense of comic timing.

During your audition, you may be given some feedback and asked to perform your monologue again.
You may also be asked to do a brief improvisation exercise.

Callbacks

Callbacks will occur the day after auditions, immediately after X-block. Actors will be reading sides from
Rumors. It is suggested that any actors called back preview the sides, which will be made available the
week of auditions (both as hard copies and on Theatreink.net). Reading Rumors is also advisable, as
being familiar with the plot and characters will be useful during this process.

A cast list will be posted as soon as possible, no later than the following Monday.

The Rehearsal Process

Rehearsals will occur every weekday after all school obligations have finished (this includes X Block).
All rehearsals will last two and a half hours and will include any combination of warm-ups, table work,
character work, scene-blocking, and feedback.

There will be one or two preliminary meetings/rehearsals before we break for summer. The rehearsal
process will officially get underway when we return in September.

Tech Day will be Saturday, October 27, 2012. All involved with Rumors will be expected to be in
attendance from 9 AM to 6 PM. During Production Week (October 29-November 3) actors will be held
later than normal in order to accommodate dress rehearsals. Dinner will be provided on Monday,
Tuesday, and Wednesday, but not on show nights (November 1, 2, and 3).
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Audition Sheet
Please detach and bring this with you on the day of your audition.
Actor Information
Name __________________________________________________________ DOB: ____________________
Address _________________________________________________________________________________
Grade: ____________ HR: ____________ Cell #: _______________________________________________
Preferred E-mail Address: _________________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Info:
Name __________________________________________________________________________________
Phone # ________________________E-mail __________________________________________________
Please briefly list any past theater experience you have had (or attach a rsum):






What special skills or talents to do you have?




What do you think is your biggest strength as an actor?



What do you think is your biggest weakness as an actor?



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Please circle your answer:
Would you cut/color your hair for this performance? Yes No
Have you read Rumors? Yes No
Are you comfortable using harsh language (swearing, etc.) onstage?Yes No
Is there a role youd prefer to play? Yes No
o If yes, which? ___________________________
Is there a role that you would not accept? Yes No
o If yes, which? ___________________________


Conflicts:
Please list any weekly conflicts that you have between the hours of 2:30 PM and 6:30 PM from
September 11 October 26.

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday


Please list any one-time conflicts you may have between Sept. 11 and Oct. 27. Note that no conflicts
will be allowed during production week (October 29 November 3).

Conflict Date









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IMPORTANT THEATRE INK
PARTICIPATION
INFORMATION FOR ALL AUDITIONING STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS

THEATRE INK CASTING POLICY
Both student and staff Directors always strive to cast fairly, with the guiding
objective of assembling the overall cast that will best serve the directorial vision
for the show. This requires many hours of careful analysis by the Directors and
Mr. Brown, who take their responsibility in this area very seriously. Mr. Brown
watches every audition and participates as a mediator and guide through every
casting process.

Theatre Ink casting decisions are not based on seniority !grade level in school", or
years of participation in the program. This is a firm programmatic value arrived at
after years of assembling casts, and seeing the exciting results that come from
having students collaborate across the grade spectrum from freshman to senior,
each cast solely on his or her fit for a given role as revealed through a rigorous and
thoughtful audition process.

Auditioning for a show can be competitive and sometimes daunting. In keeping
with the programs emphasis on theatre as a vehicle for learning and individual
development, Mr. Brown is available to coach and support students as they seek to
improve their speaking, presentation, and performance skills through the audition
process. We also offer Audition workshops for each production

DIVERSITY
Theatre Ink values and celebrates diversity of all kinds. Encouraging diversity of participation is
an overall goal of the program. Theatre Ink actively encourages all students to participate in
productions as members of cast or crew. All students who audition are considered equally in an
inclusive environment and in accordance with Theatre Ink casting principles. Theatre Ink hopes
to be a reflection not only of the varied backgrounds and experiences of Newton Norths staff
and students but also of diverse world cultures, life experiences, and theatrical traditions. By
carefully selecting a range of different shows each year we strive to tell theatrical stories that
represent the richness of our world while offering a wide range of opportunities for all students.

ON CASTING
Casting is a very complex process. In the end, the Directors must choose the students who
best fit the roles in many dimensions, both by the individual skills they present in audition, but
also in the dynamics that develop between actors who will be creating the driving energy of the
show in scenes together. Such dynamics are a large part of what is explored in the Callback
round of auditions. For students, auditioning is an exciting, yet difficult, process that can bring
about greater success, whether cast in the production or not. The more a student auditions, the
better they will become, especially if they seek and receive feedback and guidance. The feeling
of rejection over not getting cast seems disappointing at first, but we strongly urge you to
encourage your child to get right back to work as soon as possible so they can sharpen their
skills for a future audition. In theatre, as in life, all of us experience both disappointment and
success. Our goal is to teach our students how to deal with both, so when they leave Newton
North High School they will be well prepared to navigate their way toward success in a complex
world.



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TO PARENTS:
Due to the large audition pool Theatre Ink shows typically experience, your childs audition
does not guarantee him or her a role in the show. If your child is not cast !and also if he or she is
cast", we strongly suggest that !s"he meet with the Directors and/or Mr. Brown to obtain
valuable feedback while it is freshly in mind, in order to further develop skills for future
auditions.

While disappointment for some is an inevitable part of the experience in any competitive tryout
situation, be it an academic, athletic or artistic pursuit, one of the hallmarks of Theatre Ink is
that there are many other ways to get involved working on the production if you are not
cast in an on#stage role. These include technical crew !set design and construction, lights,
sound" working with Mr. Barrington#Haber, Theatre Inks Technical Director; or on the many
other teams, such as props, costumes, publicity and makeup. There are also opportunities to be
a student producer or stage manager, which you can discuss with Mr. Brown or the Directors. If
slots of interest are not available in the current show, please consider looking into such
opportunities in an upcoming show. The wide range of types of shows, and the large number
!11#13 per year" is designed to make as many theatre arts opportunities available to as many
students as is feasible within the resources provided by the Newton Public Schools. We also
strongly encourage each student to take a Theatre Arts and Speech class ## offered as an elective
to all grade levels ## and go to Improv Club during X#blocks. These theatre education
experiences will further enhance your childs skills in these areas and give them more confidence
for the audition process. The wonderful spirit of camaraderie and collaboration that develops
during shows is equally shared by on# and off#stage participants. Talking to students who have
worked in various roles and jobs will confirm this for your student. Keep an open mind, and
seek out a new experience!

GET INVOLVED!
If you and/or your child are not satisfied with the casting decision and wish to inquire as
to the reasons for it, the first step is for the student to meet with the shows Directors. If
further discussion is desired, the student should then meet with Mr. Brown. If, after those
meetings, you and/or your child do not feel you received valuable feedback or information you
are satisfied with, you are then encouraged to make a joint parent/student appointment with
Mr. Brown. Please be assured that a students future participation in Theatre Ink will not be
jeopardized in any way by seeking to have concerns addressed according to this established
process.


Student signature_____________________________________________


Date____________________



Parent signature______________________________________________


Date___________________









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Theatre Ink Production Agreement
!Please read and fill out the following Theatre Ink Agreement"


I agree to the following terms in this agreement and promise to abide by the conditions and
expectations set forth by my director, technical director, producer, and fellow cast and
crewmembers. I will dedicate myself as a true team member to this production process in order
to present a show that we as a cast, crew, and production team will be proud of.

1. All actors and technical stage crewmembers should have fun working on this
production as collaborative artists. We expect a positive attitude, open communication,
and ownership from beginning to end.

2. All actors and technical stage crewmembers must be in good academic standing to
participate in and remain in this production. All actors and technical stage crewmembers
are expected to be in school during the day in order to participate in rehearsals and
performances after!school. It is also required that a progress report be completely filled out
every two weeks and returned to Mr. Brown via your stage manager. You will not be allowed to
attend rehearsal if this is not turned in on time.

3. All participants must be passing a minimum of 20 credits each marking period or
they will be removed from the process when the report card is issued. Ns in a class do
not count as passing.

4. All actors and technical stage crewmembers must be on time to all scheduled
rehearsals and technical crew duties. If late for three rehearsals, you may be cut from the
production.

5. All actors and technical stage crewmembers must be present at all scheduled
rehearsals. Rehearsals will be afternoons as soon as all academic obligations have ended
!this includes X Block" They will last for 3 hours from September 19
th
to October 28
th
.
Tech week rehearsals may last longer.
If you have three unexcused absences from rehearsal, you may be cut from the production.
In order to be excused you must have a legitimate note explaining why. Valid excuses are an illness, a death
in the family, etc. It is also important to turn in all notes to the director and notify them directly in advance
if you cannot attend a rehearsal. In case of emergency, you must call 617!559!6306 and leave a message.
Communication is the key to good relationships during a production.

6. All actors and technical stage crewmembers will keep the rehearsal spaces, stage,
dressing rooms and costume room clean throughout the rehearsal and performance
process. There will be no food or drink allowed on the stage at anytime. Water Only!

7. All actors and technical stage crewmembers are responsible for their props and
costumes. If props or costumes are damaged or lost while in your possession, you are
responsible for the replacement cost.

8. All actors and technical stage crewmembers will use the rehearsal process
productively. Actors who are waiting to work on stage should be memorizing lines, reviewing
blocking, or reading materials related to the production.
Remember: you are a student first, so you must stay current with your class assignments. We strongly
encourage you to do homework at rehearsal if there is time.
Please bring snacks and water in case you are hungry.

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9. All actors and technical stage crewmembers must stay in the rehearsal area during
a rehearsal unless given permission to leave. Your presence may be called upon at
anytime while you are at rehearsal.

10. All actors and technical stage crew must be supportive of each other's roles in
this production. It is important to communicate with one another in a respectful manner.
Whether onstage or offstage, all roles in this production are equally important.

11. All actors will complete 4 technical theatre shop/stage crew hours during the
rehearsal process. This may include painting, set construction, lighting, costumes, props, or
other related areas as designated by the technical director or producer.

12. All actors and technical stage crewmembers are required to take part in a full
stage strike directed by the technical director, Michael Barrington!Haber, on the
Monday after the production. All cast and crew will remain until the strike is complete and
the stage, costume room, dressing rooms, music rooms and shop are cleared and cleaned.
Any cast or crew member who misses strike will not be allowed to work on the next show unless they put in
the hours they missed with the technical director.

The spirit of this agreement is to ensure that all actors and technical stage crewmembers
are treated fairly as creative, collaborative artists who are working towards the same goal.
Mr. Adam Brown, Director of Theatre Ink; Mr. Michael Barrington!Haber, Technical
Director, and Mr. Fabrizio will enforce this agreement to the best of their ability in the
spirit of a high quality theatrical production process.

This production can be an incredible experience if the entire cast, crew, and
production staff work together, create together, and have fun together!


Actor/crew name _______________________________

Actor/crew signature _______________________________ Date______________

Parent Signature ____________________________________ Date____________