SHOW SYNOPSIS

A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder is the knock-'em-dead, uproarious hit and the most-nominated show of the 2014 season. With ten Tony nominations and four wins, including Best Musical, Book, Direction and Costumes, it also earned seven Drama Desk Awards (including Best Musical), four Outer Critics Circle Awards (including Best Musical) and one Drama League Award (Best Musical).

When the low-born Monty Navarro finds out that he's eighth in line for an earldom in the lofty D'Ysquith family, he figures his chances of outliving his predecessors are slight and sets off down a far more ghoulish path. Can he knock off his unsuspecting relatives without being caught and become the ninth Earl of Highhurst? And what of love? Because murder isn't the only thing on Monty's mind....

A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder is a murderous romp filled with unforgettable music, non-stop laughs and a scene-stealing role for one actor playing all eight of the doomed heirs who meet their ends in the most creative and side-splitting ways. This is a must-produce for any theatre looking for a truly original and fresh new comedy that will delight audiences and leave them begging for more.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:We believe that great casting is about finding people who are true to themselves. We want to see who you are. We’re interested in performers with a distinct point of view and a willingness to bring their own unique gifts to the creative process. If you've got a passion for performance and a personality that's ready to shine, we want to meet you.

We are looking for 11 talented and diverse performers of all ethnicities aged 18 or older.We are also looking to cast Understudies and 2-4 Standbys for this production. Any guaranteed performances for these roles would be noted in an offer letter or given during the rehearsal process. 

Breakdown of terminology is as follows:

• Performing / Principle Cast - Actor who performs in the majority/all of performances

• Understudy - when a member of the performing cast learns a principal or supporting role and could be called upon to perform that role during the performance period - sometimes guaranteed performances are offered; sometimes they are not. 

• Standby - When an actor doesn’t perform with the principal cast every performance but learns the role(s) to perform in emergency situations and/or preplanned performances. While the standby doesn’t have to be at every performance, they must be within an hour’s distance from the theatre to be pulled in with at least one hour’s notice to call time. 

The Georgetown Palace desires to be as inclusive as possible and we enthusiastically encourage gender non-conforming, genderqueer, transgender and nonbinary actors to submit to audition for any roles listed. We also seek all races,ethnicities and abilities. Our character descriptions on the following pages are gender binary and are written with he/him or she/her. While they are limited in their writing, we hope that anyone who identifies with any of the roles, will come out and audition.

THE AUDITIONS:

Auditions will take place on the Springer Stage. 

• Sunday, October 4 - 6:30p-10:00p

• Monday, October 5 - 6:30p-10:00p

Participants will be singing and performing a monologue in one visit. There will be no dance audition for this show. You will not need to stay after you perform your song and monologue. 

We will see 5 performers per 30 minute block. Performers will be able to sign up for Sunday or Monday evening October 4 or 5 respectively. You will need to sign up for a 30 minute time slot, and we will check everyone in at the start of that time. The order of auditioners performing during the time slot will be determined during check in. 

Due to this format, it is imperative that you show up 15 mins before your audition time. Example: Your audition time slot is 6:30-7:00p, please show up by 6:15p to get signed in. 

Having 2 separate days available will help mitigate the need for any video submissions as we prefer to see you in-person. 

The vocal audition should consist of no more than one minute (16-32 bars) of a musical theatre song of your choice NOT from A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder. We want to see what song you choose to highlight your talents WITHOUT singing anything from the show. Performers with classical or operatic training are encouraged to showcase those skills. An accompanist will be provided, and we will also be able to connect pre-recorded music via bluetooth from your phone. We will not accept an acapella audition. If using pre-recorded music, please make sure to have the exact cut you will be using. Please have it downloaded and cued up prior to entering the audition room and it shouldn’t include vocals. If using sheet music, please make sure it is in the correct key, with any cuts clearly marked and in a binder for the accompanist.

Please note that your audition side does not need to be memorized.

While we want and prefer you to pick your own song, we realize that it can be daunting for some people. We have provided these music cuts for those who cannot choose their own. 

For your monologue, please prepare a 1-2 minute comedic piece, ideally from a modern (late 19th-20th century) or contemporary (21st century) British play. We’d love for you to try some version of a British dialect. 

You may choose to do your song first or your monologue first during your audition.

Audition sign ups can be found HERE  

If none of the audition times listed work for your schedule, please send productions@georgetownpalace.org an email, and we’ll do our best to arrange an alternate audition. Please note that the team prefers to see IN PERSON auditions. Callbacks in person are also required. 

Please do not put yourself on the waitlist unless there aren’t any time slots available or unless told to by Productions. You run the risk of being deleted if you do not follow the directions.

CALLBACKS:

Callbacks will take place on Tuesday, October 6 by invitation only from 6:30 PM to 10:00 PM on the Springer Stage.  Callbacks will no longer be posted on the Georgetown Palace website in the days following the initial auditions. Emails will be sent to all audition participants who are called back with sides attached. Specific cuts of songs and sides from the script will be provided for callbacks for all characters. 

Those who are not called back will also receive an email. 

CONFLICTS:

When signing up for an audition slot please note any conflicts during the rehearsal or performance dates.  

Please note: conflicts do not necessarily negate the opportunity to be cast, but we must know about them up front to factor that into the casting decisions.  Barring emergencies, additional conflicts added/disclosed after casting could result in dismissal from the production. 

Sunday rehearsals will only be planned for tech rehearsals immediately prior to opening, but please include Sunday afternoon conflicts for the rehearsal period so that in the event a Saturday must be canceled due to cast conflicts we will know whether a reschedule on Sunday is an option.

Adding any non-emergency or work conflicts after casting could result in your removal from the production.

REHEARSALS:

Rehearsals begin Monday, November 23, 2026.  Scripts and scores will be available at the first rehearsal. But those offered roles will receive a link to a digital copy.  Rehearsals will typically be held Monday-Thursday evenings from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM, and on Saturdays from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM.  Sunday afternoon will only be an option in the event a Saturday must be canceled due to cast conflicts.

Once the show moves into the theatre, the rehearsal schedule may alter to accommodate adding the different tech elements. We will make sure that those alterations are noted in the rehearsal schedule. 

PERFORMANCES:For evening performances the curtain is at 7:30p, and for matinee performances the curtain is at 2:00p. We will perform Friday nights, Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons. Ticket sales can often lead to the theatre adding Saturday matinees.  

Special Performance Notes:

• This show’s ASL performance is scheduled for Saturday, February 6, 2027.

LOCAL TALENT:

While we are open to entertaining non-local actors, we are requiring that callbacks be attended in person. All actors must have their own local housing or must obtain local housing on their own for the full rehearsal and performance period. 

CASTING:Once casting is completed, emails will be sent to the actors that will be offered a role in the production. Once the full cast has accepted, everyone else who auditioned will be notified via email. Please note that we do not make offers via phone or text. Please keep an eye on your emails for those offers. Please note that we will make the offers and notify everyone as soon as we can, but it could take time to get the cast list completed. 

COMPENSATION: All actors 18 and above who are offered a role in the show will receive 2 comp tickets for the production.All actors 18 and above who are offered a role in the show will be paid a non-union stipend.

HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS:

Everyone should stay home if they do not feel well. If you test positive for COVID 19, or suspect you have the flu, you should stay home and away from others until for 24 hours. Please monitor your symptoms for improvement and fever free (without meds). Then take added precaution for the next 5 days.

We still recommend wearing a mask in rehearsals the day after you return from travel.

GPT:

The Georgetown Palace Theatre is committed to creating an inclusive and safe environment in which all community members feel a sense of belonging and does not discriminate in casting practices on the basis of an individual’s ethnicity, age, gender, physical and cognitive ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, country of origin, or other factors.  We strongly encourage candidates of all ages, abilities, gender, and ethnicities to audition.

Please see our operating Standards at the following link:

Georgetown Palace Operating Standards

Everyone involved with the production must complete a background check, every 3 years at the Palace’s expense. If you are cast, you will receive a secure link where you can fill it out. There is no cost to you. 

If cast, please note that we may ask you to provide your own show shoes (including tap shoes) unless we deem it is a specialty shoe. The cast will also be asked to provide their own personal undergarments for the production. 

The Georgetown Palace Theatre is a 501c3 non-profit organization.  

If you have any questions, please email:

productions@georgetownpalace.org.