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Clayton Community Theatre announces auditions for
The Children's Hour
By Lillian Hellman
 
(CLAYTON, MO – September 1, 2010) - Open auditions for the Clayton Community Theatre production of The Children's Hour by Lillian Hellman (directed by Betsy Jones) will be held Thursday, September 23, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, September 26, at 2 p.m. at the Washington University South Campus Theatre, 6501 Clayton Road. 
 
The Children's Hour will be performed at the Washington University South Campus Theater November 12-21, 2010, with Friday and Saturday evening and Sunday matinee performances.  Rehearsals will begin September 27 and will typically be held on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

Clayton Community Theatre welcomes all interested parties to audition.  No audition appointment is necessary.  All parts will be cast from the open auditions.  Auditioners may attend either audition session. Inquiries may be sent to director Betsy Jones by e-mail at  CCT@PlacesEveryone.org or by phone at 314-721-9228. 
 
Plot Summary:
The Children's Hour by Lillian Hellman is one of the great successes of this distinguished writer. As described by Dramatists Play Services, Inc and enotes.com, this is a serious adult play about two women in their late 20's, Karen Wright and Martha Dobie, who have worked hard to build a girls' boarding school.  They run and teach the school with the somewhat unwelcome help of Lily Motar, Martha's aunt.  One pupil, Mary Tilford, is mischievous, disobedient and untruthful, and often leads the other girls into trouble.  This malicious youngster runs away from the school and to avoid being sent back she tells her grandmother that the two headmistresses are having a lesbian affair.  When the young girl sees the rumor turn to scandal, she understands the power she wields and sticks by her story, which eventually precipitates tragedy for the women.  Later it is discovered that the gossip was pure invention, but by that time, irreparable damage has been done.
 
Cast of Characters:
Parts for 14 women and teenage girls and 2 men.


  • Karen Wright and Martha Dobie:  late 20's, headmistresses and teachers of the school
  • 
Lily Motar:  late 40's early 50's, Martha's aunt and teacher at the school
  • 
Mrs. Amelia Tilford:  late 50's early 60's, wealthy widow, Mary's grandmother

  • Agatha:  middle-aged maid in the employ of Mrs. Amelia Tilford

  • Dr. Joseph Cardin:  age mid-thirties, the town doctor and Karen's fiancé


  • 9 teenage girls: ages 12 - 16

  • Mary Tilford:  spoiled and problem child at the school, responsible for placing in motion the final tragedy of the play

  • Evelyn Munn and Peggy Rogers:  two students who overhear a conversation between Motar and Martha that plants the seed for Mary's rumor

  • Rosalie Wells:  is blackmailed by Mary to collaborate the rumor
  • 
Helen Burton, Catherine, Lois, Janet, Leslie:  students with limited roles, may be combined

A Delivery Man:  brief role
*Ages are connected to the age of the character being portrayed.  It does not rule out the possibility of casting actors of different ages for parts outside of their age range.
 
Auditioners will perform cold readings from the script, and/or work in groups with improvisation.

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