Youth Auditions: "Bad Seed" at Wheaton Drama November 6, 2011

Wheaton Drama, Inc. (WDI) announces youth auditions for Maxwell Anderson’s "Bad Seed", adapted from the novel by William March.

"Bad Seed" takes place in a small southern town in the late spring of 1955. Christine Penmark seems to have it all: a lovely home, a loving husband and Rhoda, the most “perfect” daughter in the world. However, this charming life is darkened by a cloud of worry and suspicion. Since childhood, Christine has suffered from the most terrible recurring nightmare. It also appears her “perfect” daughter’s talents include lying, theft and possibly much, much worse. Only Christine suspects the truth about her daughter, and only Christine’s father knows the truth about her nightmare.

The role of Rhoda Penmark is the only youth role in the show. Rhoda Penmark is a neat, quaint, pretty little girl on the outside, but a sociopath on the inside. This character carries a ton of the show on her shoulders. The actress cast as Rhoda must have the chops to play multiple levels for an extended period of time. Rhoda is 8 years old, but the director will consider actresses up to age 12 if they can pass for younger.

Auditions for Rhoda are at 1pm on Sunday, November 6. Callbacks, if necessary, will be at 7pm on Tuesday, November 8. Auditions and performances are at Wheaton Drama’s Playhouse 111, 111 N. Hale Street in downtown Wheaton, IL.

Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script. The director strongly suggests that all actors read the script prior to auditioning. It is essential that the parents/guardians of the young ladies auditioning for Rhoda also be familiar with the script prior to the audition. For audition questions, contact the director at [email protected].
Performances of "Bad Seed" are January 27 through February 19, 2012. Shows are Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 3pm. "Bad Seed" is licensed by Dramatists Play Service, Inc.

For show tickets and information, please visit http://www.wheatondrama.org, or call 630-260-1820.