Las Cruces Community Theatre will hold auditions for its upcoming production of
The Little Dog Laughed
by Douglas Carter Beane
at the Community Theatre, 313 N Main Street
on Sunday, December 12 and Monday, December 13, from 6 – 8 PM.
Actors only need to attend one session - either Sunday or Monday.
The Little Dog Laughed will hold most of its rehearsals for only four weeks February 14 – March 10; there will be 4 additional rehearsals prior to February 14th. It will perform Friday, March 11 through Sunday, March 27th. Complete rehearsal and performance schedules are posted below.
The Director is Norman Lewis. In addition to being an active actor in the Las Cruces theatre community, Mr. Lewis has directed The Crucible and No Sex Please, We’re British at Las Cruces Community Theatre. Prior to arriving in Las Cruces, he spent a decade as an Equity actor in NYC, and spent 23 years as Producer at the Forestburgh Playhouse, an Equity summer theatre in upstate New York, where he also directed several productions, and acted in many more.
Synopsis
Hollywood thrives on sexual and professional secrecy. In this tabloid age where big stars go on television and jump around like heartsick schoolboys, what we really love is all the gossip! A 2006 Tony-Award nominee for Best Play, The Little Dog Laughed is a comedic satire about truth and illusion Hollywood-style where characters express themselves with a rationalized sophistication that lowly mortals only wish they could have in real life. The four characters are a hard-driving Hollywood agent, her budding screen idol client, a sexy young drifter, and the drifter's naive, needy girlfriend. These characters are full of unadulterated ambition that makes people forgo sleep, ethics, regular meals and personal lives.
The four characters are an actor, Mitchell, his acerbic agent Diane, a hustler named Alex, and Alex's girlfriend Ellen. When Mitchell and Alex become involved in a physical relationship, Diane is concerned that what she describes as Mitchell's "slight recurring case of homosexuality" will derail his career before it gets started. The play is a comedy-farce with a lot of heart, honesty, and laughs. All four roles give the actors lots of opportunities for fun, emotional depth, and great work.
NOTE: This production contains adult language and situations portraying some physical affection and is intended for mature audiences.
This review of the original Broadway production may be useful to get a feeling for the play: The Little Dog Laughed - Theater - Review - The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Role Breakdown
Diane – Acerbic, cynical, driven, and very, VERY Hollywood. The only person more important than her client Mitchell is herself. Female, any ethnicity – early-30’s to mid 40’s.
Mitchell – Hollywood star on the rise. A closeted homosexual torn between what he truly wants and what other people want from him. Male, any ethnicity – 20’s to early 30’s. Please note that this character will appear in underwear for certain scenes.
Alex – NYC rent boy. Alex is very naïve for someone who has experienced so much. He is jaded, yet remarkably idealistic. Love interest for Mitchell. He is also boyfriend/best friend/only friend to Ellen. Male, any ethnicity – early to mid 20’s. Please note that this character will appear in underwear for certain scenes.
Ellen – NYC party girl. Ellen has made a living being kept by much older men, while still sleeping with Alex. Tough yet innocent, and just damaged enough to make her interesting. Female, any ethnicity – early 20’s.
Tentative Rehearsal Schedule
Preliminary Read-Thru Table Work Rehearsals
Wednesday, December 15, 2021, 6:30-9:30 PM -Cast Meeting/Read-Thru
Sunday, January 16, 2022, 6:30-9:30 PM -Table Work Character Discussion
Wednesday, February 2, 2022, 6:30-9:30 PM -Preliminary Blocking
Wednesday, February 9, 2022, 6:30-9:30 PM -Preliminary Blocking
NOTE: The director is a firm believer in actors having lines down BEFORE real on-your-feet rehearsal begins. The early casting and these early rehearsals will give the actors the time to learn the mechanics of their role, i.e. the lines, so that when the real 4 week rehearsal period begins, we are ready to hit the ground running. We have only 3 real weeks of rehearsal, plus Tech Week, so we need to be able to utilize that time as productively as possible.
Actual Pre-Opening Four Week Rehearsal Period
The typical rehearsal week runs Monday – Thursday, 6:30-9:00 PM
Monday – Thursday, February 14-27th
Monday – Thursday, February 21-24th
Monday – Thursday, February 28 – March 3rd
Tech Week: Sunday, March 5 – Thursday, March 10th (6:30 – 10:00 PM)
Performance Schedule
Friday – Saturday, March 11-12th @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, March 13 @ 2 PM
Friday – Saturday, March 18-19th @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, August 20 @ 2 PM
Friday – Saturday, March 25-26th @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, August 27 @ 2 PM
Audition sides for all four characters are available by clicking the link below. Audition sides do not need to be memorized. A PDF of the full script is also available below. Actors auditioning are encouraged but not required to read it.