General Audition Information
Cockpit in Court Summer Theatre is committed to growing our diversity and inclusion at all levels: on our stage, in our audience, on our staff, and within our leadership. We seek to be inclusive not only in our casting but also in the works we choose to present. We aim to keep performers from historically underrepresented backgrounds visible and valued in the casting process. As such, we encourage performers of all races and ethnicities, gender identities, sexualities, abilities, and ages, to attend auditions.
Audition Dates:
Saturday, March 29, 2025 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Sunday, March 30, 2025 | 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
LOCATION
CCBC Essex, Arts & Humanities Hall 7201 Rossville Blvd, 21237
You must pre register to audition. Visit our Sign-Up Genius at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0548ABA72CA6F85-54982472-cockpit:
For campus map and directions, visit: www.ccbcmd.edu/About-CCBC/Locations/CCBC-Essex/Get-directions.aspx.
For musicals: Please bring sheet music, an accompanist will be provided.
For plays: no monologue necessary. You will be reading from the script.
Headshots and resumes welcome, but not required.
Contact Cockpit with questions, additional information:
Email: cockpitincourt@ccbcmd.edu
Call: 443-840-ARTS (2787)
CABARET THEATRE
Bad Seed
By Maxwell Anderson, from the novel by William March
Show Dates: June 13 – 29, 2025
Bad Seed is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection. www.dramatists.com
Show Synopsis Bad Seed is a chilling psychological thriller that dives into the twisted nature of innocence. When a charming young girl’s dark secrets begin to surface, her seemingly perfect world unravels in this gripping tale of murder, manipulation, and the haunting question of nature versus nurture.
Character Descriptions
Rhoda Penmark: Rhoda is a eight-year-old girl(can be played by up to a 13 year-old) who seems sweet and innocent on the surface, but she has a darker, more sinister side. She is manipulative, cunning, and possesses a capacity for violence. Throughout the play, her actions reveal her to be the “bad seed” of the title. Rhoda’s ability to charm adults and conceal her malice makes her a chilling character. Her character is central to the play’s exploration of nature versus nurture.
Col. Kenneth Penmark: Christine’s husband and Rhoda’s father. He is a military man who is distant and somewhat detached from his family. He doesn’t immediately recognize the severity of Rhoda’s behavior, and his relationships with both his wife and daughter are somewhat strained. His character is significant in how he reacts to the revelations about his daughter. Age: mid to late 30’s
Christine Penmark: Christine is Rhoda’s mother and is a key character in the play. She is a loving, devoted mother who is deeply concerned about Rhoda’s behavior, though she is initially unaware of the extent of her daughter’s malevolence. As the play unfolds, Christine starts to confront painful truths about her own past and her role in Rhoda’s development. Christine’s internal conflict and her realization of Rhoda’s true nature are crucial to the play’s tension. Age: mid to late 30’s
Monica Breedlove: Tall, imposing-looking, perhaps overweight, no-nonsense, can-do type, but she is also kind and friendly-perhaps too friendly-and offers humor without being a clown. She is a widow who owns the house, which she has converted into apartments and where she and the Penmarks reside. Age: 40 to 60
Emory Wages: He is younger than his sister, Monica, with whom he resides. He is usually played shorter and slighter than Monica, but that will be flexible. Monica’s younger brother. He is friendly, conversational, tolerant, and stable and is calmer compared to his sister. Age: 40’s-60
Leroy: Janitor of the building and grounds. He is sly, but he is an embittered man who feels like he’s been victimized by the whole world. He dislikes and admires Rhoda at the same time. There is tension between them, but the audience gains the greatest insight of these two characters through their relationship. Age: 30-45
Miss Fern: Rhoda’s elementary school teacher who notices Rhoda’s troubling behavior early on. Miss Fern is concerned about Rhoda and becomes suspicious of the girl’s actions, especially after a classmate dies under mysterious circumstances.
Reginald Tasker: A crime writer with an air of mystery who has become somewhat of an expert in the history of crime. He is a friend of Christine and Monica. Should have an air of mystery. Age: 35-50
Mrs. Daigle: A later-in-life mother, relative to other women of her time, who has suffered the murder of her only son whom she adored. She is grief-stricken and very confused and self-conscious around Christine. She drinks. Age: 30 to 40
Mr. Daigle: Quiet, but apologetic for his wife’s obsessive grief and embarrassed by her drinking and assertions about the murder. (Age: 45-55)
Richard Bravo: Christine’s father, once a well-known homicide detective who became an author. He is also a well-known radio journalist, but he hides the secret of his daughter’s past. He adores his daughter and granddaughter. (Age: 50-65)
Hay Fever
By Noël Coward
Show Dates: July 18 – August 3, 2025
Hay Fever is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
Show Synopsis Hay Fever is a delightful comedy of manners from Noel Coward, where wit and chaos collide at a country estate. A glamorous family of eccentrics invites their guests to a weekend getaway, only to leave them tangled in a whirlwind of misunderstandings, charm, and outrageous antics. It’s a laugh-out-loud look at the absurdities of high society!
Character Descriptions
Judith Bliss: The matriarch of the Bliss family. Judith is a glamorous and self-absorbed former stage actress. She is known for her dramatic nature, and her tendency to create chaos without fully realizing the consequences. She enjoys attention and thrives on the idea of being the center of the household’s activities. Judith is a free-spirited and somewhat egotistical character, who is oblivious to how her behavior affects others.
David Bliss: Judith’s husband. David is a novelist, often aloof and detached from the commotion around him. He is more focused on his writing than on the social dynamics within the house. David is kind and somewhat passive, and his demeanor contrasts with Judith’s more flamboyant and dominating personality. Despite his quiet nature, he contributes to the overall atmosphere of the family’s dysfunction.
Sorel Bliss: Judith and David’s daughter. Sorel is the most sensible of the Bliss family, though she still has her quirks. She is young, intelligent, and outspoken, with a tendency to be sarcastic and rebellious. She is aware of her family’s eccentricities and often feels exasperated by their antics. However, she is still a product of her upbringing and shares some of their dramatic flair.
Simon Bliss: Judith and David’s son. Simon is the youngest member of the Bliss family. He is charming and mischievous, but also a bit naïve and easily influenced. He is less articulate than his siblings but contributes to the chaos with his carefree and playful attitude. Simon is often seen as the most carefree of the family members.
Myra Arundel: Myra is one of the guests invited to the house for the weekend. She is sophisticated and slightly aloof, and she becomes one of the objects of attention and infatuation for the male characters in the play. Myra’s role adds a layer of romantic entanglements, as she becomes a subject of desire and confusion for several of the men in the house.
Richard Greatham: Richard is a somewhat formal and reserved man, who is invited to stay with the Blisses. He is a quiet, polite man with a strong sense of propriety. Richard becomes romantically involved with one of the characters, and his interactions with the Bliss family provide much of the play’s humor and conflict.
Sandy Tyrell: Sandy is a mild-mannered and polite man, but he quickly becomes the object of attention for Judith Bliss, the eccentric matriarch of the family. He is young, attractive, and a bit impressionable. Throughout the play, he becomes entangled in the romantic chaos that surrounds the Bliss family, particularly as Judith becomes infatuated with him. Sandy is one of the characters who gets swept up in the absurdity of the situation, and his reactions to the eccentric behavior of the Bliss family provide much of the comedy
Jackie Coryton: Jackie is a young, attractive woman with a slightly naive and innocent air. She is another object of affection for one of the male characters, adding to the romantic confusion within the play. Like the other guests, she becomes embroiled in the odd and unpredictable atmosphere that surrounds the Blisses.
Clara: Blisses’ servant. She doesn’t have much dialogue, but contributes to the comedic atmosphere of the play. Her reactions to the eccentric behavior of their employers provide an additional layer of humor.
MAINSTAGE
Damn Yankees
Words and Music by RICHARD ADLER and JERRY ROSS, Book by GEORGE ABBOTT and DOUGLASS WALLOP. Based on the novel by Douglass Wallop “The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant”
Show Dates: June 13 – 29, 2025
Damn Yankees is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. 423 West 55th Street, New York, NY 10019 Phone: 212-541-4684 | Fax: 212-397-4684 www.MTIShow.com
Show Synopsis Damn Yankees is a high-energy musical comedy that brings together baseball, love, and a little bit of devilish mischief. When a die-hard Washington Senators fan sells his soul to the devil to help his team win the pennant, chaos and comedy follow in this classic tale of temptation, ambition, and second chances.
Character Descriptions
Joe Boyd: A middle-aged, overweight married man who is in love with baseball, especially the Senators. Gender: male; Age: 40 to 50; Vocal range top: G5; Vocal range bottom: A3
Meg Boyd: Joe’s long-suffering, but loyal wife. She is lonely and misses her husband. Decides a little white lie is worth telling to save a good person.
Gender: female; Age: 35 to 45; Vocal range top: G5; Vocal range bottom: G3
Mr. Applegate: The Devil in disguise as a slick salesman. A controlling, greedy smooth talker. Gender: male; Age: 40 to 50; Vocal range top: G5; Vocal range bottom: A3
Sister: A friend of Meg’s and Doris’s sister. Outspoken and brash, but caring. Very involved in community activities. Gender: female; Age: 35 to 45; Vocal range top: G5; Vocal range bottom: D4
Doris: A friend of Meg’s. She is slightly quieter and more conservative than her sister, but still outspoken. An avid baseball fan very involved in the community.
Gender: female; Age: 35 to 45; Vocal range top: G5; Vocal range bottom: D4
Joe Hardy: The 22-year-old, home run hitting alter ego of Joe Boyd. A good guy who loves that he is living out his dream, but deeply misses the life and love he left behind.
Gender: male; Age: 20 to 30; Vocal range top: G5; Vocal range bottom: A3
Sohovik: A baseball player for the Washington Senators. The smartest and most level-headed of the players. Enjoys his side job of selling insurance. The unofficial leader of the team. Gender: male; Age: 25 to 35; Vocal range top: G5; Vocal range bottom: D4
Smokey: A catcher for the Washington Senators. Not the sharpest tool in the shed. Tries to be a tough guy like Rocky, but truly is not. Gender: male; Age: 25 to 35
Vocal range top: G5; Vocal range bottom: C3
Van Buren: The luckless team manager. A sort of father-figure for the team, who proudly defends them. A bit of a loose cannon. Gender: male
Age: 50 to 60; Vocal range top: A5; Vocal range bottom: D4
Rocky: A baseball player for the Washington Senators. Cocky, but a little bit dopey, too. He’s a guy’s guy. Gender: male; Age: 25 to 35; Vocal range top: B5; Vocal range bottom: D4
Gloria Thorpe: A probing reporter whose bottom-line is a good story for her paper. Fearless and biting. Gender: female; Age: 25 to 35; Vocal range top: G5; Vocal range bottom: B3
Mr. Welch: The owner of the Senators. Believes in Joe and believes in his team. A peacekeeper between the press and the team. Protective of Joe and the boys.
Gender: male; Age: 50 to 60; Vocal range top: G5; Vocal range bottom: D4
Lola: The Devil’s seductress assistant. Sexy and confident. Falls in love with Joe when her usual tricks don’t work on him. Though she’s done many bad things, she is a good person deep down inside.
Gender: female; Age: 25 to 35; Vocal range top: G5; Vocal range bottom: F3
Ensemble: Ball Players; Baseball Fans
PETER AND THE STARCATCHER
A Play by Rick Elice. Based on the Novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. Music by Wayne Barker. Originally produced on Broadway by Nancy Gibbs, Greg Schaffert, Eva Price, Tom Smedes, and Disney Theatrical Productions.
Show Dates: July 18 – August 3, 2025
PETER AND THE STARCATCHER is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. 423 West 55th street, New York, NY 10019 Phone: 212-541-4684 | Fax: 212-397-4684 www.MTIShow.com
Show Synopsis Peter and the Starcatcher is a wildly inventive prequel to Peter Pan, blending humor, adventure, and heart. Set in a fantastical world, the play follows a young Peter and his companions as they embark on a thrilling journey to thwart pirates and discover the secrets of a magical starstuff. With a dynamic cast, imaginative staging, and a mix of wit and whimsy, this family-friendly production explores the origins of beloved characters, offering a fresh twist on the classic tale. Perfect for all ages, Peter and the Starcatcher is an unforgettable theatrical adventure.
Character Descriptions
Black Stache: A notorious pirate, terrorizing the seven seas in search of a worthy adversary. Heartless, hirsute, and suspiciously well read. Partial to the poetical and theatrical, which causes him to behave quite flamboyantly. Gender: male; Age: 30 to 50
Molly Aster: A young girl and Starcatcher apprentice who is taken aboard the Neverland as precious cargo. Curious and intelligent, she is only beginning to understand the confusing romantic longings that come with her age. She will risk anything for the sake of what is right. Gender: female; Age: 13 to 25
Boy/Peter: A lonely and hardened orphan who doesn’t miss much. Nameless, homeless, and friendless at the beginning of the play and a hero by the end. He wants a home and a family more than anything, and dreams of a life of being free. Gender: male; Age: 13 to 25
Grempkin: The schoolmaster of St. Norbert’s Orphanage for Lost Boys. Mean and malodorous, he revels in keeping his boys in the dark and malnourished.
Gender: male; Age: 40 to 60
Mrs. Bumbrake: Molly’s nanny, a stereotypical British cad and outfitted with the duty of teaching Molly about womanhood. She still has enough charm in her age to attract a sailor or two. Gender: male; Age: 40 to 60
Bill Slank: The vicious orphaned captain of the Neverland. Does not possess the capacity to lead anyone but himself, which puts himself constantly in disaster. Greedy enough to send boys to their doom for the chance of gaining starstuff. Gender: male; Age: 35 to 55
Smee: Black Stache’s first mate. He is single-mindedly dedicated to his captain’s every whim. Gender: male; Age: 25 to 55
Prentiss: An orphan, ambitious, hyper articulate, and logical. He yearns to be leader, even when he knows in his heart that he’ll never be one. A bit of a blowhard with a touch of cowardice. Gender: male; Age: 13 to 25
Alf: A seafarer, an old sea dog proud of his tenure. His kind heart gives him an appeal to the feminine sensibility. Gender: male; Age: 50 to 65
Lord Leonard Aster: Molly’s father, a loyal subject to the Queen. The very model of a Victorian English gentleman, he is a faithful friend and a secret Starcatcher.
Gender: male; Age: 40 to 60
Captain Robert Falcon Scott: Lord Aster’s old school friend, the captain of the Wasp, Britain’s fastest frigate. Lives with nautical bravura and heroic patriotism.
Gender: male; Age: 35 to 45
Ted: An orphan obsessed with food. A natural performer with easy wit and quite poetic language. Gender: male; Age: 13 to 25
Ensemble: Sailors; Seamen; Seafarers; Orphans; Pirates; Mermaids; Mollusks; Narrators