Wheaton Drama, Inc. (WDI) announces auditions for the Ruth Goetz and Augustus Goetz drama, The Heiress.

Marge Uhlarik-Boller is directing. The production manager is Mike Boyna.

Auditions will be Sunday, July 15, and Monday, July 16, 2012 at 7pm at Wheaton Drama’s Playhouse 111, 111 N. Hale in downtown Wheaton. Callbacks (if necessary) will be Wednesday, July 18 at 7:30pm. Those auditioning are requested to prepare a 1-2 minute dramatic monologue (either from the play or not) and be prepared for monologues and cold reading from the script.

Set in New York City in the 1850s, The Heiress is an adaptation of Henry James’ novel, Washington Square. The play is the story of a shy and plain woman, Catherine Sloper, who has been raised by a cold, difficult physician father who finds her lacking in every way. When a young man, Morris Townsend, finds his way into Catherine’s heart, her successful father is sure he is a fortune hunter. Catherine’s search for herself and her place in society as well as her relationship with both of these men is at the heart of The Heiress.

The director will be casting 3 men and 6 women for the following roles:

• Catherine Sloper (28-40) a gawky, socially inadequate woman of intelligence and warmth but huge insecurity
• Morris Townsend (30-40) a penniless, charming and romantic gentleman, who has lived abroad and whose motives are in question throughout the play
• Dr. Austin Sloper (60-70) Catherine’s father, a successful but emotionally cold doctor who has never truly embraced his daughter for who she is.  He lives with the memory of her beautiful dead mother as a comparison.
• Lavinia Penniman (50-70) Austin’s sister and Catherine’s aunt  Lavinia is a foolish, but sweet woman torn between her devotion to her brother and her romantic idealism.
• Maria—(20-50) the Sloper housekeeper
• Mrs. Montgomery—(30-50) Morris’ sister, a poor widow with children, who defends her brother and his intentions to Dr. Sloper.
• Marian Almond—(20-30) Catherine’s cousin, pretty and vivacious
• Elizabeth Almond—(50-60) Marian’s mother and Dr. Sloper’s sister, a handsome wealthy woman of New York society.
• Arthur Townsend—(20-30) Marian’s fiancée and Morris’ cousin; a young man of wealth and status.

Performances of The Heiress are September 7 through September 30, 2012. Shows are Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 3pm. The Heiress is licensed by Dramatists Play Service. Tickets are $13 for Thursdays; $16 for Fridays-Sundays.

Wheaton Drama’s upcoming shows are: Hansel and Gretel (July 6-15); Broadway Ballot (August 17-19); The Sound of Music (November 9–December 9); It’s A Wonderful Life (Radio Show December 14-16); Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure (January 25-February 17, 2013); Full Circle (March 15-April 7, 2013 – confirmation of rights pending) and Into the Woods (May 17-June 9, 2013).

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