Photo by Craig Mitchelldyer.
Photo by Craig Mitchelldyer.
April 20 – May 14, 2023
Audition From Hell
Four seasoned actresses at the top of their game, but slim on prospects, find themselves competing for two parts in a new musical. The audition goes sideways when the director quits, the producer loses her nerve, and tempers flare as past betrayals are revealed. With original music, this humorous and often heartfelt glimpse behind the curtain shares the highs and lows of the compelling yet brutal nature of show business.
Written and Directed by Sharon Maroney
Run time is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes with no intermission.
Performances held at the Broadway Rose New Stage,
12850 SW Grant Avenue, Tigard, OR
Title Sponsor
Show Sponsor
Cast
Laurie Campbell-Leslie as Samantha
Laurie was last seen on the Broadway Rose stage as Annie in The Bikinis. She’s tickled to be back and working with her Bikini sisters! She recently played Frauline Schneider in Stumptown Stage’s Cabaret and prior to that was seen in Beacock Music’s Grand Night for Singing. Laurie’s theatrical experiences range from opera to musical comedy, Shakespeare to Sondheim, children’s theatre to cabaret, costume making to directing, and commercials to film. Favorite leading lady credits include Hello Dolly! (Dolly), Gypsy (Mama Rose), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Mrs. Lovett), Forbidden Broadway, Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type (Cow 1), A Little Night Music (Desiree), The Sound of Music (Maria), and The Music Man (Marian). Laurie lives in Vancouver with her husband and loves her new role of Lolly-Pop (grandma) to Remi.
Courtney Freed as Linda
Courtney Freed is a Portland-based singer, songwriter, actor, and educator. She has been called a “whirlwind of excitement” as well as “effervescent” and “breathtaking.” She has performed in many prestigious venues in New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles, as well as Portland. No stranger to the local musical theatre scene, her favorite recent roles were Florence in Chess at Lakewood Theater Company and Trina (Drammy nomination) in Falsettos at Live on Stage. She has also tread the boards of Portland Center Stage, Broadway Rose Theatre Company, Profile Theatre, triangle productions!, and more! She is a proud member of the vocal teaching staff at Resound NW and enjoys an active career as a jazz vocalist in town. Check out her latest album Big Crazy Love and more at www.courtneyfreedmusic.com.
Lisamarie Harrison as Jennifer
Lisamarie Harrison has worked on the Portland stage for 40 years. Favorite roles include Florence/Sandra in The One-Act Play That Goes Wrong, Leslie in High Dive, Mrs. Johnston in Blood Brothers, Tanya in Mamma Mia!, Morticia Addams in The Addams Family, Mama Maddalena in Nine, Ms. Fleming in Heathers The Musical, Miss Flannery in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Mother in The Sexual Neuroses of our Parents, Violet in 9 to 5 (Drammy nomination), Jody in The Bikinis (Drammy nomination, PAMTA award), Betty in The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Rhetta in Pump Boys & Dinettes, Sue Ellen in Honky Tonk Angels (PAMTA award), LaVerne Andrews in Sisters of Swing, Sister Hubert in Nunsense, Mazeppa in Gypsy, Gabrielle in The Dinner Party, Kate in The Wild Party, Woman 1 in Putting It Together, Mae in Reefer Madness, and Rizzo in Grease. Film & TV: Strictly for the Birds (Feature Film); Life After First Failure (CW Seed); Leverage (TNT); Future Perfect (Fantini Cinema), Mock Trials, Front Seat Chronicles, and Oregon Lottery.
Isaac Lamb as Ben
Isaac Lamb is an actor, director, and educator who was last seen onstage at Broadway Rose as Uncle Fester in The Addams Family. Isaac has also performed locally with Third Rail Repertory Theatre, Portland Center Stage, Artists Repertory Theatre, Portland Playhouse, CoHo Productions, Portland Experimental Theatre Ensemble, Northwest Children’s Theater, and many others. He’s appeared onscreen in HBO’s hit show The Rehearsal, as well as American Vandal, Portlandia, The Birch, and Lean on Pete. Isaac is a proud member of AEA, SAG/AFTRA, and SDC.
Laura McCulloch as Anika
Laura McCulloch (she/her) is an Australian actor, singer and multi-hyphenate based in New York City. She is thrilled to be returning to the Broadway Rose after having previously appeared as Rosie in Mamma Mia!, Sister Mary Amnesia in Nunsense, and Bea O’Leary in Your Holiday Hit Parade. A self-proclaimed “Theatre Geek” she has worked extensively on stage in various productions including Cats, RENT, The Music Man, Phantom, A Class Act, A Tale of Two Cities, World War Wonderful, and her self-devised cabaret BOOP! She has also appeared in national commercials for Yoplaitâ, Jetstar, and Kmart, as well as films The Black Sheep, Wee Witch, Covid Support Group, and Ladylike.
Emily Sahler as Mary Jo
Emily Sahler is honored to be a part of this world debut production and the workshops leading up to it. Previous Broadway Rose roles include Mrs. Cratchit/Mrs. Fezziwig (A Christmas Carol, the Musical), Miss Adelaide (Guys & Dolls), Jenny (Company), Domina (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum), Mrs. Meers (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Drammy nomination), Doatsy May (The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas), Mrs. Tottendale (The Drowsy Chaperone), and Barbara (The Bikinis). Other favorites: Connie (Jack Goes Boating), Sister Lidwina (Gracie and the Atom), and Bette (The Marriage of Bette and Boo) at Artists Repertory Theatre; Rose (Gypsy), Jack’s Mother (Into the Woods), and Doreen (Tartuffe) at Lakewood Theatre Company, among others. Television credits: Trinkets, The Librarians, Grimm, Portlandia, and Leverage.
Show Dates
Click on a date to purchase tickets.
Thursday, April 20, 7:30 p.m. – Preview performance
Friday, April 21, 7:30 p.m. – Opening night
Saturday, April 22, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 23, 2:00 p.m. – SOLD OUT
Thursday, April 27, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, April 28, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 29, 2:00 p.m. – Post-show talkback
Saturday, April 29, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 30, 2:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 4, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, May 5, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 6, 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 6, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 7, 2:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 11, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, May 12, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 13, 2:00 p.m. – Audio Descriptions available
Saturday, May 13, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 14, 2:00 p.m.
Creative Team
Written and Directed by
Sharon Maroney
Music Direction by
Barney Stein
Choreography by
Dan Murphy
Scenic Design by
Kyra Sanford
Costume Design by
Kimbery Hergert
Lighting Design by
Kristeen Willis
Sound Design by
Brian Karl Moen
Prop Design by
Liz Carlson and Seth Renne
Stage Manager
Jessica Junor
Content Advisories
The show contains references to alcohol and drug use, pregnancy and loss, war, and death. Includes profanity. Audition From Hell is suitable for most theatregoers over the age of 13.
Audition Dos and Don'ts
Auditions can feel like living nightmares, so beginning on March 8, we’re sharing our top 5 dos and don’ts for auditions, with a new piece of audition advice added every week.
1. Read the audition notice
Are any roles pre-cast? Are you available for all rehearsals and performance dates? Is apparel suggested? Is accompaniment provided? If accompaniment is provided, do not expect to sing a cappella.
Be prepared, be punctual, and bring everything you are asked to bring in the audition notice, including your calendar with conflicts listed.
At Broadway Rose auditions, participants must sing with the accompanist provided so that the audition panel can gauge whether you are able to hold your pitch and stay in sync with the accompaniment.
2. Be familiar with the show
Do your research. Are you appropriate for the show? Know what characters are being cast, and what role you’re most likely going to be looked at for. But keep your options open as well – you never know what the audition panel is actually looking for in a character.
3. Pick the right song
Pick a song that showcases your vocal skills and range and is appropriate for both the production and the character for which you are auditioning. Your primary and backup songs should offer a contrast, and you should try to pick songs that aren’t overdone. If you do sing a song that is really popular, just remember that you’re competing against the best of the best.