You Can't Take It With You

You Can't Take It With You

Directed by Keith Strain
Produced by Kym Bushong

Friday, 4/4/2025 at 7pm
Saturday, 4/5/2025 at 7pm
Sunday, 4/6/2025 at 2:30pm
Friday 4/11/2025 at 7pm
Saturday 4/12/2025 at 7pm
Sunday 4/13/2025 at 2:30pm

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Audition Information:

Auditions: Monday, February 10th at 7 PM Vanity Annex.

You need to bring nothing with you.
We START at 7:00 pm
If you cannot be at this audition, contact Keith Strain today (kdud@hotmail.com)

Play runs April 4-6 & 11-13.

Rehearsals begin Feb.17th.

See a YouTube of the Play (not the movie).

This is an adult only play – ages 18 and up. There are 19 roles, of which 7 are female. Five appear in only one scene, so there are “meaty roles” and “easier roles.” See the character breakdowns below for details.

Character Breakdown for "You Can't Take It With You"

Penelope “Penny” Sycamore (246 lines)
Preferred age: 40 and up
Usually goes by Penny, the mother of Essie and Alice, wife of Paul, and daughter of Martin. She writes plays and paints as hobbies because it makes her happy, but is terrible at both. Penny is a loving mother and wife and is constantly concerned with the welfare of her family. Her main goal is to make sure everyone is happy, particularly her daughter Alice. A huge part! On stage almost all the time.
Martin “Grandpa” Vanderhof (207 lines)
Preferred age: 60 and up
Referred to as Grandpa. Father-in-law to Paul, father of Penny, grandfather of Alice and Essie. He is an eccentric happy old man who lives his life by the philosophy: “Don’t do anything that you’re not going to enjoy doing.” A challenging role indeed, but most of your blocking is…sitting in a rocker.
Alice Sycamore (181 lines)
Preferred age: 18 and up
Fiancé of Tony Kirby, daughter of Paul and Penny, Granddaughter of Martin, sister of Essie. She the only “normal” family member in that she has an office job, and is rather embarrassed by the eccentricities of her family,yet she still loves them. She tends to be a pessimist.
Tony Kirby (136 lines)
Preferred age: 18 and up
Fiancé of Alice, Son of Mr. and Mrs. Kirby. He sees how the Sycamores are really the perfect family because they love and care about each other. This actor will need to have an adorable properness to him.
Anthony W. Kirby (107 lines)
Preferred age: 45 and up
Husband of Mrs. Kirby, father of Tony. He is a very proper man who is president of Kirby and Co. Being rich and borderline snobby is a good start for an actor to experiment with for this role.
Miriam Kirby (33 lines)
Preferred age: 45 and up
Wife of Mr. Kirby, mother of Tony. She is an extremely prim and proper woman and is horrified by the goings-on in the Sycamore household. Her hobby is spiritualism.
Essie Carmichael (87 lines)
Preferred age: 25 and up
Wife of Ed, daughter of Penny and Paul Sycamore, Granddaughter of Martin, sister of Alice. She is childish. As a hobby she makes candy that Ed sells. Essie dreams of being a ballerina. She has spent 8 years studying, but is a terrible dancer.
Boris Kolenkhov (83 lines)
Preferred age: 40 and up
A Russian who escaped to America shortly before the Russian Revolution. He is very concerned with world politics, and the deterioration of Russia. He is the ballet instructor of Essie, aware that she is untalented at dancing, but knows that she enjoys dancing so he keeps working with her. He is opinionated and often loudly declares that something “stinks”! This actor can be either very large and boisterous, or small and flamboyant.
Paul Sycamore (68 lines)
Preferred age: 40 and up
Father of Essie and Alice, husband of Penny, Son-in-law of Martin. He is a Tinker who manufactures fireworks in the basement with the help of his assistant Mr. De Pinna.
Ed Carmichael (65 lines)
Preferred age: 25 and up
Husband of Essie, son-in-law of Paul and Penny. He is a xylophone player, and distributes Essie’s candies. Ed is an amateur printer who prints anything that sounds good to him.
Mr. De Pinna (55 lines)
Preferred age: 30 and up
The iceman who came five years before, and never left. He helps Mr. Sycamore build fireworks, and moonlights as a model in Mrs. Sycamore’s paintings. He is a nutty guy.
Donald (46 lines)
Preferred age: 25 and up
Another person who just ‘wandered in, but because of Rheba, who seems to serve as volunteer handyman for the Sycamores.
Rheba (44 lines)
Preferred age: 45 and up
The maid and cook to the Sycamore family. She is onstage a lot, but doesn’t necessarily say anything.
Wilbur C. Henderson (34 lines)
Preferred age: 35 and up – One scene only
An employee of the IRS who comes to collect the tax money owed by Grandpa, and can’t understand why the latter won’t pay income tax. Perfect for someone who wants to act, but may not have a lot of time to commit.
The Grand Duchess Olga Katrina (20 lines)
Preferred age: 40 and up – One scene only
She was one of the Grand Duchesses of Russia before the Revolution, forced to flee to America where she has found work as a waitress. Tthe actress needs to be able to be a bit over-the-top. A memorable, not necessarily overwhelming, Russian accent is desired.
Gay Wellington (9 lines)
Preferred age: 25 and up – 2nd act only
An actress whom Mrs. Sycamore meets on a bus and invites home to read one of her plays. She is an alcoholic, gets very drunk and passes out shortly after arriving at the Sycamore’s home. Often breaks into exubrerient song when drunk.
“The Man” (18 lines),
G-Man 2 “Jim” (3 lines),
G-Man 3 “Mac” (2 lines)
one scene only
Preferred age: 25 and up.
Three Federal agents who come to investigate Ed because of the things he prints and having gunpowder in the house.