The Little Foxes

2009-07-21T13:12:00.000-07:00

The Zodiac Players will present The Little Foxes, written by Lillian Hellman, at the historic Shoals Theatre in downtown Florence, Alabama. This production will be directed by Kc Schmidt, and run from October 22nd through October 25th, 2009.

AUDITIONS

Where:
The Zodiac Theatre
416 North Court St.
Florence, AL. 35630

When:
Saturday August 29th at 2:30 p.m.
Monday August 31st at 7:00 p.m.

Everyone is invited to attend the auditions!

A head shot and resume are not required, but please bring them if you have them. You may bring a rehearsed monologue for your audition, or contact me in advance for the sides that will be used during the auditions, or simply come for the "cold read". And of course, you may audition for as many roles as you are interested in and are appropriate for you.

CHARACTER BREAKDOWNS

REGINA GIDDENS - A handsome woman; 35-45. (Lead)

HORACE GIDDENS - A tall man; he has been good looking, but now his face is tired and ill; Around 45. (Lead)

ALEXANDRA GIDDENS - A delicate, pretty girl of 17. (Co-lead) *See note below.

BIRDIE HUBBARD - A woman with a pretty and a well-bred face. She is married to OSCAR and the mother of LEO; around 40. (Co-lead) *See note below.

BEN HUBBARD - BEN is a jovial man with light, graceful movements. A lifelong bachelor, he is the eldest brother of REGINA and OSCAR; a man in his 50s. (Co-lead)

OSCAR HUBBARD - The husband of BIRDIE, brother of BEN and REGINA, father of LEO; a man in his 40s. (Supporting)

LEO HUBBARD - The son of OSCAR and BIRDIE; a man in his 20s with a weak kind of good looks. (Supporting)

ADDIE - Works in the house for the Giddens. She is the maid/governess; a middle aged woman. (Supporting)

CAL - A male who does various odd jobs for the Giddens. CAL could be a 17 year old boy, or a 65 year old man. (Supporting)

WILLIAM MARSHALL - Pleasant looking and self-possessed; a man in his mid 40s. (Supporting)

*Note - In the original version of the play, the characters of BIRDIE and ALEXANDRA play the piano. While it is not necessary that the actresses know how to play the piano for this production, it certainly would be nice if they were musically inclined.

A Little History of The Little Foxes

About the Author -
Lillian Florence Hellman is one of America's greatest 20th century playwrights. Born in New Orleans in 1905, her grandmother's family was from Demopolis, Alabama, and it is said that the character of Regina is a thinly disguised version of her grandmother, Sophie, and the character of Birdie inspired by her mother, Julia. Besides The Little Foxes (1939), Hellman is also known for Toys in the Attic (1960), and The Children's Hour (1934).

ON THE STAGE -

The original Broadway production premiered on February 15, 1939 at the National Theatre and ran for 410 performances. Starring in the lead role as Regina Giddens was Alabama native, Tallulah Bankhead.

Mike Nichols directed a production that opened on October 26, 1967 at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre in Lincoln Center, then transferred to the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. It ran a total of 100 performances. The cast included Anne Bancroft as Regina, Richard A. Dysart as Horace. Margaret Leighton as Birdie, E.G. Marshall as Oscar, George C. Scott as Benjamin, and Austin Pendleton as Leo.

Austin Pendleton directed a production that ran at the Parker Playhouse in Fort Lauderdale for three weeks and the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. for six weeks before opening on Broadway, after eight previews, on May 7, 1981 at the Martin Beck Theatre. It ran for 123 performances. The cast included Elizabeth Taylor as Regina, Tom Aldredge as Horace, Dennis Christopher as Leo, Maureen Stapleton as Birdie, and Anthony Zerbe as Benjamin. Costume design was by Florence Klotz. In a pre-Broadway opening article in Time, Gerald Clarke reported nearly $1 million worth of tickets had been sold during the week following the first New York Times ad announcing Taylor's appearance. She was nominated for both the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play. Tony nominations also went to Pendleton for Best Direction of a Play, Aldredge for Best Featured Actor in a Play, Stapleton for Best Featured Actress in a Play, and the play itself for Best Reproduction.

A 1997 revival, again at the Vivian Beaumont, ran for 27 previews and 57 performances between April 3 and June 15. Directed by Jack O'Brien, the cast included Stockard Channing as Regina, Kenneth Welsh as Horace, Brian Kerwin as Oscar, Brian Murray as Benjamin, and Frances Conroy as Birdie. Murray was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play and won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play, and John Lee Beatty was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Scenic Design.

This year, the Pasadena Playhouse is producing The Little Foxes with Golden Globe nominated actress, Kelly McGillis in the lead role of Regina.

THE FILM VERSION -

Produced by Samuel Goldwyn and directed by William Wyler, the 1941 version of The Little Foxes starred none other than Bette Davis. Most of the original Broadway cast was also recast in the film version. The acclaimed Dorothy Parker wrote additional scenes in the film version.

As a contract player at Warner Bros., Davis was earning $3,000 dollars a week. When she learned Goldwyn had paid Jack Warner $385,000 for her appearance in Foxes, she demanded and ultimately received a share of the payment.

The film premiered at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The New York Times reported it was seen by 22,163 persons on its opening day, setting what was then an all-time attendance mark for a normal opening day at the theatre.

The film was nominated for 9 academy awards, including Best Director, Best Actress, 2 nominations for Best Supporting Actress (Patricia Collinge and Theresa Wright), and Best Picture.

In 2003, the character of Regina Giddens, played by Davis, was ranked #43 on the American Film Institute list of the 50 Best Villains of American Cinema.

AND NOW, IT'S OUR TURN...

Set in the living room of the Gidden's house, the story reveals the lies, deceits, and corruptions that man and woman will stoop to in order to achieve financial wealth. The story is that of good verses evil at it's most basal level, and while it seems as though evil wins, there is a glimmer of goodness that shines through. Fortunately, a glimmer is all we need.

In addition to casting the play, we will be looking for people to help work on the production. Some of the available positions are: Props Master/Mistress, Lighting Designer, Set Decorator, Set Builders, Stage Manager, and Assistant Director.

If you or someone you know is interested in auditioning or being part of the magic that makes plays come together backstage, then please, inquire here or attend one of the auditions.

NOTE - The play has traditionally used language that is no longer acceptable in today's society. Please, know in advance that this language will not be used in our production, and non-offensive language will be used in its place.

In conclusion, please don't hesitate to contact me if there are any questions or comments: thezingokid@yahoo.com.

Thanks,
Kc Schmidt