1. Cinderella & All My Sons
Workshop: Monday, September 9th, 2019

2. Play Background Written during the “Golden Age of Broadway”
Written by Arthur Miller shortly after WWII
Patriotism was at its peak
Miller’s first successful play
First play to be awarded a Tony Award for Best Play (…and Best Director)
Arthur Miller
Greek Theater—American Style
Genius as Writer
Challenging, rich, complex characters ever

3. Historical Context Focus of Play: America WWII
At home (America), many businesses adjusted what they manufactured to help with the war effort
Businesses were often under great pressure to make their goods fast enough to keep up with the demand
Based off of True Story:
Ohio: company conspired with army inspection officer to approve defective aircraft engines destined for military use

4. All My Son’s Connection
Premise:
Joe Keller and Steve Deever own a business manufacturing parts for the war
One morning, something happens to the process, and the parts start coming out with small cracks in them
Steve calls Joe to ask him what to do:
Version One: Joe is too sick to come to the phone/office—Steve sends the parts anyway—21 aircrafts fail (MURDER—STEVE)
Version Two: Joe doesn’t come to the phone the first time. The second time, he tells Steve to send the parts and promises to take the blame (MURDER—STEVE AND JOE).
What happens as a result???
Steve and Joe are arrested for murder.
Steve is convicted
Joe is exonerated

5. Where are we when the play begins???
Several years have passed
Larry (first son of Joe) is still missing
Chris (second son of Joe) has returned and wants to marry Ann (Larry’s girl and Steve’s daughter)
Driving force of play (1) Can this happen? and (2) is Joe innocent or guilty?
Themes:
Responsibility: who are we responsible to? Why?
Greek Tragedy: Kellers and Deevers (royalty)
Maturity and Realism
The American Dream

6. Characters: Unique Acting Experience:
Diary of Anne Frank vs. All My Sons
Historical figures—Real people
Freedom:
Event—Historical
Play—Fictional
Result? opportunity to make character entirely your own
Every actor:
RICH: believable, complex, raw characters
Powerful moments
Apex—character study (so much to learn!)

7. Characters: Keller Family
Joe: The Father
61—a self-made man (successful businessman who places family above all else)
Not well educated, but certainly street-smart (had to make his way from an early age)
People like him—he has a rough charisma. The audience must like him.
Kate: The Mother
Slightly younger than Joe.
Quite likable—a strong woman even if she may not always appear this way
She sticks to story: Larry will return (I think she knows the truth but puts holding her family together above all else)
Chris: The Son Who Survived
Another likeable character
Has fallen in love with his lost brother’s girl
He has a strong moral compass (war has changed him). He is the conscience of the play.
He has some of the best lines of the play.
Characters: Keller Family

8. Characters: The Deever Family
Ann: the girlfriend
Larry’s girl & daughter of Joe’s former business partner
Strong woman who has fallen in love with the wrong man (determined to have something worth living for in her life)
Completely likeable, but she is caught up in a situation that can’t end well. Her determination leads to the story’s climax.
George: the brother
He dominates the action of Act II (only in Act II—but he is a great role to play)
He has made a serious mistake regarding his father, but now armed with the truth, is determined to set things right.
As a character, he is a tornado.
Characters: The Deever Family

9. Characters: The Rest of the Neighborhood
Dr. Jim Bayliss: the neighbor doctor
Jim and Sue live in the Deever’s house
He knows the truth but keeps the lie (because what is the sense in spreading the truth?)
He is a good person caught in a marriage and family life when he really would like to be something more
Sue Baylis: the wife
She, like her husband, knows the truth
Determined to maintain her way of life/her family
Not always likeable, but strong (and you understand her)
Frank Lubey: another neighbor
Easy going—the neighborhood nice guy
Sometimes his timing/what he says is just wrong
Lydia Lubey: Frank’s wife—used to be George’s girl
Good natured and a bit ditsy-can laugh easily (super likeable)
Bert(or Bernice): little kid of neighborhood (8 years old— small)
Characters: The Rest of the Neighborhood

10. Cinderella is a natural joyous girl with a bubbling sense of humor and great honesty. The Fairy Godmother needs help from the audience because she is out of practice and not at all certain her magic is going to work properly. In this comical version of the beloved fairy tale Cinderella’s slipper is tried on youngster in the audience, who are consulted as to whether the wicked stepmother and stepsisters should be turned into happy people. In addition to audience engagement and delightful characters, there is a place for the Lords and Ladies of the court to perform court dances. Of course, Cinderella and Prince live happily ever after.
A Children’s Play
By Ruth Newton

11. Characters Cinderella Prince Charming Stepmother
Matilda, Griselda, & Frump  
Fairy Godmother
Prime Minister
Duke
Ladies One, Two, & Three
Lords and Ladies of the Court

13. AUDITIONING TIPS Perception: Confident and Likable
BEGINNING OF AUDITION
Posture
Eye Contact
Handing Sheet
Where do I look during a monologue?!?!
END OF AUDITION
Smile & Make Eye Contact
Say THANK YOU
Walk out confidently NO MATTER WHAT

14. Auditions: AMS Scenes & Cinderella Monolgoues
Step One: take out your theater handbook and read the auditioning section—carefully
Step Two: find several characters (1-3) that you would like to audition for (be realistic about your strengths and weaknesses)
Step Three: find the speeches/scenes assigned to the characters you would like to play
Step Four:
If it is a speech on your own—get to work 
If it is a scene with one or more people—find (a) partner(s) and get to work 
When preparing the monologue/scene, keep in mind ways you can embody that character vocally, physically, and mentally
Step Five: Be confident in the work you’d done and NAIL THOSE AUDITIONS!

15. Final Reminders: AUDITIONS: CALL BACKS: PERFORMANCE DATES:
Tuesday, September 10th OR Thursday, September 12th (beginning at 3:45/3:50 in the Choir Room)
CALL BACKS:
Friday, September 13th(beginning at 3:45/3:50 in the Choir Room)
PERFORMANCE DATES:
Cinderella: October 19th, 20th
All My Sons: November 8th, 9th, 15th, 16th
Audition Forms
Hand Out Monologues/Scenes
WFBHSTHEATER.COM/Auditions
Break a Leg—YOU CAN DO THIS!