The Village Theatre Guild, Ltd.
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synopsis
These Shining Lives by Melanie Marnich chronicles the strength and determination of women considered expendable in their day, exploring their true story and its continued resonance. Catherine and her friends are dying, it’s true; but theirs is a story of survival in its most transcendent sense, as they refuse to allow the company that stole their health to kill their spirits-or endanger the lies of those who come after them.
For more information, email [email protected].
Directed by Stan Austin
Produced by Kevin Taylor
Stage Manager – TBD
details
WHEN: Sunday, January 26 @ 6:30pm and Monday, January 27 @ 6:30pm
You only need to attend one of these two dates.
Callbacks, if necessary, will be Tuesday, January 28 @7pm
WHERE: Village Theatre Guild of Glen Ellyn, located at the corner of Park Blvd. and Butterfield Road.
WHAT: This is an “Open Call” audition. This is a non-equity, non-pay production. Please click the following link to reserve your audition time slot for either Sunday or Monday (callbacks will be by invitation only): www.bit.ly/VTGTSLAudition
These Shining Lives tells the story of the women who were employed by the Radium Dial Company. As such, auditions will consist of actors telling a story. This can be any story, whether true or conceived, and should be expressed in the style of the character(s) for which you are auditioning. The story can be heartwarming, humorous, enlightening, or a combination. Stories should be 3-4 minutes in length. Cold readings from the script may also be required, and sides will be made available on the VTG website.
setting/roles/character descriptions
Catherine Donohue: The main protagonist. The actor is required to switch between her character in the part of the narrator and her character in the story as she succumbs to radium poisoning.
Frances O’Connell: Viewed as having the moral backbone of the four women, which could suggest she is a little older.
Charlotte Purcell: Straight talking and tough. Although she is sharp when she first meets Catherine, they soon become good friends.
Pearl Payne: Easy-going and chatty. Likens to Catherine right away.
Tom Donohue: Catherine’s husband. Feels emasculated when Catherine first gets the
job, but warms up quickly to it. Fiercely protective of his wife.
Mr. Reed: Radium Dial supervisor.
Actors will portray other characters, with the exception of Catherine. Everyone is in their
mid- to late twenties. Mr. Reed can be older. Ages are of the characters, not necessarily
of the actors. Actors of all identities are encouraged to audition.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
The production will open on March 21, 2025, and run for twelve performances over four weekends through April 12. Strike will be on Sunday, April 13. Performances will be on Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m. A Saturday matinee is scheduled for April 5; a Saturday matinee (depending on demand) may be added for April 12.
Tech Week begins March 9; Dress Week begins March 16.
Rehearsals will be on Sunday afternoons or evenings (depending on conflicts) and Mondays through Thursdays 7-9:30 p.m. There will be no rehearsal on Fridays or Saturdays. Actors will not be required to be at all rehearsals, depending on which scenes are being rehearsed. The read-through is currently scheduled for Thursday, January 30, and rehearsals will begin immediately after. Please bring all known conflicts to the audition. No conflicts during tech/dress week, please.
SIDES:
Sides will be posted on the VTG website soon.
Support provided by Arts DuPage, a DuPage Foundation initiative.
This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council.
©2025 The Village Theatre Guild, Ltd.