In today’s modern age of politics, it has become about who you know, and not what you know, or the less you know, the higher you’ll go. Paul Slade Smith’s comedy takes a hard look at modern politics with amazing satire and real characters. The hero of the story is an average guy, Ned Newly, the former lieutenant governor. When a scandal forces the governor to resign, Ned has to step into the spotlight. The play opens just after Ned has given his first speech as the new governor. It was possibly the worst speech in history. Ned’s chief of staff, Dave, and his pollster, Paige, are trying to do damage control after Ned’s performance. Paige learns from Dave that Ned has been doing all the work for the previous governor for years. While we soon realize that Ned is the perfect person to run the state, the public sees him as the worst person to run their state. With a colorful cast of supporting characters, Louise (a bubbly new temp brought on to be Ned’s new secretary), Arthur (one of the best political consultants in the country whose confidence in his abilities is so infectious, everyone is dazzled by his showmanship), Rachel (a sarcastic tv reporter who has covered enough politics that to her everything is pretty much a pitiful joke, like Ned’s first speech), and A.C. (Rachel’s cameraman, a common Joe, and a quiet voice of reason and wisdom), we watch as a the transition of Ned unfolds from an “outsider” to the face of the state.

Audition Dates: July 17, 24, 25, 7:00 PM

Royal Off-the-Square Theatre, 121 W. Walnut St., Brownstown

Show Dates: September 16, 17, 18, 23, 24 

Parts available for 3 women, 4 men

Paige Caldwell: age 20s-40s. Page is a professional pollster, a smart, confident woman with a professional’s view of politics: She sees it as a series of contests to be won.

Louise Peakes: age 30s-50s. Louise is a “temp,” hired as the governor’s executive assistant, a job she mistakes to be assistant governor. She is personable, likeable, impressively confident, and entirely inept.

Rachel Parsons: age 30s. Rachel is a television reporter. She has the looks of an on-air correspondent, and the heart of a journalist.

Dave Riley: age 30s-40s. The Chief of Staff to the new governor, Dave is very smart, but despite years of experience in government, endearingly earnest and naïve on the subject of politics.

Ned Newley: age 50s-60s. Ned was lieutenant governor who has just become governor due to the resignation of his predecessor who left office because of a scandal. Ned is a person of impressive ability, but a complete lack of confidence who had no desire for this job.

Arthur Vance: age 50s-60s. Arthur is a preeminent political consultant for many successful national politicians. He is overbearing and overconfident, but 100% genuine. He has volunteered to take on the governor as a challenge.

A.C. Petersen: age 30s-40s. A.C. is the TV camera man. He’s a man who prefers to go about his work unnoticed. He has a low tolerance for idiocy and would rather not interact with anyone. His near silence makes him seem a bit of a mystery. He has few lines until the end when he speaks up.

The ages are recommendations by the author. We won’t be checking IDs. Please bring a list of dates that you are not able to rehearse. As always, feel free to share this opportunity with people who might be interested.  

Want to be involved in a show but don’t like being on stage? We will also need backstage and tech crews. If you have an interest in these, please let us know. Training provided!

The director of the show is John Boyken. John is a new director for JCCT but is experienced in all aspects of theatre in Bloomington and elsewhere.