MACT

Rehearsal begins June 2; Performances run July 11 – 20

Sign up for an audition slot on the Northfield Arts Guild website

Bring to the audition a short poem with which you are very familiar.  Memorized is good, but not necessary.

Best preparation would be to read some/all of the book by Kate DiCamillo or the script (both available for 1 week checkout at the Northfield Arts Guild office at 304 Division St in Northfield – reserve by emailing pauline@northfieldartsguild.org).

1 girl – appears age 10-11

1 boy – appears age 10-12

4 women – ages 20 – 80

3 men – ages 20 – 80 (one of these is an off-stage voice only)

2 puppeteers – teens or adults

Based on a book written by Kate DiCamillo, Flora and Ulysses is an adventurous fantasy, in which a squirrel (Ulysses) becomes a Superhero when run over by a vacuum cleaner. At a deeper level it is also the story of a young girl, struggling with the separation of her parents, and wondering if her mother also rejects her.

Description of the characters
Flora – a ten-year old girl, who thinks of herself as a cynic, loves the comic books written by her father, and especially those comics including the Superhero “The Amazing Incandesto.” She doesn’t have any friends, loves reading comic books, and she’s got a superhero squirrel as a sidekick.
Tootie Tickham – a neighbor, who is a speaks her mind, and is eager to help Flora protect
Ulysses; William Spiver’s aunt, who knows William is not blind, and is awed by the squirrel’s super powers.
Donald Tickham – Tootie’s insensitive husband who gives her a vacuum cleaner for her birthday (an off-stage voice)
Ulysses – named after the vacuum that transformed this squirrel into a superhero. As a
superhero, he has super strength, understands human language, writes poetry, and has a kind heart. Above all, he loves Flora.
Phyllis Buckman – Flora’s mother, a writer of romance novels
George Buckman – Flora’s father, a creator of comic books
William Spiver – an 11-year-old boy, who claims he has hysterical blindness. He has been sent to stay with his Aunt Tootie. William develops a fondness for Flora. He loves his factoids, and works them into conversation every chance he gets. This is exactly what makes him a good match for Flora.
Dr. Meescham – an older woman, a doctor of philosophy, who comes from a small foreign town. She is kind, empathetic, a good listener and wise.
Rita – waitress at Do-Nut World, nosey, then hysterical when Ulysses appears
Ernie – the cook at Do-Nut World
Mr. Klaus – a vicious cat, who lives in George Buckman’s apartment building, and likely to be lying in wait for to attack an unsuspecting person.
Alfred T. Slipper – a.k.a. The Amazing Incandesto, created by George Buckman (and played by the same actor as George).

Ulysses and Mr. Klaus – are puppets, voiced by their puppeteers