Arsenic and Old Lace

By Joseph Kesserlring

Directed by Sandy Kintner

Arsenic and Old Lace, written by Joseph Kesselring in 1939, has become one of America’s most beloved plays. We meet the charming and innocent Brewster sisters, two ladies who run a boarding house upstairs and populate their cellar with the remains of socially and religiously “acceptable” roomers, that is, after they poison them with elderberry wine. Add to this the antics of their brother who thinks he is Teddy Roosevelt, spending his time digging locks for the Panama Canal in the cellar; and the activities of their other murderous brother who has received plastic surgery performed by an alcoholic accomplice, Dr. Einstein, and you have the elements of a divinely inspired comedy. Arsenic and Old Lace opened on Broadway January 10, 1941 and played more than 1,400 performances. It has been translated into more than 50 languages and produced as a film in both English and Russian. It had a successful Broadway revival in mid-1980 and is one of the most produced plays by community theatres throughout the world.

Produced by Sun Prairie Civic Theatre at Cardinal Heights Upper Middle School (The Old High School), 220 Kroncke Drive, Sun Prairie

Performances: February 4-13, 2011

Performance Times: February 4, 5, 11, 12, 2011 at 7:30 PM & February 13, 2011 at 2:00 PM

Ticket Prices: Adult $12, Senior (55+) $10, Student (<18)

Call 608-837-8217 for reservations or more information.

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Auditions

One of American's best-loved black comedies, Arsenic and Old Lace follows Mortimer Brewster, an up-and-coming theater critic whose intention to marry a minster's daughter is thwarted when he finds that his sweet, lovable aunts are hiding a dozen dead bodies in the cellar! Set in 1941, the cast for AOL includes two elderly spinsters, one nephew who thinks he's Teddy Roosevelt and another one who looks vaguely like Frankenstein. All together there are parts for 3 women and 8 men.

Auditions will be held at the Sun Prairie Civic Theatre rehearsal facility 500 South Bird St., Sun Prairie as follows:

Sunday Nov 21, 4:00 pm

Monday Nov 22, 7:00 pm

Rehearsals start Nov 29th.

Show dates: February 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 2011