The Untold Story of the Collyer Brothers

By Finn Gallagher

Directed by Finn Gallgher

:The Untold Story of the Collyer Brothers" is an original play by Madison playwright, Finn Gallagher, and tells the real life story of the famously reclusive millionaire hoarders, Homer and Langley Collyer. Even with their differing opinions on their 140 ton "collection," their solitude, and the newspaper reporters knocking on their door, the brothers are stuck together in their Harlem brownstone. Set in the 1930s and '40s, the play is takes many twists and turns as the brothers become more and more reclusive. Langley, the more eccentric brother, is rebuilding a Model-T Ford in their living room. Homer, the elder brother and narrator of the show, is blind, unable to move from his chair, and has not been seen publicly in years. Find out what happened to the Collyer Brothers at the Bartell Theatre this October!

Produced by Strollers Theatre at Bartell Theatre's Evjue Stage, 113 E. Mifflin St., Madison

Performances: October 11-26, 2024

Performance Times: TBA

Ticket Prices: $25

Call 617-717-9416 for reservations or more information.

Auditions

Auditions will be held on the following days:

8/12/2024
8/13/2024

AUDITION INFO
When: August 12-13 at 7 pm
Where: Bartell Theatre (113 E Mifflin St.)

SUMMARY
The Untold Story of the Collyer Brothers tells the real life story of the famously reclusive millionaire hoarders, Homer and Langley Collyer. Even with their differing opinions on their 140 ton "collection," their solitude, and the newspaper reporters knocking on their door, the brothers are stuck together.

CHARACTERS
HOMER COLLYER: male, playing 60-70s. The older brother and the narrator of the play. He struggles with blindness and paralysis, and rebels against his brother’s care to seek out an interview with a local newspaper to “tell his story.”

LANGLEY COLLYER: male, playing 50-60s. Homer’s younger brother and caretaker. He wants to protect Homer from the outside world. He is intelligent and eccentric, but his mind begins to unravel when he begins suffering from paranoid delusions and a compulsion to hoard.

HELEN WORDEN: female, playing 30s. An ambitious reporter for the New York Herald-Tribune. She wants to interview the elusive Collyer Brothers to prove her worth as a reporter, but struggles with whether she will portray them as sympathetic or freakish.

YOUNG LANGLEY: male, playing 20-30s. Plays Langley during flashback scenes, and may double in other roles. Piano experience is encouraged, but not required.

YOUNG HOMER: male, playing 20-30s. Plays Homer during flashback scenes, and may double in other roles.

MRS. COLLYER: female, playing 50-60s. The boys’ mother, as portrayed in flashback scenes, during a time when the family is struggling to stay together, and will double as other roles, possibly playing characters with different genders. Classical singing experience is encouraged, but not required.

ENSEMBLE: various genders and ages; to play roles such as a Policeman, Helen Worden’s Photographer, a rich young couple that harasses the brothers, etc. All Ensemble actors will double heavily, possibly playing characters with different genders.

Rehearsals will begin August 25 and be Sundays-Thursdays from 7 pm-9:30pm.

Tech week and performances will be at the Bartell Theatre. Tech begins October 6.

Opening night will be October 11. Closing night will be October 26.

Any questions? Send us a DM or email the stage manager tay.jordan.h@gmail.com!