Shear Madness blog

Welcome to the blog for Shear Madness, where the audience gets to solve the crime! A mixture of improvisation and up-to-the-minute spontaneous humor, it's a new play every night! Now in its 30th year at The Charles Playhouse in Boston. Or see the Madness at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. now in its 23rd year! Please visit our website for more information! Join our Facebook Fan Page! Follow us on Twitter! Comment on our stuff below!

Something for your Wednesday afternoon.

In the Boston offices we have a big, fancy, metal, dented, musty cabinet of odds and ends from the years of Shear Madness! Cool stuff, odd stuff, stuff that we sell on eBay to pay Patrick Shea's salary. Here's one of our favorites: a promotional find-a-word! Print it out!

 

Oh, and by the way. It's been a long time. We don't know what the mystery message is...so, uh...tell us!

On the drawing board!

How about this for historical history? Here's an ages-old, early draft of...well...read it for yourself and figure it out! Taken from the extensive Shear Madness Vault of Old Stuff...meaning that dented and disorganized file cabinet in the back office.

A nice visit from Italy!

Tuesday night at The Charles Playhouse, the Boston cast got a treat: a visit from Christina Palermo, who plays Mrs. Shubert in the Italian production of Shear Madness! Over there, it's called "Forbici Follia." Thanks for coming out, Christina!

Check out the site: forbicifollia.com!

A blast from Shear Madness' past!

Whoa!

Blast from the past: a wedding in Washington, DC!

Click HERE to find out about a special night for two lovebirds, who tied the knot at (and later named their boat) Shear Madness!

Open auditions for Spring Casting for Shear Madness at the Kennedy Center!

Check it out!

Character Breakdown

BARBARA DEMARCO. (Age range 23-39. Prototype: A young Bette Midler.)
A wise-cracking, gum-snapping, nail polishing hairdresser. Very dishy and put together, though on the cheap side.

MIKEY THOMAS (Age range 23-30.) A preppy-looking, eager-beaver who’s a capable and earnest undercover cop. Gets his hair washed and blown dry at every performance. It may need to be cut by a professional.

TONY WHITCOMB . (Age range 25-40.) is the flamboyant, irrepressible proprietor of the Shear Madness salon. He is fun, devilish, interesting, passionate and a real character. He must not be jaded in any way. His “shoot from the hip” comedy must endear him to all. He must be able to do the physical comedy easily and with great flair. Must love “playing for an audience”. He must love creating and executing merriment, and mirth.

EDDIE LAWRENCE (Age range: 30-45). A well-dressed, nice-looking confidence man who covers a dangerous interior with a smooth, suave, and occasionally charming exterior.

NICK ROSSETTI (or NICK JOHNSON or TOM O’BRIEN depending on ethnic background). (Age range: 30-40). A hardworking “gumshoe” detective. A bright, quick thinking, personable character actor who can also be an excellent straight man. It requires an actor who is not intimidated by a boisterous audience. It requires a good looking, masculine actor with a solid voice and solid acting skills who can learn the dynamics that will keep the investigation on track.

MRS. SHUBERT (Age range: 45-70) An old-money Washington socialite of impeccable breeding and manner. She must speak with natural— not artificial— cultured tones. She can really turn on the charm when needed. At her finest she’s a real class act.

All roles open. AEA and AEA eligible.
Shear Madness is an equal opportunity employer.

Please prepare a 2 minute contemporary comic monologue. No accent.
Auditions by appointment only. No phone calls.

Submit pictures and resume to:
Bob Lohrmann
Associate Artistic Director
Shear Madness
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
2700 F Street NW
Washington, DC 20037

The Life and Times of Shear Madness!

Here's a gallery from one of our veteran cast members of the various productions he's been in over the past few years!

More pictures from North Carolina at our Fan Page!

Who's seeing Shear Madness at Flat Rock Playhouse in North Carolina? These people!

Extended in North Carolina!

Shear Madness has been extended at Flat Rock Playhouse! Check out the info HERE!

Shear Madness is rehearsing in North Carolina!

Flat Rock Playhouse's production of Shear Madness started rehearsing yesterday, and opens August 3rd! Check out Facebook.com/comedywhodunit for more details!