GHENT PLAYHOUSE ANNOUNCES AUDITIONS 
FOR ITS PRODUCTION OF “NOW AND THEN”

 

NOW AND THEN
Written by Sean Grennan
Directed by Dianne Hobden

DATES AND TIMES OF AUDITIONS:

Sunday, August 23 at 1:00 p.m. -  Sign in at 12:30 p.m.
Monday, August 24 at 7:00 p.m. – Sign-in at 6:30 p.m.

AT:  The Ghent Playhouse
6 Town Hall Place
Ghent, NY  12075

The Ghent Playhouse announces open auditions for Sean Grennan’s clever, heartfelt dramatic comedy, NOW AND THEN, to be directed by Dianne Hobden.

The play, set in an Irish bar in New York City, takes place over the course of one night in 1981, and explores roads taken and paths ignored.  As Jamie is closing the bar where he works, an older gentleman named Jimmy begs to stay a little while, with no real explanation why.  When Jamie’s girlfriend Abby arrives, the desperate, last-minute customer offers the couple two thousand dollars to sit and have a drink with him.  As they begin discussing life, destiny, and dreams, Jimmy reveals the unbelievable truth about where he’s from and why he’s there… and the reason he gives them is completely unbelievable. 

PERFORMANCE DATES:

November 27-29 and December 4-6, 2026
Friday and Saturday Evenings at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday Matinees at 2:00 p.m.
Preview Performance, Wednesday, November 25, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS:  Ages and descriptions are flexible.  The director will cast those who are best suited for the roles.  Actors who are outside the age ranges listed, but feel they can play within that range, are strongly encouraged to audition.  


CHARACTERS:

Jamie – (mid-late 20’s) – Bartender and aspiring pianist.  Attractive in a “regular guy” way.  Sincere, hard-working and very much in love with Abby.

Man – (60’s) – A bit beaten down, but good-natured.  Easy to talk to, well-spoken, sincere, and very intent on his mission.  Husband of 35 years to Woman.  He is desperate.

Abby – (mid-late 20’s) – IHOP waitress and one-time English major.  Funny, smart and very much in love with Jamie.

Woman – (60’s) – Strong, direct, loving, a little abrasive.  She is man’s wife of 35 years.  No one knows her like he does and no one knows him like she does.  She and Man bicker, but there is a bedrock of love there.  They would do anything for each other and no one can hurt either of them like the other one can.


REHEARSALS

THE REHEARSAL SCHEDULE WILL BE BASED UPON THE AVAILABILITY OF THOSE WHO ARE CAST.  THEREFORE, AUDITIONERS ARE REQUESTED TO BE AS SPECIFIC AS POSSIBLE IN LISTING ANY AND ALL CONFLICTS ON THEIR AUDITION APPLICATION.

AUDITIONERS WILL BE ASKED TO READ SPECIFIC SIDES FROM THE SCRIPT, 

PLEASE CONTACT THE DIRECTOR AT diannehobden51@gmail.com OR BY PHONE AT (518) 755-2069, WITH ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE, OR TO OBTAIN THE AUDITION SIDES.