THE GHENT PLAYHOUSE ANNOUNCES AUDITIONS
FOR ITS UPCOMING PRODUCTION

 

GRAND HORIZONS
Written by Bess Wohl
Directed by Cathy Lee-Visscher

Tuesday, January 27 and Wednesday, January 28, 2026
7:00 p.m./Sign-in 6:30 p.m.

At The Ghent Playhouse
6 Town Hall Place
Ghent, NY  12075

The Ghent Playhouse is thrilled to announce open auditions for its next production, Bess Wohl’s play, GRAND HORIZONS, to be directed by Artistic Director, Cathy Lee-Visscher.

GRAND HORIZONS had its roots at the Williamstown Theater Festival in 2019, before moving to Broadway that same year.  Bess Wohl’s Tony Award nominated comedy is a hilarious, heartbreaking commentary on marriage, family, and the wisdom that comes with age – or not.

Bill and Nancy have spent 50 years as husband and wife.  They practically breathe in unison and can anticipate each other’s every sigh, snore and sneeze.  Over a quiet dinner for two, Bill and Nancy serenely decide to divorce.  As the “kids” descend on the Grand Horizons Senior Living Community to mediate, everything they thought they knew about their parents’ outwardly happy lives comes crashing down.  As the family grapples with their new reality, each must reckon with their own imperfect past and how their love for each other might express itself in new and unlikely forms.

PERFORMANCE DATES:
April 10-12 and April 17-19, 2026
Friday and Saturday Evenings at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday Matinees at 2:00 p.m.
Preview Performance, Thursday, April 9, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.

 

Auditioners will be asked to read scenes from the script

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS: 

BILL (Male; 74-80) – Nancy’s husband of 50 years.  Grumpy and a little resigned.  A former pharmacist, he is working on his stand-up routine, specializing in crude and dirty jokes.  Notices more than he lets on; deflects earnestness; scared of dying alone.

NANCY (Female, 70-75) – Bill’s wife.  Kind, giving and resourceful.  Willing to speak her mind.  A former librarian, now the habitual caretaker of Bill.  She is eager to feel something, anything.  Of late, very invested in the Syrian refugee crisis.

BEN (Male, 37-45) – Nancy and Bill’s eldest son.  Largely financially responsible for his parents.  An attorney.  Worried about his marriage//marriage in general.

BRIAN (Male, 35-42) – Nancy and Bill’s second son.  A high school drama teacher.  High-strung and lonely.  Worried about his school production of “The Crucible” with a cast of 200.

JESS (Female, 35-40) – Ben’s wife; pregnant with their first child.  Newly credentialed family therapist (and it sometimes shows).  Strong-willed and outspoken.

TOMMY (Male, 25-35) – Brian’s late-night hookup.  Flirty and blunt; a little freaky.

CARLA (Female, 67-79) – From the Midwest.  Salt of the earth, friendly and a talker.  A former receptionist.  Never married; Bill’s girlfriend.

NOTE:  This is an open call for auditioners.  ALL roles are available.  Actors who are outside the age ranges listed, but feel they can play within those ranges, are strongly encouraged to audition.   Please also note that the play contains adult language and sexual situations.  

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.

For questions or further information, please contact the director, Cathy Lee-Visscher, by email at cathyleevisscher@gmail.com or by phone at (518) 755-9278.