AUditions for
the Matchmaker

Missed the Boat Theatre, a Catholic community theater, is holding auditions for Thorton Wilder’s The Matchmaker, directed by Sam Vargo. Performances will be at the Helene Houle Auditorium at Saint Agnes School (St. Paul), June 19-28, 2025.

Location:

Helene Houle Auditorium,

Saint Agnes School,

530 Lafond Ave, St. Paul, MN 55103

Dates:

Details:

  • Sun, March 2, 6:30-9:30 PM

  • Mon, March 3, 6:30-9:30 PM

  • Callbacks: Saturday, March 8, 2-5 PM

We are casting 10 principals (5 men and 5 women), 6 supporting characters, and a small ensemble of actor-musicians. We seek actors of all races/ethnicities to play ages 17-60 for men and 17-80 for women. Stipends will be provided for principal roles.  Actors do not need to be Catholic, but must be okay with working with lots of Catholics who love being Catholic, and performing for a largely Catholic audience.

For the Audition:

Please bring a headshot (any photo clearly showing your face); a resume is optional. We will audition groups of 8 in 30-minute slots; plan to be available the entire 30 minutes. Arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled time to fill out an audition form. Audition will consist of reading sides from the script. If you’re unable to be present at auditions, please contact us about submitting a video audition.

About the Show:

An eclectic cast of characters seeks adventure and love – or at least marriage – in 1880s New York. Wealthy merchant Horace Vandergelder, his two clerks, his niece, and her beau leave quiet Yonkers and take to New York City accompanied by the endearingly meddlesome matchmaker Dolly Levi. Hilarity ensues as they brush elbows with several lovely ladies, waiters out of their league, and an unexpected advocate for pursuing your dreams.  This delightful farce is full of fast-paced physical comedy and heartfelt reflections on what’ll really make one happy.

Roles: (ages listed are approximate ages to be portrayed)

Principals:

  • Horace Vandergelder (male, age 60ish) - choleric, vain, and sly. A wealthy self-made man, a widower in the market for a new wife. 

  • Mrs. Dolly Levi (female, 40s or 50s) - impoverished elegance; large, shrewd but generous nature. An assumption of worldly cynicism conceals a tireless, amused enjoyment of life. A widow, a matchmaker, and many other things besides. 

  • Ambrose Kemper (male, early 30s) - confident artist” Unclear if he’s a successful one or simply overly confident that he might be someday. In love with Ermengarde.

  • Cornelius Hackl (male, early 30s) - Vandergelder’s head clerk; mock-deferential to him. Feels stuck and in search of adventure.

  • Ermengarde (female, mid-20s) - pretty, sentimental, prone to melodramatic weeping, rather attached to propriety. Vandergelder’s niece; in love with Ambrose.

  • Malachi Stack (male, 40s or 50s) - sardonic, mysterious newcomer looking for another job in a chain of many. Overly fond of whiskey and his own opinions.

  • Barnaby Tucker (male, late teens) - wide-eyed with innocence and naivety. Clerk in Vandergelder’s shop.

  • Mrs. Irene Molloy (female, late 20s/early 30s) - a widowed milliner who hates hats. Seeks adventure but feels stuck in the respectability demanded of her position.

  • Minnie Fay (female, late teens/early 20s) - a bright-eyed shop assistant to Mrs. Molloy. 

  • Miss Flora van Huysen (female, 50ish) - florid, stout, and sentimental: a prosperous spinster and old friend of Mr. Vandergelder’s late wife.

Supporting: 

  • Joe Scanlon - [This role has been pre-cast.]

  • Gertrude (female, age 80ish) - Mostly deaf and half-blind; Ermengarde’s chaperone.

  • A Cabman - just trying to do his/her job.

  • Rudolf - tall “snob” waiter, alternating between cold superiority and rage. German accent.

  • August - young waiter; baby face; continually bursting into tears.

  • Miss Van Huysen’s Cook - longtime companion of Miss van Huysen; inclined to get involved in her affairs.

Ensemble:

  • Actor-Musicians - Seeking a small ensemble (who could be doubled with supporting roles above) to play townsfolk, shoppers, restaurant-goers, etc. Ideally, some or all of these actors will play instruments; musically, we are particularly interested in accordion, tuba and/or trumpet, saxophone, fiddle, guitar, and drums (think German polka band). Please note musical skills on your audition form. You will be asked about it at auditions and may be asked to bring & play your instrument at callbacks. 

Rehearsal and Performance Dates: 

  • Rehearsals are 4 times per week starting April 22. 

  • Rehearsals are generally Mon-Thurs 6:30-9:30pm, with some Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons.

  • It is not permitted to miss a rehearsal during tech week, June 13-18

  • You must be available for all of the following performance dates:

    • Thursday, June 19, Evening

    • Friday, June 20, Evening

    • Saturday, June 21, Evening

    • Sunday, June 22, Matinee

    • Thursday, June 26, Evening

    • Friday, June 27, Evening

    • Saturday, June 28, Evening

  • All actors are expected to attend Strike on Sunday, June 29 and at least one set-building day (schedule TBA).