Death by Chocolate

Show Dates: April 3-6
Location: Jubilee Theater Center, 109 Commercial Street, Marshfield, MO
Runtime: Approximately 2 hours
Rated PG-13

Auditions

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Marshfield Community Theatre is thrilled to announce auditions for DEATH BY CHOCOLATE!

A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC., TITLE

WRITTEN BY:  PAUL FREED

Directed by: Toni Lorenz

If you have questions about your audition, please email planning@marshfieldtheatre.org.

Audition Details

Dates: February. 2 & 3, 2025

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Location: The Jubilee Theater, 109 Commercial St., Marshfield, MO

Performance Dates: April 3-6, 2025

Callbacks (if needed):  February 4, 2025

Who we’re looking for:

Cast size:

6 Females (ages 18 +)

5 Males (ages 18+)

This is a non-musical mystery/thriller comedy, so there are no vocal or dance requirements. The ability to embrace strong characterizations will be a plus.

What to prepare:

Please prepare a one-minute comedic monologue; additionally, auditions will consist of cold readings from the show.

If you have questions about what to prepare or a conflict with audition dates, email planning@marshfieldtheatre.org.

Before your audition

  1. Complete our online audition form at https://form.jotform.com/250056138234147
  2. Bring:
    1. A headshot to attach to your form.
    2. A list of ALL conflicts from February 16-April 6, 2025 (including weekends)
    3. Comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes.
  3. Come ready to embrace new challenges and have fun!

Available Roles

LADY RIVERDALE – owner of Lady Riverdale Chocolates, Inc. and the new owner of the Meadowbrook Health Resort. She is the pompous, high society type except when occasionally required to use a “viscious street shrewdness” to survive.

DYSLEXIA – Lady Riverdale’s assistant and long-suffering secretary. 

JOHN STONE – the new manager of the Meadowbrook Health Resort (and how he got there, no one knows). He is quick-witted and finds almost everything absurd (a basic cynical sort of person). 

RALPH DEADWOOD – the Gym Manager and all-around cad. Knowing all about Lady Riverdale’s past, he has used that knowledge to get whatever he can from her. 

MARGARET DANIELS – a very attractive woman who is trying to write a feature story on the resort for a leading gossip magazine. 

ALFRED MELLOX – he is in charge of the janitorial staff and maintenance for the resort (a position given to him only because he was the trusted companion of the late Henry Meadowbrook). He is very stiff, rigid, and typical “butler-type” with a clipped British accent. 

EDITH CHILES – the Head Chef. She is a rather large, buxom sort of woman with a jovial personality and New England Matronly manners (whatever that means). 

“SWEET PEA” MEADOWBROOK – daughter of the late Henry meadowbrook. Extremely overweight, she seems to be trying to eat herself to death because of the trauma of losing her father. Her mouth is always full of food and no one can understand her without the help of Alfred Mellow. 

DICK SIMMERING – the Aerobics Instructor. Always garbed in a jogging outfit, he is a bright, hyperactive, effeminate person. 

ANNE – the resort nurse who tends to panic at the slightest injury. 

ED PARLOR – guest of Lady Riverdale’s, he is a writer with a cheery disposition and enjoys the opportunity to try and solve the mysterious deaths by chocolate. 

HENRY MEADOWBROOK – the founder of the Meadowbrook Health Resort, he is never seen since he dies in the opening moments of the play. 

About the Show

Members of the newly renovated Meadowbrook Health Resort are dropping like flies, including famed chef Edith Chiles! On the eve of the grand re-opening, this is not the best advertisement. It’s up to John Stone, the manager, to find the cause and the murderer. Delightfully sarcastic and cynical, Stone finds himself teaming up with Ed Parlor, mystery writer and amateur sleuth, in a wacky race against time. The clues point to a sinister box of chocolates, and the suspects include all the outlandish characters working for the resort. Could it be Lady Riverdale, owner of the resort and a woman with dark secrets? Or Ralph Deadwood, gym instructor and all around cad? Dick Simmering, the aerobics instructor? Anne, the panic-stricken nurse? Or could it be “Sweet Pea” Meadowbrook, overweight and grieving daughter of the recently deceased founder of the resort? Death by Chocolate combines all the elements of classic murder mysteries with a scathing satire of today’s health crazes.

For questions, email us at planning@marshfieldtheatre.org. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this exciting production—we can’t wait to see you at auditions!

Financial Considerations

There will be a $20 fee collected from all cast members at the first cast meeting. Cast and families will also be given the opportunity to purchase (OPTIONAL) show T-shirts.

MCT does not want finances to be an obstacle for any family. Please reach out to your production manager at the company meeting if you need to discuss financial options.

Synopsis

Members of the newly renovated Meadowbrook Health Resort are dropping like flies, including famed chef Edith Chiles! On the eve of the grand re-opening, this is not the best advertisement. It’s up to John Stone, the manager, to find the cause and the murderer. Delightfully sarcastic and cynical, Stone finds himself teaming up with Ed Parlor, mystery writer and amateur sleuth, in a wacky race against time. The clues point to a sinister box of chocolates, and the suspects include all the outlandish characters working for the resort. Could it be Lady Riverdale, owner of the resort and a woman with dark secrets? Or Ralph Deadwood, gym instructor and all around cad? Dick Simmering, the aerobics instructor? Anne, the panic-stricken nurse? Or could it be “Sweet Pea” Meadowbrook, overweight and grieving daughter of the recently deceased founder of the resort? Death by Chocolate combines all the elements of classic murder mysteries with a scathing satire of today’s health crazes.