Second Street Players auditioning for first play of 2025

Auditions are planned for “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest” in early December

Second Street Players is already working on the 2025 season and will hold auditions for “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” the first production planned for next year. Auditions will be held December 2 and 3 from 6 to 8 PM at the Riverfront Theatre. If callbacks are needed, they will be held December 5 at 6 PM.

“There is a cast of 12 men and 4 women,” Director Marge Ventura said. “Auditions will consist of a cold reading from the script. To be considered for casting, all those auditioning must be available for all performances as well as the two weeks prior to opening night”

The play, based on a novel by Ken Kesey focuses on McMurphy who contrives to serve his sentence for a petty crime at a mental institution rather than prison. Once in the mental institution, he realizes his mistake as he clashes with Nurse Ratched. McMurphy attempts to end her strict reign, attempting to eliminate the restrictive routine while leading patients out of insecurities. The patients see a glimmer of hope when McMurphy stages a result but the insubordination of McMurphy has dire consequences.

The play was originally performed in 1963 with an adaptation by Dale Wasserman. The play starred Kirk Douglas, Joan Tetzel, Ed Ames, William Daniels, Gene Wilder and Rex Robbins. In 2001, a revival of the play appeared on Broadway starring Gary Senise, Amy Morton, Tim Sampson, Ross Lehman, Eric Johner, Rick Snyder, Danton Stone and K. Todd Freeman. A West End Revival in 2003 started Christian Slater, Frances Barber, Brendan Dempsey, Owen O’Neill, Mackenzie Crook and Phil Nichol.

“One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” won the 2001 Tony as well as the Outer Critics Award for Outstanding Revival of a Play. In 1975, the play was adapted into a movie, directed by Milos Forman and starring Jack Nicholson, Will Sampson, Danny Devito, Sydney Lassick, William Redfield, Christopher Lloyd and Brad Dourif. The film won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Screenplay. It also won numerous Golden Globe and BAFTA awards.

In 1993, the film adaptation was deemed “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant by the United States Library of Congress and was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.

Second Street Players will perform the play Friday through Sunday, February 7 through 9^th and 14^th through 16^th, 2025. Any questions about auditions may be sent to Ventura via email. Additional casting opportunities can be found on the Second Street Players website. Patrons who need assistance may email the theatre or call 302-422-0220 and leave a message.

Productions are supported, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment of the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on DelawareScene.com. Second Street Players values diversity and inclusion in casting and all other areas of production.