Written by Paul Slade Smith | Directed by Amy La Hay
Ned Newley doesn’t even want to be governor. He’s terrified of public speaking; his poll numbers are impressively bad. To his ever-supportive Chief of Staff, Ned seems destined to fail. But political consultant Arthur Vance sees things differently: Ned might be the worst candidate to ever run for office. Unless the public is looking for the worst candidate to ever run for office…. A timely and hilarious comedy that skewers politics and celebrates democracy.
Audition Information:
Audition Dates:
May 20th @6PM
May 23rd @10am
Please call the Box Office at 780-538-1616 to book an audition time or visit us in person!
The play features 7 roles, offering opportunities for strong comedic actors:
- Ned/Nancy Newley – An unelected new governor who is brilliant but painfully uncomfortable in the spotlight. A person awaiting permission to enter a room in which they are already standing.
- Paige/Peter Caldwell-A professional pollster. Smartly dressed, but with quirky elements. A smart, confident individual with a professional’s view of politics: they sees politics as a series of contests to be won.
- Arthur/Arta Vance -A high-energy political consultant who loves spectacle. A walking storm of confidence. Their overbearing personality and confidence in their own opinions over the opinions of others, should make them dislikable but their ego is tempered by the joy they bring into a room.
- Louise/Louis “Lou” Peakes — A well-meaning but clueless temporary employee who becomes unexpectedly popular. Personable, likeable, impressively confident and entirely inept. The friendliness of their smile and confident way they look you in the eye would make you think “I’d vote for them.”
- Dave/Deb Riley — Ned’s loyal chief of staff, trying to keep everything under control. Harried, slightly disheveled, passionate and a tad naive. Very smart but despite years of experience in government, endearingly earnest.
- Rachel/Roy Parsons – A confident TV reporter skilled at controlling narratives. Driven, smart, polished. The media’s voice of authority, always aware of cameras-even when none are visible.
- A.C. Petersen — A camera operator and media assistant. Straightforward and a stand-in for the “common person”, they see the reality instead of the image they are filming. Their near silence doesn’t make them seem unfriendly; just a bit of a mystery.
Each character offers strong comedic moments and opportunities for distinct physical and verbal humor. Although some roles may be written with a specific gender/age in mind, we are open to diversity – please audition for the character you feel you can best embody/portray/are most interested in!
Production Information
Genre: Contemporary Comedy / Political Farce Running
Time: Approximately 2 hours (including intermission)
Performance Dates: September 17, 2026 to October 3, 2026
Rehearsal Period: Starting Late May, with rehearsals held Monday nights, Wednesday Nights, Sunday afternoons.
Please fill out the audition form prior to your audition time, the form can be found here.