Perfect Arrangement
by Topher Payne
Directed by Dr. Miriam Thomas
Auditions will be held in the evening on Wednesday, September 15th and Thursday. September 16th, with callbacks from in the evening on Friday, September 17th
all in the Nelda K. Balch Festival Playhouse, 129 Thompson St, Kalamazoo, MI 49006.
Performances are November 5-8th, 2026.
Our first all company meeting will be in the evening of Tuesday September 22nd with our 1st rehearsal and table read will be Monday September 21st
Synopsis
It’s 1950, and new colors are being added to the Red Scare. Two U.S. State Department employees, Bob and Norma, have been tasked with identifying sexual deviants within their ranks. There’s just one problem: Both Bob and Norma are gay and have married one another’s partners as a carefully constructed cover.
Inspired by the true story of the earliest stirrings of the American gay rights movement, madcap classic sitcom-style laughs give way to provocative drama as two “All-American” couples are forced to stare down the closet door.
Roles
Bob Martindale 30s-40s. A WWII vetran, reserved. A bit bookish, but a solid man’s man. Good humored and well-mannered.
Millie Martindale late 20s-30s. Bob’s wife. Plays “the ditzy wife” when people are in the house, but actually very quick witted and observant. Smart enought to maintain the act
Norma Baxter 30s. The knowing, efficient, classy dame. A secretary at the State Department who could just as easily be Secretary of State. A discerning woman who’s great with a wisecrack and level-headed in a bind.
Jim Baxter 20s-30s. Norma’s husband. A prankster type, always ready with a comeback. A high school teacher with lots of energy. A little wired, good with a plan.
Theodore Sunderson 40-50s. The boss. Bombastic, loud, a bit overbearing. A patriotic windbag.
Kitty Sunderson 40s. Ted’s wife. Legitimately ditzy. Her brain seems to work on a totally different wavelength than the rest of the world. Very sweet, and very genuine. Just doesn’t quite “get it.”
Barbara Grant 40s. A formidable opponent. No-nonsense, beautiful brilliant, and a little scary.
Non-Acting Opportunities
Students can work for pay by applying to work for one of the shops on Handshake, or for credit by completing the production application on this website. All members of the company are eligible for a THEA 200 (practicum) credit.
How to get to The Playhouse for auditions:
1. The Playhouse is located near Dow Science Center on 129 Thompson St. As you face the Light Fine Arts Building, go to the left towards the Dow parking lot. The Playhouse is to the right of Dow Science Center on the far end of the parking lot.
2. The Stage Manager will give you the paperwork you need to complete then direct you into The Playhouse for your audition. Please have your complete schedule available to reference when you arrive.
FAQs About Auditioning for Festival Playhouse
Do I have to be a Theatre Arts major or minor to audition?
No! In fact, we highly encourage involvement in different majors and activities outside of theatre. On average, up to 70% of students working on a Festival Playhouse show are not Theatre Arts majors or minors.
What other opportunities are there for students who are not cast or are not interested in auditioning?
Most production positions for any Festival Playhouse show are filled by students. We have student set/lighting designers, stage managers, assistant stage managers, light/sound board operators, spot light operators, wardrobe crew, props crew, dramaturgs, and more! Even if you are not cast in a show, you can always find a way to be involved! The first production meeting will be in the evening of Tuesday, September 22nd.
When do we rehearse?
Our productions usually rehearse 5 nights per week 7pm-10pm, either Monday thru Friday or Sunday thru Thursday. Beginning two weeks from opening night we extend another hour to 11pm. The tech weekend before the show opens is Saturday and Sunday 12 noon to 11pm with a dinner break. This is a generic schedule, and it may vary with each individual director’s preferences.
Do I have to come to rehearsal every night?
It depends on the size of the role. Larger roles will be in rehearsal almost every night. Smaller roles may only be called 2-3 evenings per week and not necessarily the entire rehearsal. Often, the entire cast is called every night the first week of rehearsal as we read through the play. No matter what the size of the role, however, everyone will be called every night for the full rehearsal period the last two weeks of rehearsal before opening night.
What if I have an evening class?
Every show and every director treats this differently, but a general rule of thumb is that if you clearly indicate the class on your audition sheet, if the director casts you, then they understand they will have to work around your class. The exception is always the last two weeks of rehearsal, though, when everyone is called every night. It’s up to you to negotiate with the professor.
What if I can’t get out of a class though?
The best thing to do is just audition and be very clear with the director about your schedule. We’ve always worked it out.
Won’t such a big time commitment affect my grades?
It might, but you should know that many, many students in the plays actually have a better GPA than those who are not! There is a culture of learning to manage time and taking pride in academic achievement that goes along with any artistic endeavor at K.
What about Monkapult?
Monkapult (the student comedy improv group) typically rehearses from 10-12pm. The only possible overlap of rehearsal is the last two weeks when we go to 11pm (usually not a problem since many Monkapult team members are also theatre students).
If I’m cast in a production, do I need to get stage makeup?
Yes! Lucky for you, we have this guide with resources on how to find and purchase your own makeup kit.
Further information will be posted for each play as it is available.
Welcome to Festival Playhouse! We’re glad you’re joining us!