The Theatre Group at Santa Barbara City College will hold additions for Neil Simon’s comic drama “Lost in Yonkers,” 5:30-9:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 5, by appointment at the Jurkowitz Theatre on SBCC’s West Campus.

Auditions also can be done via video submission by 11 p.m. June  7.

Callbacks will be Saturday, June 15 by appointment, starting at 1 p.m. Rehearsals begin Tuesday, Aug. 27, with performances Oct. 9-26 in SBCC’s Garvin Theatre.

The show is directed by Jonathan Fox.
 
Set in Yonkers, New York in 1942, “Lost in Yonkers” is arguably Neil Simon’s deepest and most heartfelt play, mixing humor with pathos, according to the Theatre Group.

Focused on a middle-class Jewish family, the play tells the story of two boys who must spend a year with their iron-handed, austere grandmother, intellectually disabled lovable aunt, and gangster uncle.

Unless specifically designated below, slight New York accents are appropriate – but nothing too broad. All actors must have good comic timing and sensibility.
 
Characters:  
Arthur (ARTY), male, 14-17. Character is just entering teenage years so actor needs to read about 13-14. A smart boy with a sharp sense of humor, he cracks jokes as a coping mechanism, which can get him into trouble.

Jay, male, 15-20. Arty’s older brother, just about to turn 16, so actor needs to read that age. Jay is smart, good at school, responsible, but headstrong. With his father away for work, he tries to take on the responsibilities of being a man.

Eddie, male, late 30s to early 40s. Arty’s and Jay’s father. A loving dad to his sons. To the disapproval of his mother and brother, he is sensitive, warm, and unable to hide his emotions and tears.

Bella, female, mid-30s, although she looks a little older. She is sweet, pretty, and has great heart. When speaking, she often makes no sense. Although she has the mind of a child, she dreams of having a family of her own one day.

Grandma, female, late 60s-70s. Jay’s and Arty’s grandmother. She is an imposing figure, strong-willed, authoritarian with a distinct German accent. She carries a cane and walks with a slight dragging of one foot.

Louie, male, 30s. Jay and Arty’s uncle. A smooth operator who may be a bagman for the mob. He is charismatic with street-smarts, a restless energy, and a toughness he learned from his mother.

Gert, female, 30s. Jay’s and Arty’s aunt, and Bella’s sister. She is a nervous wreck around her mother, which has led to a habit of sucking in her breath in the middle of a sentence so the words go to a higher pitch.
 
To make an appointment, email Christina Frank at cmfrank1@pipeline.sbcc.edu.

For more information, to download sides and audition form or to upload a video auditions, visit www.theatregroupsbcc.com/auditions.