NOW AND THEN
Written by Sean Grennan
Directed by Dianne Hobden
DATES AND TIMES OF AUDITIONS:
Sunday, August 23 at 1:00 p.m. – Sign in at 12:30 p.m.
Monday, August 24 at 7:00 p.m. – Sign-in at 6:30 p.m.
AT: The Ghent Playhouse
6 Town Hall Place
Ghent, NY 12075
The Ghent Playhouse announces open auditions for Sean Grennan’s clever, heartfelt
dramatic comedy, NOW AND THEN, to be directed by Dianne Hobden.
The play, set in an Irish bar in New York City, takes place over the course of one night in 1981, and explores roads taken and paths ignored. As Jamie is closing the bar where
he works, an older gentleman named Jimmy begs to stay a little while, with no real
explanation why. When Jamie’s girlfriend Abby arrives, the desperate, last-minute
customer offers the couple two thousand dollars to sit and have a drink with him. As
they begin discussing life, destiny, and dreams, Jimmy reveals the unbelievable truth
about where he’s from and why he’s there… and the reason he gives them is
completely unbelievable.
PERFORMANCE DATES:
November 27-29 and December 4-6, 2026
Friday and Saturday Evenings at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday Matinees at 2:00 p.m.
Preview Performance, Wednesday, November 25, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS: Ages and descriptions are flexible. The director
will cast those who are best suited for the roles. Actors who are outside the age
ranges listed, but feel they can play within that range, are strongly encouraged to
audition.
CHARACTERS:
Jamie – (mid-late 20’s) – Bartender and aspiring pianist. Attractive in a “regular guy”
way. Sincere, hard-working and very much in love with Abby.
Man – (60’s) – A bit beaten down, but good-natured. Easy to talk to, well-spoken,
sincere, and very intent on his mission. Husband of 35 years to Woman. He is
desperate.
Abby – (mid-late 20’s) – IHOP waitress and one-time English major. Funny, smart and
very much in love with Jamie.
Woman – (60’s) – Strong, direct, loving, a little abrasive. She is man’s wife of 35 years.
No one knows her like he does and no one knows him like she does. She and Man
bicker, but there is a bedrock of love there. They would do anything for each other and
no one can hurt either of them like the other one can.
REHEARSALS
THE REHEARSAL SCHEDULE WILL BE BASED UPON THE AVAILABILITY OF THOSE WHO ARE CAST. THEREFORE, AUDITIONERS ARE REQUESTED TO BE AS SPECIFIC AS POSSIBLE IN LISTING ANY AND ALL CONFLICTS ON THEIR AUDITION APPLICATION. AUDITIONERS WILL BE ASKED TO READ SPECIFIC SIDES FROM THE SCRIPT
PLEASE CONTACT THE DIRECTOR AT diannehobden51@gmail.com OR BY
PHONE AT (518) 755-2069, WITH ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE, OR TO
OBTAIN THE AUDITION SIDES.