Maret Seitz (left) is Corie and Christian Love plays Paul in Davidson Community Players' "Barefoot in the Park," opening Thursday. (Bill Giduz photo)

Davidson Community Players’ production of Neil Simon’s “Barefoot in the Park” opens Thursday at Davidson College’s Duke Family Performance Hall, and runs seven performances through Aug. 2.

Read on for more about the production, including a note about local celebrities who will appear on stage nightly in cameo roles.

Also in this column: news about auditions for a paid summer residency, as well as a role in an October production of “Almost, Maine.”

‘BAREFOOT IN THE PARK’

“Barefoot” is being directed by Alan Poindexter, artistic director of Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, overseeing a cast of Davidson Community Players veterans and newcomers.

“Barefoot in the Park” portrays newlyweds Corie and Paul Bratter as they return from their honeymoon ready to start their exciting new life together. But things aren’t going as planned. The impulsive Corie’s apartment choice doesn’t meet Paul’s – or any sane person’s – standards. Six exhausting flights of stairs lead to a one-room apartment which lacks bathtub, furniture, heat, and room for a double bed. There are quirky neighbors and a giant hole in the skylight. Things get a little too cozy for the young couple, and hilarity ensues as the power of love gets tested to its limits.

Maret Seitz, a Davidson College theater major, plays the young Corie opposite Christian Love, playing uptight husband Paul. Davidson Community Players’ veteran actors Gino Pietrantoni and Lauralee Bailey are the Telephone Repair Man and anxious Mrs. Banks (Corie’s Mother), respectively. Newcomer Philip Robertson plays the Bratters’ eccentric neighbor Victor Velasco.

“Barefoot in the Park” performances are nightly at 8 p.m. except Sunday, Aug. 2, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20-$22. For reservations, call 704-892-7918 or buy them online to www.carolinatix.org.

AUDITIONS

Auditions are planned Aug. 4 and 5 for two acting opportunities in Davidson in the coming months: a paid residency in Davidson this September with New River Dramatists and a role in an October production of “Almost, Maine,” with Davidson Community Players.

The audition will be Aug. 4-5, 7 p.m., in Davidson Community Players’ Armour Street Theatre, 307 Armour St.

New River Dramatists, in collaboration with Davidson Community Players, seeks experienced actors/actresses for one week paid residency in September. Actors must have superior cold read skills and be able to inhabit a wide variety of characters easily and honestly. They also must have both daytime and evening availability from Sept. 10 to 17.

If you’re interested, arrive between 7 and 8 p.m. on either audition date and bring a headshot and resume. Auditions will consist of cold readings from several new scripts.

New River Dramatists is a non-profit organization created to help playwrights reach their full potential by workshopping their scripts with actors.
(See also our August 2008 report about New River Dramatists’ staged reading.)

Also, a role is available for one male actor, who can play age 35-45, for “Almost, Maine” running Oct. 8-25. Interested actors should bring headshot and resume, along with a list of conflicts for September/October. Audition will be a cold reading from the script.

More about “Almost, Maine” at CarolinaTix.org.