Auditions for The Farnsworth Invention by Aaron Sorkin will be held at the Garfield Center for the Arts on Tuesday, November 12th at 6:30PM, Thursday, November 14th at 6:30PM and Saturday, November 16th at 12PM. Directed by Lyle Pinder, the play opens our 2020 season and runs three weekends from February 7th – February 23rd.
It’s 1929. Two ambitious visionaries race against each other to invent a device called “television.” Separated by two thousand miles, each knows that if he stops working, even for a moment, the other will gain the edge. Who will unlock the key to the greatest innovation of the 20th century: the ruthless media mogul, or the self-taught Idaho farm boy?
Casting needs include: 15 males and 3 females – some roles may be doubled up
Actor 40s-50s: DAVID SARNOFF The first media mogul. Smart, relentless, savvy. Appears confident and determined.
Actor 30s-40s: PHILO T FARNSWORTH The last lone inventor. Even smarter, equally relentless but not as savvy. Appears distracted.
Actress 30s-40s: LIZETTE (Sarnoff’s elegant French wife), MARY PICKFORD (the movie star, a potential investor)
Actress, 20s-30s: PEM FARNSWORTH (Philo’s wife, loving and down-to-earth)
Actor 40s-60s: WILLIAM CROCKER (Farnsworth’s main investor, a father figure)
Actor 20s-30s: CLIFF GARDNER (Pem’s brother)
Actor 30s-50s: ATKINS (Crocker’s assistant), WALTER GIFFORD (a crass radio station owner), DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS (the movie star, a potential investor)
Actor 30s-40s: WILKINS (Crocker’s assistant)
Actor 40s-60s: GEORGE EVERSON (a Farnsworth investor, more trusting than his partner Gorrell)
Actor 40s-60s: VLADIMIR ZWORYKIN (the RCA scientist)
Actor 30s-50s: LESLIE GORRELL (a Farnsworth investor, more cynical and doubting than his partner Everson)
Actor 20s-30s: STAN WILLIS (a Farnsworth assistant)
Actor 50s-60s: JUSTIN TOLMAN (Farnsworth’s high school teacher)
Actor 40s-50s: JIM HARBORD (a top RCA executive)
Actor 40s-50s: SIMMS (an RCA executive) Lippincott (Philo’s attorney)
Actress 20s-30s: BETTY (Sarnoff’s secretary)
Actor 20s-30s: HARLAN HONN (a Farnsworth assistant)
Actress 2os- 30s AGNES (Philo’s sister)
Actress 30s-50s MINA EDISON (Thomas Edison’s widow)
Actor 40s-50s: WACHTEL (an RCA executive)
Actor 10-14: YOUNG DAVID SARNOFF
Actor 14-17 YOUNG PHILO FARNSWORTH
Anyone interested in assisting backstage and with costumes or props is also encouraged to come to auditions. Come and take a part in the magic!
If you have any questions about the production, please contact the Garfield (410-810-2060) or the Director by email lyleapinder@gmail.com.
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