A Fast-Paced Farcical Adventure
SUNDAY, APRIL 19 | 4 - 9 pm
Synopsis
The game’s afoot in this hilarious thriller! Holmes and Watson must crack the mystery of “The Hound of the Baskervilles” before a family curse dooms its newest heir. Who killed Sir Charles Baskerville? Is there any truth to the legend of a supernatural bloodthirsty hound? Embark on a thrilling adventure with Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson as they unravel the mystery of the Baskervilles with wit, charm, and suspense. This murderously funny adventure takes us from Baker Street to the haunted moors of Devonshire with a dizzying web of clues, disguises, and deceit as five actors deftly portray more than forty characters in a perfect mix of farce, slapstick and thrills. Can our heroes discover the truth in time to save the Baskerville heir? Join the fun and see how far from elementary the truth can be!
Author
Ken Ludwig
Playing Dates
Jul 23, 2026 - Aug 29, 2026
Audition Location
Don Bluth Front Row Theatre
8989 E Via Linda, Ste 118, Scottsdale AZ 85255
Audition Overview
IMPORTANT DATES: Auditions will be held Sunday, April 19, 2026 from 4-9 pm. Arrive early for paperwork. Callbacks will be by invitation Sunday, April 26, 2026, in the evening if required. First rehearsal will be Monday, May 25, 2026 or Thursday, June 4, 2026 TBD.
ABOUT THE SHOW STYLE FROM THE DIRECTOR: I encourage you to do some research, look up the original book, and/or watch the old films (the Benedict Cumberbatch or Robert Downey, Jr. versions are fine...more for a jumping off point). Our approach will be somewhere between the classic Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes, Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein elements, a bit of Wallace and Gromit, Monty Python, and the madcap comedies of the 1960’s with maybe a hint of Bill Nye the Science Guy. This is a busy, high-energy show, for everyone involved…with a lot of lines to memorize. It will be fun, but possibly also a labor of love.
AUDITION FORMAT & INFO: Auditions will consist of cold reads from the script. PDFs of audition sides will be available for download on the Casting Manager sign-up page no less than 1 week prior to audition. We will read the sides provided, and I will ask you to take some direction and run with it. Looking for performers with comedic timing, big facial expressions, humility, and looking to have fun.
Our goal is to cast the very best actors for each role. Auditions are in-person only; no video submissions. Questions, please contact the Director at vanjrockwell@gmail.com (Subject: Baskerville by Ken Ludwig)
ABOUT THE CHARACTERS & ROLES: We are looking for actors who are willing to take chances, share the fun with both audience and fellow actors, and are willing to engage in what is sure to be an athletic event on stage. Split-second character changes, wigs, moustaches, accents, disguises, beards, and transformations are on the menu. Looking for performers with comedic timing, big facial expressions, humility, and looking to have fun. Roles: (1) actor will play Sherlock Holmes and (1) actor will play John Watson; the rest of the cast plays the remaining (40) characters. The age range listed with each character is the age the character should present on stage, not necessarily the actual age of the actor playing the role.
AUDITION SIDES: Will be posted on the Casting Manager site no later than one week prior to audition. Please prepare the side listed for a particular Actor track(s) that you wish to be considered for. Sides do not need to be memorized.
CALLBACKS: (by invitation only) will be held Sunday, April 26 in the evening.
REHEARSALS: Rehearsal schedule will potentially be Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 6:30 – 10 pm: and one weekend day based on cast availability. Either Saturday mornings or Sunday afternoons to early evening. This schedule could change (2) weeks prior to opening. Rehearsal dates may be added, if required. There will be no weekend rehearsals July 3 – July 5 in observance of Independence Day holiday. Rehearsal start time will be based on availability of cast.
Rehearsals prior to July 13th will be held at our rehearsal studio located in Mesa about 15-20 minutes south of the theatre. Location: 1815 W 1st Ave #127, Mesa. Rehearsals beginning July 13th will occur at the Theatre.
PERFORMANCES: Performance run is July 23 - August 29, 2026. Performances are typically Wednesday through Saturday evenings and Saturday matinees; with optional additional Tuesday and Wednesday evenings TBD per ticket demand. We do not perform on Sundays. Please review the downloadable full performance schedule on this site. There will be no understudies. If you are not available for ALL performances, including TBDs, we cannot cast you in this production.
Stipend
Stipend $325 for 26 performances (plus additional stipend pending total number of performances)
Director
Van Rockwell, Award-winning director and actor
Roles Available
SHERLOCK HOLMES
Male 30s – 50s. Ethnicity: Any. Highly intelligent, confident, charismatic, quick-witted, obsessive. Thinks very highly of his close friend Watson. A sophisticated mind who savors adventure and an intriguing mystery and has a manic gleam of mischief in his eyes. A mind that works overtime. Would like the use of an English accent.
DR. JOHN WATSON
Male 30s – 50s. Ethnicity: Any. Smart, grounded, and full of heart and wonder, lives to have adventures and assist his close friend Holmes. We see the play through his eyes. The heart and soul of the play. Would like the use of an English accent.
ACTOR 1
Male 20s – 50s. Ethnicity: Any. Must show great versatility and nimbleness physically and vocally (including multiple dialects). Plays multiple roles (over 10), including STAPLETON (seemingly geeky butterfly lover who conceals a psychopath within), BARRYMORE (mournful caretaker of Baskerville Hall), MILKER (scrappy Dickensian urchin boy), LUCY (loving wife of WILSON), and DR. MORTIMER.
ACTOR 2
Male 20s – 50s. Ethnicity: Any. Must show great versatility and nimbleness physically and vocally (including multiple dialects). Plays multiple roles, including SIR HUGO BASKERVILLE (a brutal, cruel Cavalier), WILSON (exuberant, hearty head of messenger office), SIR HENRY BASKERVILLE (young Texan relation to Baskervilles, open-hearted, earnest, ready for adventure and to fall in love), and INSPECTOR LESTRADE (cocky police inspector).
ACTRESS 1
Female 20s-50s. Ethnicity: Any. Must show great versatility and nimbleness physically and vocally (including multiple dialects). Plays multiple roles, including MISS STAPLETON (STAPLETON’s initially secretive, scared “sister” who passionately falls in love with SIR HENRY), CARTWRIGHT (scrappy Dickensian urchin boy), MRS. BARRYMORE (severe, humorless Swedish caretaker of Baskerville Hall), MRS. HUDSON (older, maternal housekeeper for HOLMES), LAURA LYONS (owner of a typing establishment; distraught and put upon, melodramatic), and DAISY (a maid with an odd laugh).
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