Harriet the Spy

By Leslie Brody
From the book by Louise Fitzhugh

Presented through special arrangement with: PLAYS FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES
Directed by: Beth Eslick
Produced by: Hannah Saltman

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Asst. Director: Eve Kiefer
Stage Manager: Mark Suarez
Assistant Director: Eve Kiefer
Set/Props Designer: John Eslick
Lighting/Sound Designer: Jeremy Zeller
Costume Designer: Beth Eslick
Cast Costume Assistants: Jocelyn Jensen, Karen Graham-Hanna
Head of Construction: Rick Steinberg
Construction Crew: Lee Marks, Max Honigsburg, Robert Nunes, John Holroyd, Dick Johnson
Light Operator: Kristin Krause
Sound Operators: Nick Lawson, Robert Nunes
Backstage Crew: Jake McDermott, Nate McDermott, Rosemarie Umipig, Hannah Saltzman, Carmen Julia Hortiales, Peter Umipig, Wesley Filippi
Show Poster Art: Nate McDermott
Photographers: Armaan Ali, Mike McCauley
Language Coach: David Parmenter
House Manager/Parent Coordinator: Jess Filippi

Audition Dates & Times:

Sunday-Tuesday, January 29-31, 2023
5-7 pm
Conejo Players Theatre
351 S. Moorpark Road
Thousand Oaks, CA 91361

Performances:

April 28 – May 7, 2023
Fridays at 7pm. Saturdays and Sundays at 1pm and 4:30pm.

Audition Requirements:

Come prepared to read from sides provided.
Rehearsals will generally be 5-7 pm Monday through Thursday. Some days may vary to accommodate the theatre’s schedule. Most rehearsals are held at the theatre. Rehearsals begin February 6, 2023. No conflicts will be allowed after April 16, 2023.

For more information:

Contact Hannah Saltman at h.j.saltman@gmail.com

Sides

Show Synopsis

Harriet M. Welsch is a 6^th grade spy. In her notebook, she writes down everything she knows about everyone, even her classmates and her best friends. Then Harriet loses track of her notebook, and it ends up in the wrong hands. Before she can stop them, her friends have read the always truthful, sometimes awful things she’s written about each of them. Will Harriet find a way to put her life and her friendships back together? From the time the original book was published in 1964, Harriet the Spy has charmed readers the world over.

Character Descriptions

PLEASE NOTE: The age ranges listed are the age the actor appears to be, not the actual age of the actor themselves. The gender listed is the gender in which the character is presented. Some actors will play more than one role. All roles are open to anyone regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, class, caste, religion, belief, sex, gender, language, sexual orientation or gender identity. If cast, actors will be required to show proof of Covid-19 vaccination.
The number of lines listed are an approximation of lines for each character. This does not mean that the characters aren’t being used – there is a great deal of action and stage time that calls for excellent body language and acting skills even if there is no dialogue in the scenes.
Harriet M. Welsch (Female 11-13): Harriet is an energetic, boisterous, intelligent child. She is eager to know all things and understand all the world. Harriet must have impeccable timing. 197 lines
Mother (Female 14-18): Kind, yet stern and out of touch with her child, Mother should be the caring sort. 27 lines
Father (Male 14-18): Completely unaware, but wants control of his household, Father can appear detached and loving at the same time. 12 lines
Cook (Any Gender 14-18): Cook tolerates Harriet at best, and never appears to be happy. A great role for someone very demonstrative. 43 lines
 
Ole Golly (Female 14-18): Harriet’s “nurse” – in reality, her live-in nanny. Extremely strong personality, always in charge and calm. Harriet adores Ole Golly. 74 lines
Sport (Male 11-13): Harriet’s best friend, Sport has to deal with his absent-minded father who is a writer living in his own little world, leaving Sport to defend for himself and grow up faster than a middle schooler should have to. Sport wants to grow up to be a ballplayer and is loyal to Harriet. 39 lines
Janie (Female 11-13): Harriet’s and Sport’s friend, who is determined to be the scientist who figures out how to blow up the world. Very much the intellectual, Janie has a brash side to her. 41 lines
The Boy With the Purple Socks (Male 11-13): Harriet’s classmate, who is extraordinarily shy and quiet. 5 lines
Beth-Ellen Hansen (Female 11-13): Harriet’s classmate, very shy, doesn’t appear to be able to speak her own mind. Always follows the lead of someone else. 4 lines
Marion Hawthorne (Female 11-13): Harriet’s classmate, acts very imperious and haughty. Thinks she’s all that. 23 lines
Rachel Hennessey (Female 11-13): Harriet’s classmate and Marion’s shadow. Does everything Marion tells her to do. 15 lines
Carrie Andrews (Female 11-13): Harriet’s classmate, on the short side, very clumsy and awkward. 9 lines
Laura Peters (Female 11-13): Harriet’s classmate, tall and gawky, nervous giggler. 8 lines
Pinky Whitehead (Male 10-13): Harriet’s classmate, frail and pale looking, a follower instead of a leader. 7 lines
Miss Elson (Female 14-18): Harriet’s sixth grade teacher. Easily flustered. 34 lines
Mama Dei Santi (Female 14-18): Owner of the neighborhood grocery store. Must be loud and animated. Italian accent a plus. 8 lines
Papa Dei Santi (Male 14-18): Owner of the neighborhood grocery store. Strong character, is provoked easily. Italian accent a plus. 2 lines
Bruno Dei Santi (Male 14-18): Oldest son of the family. Italian accent a plus. 2 lines
Fabio Dei Santi (Male 12-16): Other son of the family. Just wants to get out of the house. Italian accent a plus. 2 lines
Little Joe Curry (Male 12-16): Grocery delivery boy. Tall and lanky. ALWAYS eating. 3 lines
Harrison Withers (Male 14-18): Sad old man. Has 25 cats and plays the saxophone. (Actual saxophone playing a plus but not a requirement.) 2 lines
Mrs. Agatha K. Plumber (Female 14-18): Washed-out socialite who wears far too much makeup and thinks spending her life in bed being waited on is the way to go. 16 lines
Nadine (Female 12-16): Mrs. Plumber’s maid. 9 lines
Mr. Waldenstein (Male 14-18): Ole Golly’s boyfriend. Very sweet, kind, and calm. 20 lines
Miss Berry (Female 14-18): Harriet’s dance teacher at school. Very esoteric, dreamy, and out of touch. 13 lines
Gino, Dino: Poor children found behind the grocery store. Will be doubled with other roles.