The Matchmaker
by Thornton Wilder
Directed by Mark Frattaroli
Monday, April 13
Tuesday, April 14
@ 7:00 PM
Westport Community Theatre
Westport Town Hall • 110 Myrtle Avenue,
Westport, CT 06880
The Story:The Savannah Sipping Society is a heartwarming, laugh-filled comedy about four unique Southern women who, brought together by fate and an impromptu happy hour, set out to reclaim their zest for life. Over six unforgettable months, filled with misadventures, laughter, and the occasional liquid refreshment, they form a bond that transforms them forever.
Auditions for The Matchmaker, by Thornton Wilder, will be held Monday, April 13 and Tuesday, April 14 at 7:00. The Matchmaker is a lively, lighthearted farce best known today as the play that inspired the musical Hello, Dolly! – but the two works are not identical. While many familiar characters appear in both, the musical trimmed several roles, including one substantial character. The play also takes a different turn in its second half, with the final scenes leaning further into classic farce than the musical does. Written by Thornton Wilder, the story follows the irrepressible Dolly Levi as she sets out to arrange matches, stir up a little mischief, and guide several unsuspecting characters toward love in late 19th century Yonkers and New York City.
The leading roles of Dolly Gallagher Levi and Horace Vandergelder have been cast. All other roles are open; those planning to audition may wish to become familiar with the play in advance, as the script is widely available online:
Seeking:
Cornelius Hackl: Age: plays 33 (he’s very specific.) Goofy, charming, naïve, wants and needs to bust out. A fair amount of physical humor involved.
Mrs. Irene Malloy: Age range 30s, a widow, realistic, down to earth, and also in need of escape.
Barnaby Tucker: Age: plays 17 (he’s also very specific.) Goofy, innocent, a bit slow on the uptake, but lovable. Cornelius’ side kick. A lot of physical humor involved.
Minnie Fay: Age range late teens through 20s. Irene’s co-worker and side kick. Flighty, silly. Being able to do double-takes a must.
Ambrose Kemper: Age range 20s, in love with Ermangarde. An Artist but realistic not romantic. Doesn’t trust the older generation. Trying to elope with Ermangarde.
Ermangarde: Age range late teens through 20s, in love with Ambrose, but has conventional ideas and is afraid of eloping and New York City and restaurants. She breaks into tears a lot.
Malachi Stack. Age range uncertain but he’s done some living. Drinks. Has a great monologue late in the play. This is the significant role cut in the musical. Physical comedy involved.
The following roles are all on the smaller side so the director plans on double and triple casting all of them:
Joe the Barber and Joe the Cabman (yes, they share a name). Age range 40s-50s. Physical comedy a necessity. Comic wise-asses. The Cabman gets into some physical “combat.”
Gertude, August, and the Cook. Three small roles that add up to a lot of character switching. Getrude is in her 80s and deaf. August is a youngish waiter who cries and has a lot of trouble with tables and utensils (more physical comedy). The cook is any age but is a bit of a bully. She’s Miss Van Husen’s support.
Miss Van Husen and Rudoph. (Age range 60’s) Miss Van Husen is a hopeful romantic, ditz, who appears only in the last act (of 4) but suddenly she has a lot to say and do. All the other characters end up at her house for comic hijinks. Rudolph is the snobby comic waiter in the restaurant scene who needs a ridiculous accent (German is suggested, the director is open to anything Eastern European.)
PERFORMANCE DATES:
June 12 – 28, 2026
10 Performance Dates:
Fridays, Saturdays @ 7:30 pm
Thursday, June 18 @ 7:30 pm
Sundays @ 2:00 pm
For more information, please contact info@westportcommunitytheatre.com or
Director Mark Frattaroli at (203) 615-3089