Amelia Musical Playhouse is holding auditions for Neil Simon’s “The Sunshine Boys.”
The Sunshine Boys is written by Neil Simon and will be directed by Bill Ivins with assistant director Diana Herman. The two lead men will be played by Frank O’Donnell as Willie Clark and Ted Haller as Al Lewis.
Auditions: August 23 – 2 p.m. at AMP
Performances: Oct. 24–26, 2025
Synopsis: The Sunshine Boys by Neil Simon is a heartwarming and humorous play about two aging vaudeville performers, Willie Clark and Al Lewis, who were once a famous comedy duo but haven’t spoken in over a decade due to personal and professional disagreements. When a television network wants to reunite them for a special tribute to the history of comedy, their long-standing feud resurfaces, leading to a series of bickering, misunderstandings, and reluctant rehearsals. Through sharp wit and poignant moments, the play explores themes of aging, friendship, legacy, and the enduring (and sometimes maddening) bonds between longtime collaborators.
Character Descriptions:
Ben Silverman (Willie’s Nephew) – A practical, patient, and slightly exasperated talent agent in his 30s to early 50s, trying to manage both his career and his difficult uncle.
Sketch Nurse – A cheerful, flirtatious young woman (20s–30s) hired to play a nurse in the vaudeville sketch, more showbiz than medical.
TV Studio Patient – A non-speaking or minimally speaking character (50s–70s), often played for comic effect as an elderly man caught in the chaos of the vaudeville routine.
Eddie (TV Production Assistant) – A harried, no-nonsense young professional (20s–40s) juggling logistics and egos on the day of the television taping.
No preparation or monologues needed. We will be asking actors to read a few sections of scenes with Frank and Ted.
Questions? Contact Bill Ivins at ivinsinkstudio@gmail.com
