SCPA AUDITION PREPARATION PACKET HANDOUT
JR. HIGH DRAMA
YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU
Written by: Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman
THE STORY: At first the Sycamores seem mad, but it is not long before we realize that if they
are mad, the rest of the world is madder. In contrast to these delightful people are the unhappy
Kirbys. The plot shows how Tony, attractive young son of the Kirbys, falls in love with Alice
Sycamore and brings his parents to dine at the Sycamore home on the wrong evening. The
shock sustained by the Kirbys, who are invited to eat cheap food, shows Alice that marriage
with Tony is out of the question. The Sycamores, however, though sympathetic to Alice, find it
hard to realize her point of view. Meantime, Tony, who knows the Sycamores are right and his
own people wrong, will not give her up, and in the end Mr. Kirby is converted to the happy
madness of the Sycamores, particularly since he happens in during a visit by an ex-Grand
Duchess, earning her living as a waitress. No mention has as yet been made of the strange
activities of certain members of the household engaged in the manufacture of fireworks; nor of
the printing press set up in the parlor; nor of Rheba the maid and her friend Donald; nor of
Grandpa's interview with the tax collector when he tells him he doesn't believe in the income
tax.
Director:
Costume Director:
Lighting Director:
Scenic Director:
Sound Director:
Stage Manager:
Gina Kleesattel
Kathy Magistrelli
Jeffrey New
Brad Gerard
George Smith
Tyra Ward
YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU Character List
These are the characters that we will be casting in You Can’t Take It With You. You can learn
more about them by reading the script - easy to find at the library!
Martin Vanderhof - Also known as “Grandpa”. He is about 75 years old, very smart and witty
and philosophical. This is his house and his family.
Penelope Sycamore - Grandpa’s daughter. She is about 51 years old. She currently is a playwright,
unless she is oil painting.
You Can’t Take it With You Audition Preparation Packet, 1 | P a g e
Paul Sycamore - Penelope’s husband. He is in his mid-50’s. He designs and makes fireworks in the
basement and sells them.
Essie - Oldest daughter of Penelope and Paul. She is about 29. She considers herself a dancer and dances
constantly.
Ed - Essie’s husband. In his early 30’s. He plays the xylophone for Essie to dance to, sells the candy Essie
makes, and loves to print things with his printing press.
Alice - The only “normal” person in the family. She is 22 years old, works in an office and has fallen in
love with the boss’ son.
Rheba - The maid/cook of the household. She is about 30 years old. Donald is her boyfriend.
Donald - Rheba’s boyfriend. He doesn’t officially work, but he does help out around the house.
Mr. DePinna - Paul’s close friend - he helps makes the fireworks. He is not related, but he lives
in the house.
Tony Kirby - Alice’s love interest, the son of the boss. He is a very nice, good looking young
man who is not like his parents.
Mr. Kirby - Tony’s father and Alice’s boss. He is an uptight, rich Wall Street banker.
Mrs. Kirby - Tony’s mother. She is an uptight rich woman.
Boris Kolenkhov - Essie’s Russian ballet teacher who frequents the house.
Gay Wellington - An actress who comes to read one of Penelope’s scripts.
Henderson - An IRS man who comes to arrest Grandpa.
Olga - The Grand Dutchess - A friend of Kolenkhov.
Three Men - IRS Agents who come to raid the house. Could be two men and a woman.
You Can’t Take it With You Audition Preparation Packet, 2 | P a g e
AUDITION REQUIRMENTS
 Auditions for the Junior High Drama are open to all students in grades 7, 8, and 9. Drama
majors are REQUIRED to audition.

Auditions are October 13 and 14. Callbacks are on the 15th. Audition Times are 4:00 - 6:30. Your
audition time will be assigned to you and posted before auditions.

If you are in Beauty and the Beast, please check with the stage manager and/or director to see
which night you may audition. Students in Beauty and the Beast are able to also be in You Can’t Take
It With You.

Show dates are February 5 - 7, 2016.
Preparing for your audition

Return your permission form to the Artistic Director’s office by the deadline October 9th 2015. No
forms will be accepted after the deadline. Drama Majors - if you do not audition you will be dropped
a letter grade this quarter.

Choose and memorize the monologue you think you will do the best. Think about the character and
really act your piece.

Dress comfortably but nicely on the day of your audition. Keep your hair out of your face. Don’t
wear noisy jewelry.

Show up 15 minutes early for your audition. Report to the greenroom area. You will be given a form
to fill out. Bring a writing utensil.

Bring a list of any conflicts you may have between October 16 and February 8. (You do not need to
list the Winter Break. We will not rehearse over Winter Break.) You will write these conflicts on the
back of the form you are given at auditions, or you may bring a list and the stage managers will
fasten it to your form.

Plan to have fun at auditions! We usually have a really good time watching each other perform!
Thanks for preparing your audition. I look forward to seeing you there!
Ms Kleesattel
Director - Junior High Drama
You Can’t Take it With You Audition Preparation Packet, 3 | P a g e
YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU Audition Monologues
Following are monologues for the YCTIWY auditions. Choose the monologue you like best.
Refer to the character list to give you some more information on the character. MEMORIZE the
monologue. Be sure to think about character and physicalization so that you can act, not just
recite the words. Have fun!
WOMEN
ALICE: It goes deeper, Tony. Your mother believes in spiritualism because it’s fashionable, and
your father raises orchids because he can afford to. My mother writes plays because eight
years ago a typewriter was delivered here by mistake.
And… and look at Grandpa. Thirty-five years ago he just quit business one day. He
started up to his office in the the elevator and came right down again. He just stopped. He
could have been a rich man, but he said it took too much time. So for thirty-five years, he’s just
collected snakes, and gone to circuses and commencements.
RHEBA: I don’t know what I’m going to do with all that food out in the kitchen. Ain’t going to be no
party tonight, that’s for sure. I’m cooking it, but I don't think anybody going to have an appetite.
They’re just not hungry! They’re all so broke up about Miss Alice. I don’t know where’s she
going - mountains some place. And she’s going, all right, no matter what they say. I know Miss
Alice when she gets that look in her eye.
PENNY: Here you are, Mr Kirby. Write your name on this piece of paper. And Mrs. Kirby, you do
the same on this one. I used to play this game at school. It’s called Forget-Me-Not. Now I’m
going to call out five words - just anything at all - and as I say each word, you’re to put down the
You Can’t Take it With You Audition Preparation Packet, 4 | P a g e
first thing that comes into your mind. Is that clear? For instance, if I say “grass”, you might put
down “green” - just whatever you think of, see? Or if I call out “chair”, you might put down
“table”. It shows the reactions people have to different things. You see how simple it is, Mr.
Kirby?
ALICE: Listen, people…….Listen. A young gentleman is calling for me. I did every possible to
keep him from coming here, but he’s calling for me. I’ve tried to prepare him a little, but don’t
make it any worse than you can help. Don’t read him any plays, Mother, and don’t let a snake
bite him, Grandpa, because I like him. And I wouldn’t dance for him, Essie, because we’re
going to the Monte Carlo ballet tonight. He’s the boss’ son - just like in the movies!
YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU Audition Monologues
Following are monologues for the YCTIWY auditions. Choose the monologue you like best.
Refer to the character list to give you some more information on the character. MEMORIZE the
monologue. Be sure to think about character and physicalization so that you can act, not just
recite the words. Have fun!
MEN
PAUL: Mr DePinna, will you bing up one of those new skyrockets please? I want to show them
to Mrs. Sycamore. Look, Penny - what do you think of these little firecrackers we just made?
We can sell them ten strings for a cent. Wait till you see the new rockets. Gold stars, then
blue stars, and then bombs and then a balloon. Mr DePinna thought of the balloon. Look,
Penny - costs us eighteen cents to make and we sell ‘em for fifty!
You Can’t Take it With You Audition Preparation Packet, 5 | P a g e
Audition Monologues (Continued)
KOLENKHOV: (with a Russian accent if you can) You have heard me talk about my friend, the Grand
Duchess of Olga Katrina. She is a great woman, the Grand Duchess. Her cousin was the Czar of Russia,
and today she is a waitress in Child’s Restaurant, Times Square. I tell you, the Grand Duchess has not had
a good meal since before the Revolution. And today the Grand Duchess not only has her day off Thursday -but it is also the anniversary of Peter the Great. A remarkable man!
TONY: Alice, you talk as if only you could understand them. That’s not true. Why every family
has got curious little traits. What of it? My father raises orchids at ten thousand dollars a bulb.
Is that sensible? My mother believes in spiritualism. That’s just as bad as your mother writing
plays, isn’t it? There’s only one thing you’ve said that matters, that makes any sense at all. You
love me. Darling, don’ t you think other people have the same problem? Everybody’s got a family.
GRANDPA: You’ve got all the money you need. You can’t take it with you. And what’s it got you?
Same kind of mail every morning, same kind of deals, same kind of meetings, same kind of
dinners at night, same indigestion. Where does the fun come in? Don't you ever think there
ought to be something more, Mr Kirby? You must have wanted more than that when you started
out. We haven’t got too much time, you know - any of us.
I have a lot of fun. Time enough for everything - read, talk, visit the zoo now and then,
practice my darts, even have time to notice when spring comes around. Don’t see anybody I
don’t want to, don’t have six hours of things I have to do every day before I get one hour to do
what I like - and I haven’t taken bicarbonate of soda in thirty-five years. What’s the matter with that?
You Can’t Take it With You Audition Preparation Packet, 6 | P a g e
YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU (JR. HIGH DRAMA)
AUDITION PERMISSION FORM
1. Student Last Name: _____________________ Student First Name:_______________________
2. Student Grade Level (please circle)
7
8
3.
4. Student e-mail address: _______________________
9
Student cell phone (if applicable): (__ __ __) __ __ __ - __ __ __ __
5. Student’s current artistic major:
 Creative Writing  Dance  Drama  Instrumental Music  Vocal Music
 Tech Theater  Visual Art
6. Are you a new student to SCPA this year?  YES
 NO
7. Parent First Name: _____________________ Parent Last Name: _____________________
8. Parent e-mail address (the one most frequently used): _________________________
9. Parent telephone number (the one you can be reached at anytime):
(__ __ __) __ __ __ - __ __ __ __
10. Audition dates and Performance Dates are clearly indicated in the YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU,
Audition Preparation Packet available at the school.
11. I give my child permission to audition for SCPA’s production of YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU. I
understand that if my child is cast in this production he/she will be required to attend ALL
REHEARSALS AND PERFORMANCES. Inability to attend a scheduled rehearsal except in the case of
a family emergency or documented serious illness will result in my child’s dismissal from the
production.
Parent, your signature indicates that you have read and agree to all of the conditions listed on this permission slip
and in the audition preparation packet.
Parent Signature ____________________________________
Date: _________________________
This form must be submitted to the SCPA Artistic Office to Ms. Turner no later than Friday October 9th
by 12:00PM in order for your child to be scheduled for this audition.
You Can’t Take it With You Audition Preparation Packet, 7 | P a g e
YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU AUDITION PERMISSION FORM
PLEASE LIST YOUR CONFLICTS BELOW
YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU- JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA
February 5-7, 2015
Mayerson Theater
Public Performances:
►Friday, February 5th 7:00 p.m.
►Saturday, February 6th 7:00 p.m.
►Sunday, February 7th 2:00 p.m.
School Matinee Performances:
► Thursday, February 5th 10:00a.m. (SCPA STUDENTS ONLY)
► Friday, February 6th 10:00 a.m.
Conflict #1
Date___________________
Reason__________________________________
Conflict #2
Date___________________
Reason__________________________________
Conflict #3
Date___________________
Reason__________________________________
Conflict #4
Date___________________
Reason__________________________________
Conflict #5
Date___________________
Reason__________________________________
Please list any additional comments below:
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
You Can’t Take it With You Audition Preparation Packet, 8 | P a g e