READING AND AUDITION FOR ‘SUMMER AND SMOKE’ BY TENNESSEE WILLIAMS ANNOUNCED
SUMMER AND SMOKE
by Tennessee Williams
DIRECTOR: Sue Moore
Alma: “The girl who said ‘no’ – she doesn’t exist anymore, she died last summer – suffocated in smoke from something on fire inside her”
PERFORMANCE DATES: 10-20 JUNE, 2026
Rehearsals will commence 17 APRIL, 2026
There will be a reading of the play on 6 January 2026 so that those interested can hear the text come off the page and then make a judgement whether they wish to go forward to the audition on 11 January 2026
READING: Tuesday 6 January at 7.30 p.m. at the theatre
AUDITION: Sunday 11 January at 2.0 p.m. at the theatre
THE PLAY
Tennessee Williams wrote this play at the same time as Streetcar Named Desire.
It is the story of Alma and John and those around them in an isolated small southern American town in Mississippi. Williams said that Alma was his finest creation. He thought of the idea initially which he translated into a poem, developed that into a short story and then converted it into a full length drama. This process produced poetic, magnificent results.
In the heat of summer Alma meets John. Alma is the daughter of a minister, a puritanical, spiritual girl who is enchanted by her name meaning ‘soul’. John is the boy next door, the son of a doctor now returning after qualifying as a doctor himself. He is wild, sleeps around and drinks to excess. Trapped between desire and fear their views clash and then begin to change and a decisive moment offers one last chance to breach the divide between them. Have they left it too late?
REVIEWS
“This play had me totally in its grip. It restores Williams’ wrongly neglected play to a central place in the canon.”
Michael Billington, The Guardian
“Summer and Smoke is truly mesmerizing; one of the best plays I have ever seen. Full to the brim with beauty and pain, comedy and heartache.”
London Theatreland
“A spellbinding, brilliant play”
WhatsOnStage
“It is superb stuff, sensual, shimmering and sad”
The Financial Times
THE CHARACTERS TO BE CAST
Alma Winemiller: A young woman, a music teacher, brought up in a small town, reserved, highly strung and repressed, full of nervous energy, struggling with physical desires vs her spiritual beliefs. Passionate about her spiritual soul.
20s-30s
John Buchanan Jr.: A young doctor, Alma’s neighbour since childhood, handsome and confident, representing the smoke to Alma’s soul; the earth to her spirit. Son of a doctor with whom he is frequently at odds. He is a sensual, cool and restless. Hedonistic. 20s – 30s
Reverend Winemiller: Alma’s father, a man who is incapable of empathy. Misfires as minister, father and husband 50+
Mrs. Winemiller: Alma’s mother. A mentally unstable woman having suffered a breakdown, who was spoiled as a child and behaves just the same later in life. Eccentric. 50+
Dr. John Buchanan Sr.: John’s father, the town’s physician, strong personality, who is cold and distant towards his son. 50+
Rosa Gonzales: The daughter of a local casino owner. She is a more sensual character who challenges Alma’s repressed worldview and has a relationship with John. 20s – 30’s
Nellie Ewell: A young music student of Alma’s. Liberated sexually and who is often the opposite of Alma. Attracted to the young John Buchanan. 20s
Papa Gonzales: Rosa’s father. Casino owner. Loud, swaggering—drinks heavily. Full of bravado and rage. 50s
Rosemary: A member of Alma’s tragic literary club—somewhat wistful 20s-30s
Mrs Bassett: Local town gossip. Participates in the lacklustre literary club 50s
Roger Doremus: a friend and would be suitor to Alma. 30s
Dusty: A waiter at the casino. Involved socially with John and his excesses. 20s-30s
Vernon: A writer and part of Alma’s literary group
Archie Kramer: A travelling salesman who encounters a somewhat changed Alma in the last scene of the play. 20s-30s
AGES ARE GUIDELINES ONLY
I am considering some multiple role playing in this play as follows:-
Reverent Winemiller/Papa Gonzales/Vernon
Rosemary/Rosa
Roger Doremus/Dusty Blake/Archie Kramer
Mrs Winemiller/Mrs Bassett
AUDITION GUIDELINES
For the audition you will be asked to perform different parts of the text with other auditionees. Text will be provided on the day and you will be given time to read through and prepare. Southern American accents required.
Do try to arrive on time so that you don’t miss lots of useful information about the play and being part of the production. The reading and the audition will be held at the theatre. Please come to the Stage Door at the rear of the theatre in Spencer’s Yard. There is access through the gate to the left of The Fold on Spencer Street. A Loft sign on the gate indicates the direction into the yard. The Fold is the large white building with pillars. Head in the direction of the red arrow across Spencer’s Yard to the Stage Door in the corner. The words ‘Stage Door’ are painted on the wall.
To register interest, or if you are interested but can’t make the dates, or for any more information, please get in touch with the director, Sue Moore on suemoore@lofttheatrecompany.com
CASTING POLICY
The Loft’s casting policy is centred on casting the very best actors for each role. Casting will always be open and neutral. Everyone is welcome and warmly encouraged to attend auditions. If specific race/ethnicity or other characteristics are central to the story, we will make this clear in audition notices. There is no pre-casting without the express permission of the Artistic Director. We no longer have membership subscriptions. It is free to join our company.
