Show: THE PILLOWMAN
Theater: Cumberland Players
Theater Website: https://www.cumberlandplayers.com/
Theater Phone:
Start date of auditions: 08/09/2026
THE PILLOWMAN
Written by Martin McDonagh
Production Team
Ramona Kay: Director
Tara Romanelli: Stage Manager
Rachael Smith: Production Manager
Sean McGarry: Fight Choreographer
Audrey DiEnno-Lacroce: Movement Choreographer
AUDITION DATES/TIMES:
Sunday, August 9th from 6:00PM – 9:00PM, and Monday, August 10th from 7-10pm
Callbacks will be invitation only on Wednesday, August 12th from 7-9pm.
AUDITION LOCATION:
Little Theatre (66 E Sherman Ave, Vineland, NJ 08360
PERFORMANCE DATES:
Nov 6 – 15, 2026
Synopsis
With echoes of Tom Stoppard, Franz Kafka, and the Brothers Grimm, The Pillowman centers on a writer in an unnamed totalitarian state who is being interrogated about the gruesome content of his short stories and their similarities to a series of child murders. The result is an urgent work of theatrical bravura — an unflinching examination of the very nature and purpose of art. Winner of the 2004 Olivier Award for Best Play.
“A blindingly bright black comedy.” — Ben Brantley, The New York Times
“McDonagh’s least forgiving, bravest play.” — Matt Wolf, Variety
A Word from the Director
If you’ve never read the play beginning to end… The Pillowman is uncomfortably funny: a trifle of black comedy layered between varying flavors of disturbing. It’s a la “in-yer-face,” morally complex, and provocative and unapologetically polarizing. This play asks more questions than it provides answers, and doesn’t offer redemption or resolution to anyone or anything, by design.
Martin McDonagh employs explicit language and the use of deliberate violence, stylized depictions of child harm, dismemberment, gun usage, blasphemy; with mentions of suicide, sexual abuse, and racially charged and ableist language. These are used as plot points and intentional devices that shape the world and the way the characters navigate it, and their use is integral to the play as written. The script will not be censored or sanitized.
I encourage you to carefully consider your comfort with this material and its themes before auditioning.
WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR: I’m invested in discovering actors who can ride the play’s stark and abrupt shifts in tone. In the audition room, I want to see your ability to bravely exploit contradiction, and how you find the comedy inside the horror and the tragedy inside the comedy, sometimes in the same breath.
Audition & Callback Details
Auditions will be held at the Little Theatre (66 E Sherman Ave, Vineland, NJ 08360) on Sunday, August 9th from 6:00PM – 9:00PM, and Monday, August 10th from 7-10pm.
You can expect to perform a prepared monologue from the show 1-on-1 with the creative team, followed by a brief cold read with other auditioners.
Monologue from the Show: You’ll be auditioning with material directly from the script. There are four monologue options to choose from, each 1 to 2 minutes in length. Please prepare one monologue option; there is no advantage to preparing multiple pieces. Your choice of monologue does not limit you from being considered for other roles. For the monologue portion of the audition, the goal is to get a sense of actor presence and ease with the text.
DIRECTOR TIP: If you’re struggling with which monologue to pick, choose the one that tests your courage as an actor. TLDR; if it scares you a little bit, that’s the one I want to see from you.
You can access the monologue options by clicking this link: Pillowman Audition Materials
Secondary Cold Read: Materials will be provided on-site.
Please note: you will likely be reading for a different character than the monologue you choose. For the cold-read portion of the audition, the goal is to assess actor instincts within a scene, with less focus on specific character fit.
Callbacks will be invitation only and will be held at the same location on Wednesday, August 12th from 7-9pm.
Rehearsal Process
Rehearsals will start the week of August 31st and will be held three times per week on Sundays, Mondays, and Wednesdays (finalized schedule pending actor availability). Please share all conflicts during the window of time listed in this form. A finalized list will be due at callbacks.
Rehearsals will occur either at the Little Theatre in Vineland or the Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts in Millville.
Tech Week & Performance Details
Tech will run November 1-5, no conflicts will be accepted during this time. This production will run 2-weekends and operate off the following schedule:
Friday, November 6th (8pm)
Saturday, November 7th (8pm)
Sunday, November 8th (2pm)
Friday, November 13th (8pm)
Saturday, November 14th (8pm)
Sunday, November 15th (2pm)
Casting Breakdown
This production will feature an ensemble cast of 6 adult actors and 2 youth actors. Adult actors must be at least 18 years old to be considered. In an effort to prioritize the comfort and psychological safety of the youth performers given the content of this show, the 2 youth actors have been pre-cast.
Actors of diverse backgrounds, ages, races, body types, and gender identities and gender presentations are enthusiastically encouraged to audition.
Please note that the ages listed serve to reflect the playable/readable age of the actor. The genders listed serve only to reflect the gender presentation of the characters as they exist within the world of the play.
For more detailed character context, please reference the document linked here: The Pillowman – Character Context
KATURIAN (Male presenting, Late 20s to Early 30s): A writer. His stories are dark but very good. He insists that’s all they are.
TUPOLSKI (Male presenting, 40+): A high-ranking police officer in a totalitarian state. Self-proclaimed “Good” cop. Consider the source.
ARIEL (Male or Female presenting, Late 20s – Late 30s): The “Bad” Cop. Stands for what’s right. Will beat you to a pulp until that means something.
MICHAL (Male presenting, Late 20s to Early 30s): Katurian’s older brother (one year older, to be exact). Childlike. Disarmingly sincere. Loves a good story.
MOTHER (Female presenting, Late 20s to 40s)
FATHER (Male presenting, Late 20s to 40s): They did what they thought was best.
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Cumberland Players is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in the casting and encourages actors of diverse backgrounds, ages, body types, and underrepresented groups to audition. This is a non-paid production.
All questions can be emailed to maybeitsmona@gmail.com
THE PILLOWMAN is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals. www.concordtheatricals.com
