You Can't Do That, Dan Moody!
by Georgetown Palace Theatre

Aug. 13 (2023)

This play by Tom Swift is the reenactment of a trial that took place one hundred years ago, the nation’s first successful prosecution of the Ku Klux Klan, sending men to prison for acts of violence. It is performed in the actual courtroom in which the trial was held in 1923, in the Williamson County Courthouse in Georgetown, Texas. First presented in 1998, it has had seven revivals and has been seen by over 14,000 theatre-goers. 

In addition to Moody, a key role is traveling salesman Robert W. Burleson, a lodger in a widow’s boarding house. A jealous klansman, whose advances toward the widow have been rejected, accuses Burleson of an immoral relationship with her. Testimony in the trial includes dramatic descriptions of the assault on Burleson, pulled from his car, pistol-whipped, kidnapped, beaten, and tarred. With persistence, patience, clever questioning, and luck, Moody, Sheriff Lee Allen, and craggy Constable Louis Lowe disproves perjured testimony and affirms what Dan was taught as a young boy: you can’t hurt people – ever! 

You Can’t Do That, Dan Moody! Audition Information

Director: Tom Swift
Stage Manager: Jacob Horton

Auditions will be held Sunday, August 13, 2023. The production will open Friday, September 29, 2023 and Close Sunday, October 15, 2023.  

This production will not be presented on the Springer Stage or the Playhouse Stage, but at the Historic Williamson County Courthouse where the actual trial took place 100 years ago! 

Actors of all ethnicities and gender identities are encouraged to audition. In reference to the character descriptions below—most characters we encounter currently are in the binary and are written with he/him or she/her pronouns and you will see that in the following descriptions. But however limiting the descriptions are, our casting seeks to be as inclusive as possible and we invite gender non-conforming, genderqueer, transgender and non-binary actors to submit for the roles they most identify with. We will also list race/ethnicity when specific to the character but are otherwise seeking all races and ethnicities. Let us know if you have any questions, concerns, or if there are any accommodations we can provide (from language developed by Kevin Kantor and Emily Tarquin from the Actors Theatre of Louisville)”

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS:

The age of the particular characters shouldn’t stop anyone from wanting to play that character. However, these are based on real people and should at least look similar in age to the listed character.

Some actors may play more than 1 role. 

Daniel Moody: Age 9 – Young Dan Moody – male presenting

W.W. Hair: Age 40-70 – Counsel for the Defense – male presenting

Robert W Burleson: Age 35-50 – traveling salesman – the victim – male presenting

Others in no particular order:

Murray Jackson: Age 9 – male presenting

Children Ensemble (up to 3): Age 9 – any gender

Roy Smith: Age 40-60 – Klan Kleagle (recruiter)  – male presenting

Dr John Martin: Age 35-70 – Exalted Cyclops (leader of the Georgetown Klavern) – male presenting

Rev. A. A. Davis: Age 20-30 – Pastor, Shilo Church – Klansman – male presenting

Murray Jackson: Age 30 – Klansman – male presenting

K.C. Baker: Age 40-55 – Weir Barber – Klansman – male presenting

The Kludd: Age 35-70 – Chaplain, Georgetown Klan – male presenting

Lee Allen: Age 25-40 – Sheriff, Williamson County – male presenting

Louis Lowe: Age 30-60 – Constable, Taylor precinct – male presenting

Herman Colt: Age 40-65- Bailiff 26th District Court – male presenting

T.J. Caswell: Age 40-65 – Juror (Georgetown carriage and car salesman) – male presenting

Jack Jordan: Age 45-65 – Juror (First Mayor of Round Rock) – male presenting

Porter Prewitt: Age 20-30 – Granger grocer – male presenting

Tom Brown: Age 30-60 – Taylor Klansman – male presenting

John Sharpe, Sr: Age 35-50 – Editor, Williamson County Sun – male presenting

Miss Ethel Pipkin: Age 20-30 – friend of Porter Prewitt – female presenting

AUDITIONS:

Auditions will be held Sunday, August 13 starting at 6:00p. You may be asked to stay to read again. 

  • Please prepare a monologue of your choosing, comedic or dramatic.  It does not have to be memorized but should be prepared.  We welcome auditioners that are 18 and older. 
  • Callbacks will consist of cold reads from the script. 

Auditions are held on the Playhouse Stage – 216 West 8th Street, Georgetown, Texas 78626.

Auditions are scheduled online via the Palace website. You will fill out the audition form, sign up for a time, and fill out the conflict calendar, as well as upload a headshot and resume. Questions should be emailed to productions@georgetownpalace.com

You will receive an email confirming your appointment. If you are unable to attend any of the audition times, please go ahead and fill out the form and put yourself on the waiting list. Then send us an email and we will try to work with you to schedule an alternative time.

Click HERE to fill out the form!

**Please note that auditions may be recorded for use in casting**

REHEARSALS:

  • Scripts will be distributed during the first rehearsal. 
  • Rehearsals will begin on/around August 21.
  • Rehearsals are typically held Monday through Thursday from 7:00p-10:00p and Saturday 1:00p-5:00p.

PERFORMANCES: 

Performances are Friday and Saturday at 7:30p, and Sundays at 2p. Sometimes ticket demand causes us to add Saturday Matinee performances at 2p.  

CONFLICTS:

Please make sure to notate all conflicts on your conflict sheet when filling out your audition form. Knowing all your conflicts up front aids the scheduling process. Adding conflicts after casting can result in removal of the production. 

CASTING:

Once casting is completed (typically 2-3 days after callbacks), emails will be sent to the actors that will be offered a role in the production. Once the full cast has accepted, everyone else who auditioned will be notified via email.

HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS: 

While the Coronavirus public health emergency has expired, COVID-19 and other contagious diseases are still out there, just to a lesser extent. Everyone should self-monitor for symptoms and either wear or mask around others or just stay home if they do not feel well. You should also wear a mask if you have direct exposure to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. 

If you do test positive for COVID-19, you must be isolated for 5 days, and then only return to rehearsal or performances if your symptoms have improved. You should wear a mask until Day 10 or you have a negative test.

GPT:

The Georgetown Palace Theatre is committed to creating an inclusive and safe environment in which all community members feel a sense of belonging and does not discriminate in casting practices on the basis of an individual’s ethnicity, age, gender, physical and cognitive ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, country of origin, or other factors.  We strongly encourage candidates of all ages, abilities, gender, and ethnicities to audition.

Please see our operating Standards at the following link:
Georgetown Palace Operating Standards

Everyone involved with the production must submit to a background check at the Palace’s expense. If you are cast, you will receive a secure link where you can fill it out. There is no cost to you.

The Georgetown Palace Theatre is a 501c3 non-profit organization. While, we do provide comp tickets, and meals during tech rehearsals, there  is no compensation for any of the actors.  

If you have any questions, please email productions@georgetownpalace.com.