Higgins, forgot to put film in the camera. The stalwart Frank thinks there is nothing to a tonsillectomy, but when it comes his turn to visit the operating room that has been set up in the house, he emerges from the procedure weak and shaken, a situation that is exacerbated by the revelation that the cameraman, Mr. Always looking for opportunities to use time more efficiently, Frank decides to make a filmed record of the surgeries in order to help physicians eliminate wasted motions. Burton examines everyone's tonsils and decides they should all come out, including Frank's. Some time later, a doctor's car is parked in front of the Gilbreths' house, which normally signals the arrival of a new baby, but this time means that several of the children have whooping cough. Teenagers Ann and Ernestine, who will be attending a different school, have accompanied their father and are mortified when, though fully clothed, he demonstrates his time efficient method for taking a bath in the time it takes to play a phonograph record. When Frank goes to enroll five of the children in school, he tells the principal that he would like to meet the teachers, explaining that he wants the children placed in higher grades as their mental ages exceed their physical ages thanks to the complete home training program he has devised for them. Once the family is established there, Frank chairs one of his regular family council meetings to assign the children various chores that will assist Lillian and the two servants, Mrs. Frank informs the family that they are moving to Montclair, New Jersey. In 1921, when Ann is sixteen, the family lives in Providence, Rhode Island, where her father, an industrial engineer, is also an efficiency expert utilizing time and motion studies. Ann Gilbreth, the oldest of the twelve children of Frank and Lillian Gilbreth, begins to relate some episodes from her family's history.Anne’s “special friend”.The synopsis below may give away important plot points. Larry: Anne’s age (about 17), nice-looking, clean-cut boy. Miss Brill: A teacher who has no love for the children and they have none for her (age 35 – 50).
Burton: The family doctor – a plain-spoken man (age 40 – 60). Sometimes her patience is tried by the ongoing chaos of the large family (age 50 – 70).ĭr. Fitzgerald: The housekeeper – a kind woman who is completely devoted to the family. We will teach it to the actress chosen.īill, Lillian, Fred, Dan, Jackie: The younger children (ages variable from 13 – 5). Attractive, sweet-natured, but stands up to her father.Įrnestine: About 15. In her own way, she is often able to get better results with her large family more so than her disciplinarian husband.Īnne: The oldest, about 17. Gilbreth (Mother): Late 40’s to mid 50’s. Though a disciplinarian, he loves nothing so much as a good joke, preferably one on himself. Carries himself with the self-assurance of a successful man who is proud of his wife and family as well as his business accomplishments. If you need additional information, please contact Jeff Goldberg ( Character Breakdown: It is an extremely funny, heart-warming, and family-friendly tale, and the tragic catharsis of the father’s death is beautiful to the adults in the audience, who can understand the euphemisms. He was preparing the family for his imminent departure, but most of his children, like most of the young children in the audience, were unaware of the fact. This play is told from the point of view of two of his children reflecting on the last few months before his death. Their inventor father, who is well-known for bringing better efficiency to factories, keeps his family of twelve children running just as efficiently. Plot Summary:īased on a true story, Cheaper by the Dozen tells the story of the Gilbreth family. Please bring a list of all potential conflicts.Īuditions will consist of cold readings from the script.
No conflicts accepted for Performance Dates or the week before Opening Audition Requirements: Produced by special arrangement with Dramatic Publishing Audition Date: Saturday, December 15th at 10:00am From the Book by Frank Gilbreth and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey