
Swing into the Season this December at Inspire Theatre's
a CHRISTMAS CABARET!
Joy and wonder fill the air as our talented cast take the stage for the yuletide festivities. From timeless tunes to modern holiday hits, there’s something to make everyone sing, clap, and tap along.
A perfect way to celebrate the holiday, a Christmas Cabaret is a celebration of music, memories, and merriment. Whether you’re continuing a cherished family tradition or starting a new one, this enchanting show is the perfect escape from the holiday hustle.
AUDITION DATES:
Monday & Tuesday, December 29 & 30, at 6 p.m. at Inspire Theatre.
PERFORMANCE DATES:
March 6-22, 2026 (Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays & Sundays at 2 p.m.)
AUDITION PROCESS:
Those auditioning will be asked to read from the script. Copies of the script will be provided at the audition.
REHEARSALS:
A read-through/company meeting will be January 4. Rehearsals will be Sundays 1 – 5 p.m. and Mondays & Wednesdays 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK TO THE AUDITION APPLICATION https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScMUwP26HTa00j7ghBx7AGfrVz2HhUHTUps0BhQIS9X7-2PJw/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=107905846804927649101
THEN PRINT, FILL, AND BRING WITH YOU TO AUDITIONS, THE FOLLOWING FORM https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZX9d1r1afhHOI_BH0_5JuoPhQ8lZq4xp/view?usp=sharing
THE STORY:
A dysfunctional Southern family comes together to plan a funeral in this character-driven ensemble comedy. When the Turpin family patriarch Bud suddenly dies of a stroke, his sons Ray-Bud and Junior, sister Marguerite, and widow Raynelle do their best to ensure a dignified memorial, but familial squabbles quickly get in the way. Junior’s wife Suzanne (correctly) accuses him of infidelity, a resentful Ray-Bud drinks to deal with his resentment over footing the bill for a service being handled by the funeral home of his archrival, and Raynelle seems more concerned with ensuring that Bud’s legacy as “mean and surly” is quite literally carved in stone. Dearly Departed is a side-splitting ensemble comedy that’s at once a parody of and a love letter to life in the Deep South.
ROLES AVAILABLE (Ages may vary)
LEADS:
Raynelle – 40s-60s (female) – the family matriarch whose husband has just passed away
Royce – late teen-40s (male) – son of Marguerite; unemployed, no goals in life; his “plan” is to get on welfare
Marguerite – 50s-60s (female) – feisty Bible-thumping woman who despite claiming to be a devout Christian is constantly insulting her son
Ray-Bud – 30s-40s (male) – the “responsible” one of the Turpin brothers; uncomfortable at the thought of being at a funeral
Lucille – 30s-40s (female) – Ray-Bud’s wife; practical, but has some PTSD issues with a KFC chicken bucket
Junior – 30s-40s (male) – the other Turpin son; entrepreneurialism isn’t his best quality; at the top of the show, a secret about Junior is exposed
Suzanne – 30s-40s (female) – loud, high-maintenance, drama queen
SUPPORTING:
Reverend Hooker – 40s-60s (male) – the town minister; has his own radio show; needs to stay away from Mexican food
Delightful – 20s (female) – the only Turpin daughter; for her, life is just fine as long as she has a bag of chips…or a corn dog…or a coke…or M&Ms…or a Dilly Bar
Veda – 50s-60s (female) – a round-the-clock caregiver to her husband, Norval
Nadine – 20s-30s (female) – not your typical “mother of the year” despite having an unspecified number of children, all named for celebrities. But she still is looking for Mr. Right!
Clyde – 20-40s (male) – owns a body repair shop where Ray-Bud works. Think “The Sopranos” below the Mason-Dixon line
Norval – 40s-60s (male) – speaks mainly in grunts
Juanita – 40s-60s (female) – quite wealthy but not high class
Joy of Life Singers - Either Gender Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult
For more info call 734-460-2410

Patrons are now able to choose seats before arriving at theatre. Make sure you get the seat you want - online - https://inspiretheatre.ticketleap.com
Choose your own seat or allow our seating program to select the best seat available. Choosing your own seat only available on laptops and desktop versions. This option is not available on mobile devices.
Does anyone in your party require assisted seating? Call 734.460.2410 to obtain those seats.
Call 734.460.2410 to reserve your seat today

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Email inspire@inspiretheatre.com if interested
We tell good stories well. We strive for the best product.
When at all possible, we will include as many people as possible in every production.
We value honesty and integrity. We require it from all the participants. We will do what we say we will do.
If it’s not fun, we’re not doing it right.
It's going to be tough. If it was easy, anyone would do it.
We endorse, encourage, and provoke creativity.
Inspire Theatre is a 501c3 non-profit community theatre based in Westland, MI.
33455 Warren Road, Westland, Michigan 48185, United States
Phone: (734) 460.2410 Email: inspire@inspiretheatre.com
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