Beware the House on Haunted Hill!
by Matthew Byrd & Kathryn Funkhouser
Directed by HollyAnn Rogers & Mike Dunham

Come to the party…stay if you dare. An eccentric millionaire promises six guests a mysterious prize if they can survive the night at the only truly haunted house in the world. Everyone invited has a few skeletons in their closets though, and screwball scares lurk around every corner. The classic 50s horror movie House on Haunted Hill becomes a campy whodunnit in this charming stage adaptation.

Join us at the House on Haunted Hill – it’ll be a scream.

• Auditions: August 4th and 5th, 2025 (with possible call-backs August 6th, if needed)
• 6:00 p.m. at Gilmer Arts Playhouse, 135 Dalton St, Ellijay, GA 30540 (please use the Sand Street entrance).
• Perusal scripts may be checked out prior to auditions by contacting HollyAnn Rogers at [email protected]
• or stopping by the Gilmer Arts Gallery building, 207 Dalton St, Ellijay, GA 30540.
• All roles are available and auditions will consist of groups reading short passages from the script.
• Performances: October 3rd through 12th, 2025.

Cast of Characters

WATSON PRITCHARD (any age, can be male or female): The current owner of the house on Haunted Hill. He seems to live in fear of the house’s history and power but is strangely willing to rent it out to anyone who makes the right offer.
FREDERICK LOREN (40’s or older): A wealthy producer of popular stage thrillers. Elegant, witty, and undeniably mischievous. He’s Vincent Price.
ANNABELLE LOREN (30’s or older): An actress. Frederick’s wife and star of his plays. Unhappy about both and makes it known.
LANCE SCHROEDER (20’s to 40’s): A pretty-boy actor and Annabelle’s costar in Frederick’s plays. Years after the events of this play, someone will invent the word “himbo” to describe him.
DR. DAVID TRENT (40’s or older): A pop psychiatrist to the stars, including Annabelle. He claims to be among the most respected professionals in his field. Few others support that claim.
RUTH BRIDGERS (40’s or older): Theatre critic to a big newspaper, known to pan Frederick’s plays.
NORA MANNING (20’s to 30’s): A student impersonating a professor of the paranormal.
YOUNGER and ELDER SLYDES (any age, any gender): The house’s caretakers. Deeply unnerving.