Stuff N’ Things: A Fair Retail Musical Auditions:
September 13, 2026 @ 6 pm at Chico Theater Company (performs 1/15/27-1/24/27)
Rehearsals will be Mondays & Wednesdays 6-9 pm and Fridays 7-9 pm
Late October-January.
Please review audition information on the General Audition Information page for CTC audition procedures.
Will, a nervous young man, begins working at a local Mega Store where he makes his very first
friend, the boisterous and hard working Freckle. After encouraging Will to share his secret passion of marionettes with their less than friendly co-workers, Freckle is delighted to see the store fall in love with Will’s favorite puppet, Karl. However, when Will and Karl get carried away and lead the store to revolt against the tyrannical manager Mr. Dowdy, Will and Freckle must both decide what is best for themselves, the store, and their friendship. “Stuff N’ Things: A Fair Retail Musical” uses wry humor and brutal honesty to explore how corporate capitalism can fracture the American spirit, while empathy and creativity can lead to powerful new beginnings.
Book, Music and Lyrics by Wade Gess
WILL (Tenor): Socially inept. He has a secret passion
for puppetry. Will sometimes performs as
his puppet KARL.
MR. DOWDY (Baritone): Store manager of Stuff N’ Things. His
need for control leads to cruel behavior.
FRECKLE (Alto): Spunky, enthusiastic. Her good
naturedness is often taken advantage of
by others.
CAPTAIN (Baritone): A raving prophet who lives in the alley
behind the store.
MOTHER (Soprano): Overbearing and sickly sweet. She clings
to her adult son, Will.
PEGGY: A dim witted looksmaxing “dude-bruh” in charge of
stopping store crime.
ASHLEY: Mean and lazy. Mr. Dowdy’s favorite
worker. She wears a pink gown with tiara
and scepter.
ENSEMBLE-THE MORE THE MERRIER!
