Second Street Players is excited to announce auditions for its second show of 2026, “Cheaper by the Dozen.”
Director Guy Crawford and Assistant Director Lauren David will hold open auditions on Thursday, December 18 and Friday, December 19, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at the Riverfront Theater located at 2 S. Walnut Street, Milford, DE. The cast consists of 10 youth (5 female and 5 male) ages 7-17, 3 adult males age 45 and up, and 3 adult females age 45 and up. Auditions will consist of a cold reading from the script. Show dates will be March 20, 21, 22, and 27, 28, 29, 2026.
Anne is the oldest child of twelve children in the Gilbreth family. Their father is one of the great pioneers of industrial efficiency and their mother is a psychologist. To better improve the organization of his large and delightful family, their father implements his unorthodox methods of organization that include a chart for the children to initial after completing their tasks, how to take an efficient bath and appointing a utilities officer to levy fines on wasters of electricity. The results are embarrassing, funny, and effective! For Anne, a high-school girl, it seems more like making them seem ridiculous to everyone at school, especially the boys! “Cheaper by the Dozen” depicts the joy and challenges of raising a large and unique family in early 20th century America.
Adapted from the 1948 book written by Frank Bunker Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, the play recounts the true story of the Gilbreth family. The book was inspired by the author’s parents and recounts what it was like growing up in a family of 12. The title of the book originated from a common saying by their father that things were “cheaper by the dozen,” referring to his 12 children. The book was later adapted into a 1950 film and a 2003 remake.
For more information or if you have any additional questions, please contact the director, Guy Crawford, at [email protected].
Please check the SSP website at www.secondstreetplayers.com for more information on casting opportunities. Cheaper by the Dozen is adapted by Christopher Sergel from the book by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey. Special arrangements by Dramatic Publishing (dramaticpublishing.com).
Second Street Players values diversity and inclusion in casting and in all other areas of production. This show is supported, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowments of the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on DelawareScene.com.
