AUDITIONS: Conscience by Joe DiPietro
ONE MORE NIGHT! The Bay Players invite you to an extra night of auditions and callbacks for CONSCIENCE, written by Joe DiPietro and directed by Phillip Markella!
Wednesday, March 11: 7 pm
First Parish Hall, 842 Tremont Street, Duxbury, MA 02332
Show dates are May 15-23, 2026
THE STORY:
Margaret Chase Smith was a woman of firsts: In 1940, she was the first woman elected by the state of Maine to serve in Congress; nine years later she was the first woman the state elected to the Senate. And in 1950, she became the first senator to stand on the Senate floor and publicly rebuke Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin, who rose to power using post–World War II anti-Communist hysteria and ruined the lives of those who opposed him. Margaret Chase Smith’s “Declaration of Conscience” speech was a public act of defiance at a time when both Democrats and Republicans were cowed into silence for fear of retribution. It came at a cost: She was shunned by her colleagues, challenged in a primary, and McCarthy threatened to expose her personal secrets. CONSCIENCE is the story of a remarkable woman who stood up for what was right and refused to back down.
CHARACTERS:
Margaret Chase Smith: (W, 30s-40s) A Republican Senator from Maine and the first woman to serve in both houses of Congress. A grounded, Methodical, and laser-focused politician with a “firm elegance” and a “caustic wit.” She struggles with the decision to risk her career by challenging the powerful McCarthy, ultimately choosing to stand on principle against his fearmongering tactics.
Senator Joe McCarthy: (M, 30s-40s) The Wisconsin Senator leading the anti-Communist “Red Scare” witch hunts. The character is described as a “loud, crude drunk” who is “reckless,” “chaotic,” and “manipulative.” While he is a bully who uses “scorched-earth” tactics, the portrayal also highlights his charisma and, at times, a small touch of vulnerability.
William C. Lewis, Jr.: (M, 30s) Margaret Chase Smith’s loyal executive assistant and campaign manager. Bright, educated, and thoughtful. The play explicitly presents him as a closeted gay man in the 1950s, highlighting the personal risk he faces from McCarthy’s persecution. He serves as a confidante to Smith and faces threats of exposure from McCarthy.
Jean Kerr: (W, 20s-30s) McCarthy’s research assistant (and later wife). She is depicted as a “young acolyte” who is fiercely loyal, smart, and manipulative. She is “coldly intelligent,” sometimes defending the indefensible and becoming as petty as McCarthy as she navigates her personal and professional life with him.
Auditions will consist of readings from the script. Come show us your talents!
