Written by Aaron Sorkin
Director Debra Lee Failla
Auditions will be held December 16 & 17 –
Approximately 7:30pm to 9:30pm each evening
Please prepare a monologue of your choice from those listed here.
Additional readings will be from the script.
Rehearsals will be generally held on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, 7:30pm to 10:30pm. (Sunday times may be adjusted according to cast availability.) First rehearsal: January 13, 2025.
Performances will be held in The Dressing Room Theatre March 6 through 23, evenings at 7:30pm, Sunday matinees at 2:00pm. You must be available for a one week hold through March 30.
THE STORY:
In this military courtroom drama, Navy lawyer Lt. j.g. Daniel Kaffee is assigned to defend two Marines, Pfc. Louden Downey and Lance Cpl. Harold Dawson, who are accused of the murder of fellow Marine Pfc. William Santiago at the U.S. Navy base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (GITMO). Kaffee generally plea bargains for his clients rather than bring them to trial, which is probably why he was assigned this potentially embarrassing case, but Lt. Commander Joanne Galloway makes it her business to assist Kaffee because she is convinced that there’s more to the matter than they’ve been led to believe. Under questioning, Downey and Dawson reveal that Santiago died in the midst of a hazing ritual known as “Code Red” after he threatened to inform higher authorities that Dawson opened fire on a Cuban watchtower. They also state that the “Code Red” was performed under the orders of Lt. Jonathan Kendrick. Kendrick’s superior, tough-as-nails Col. Nathan Jessup, denies any knowledge of the order to torture Santiago, but Galloway believes that Jessep is really at the center of the incident and its cover-up. With the help of crucial evidence from former GITMO Executive Officer, Cpt. Matthew Markinson, Kaffee and his team (Galloway and Lt j.g. Sam Weinberg) manage to weed out the truth. Kaffee makes a valiant effort to defend his clients and, in so doing, puts the military mentality and the Marine code of honor on trial.
ROLES:
Pfc. William T. Santiago (Victim): About 19 years old, sincere & sensible.
Lance Cpl. Harold Dawson (Defendant): About 20 years old: stoic, serious, bold, aware, intimidating even in silence, caring in command.
Pfc. Louden Downey (Defendant): About 19 years old. Obedient and respectful. His intelligence is slightly below average.
Lt. j.g. Daniel Kaffee (Lead Defense Attorney): Late 20s. Easy-going and quick-witted. He is good-looking, talented, and smart; and he knows it. He tends to think that he knows everything.
Lt. Cmdr. Joanne Galloway (Defense Attorney): Early 30s. All-business. ALMOST as fully composed as she would like to be but, usually, more composed than others tend to think she is. Her quick wit tends to take others by surprise.
Lt. j.g. Sam Weinberg (Defense Attorney): Late 20s. Laid back, he does his job with reasonable diligence, but he is a family man first and foremost.
Capt. Isaac Whitaker (JAG supervisor): Mid 40s to early 50s. Smart and sensible, not strict.
Capt. Matthew Markinson (GITMO Company Commander): Late 30s to early 40s. Stoic, logical, and strictly military. Served in Counter-Intelligence for 17 years.
Lt. Col. Nathan Jessep (GITMO CO): Late 30s to early 40s. Self-confident to-a-fault. Bold, Intelligent, Ultra-Military, Tyrannical.
Lt. Jonathan James Kendrick (GITMO Winward XO): Late 20s to early 30s. Stoic, fanatically religious, average intelligence but believes himself to be much smarter than he is.
Capt. Jack Ross (Prosecutor): Early 30s. A nice guy but not a sucker. Logical and sensible.
Cpl. Jeffrey Howard (Platoon-mate of victim and defendants): Early 20s. Probably likable to fellow Marines, but snide to those outside the Corps.
Capt. Julius Alexander Randolph (Judge): Mid 40s to early 50s. Smart, sensible, fair.
Cmdr. Walter Stone (Doctor): Mid-late 40s. Sensible but easily swayed.
ADDITIONAL ROLES: Sentry, Lawyers, Marines, MPs, and etc.
