Wichita Community Theatre

Earlier this week, there was an extreme loss in our community.

Bob Lancaster graced our stage many times as well as helped us create the worlds we could transport our audience to. He was a friend and teacher to all he met. Please keep his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers through this sad time.

Thank you Bob for making Wichita Community Theatre the place it is today.

Robert “Bob” Lancaster - Downing & Lahey Mortuaries and Crematory Robert “Bob” Lancaster passed away peacefully after a short illness on July 5, 2026, in Wichita, Kansas. Bob was born April 23, 1947, to Merl and Margaret (Underwood) Lancaster in Pawnee, Oklahoma

Gather round, students! Puffs opens July 16th!

Now Accepting Applications: 2027/2028 WCT Play Selection Committee

We are accepting applications for the Play Selection Committee to help us set our upcoming season!

The Committee appointment is August 2026-May2027 and members of the committee will be expected to:
Attend regular meetings (usually a Saturday morning every 5-6 weeks)
Read a significant number of plays
Participate in thoughtful discussions

If you are passionate about theatre and want to help shape our future seasons, we encourage you to apply!

Deadline: July 10
Application:

Play Selection 2027-2028 Are you interested in being a member of the Play Selection Committee to choose the 2027-2028 season? You are in the right place!

AUDITIONS!!! 6/27 & 6/28
Casting Call — Mark your calendars!

Wichita Community Theatre will be holding open auditions for ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST directed by Joe Parrish on June 27 & 28 from 2:30 pm - 5:00 pm. All roles available.

Seeking 12 men and 4 women of varying ages to bring this compelling ensemble piece to life. (Must be at least 18 years of age to audition)

The dates of the performances are September 3 - 13, 2026. Rehearsals will begin the week of July 13.

Character Descriptions:

THE PATIENTS:
BILLY BIBBIT – (Male . Age range: 20’s to 30’s). One of the younger patients at the facility, he has a severe stutter and a dysfunctional relationship with his mother. He is very timid and shy, and completely controlled by Nurse Ratched. (Appears shirtless in one scene)

RANDLE P. MCMURPHY – (Male. Age range 35 to 45). A gambler, a con man, and a backroom brawler.
(Will have kissing scenes and a choreographed fight scene; Wears just a towel and underwear in another scene)

CHIEF BROMDEN – (Male) Age range: 30’s to 50’s. Requires an actor with some Native American / Indigenous heritage. He is a strong half Native American who has been in the hospital longer than any other patient in the ward. He also serves as a kind of narrator of the play, speaking his thoughts directly to the audience.

DALE HARDING – (Male. Age range: 40’s - 60’s). College‐educated with a sharp mind and tongue. He is President of the Patients’ Council. Although he is married to a woman, he is effeminate and questions he’s own masculinity.

SCANLON – (Male. Age range: 30’s - 60’s) Involuntarily committed to the hospital. He has fantasies of blowing things up.

CHESWICK – (Male. Age range: 30 ‐ 60) Eager and quick to argue or fight. Aggressively defiant yet cringing. All talk, no action.

MARTINI – (Male. Age range 25 to 60) At
patient with severe hallucinations who was a wartime pilot, and his coping mechanism is to act as if he's in a sinking plane when stressed. He is a loyal, childlike follower of McMurphy,

RUCKLY – (Male. Age range: 20’s to 50’s) An incurable patient. Was once curable, but was transformed into a Chronic due to a botched lobotomy. He has a single line which he repeats throughout the show : “f**k ‘em all!”

THE STAFF:
NURSE RATCHED – (Female. Age range: 30’s to 60’s) The head of the hospital ward. She masks her humanity and femininity behind a stiff, patronizing façade. She weakens her patients through psychological manipulation, but has convinced herself that everything she does is for the good of the patients. (Fight choreography)

AIDE WARREN and AIDE WILLIAMS – (Male. Age ranges: 20’s to 40’s.) The daytime aides. Cruel and demeaning, they are Nurse Rached’s stooges. (Fight Choreography, they appear shirtless in one scene)

NURSE FLINN – (Female. Age range 20’s- 30’s). The young nurse who helps Nurse Ratched on the ward. Flinn is a devout Catholic, and has trouble controlling the patients.

DR. SPIVEY – (Male. Age range: 40 to 70.) The administrator and psychiatrist of the mental institution. He doubts that anything is wrong with McMurphy’ s mind, but he defers to the opinion of Nurse Ratched.

AIDE TURKLE – (Male. Age range: 40’s to 70’s.). The night aide at the ward. Turkle is much kinder than Warren and Williams, and is more likely to allow the patients freer reign.

THE VISITORS:
CANDY STARR – (Female. Age range: 21 to 40). A pr******te from Portland with a "heart of gold.” She is physically attractive and passive, and relieves Billy Bibbit of his virginity. (Has kissing scenes)

SANDRA ‐ (Female. Age range: 20’s - 30’s.). Candy's older but equally attractive friend. She comes with her to the party on the ward. (Has a kissing scene. )