The Jackpot Hour With(out) Jack PowerbyJ. Merrill Motz
It's The Jackpot Hour with Jack Power, America's #1 game show! Even though Jack Power has left to host his own talk show, The Jackpot Hour with Jack Power must go on...so now, welcome your new host, NOT Jack Power!
Meet Cliff Kunkel. He's NOT Jack Power, but he's the new host of The Jackpot Hour with Jack Power, America's #1 game show, now that Jack Power has left to try his hand...
It's The Jackpot Hour with Jack Power, America's #1 game show! Even though Jack Power has left to host his own talk show, The Jackpot Hour with Jack Power must go on...so now, welcome your new host, NOT Jack Power!
Meet Cliff Kunkel. He's NOT Jack Power, but he's the new host of The Jackpot Hour with Jack Power, America's #1 game show, now that Jack Power has left to try his hand at replacing Johnny Carson with his own talk show, "Jack Chats!".
Except Cliff doesn't have any hosting experience...and he kind of doesn't know the rules of the show, and oh yeah, The Jackpot Hour with Jack Power is filmed live for some reason.
2 actors - 1 M to play CLIFF, 1 M/F to double as all other roles.
***It is essential that "everybody else" be played by ONE actor. This will of course call for some very "quick" changes. We navigated this in the first production by keeping costumes super simple, each character only being represented by defining pieces like a wig, a hat, etc. Don't hurt yourselves going too complicated, you should get the vibe this is all loosey-goosey!
CLIFF KUNKEL
30s-50s,
Any
,
Male
former minor league (and sort of major league) baseball catcher, definitely NOT Jack Power.
Can be played by:
Age:
30s, 40s, 50s
Race/Ethnicity:
Any race/ethnicity
Gender:
Male
ANNOUNCER (VO)
40s-60s,
Any
,
Male
"Johnny", a consummate pro like Don Pardo or Vin Scully. Never seen, but very unimpressed w/ Cliff.
Can be played by:
Age:
Any age
Race/Ethnicity:
Any race/ethnicity
Gender:
Any gender
GIL MAXIMILIAN
30s-40s,
Any
,
Male
producer, needs to be in complete control. Would rather be anywhere else, preferably drinking.
Can be played by:
Age:
Any age
Race/Ethnicity:
Any race/ethnicity
Gender:
Any gender
VIENNA WRIGHT
20s-30s,
Any
,
Female
long time co-host/Majordomo/Prima Donna of The Jackpot Hour, and SO over it.
Can be played by:
Age:
Any age
Race/Ethnicity:
Any race/ethnicity
Gender:
Any gender
JACK POWER
30s-50s,
White
,
Male
former host of The Jackpot Hour, late-80s-Tom-Cruise type in a flashy suit (with the sleeves pushed up), aviator shades, and a blinding smile.
Can be played by:
Age:
Any age
Race/Ethnicity:
Any race/ethnicity
Gender:
Any gender
HERB BOURBON
60s-80s,
White
,
Male
beloved game-show creator, everybody's grampa in a sensible cardigan, thick black coke bottle glasses, and a giant stogie.
Can be played by:
Age:
Any age
Race/Ethnicity:
Any race/ethnicity
Gender:
Any gender
THE CONTESTANTS (NICK & NICOLE, MICHAEL & MICHAELA, LARRY & LAURA, IRA & SHIRA, DONNIE & DANA)
Any,
Any
,
Any
sturdy, cornfed models of Midwestern politeness, optimism, & enthusiasm all