2021 Spring General Auditions
SPARK, ANON(YMOUS), "COLLECTIVE RAGE: A PLAY IN FIVE BETTIES" AND "CARRIE AND FRANCINE"
December 20, 2020 to
January 21, 2021
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January 23, 2021
12:00-3:00 PM
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January 23, 2021
3:00-6:00 PM
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January 24, 2021
12:00-3:00 PM
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January 24, 2021
3:00-6:00 PM
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Audition Self-Tape
Submissions Open
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SPARK
virtual callbacks,
Stage Manager
will provide link
|
COLLECTIVE RAGE
virtual callbacks,
Stage Manager
will provide link
|
ANON(YMOUS)
virtual callbacks,
Stage Manager
will provide link
|
CARRIE AND FRANCINE
virtual callbacks,
Stage Manager
will provide link
|
What to Prepare
- Create self-tape of a contemporary monologue no longer than 90 seconds.
- Label that file with first and last name and either in a .mp4 or .mov file format
How to Submit Your Audition Video
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Submit your video here
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Upload your file to the box folder
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Contact Ashley Martin with any questions
Auditions Forms can be found here.
- Complete and submit the audition Google form by JANUARY 21, 2021 - 5:00 PM
- One resume & headshot saved with your first and last name may be uploaded in addition to a self-tape
Questions?
Please send any questions you may have to audition@pitt.edu.
CASTING AND PRODUCTION POLICY
- We are committed to producing stories from multiple cultural perspectives, of diverse styles and structures and from multiple time periods and global locales.
- In order to tell every story upon our stage, student, faculty and guest artists of all abilities, races, genders, sexualities, nationalities, and religions are needed and welcome for our casts, our crews, and our production teams.
- As a department and producing organization, we consider our audience to be the Department of Theatre Arts, the University campus and the larger Pittsburgh and regional community.
- We are committed to analyzing and understanding a playwright’s intentions for location, time and character.
- We are equally committed to challenging ourselves and our audiences to think beyond the strictures of given circumstances and historical expectations in production.
We are committing to cultivating spaces, theatres and classrooms in which students, faculty, and guest artist can take risks, stretch themselves,and approach each class, audition and production venture as a fresh opportunity for greatness.
SPARK written by Tom Arvetis
Synopsis:
Life in Sanctuary is too precarious not to be taken seriously. But Pan’s uncertainty and innate curiosity send them on a different course altogether. After encountering two young strangers who bring an inconceivable possibility to her community, Pan begins to question all she knows. Is Sanctuary the refuge she has always believed it to be, or a prison built on fear?
Inspired by the Greek myths of Prometheus and Pandora, Spark ponders the possibility of a world without fire and suggests that, no matter how hard we try to trap our worst fears in a box, it is impossible to stand in the way of young imaginations driven toward curiosity and hope.
Cast in order of Appearance: there may be double casing for Keepers and Residents
Storyteller |
Video Screen. The Voice of Sanctuary.
|
Pan - (Pandora) | Curious, intuitive. Resident of Sanctuary. Female. |
Jude | Clever, resourceful. Resident of Sanctuary. Female |
Farren | Focused, driven. Resident of Sanctuary. Male. |
K | Teacher in Sanctuary. Reports to Dr. L:owell. Resident of Sanctuary. Female. |
Dr. Lowell | Amin's right-hand man. Resident of Sanctuary. |
Amin | Ageless leader of Sanctuary. Rarely seen in public. Usually seen on the Storyteller. Male. |
Drew | Pandora's father. Laborer. Resident of Sanctuary. |
Janice | Pandora's mother. Architect. Resident of Sanctuary. |
Cord | Not from Sanctuary. Male |
Tico | Not from Sanctuary. Male |
Keepers | Elder residents of Sanctuary. Male and Female. |
Residents of Sanctuary | Male and Female. |
ANON(YMOUS) written by Naomi Iizuka
Directed by Ricardo Vila-Roger
Rehearsal Dates: March 8 - April 7, 2021
Streaming Dates: April 16 - 25, 2021
Synopsis:
Separated from his mother, a young refugee called Anon journeys through the United States, encountering a wide variety of people -- some kind, some dangerous and cruel -- as he searches for his family. From a sinister one-eyed butcher to beguiling barflies, to a sweatshop, Anon must navigate through a chaotic, ever-changing landscape in this adaptation of Homer's Odyssey.
A copy of the script is available to read for free here.
Pages 28-29, Character: Anon, read sections 11 & 12 together
Character Breakdown: *Note - all actors except the person playing Anon will likely play multiple roles
the Laius’ daughter, used to getting what she wants, a bit of a spoiled brat, white American
Anon
(male
presenting)
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Young refugee, new to the US, gets separated from his mother - BIPOC
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Nemasani
(female presenting)
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Anon’s mother, young, ends up working in a sweat shop, must be able to carry a tune - BIPOC
|
Naja
(any gender,
written female)
|
Leader of the Greek chorus, gives voice to the voiceless, possibly a goddess – BIPOC
|
Ali
(any gender,
written male)
|
Nasreen’s parent, co-owner of Indian restaurant, blind, older and wiser, BIPOC preferably of South Asian descent
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Ritu
(female presenting)
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Ali’s spouse and Nasreen’s other parent, co-owner of & cook at Indian restaurant, BIPOC- preferably of South Asian descent
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Nasreen
(female presenting)
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Young BIPOC person living in US, works in Indian restaurant, kind of sassy, BIPOC preferably of South Asian descent
|
Calista
(female presenting)
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The Laius’ daughter, used to getting what she wants, a bit of a spoiled brat, white American |
Yuri Mackus
(male presenting)
|
Owner of the sweat shop, harsh, abusive, a predator who thinks he’s a good guy white
|
Senator Laius
(male presenting)
|
An ineffectual bureaucrat who believes he’s helpful – white American |
Helen Laius
(female presenting)
|
The well-meaning but clueless wife of the senator – white American |
Pascal
(male presenting)
|
Young, West African refugee, homeless, can fend for himself and is also caring and helpful — Black |
Mr. Zyclo
(male presenting)
|
Butcher, wears an eye patch (only has 1 eye), seems nice at first but is really an over-the-top monster – any ethnicity but preferable white
|
Belen
(female presenting)
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Young and undocumented, lost, orphaned while trying to get into the country – BIPOC
|
Srygal
(male presenting)
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Truck driver, son of Mr. Zyclo, probably a coyote and definitely a predator- white |
Serza
(female presenting)
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Bar tender, rough but not mean, is she setting a trap? – any ethnicity but preferably white |
Ignacio
(male presenting)
|
The ghost of Belen’s deceased father, trying to be a spirit guide – BIPOC |
Other Greek Chorus
roles/ensemble
|
Refugee Chorus, Barflies, Sewing Ladies, nice American family, voice of Zyclo’s pet bird
|
APPALACHIAN PARIS (working title)
Casting Breakdown:
Since this piece will be created by the company as a whole, there are no rigid casting requirements. We will make the show out of our shared experience and research. The hope is to forge a community of collaborators representing a diversity of identities, races, ethnicities, genders, backgrounds, and abilities.
Required:
An interest in creating a show from scratch with fellow collaborators.
The desire to build upon your experience in devising or learn about the devising process.
A willingness to contribute to archival and community-based research with our directing and dramaturgical teams.
One (or more) of these skills would also be useful:
A strong audio/radio voice that can communicate character, given circumstances, objectives etc.
A background in movement of any kind (Capoeira, acrobatics, ballroom dance, etc.).
Musical ability (singing, writing music, and/or playing an instrument).
Any special skills that might be compelling to feature in an outdoor performance (circus skills, tour guide experience, giant bubble-making, skateboarding, etc.).
If you have any specific questions, please reach out to the director, Cynthia Croot .
"COLLECTIVE RAGE: A PLAY IN FIVE BETTIES" written by Jen Silverman
Directed by Julia KreutzerRehearsal Dates: February 1 - 22, 2021
Streaming Dates: February 26 - 28, 2021
Synopsis:
Character Breakdown:
Betty 1 | Female. White, wealthy, uptight housewife. Full of pent-up rage. |
Betty 2 | Female. White or Asian, wealthy housewife. Tightly wound but quickly unraveling. |
Betty 3 | Female. Latina, outspoken and attractive. Highly charismatic. Thinks she knows it all. |
Betty 4 | Butch. Any ethnicity. Gentle and dejected, often ignored, can fly under the radar. Loves her truck. |
Betty 5 | Genderqueer (masculine-of-center), person of color. Owns a boxing gym. Stoic. |
"CARRIE AND FRANCINE" written by Ruby Rae Spiegel
Directed by Rebecca HobartRehearsal Dates: March 15 - April 5, 2021
Streaming Dates: April 9 - 11, 2021
Synopsis:
Character Breakdown:
Carrie, 13, Female | Bossy, best friend of Francine |
Francine, 13, Female | Passive, best friend of Carrie |
Mrs. Gold, mid-40s | Bar Mitzvah attendee |