GORE VIDAL'S THE BEST MAN **Revised** Equity Principal Auditions - Broadway Theatre TBA Auditions

Gore Vidal’s THE BEST MAN

– Equity Principal Auditions

Broadway/Production Contract Currently $1,653/week minimum.

Producer: Jeffrey Richards/Jerry Frankel

Author: Gore Vidal

Dir: Michael Wilson

GM: Richards/Climan Inc.; Tamar Haimes

Casting: Telsey + Company

1st reh: 1/30/12. Limited run at a Broadway theatre TBA. Performances begin 3/6.

Equity Principal Auditions:

Wednesday, December 14, 2011 Telsey + Company

Thursday, December 15, 2011 315 West 43rd Street, 10th Floor

Friday, December 16, 2011 New York City

10 AM - 6 PM all three days.

Lunch from 1:30 – 2:30.

Please prepare a monologue (2 minutes or less), preferably from the works of Gore Vidal.

Please bring a picture & resume, stapled back-to-back.

Seeking (all roles are available unless otherwise specified):

Mabel Cantwell:

Late 30s - mid 40s. The pretty, consciously well-styled, entertaining wife of Senator Cantwell. Loves the political game, and is determined to help her man win, no matter what.

Sheldon Marcus:

Mid 40s - early 50s. Nervous character man-type. Resembles an unmade couch. Suburban guy who has left the comfort of his home and wife to share a shocking revelation about one of the candidates.

Senator Clyde Carlin:

70s. Long-serving, genteel yet steely-eyed senator from a state below the Mason-Dixon (say North Carolina). Aims to place his influence and bet on the winning horse. A cross between Sam Ervin, Terry Sanford and Jesse Helms. Actor also understudies President Hockstader.

Catherine / As Cast:

Mid 30s - mid 40s. Attractive, dutiful first assistant to Dick Jensen. Has also sought and received the attention of Secretary Russell. Actress also plays an Additional Reporter and Hotel Staff. Understudies Mabel Cantwell.

Mike / As Cast:

Mid 40s - mid 50s. Assistant to President Hockstader – his scheduler, secretary, his first line of defense. Extremely loyal, he has been working with Hockstader since he was a student at Ole Miss. Actor also serves as an understudy.

Dr. Artinian:

Man, 50s-60s. Highly regarded -- and now bewildered -- psychiatrist for Secretary Russell. His esteemed reputation and career are placed at risk once his patient’s medical records are stolen by Blades and leveraged to knock Russell out of the race.

News Commentator / First Reporter / As Cast:

Male, mid 40s - mid 50s. An authoritative presence with gravitas, in the mold of Howard K. Smith or Walter Cronkite. Our anchor for the evening. Actor may also play Hotel Staff, Security/State Trooper, etc. Understudies Dr. Artinian and Secretary Russell.

Second Reporter / Delegate:

Male, mid 50s - mid 60. Seasoned political reporter who has covered a number of political conventions. Cynical, but knows how to -- and loves to -- corner a candidate into a juicy quote. Actor also plays Delegate from a Southern State. Understudies Dick Jensen, Dr. Artinian and Senator Carlin.

Third Reporter / Delegate :

Female, early 50s - early 60s. Charming but tough reporter in the mode of Marion Carpenter and Helen Thomas. Also (likely) plays a Delegate from a Southern State. Understudies Alice Russell, Mrs. Gamadge and Mabel Cantwell.

Fourth Reporter / Delegate:

Male, mid 30s - mid 40s. Mid-career reporter, looking to finally make his break by uncovering the real story behind the convention. Actor also plays a Delegate from a Southern State. Understudies Senator Cantwell and Don Blades.

Fifth Reporter / Delegate:

Male, early 20s - early 30s. Green-but-scrappy reporter, wide-eyed and ambitious, naïve at times, but smells a grand adventure. Actor also plays a Delegate from a Southern Stat. Understudies the News Commentator, Blades and Jensen.

As Cast Male 1:

Mid 20s-30s. Roles include Additional Reporter, Photographer, Delegate, Hotel Staff, Security/State Trooper. Understudy (role(s) TBD).

As Cast Male 2:

Early - late 40s. Roles include Additional Reporter, Photographer, Delegate, Hotel Staff, Security/State Trooper. Understudy (role(s) TBD).

Offstage Male Understudy:

Roles TBD (mid 30s-40s).

Offstage Female Understudy:

Covers Catherine and Reporters 2 through 5 (mid 30s-40s).

The following roles are cast. Auditioning performers will be considered as possible replacements, should any become necessary.

Secretary William Russell:

CAST. Late 50s - late 60s. Vigorous patrician man from Rhode Island. Has a brilliant mind and wit, and the still-youthful good looks and wandering eye of a Kennedy.

Senator Joseph Cantwell:

CAST. Early - late 40s. Very attractive, telegenic self-made man who has risen up from humble beginnings. Seems to have a warm manner, and handles pressure with confidence and ease. A unique combination of the young Nixon’s intensity, JFK’s sexuality, and Romney’s well-polished image of the all American male.

Alice Russell:

CAST. Mid 50s-60s. Still beautiful, if a not a bit weary after raising two children and enduring a marriage that grew cold with her husband, Secretary Russell. For the most part, very businesslike and concentrated, but underneath an apparent shyness lies a painful outcry for attention and affection from the man she once loved.

Ex-President Arthur Hockstader:

CAST. Late 70s. The last serving President for the Party. In spite of his years, he is alert and appears quite spry. His accent is rural American.

Mrs. Sue-Ellen Gamadge:

CAST. 70s. Chairman of the Party’s Women’s Division. A resolute figure of a woman, whose entire being is devoted to the political arena, in which she operates as one of its most venerable players.

Dick Jensen:

CAST. 50s - early 60s. Campaign manager for Secretary Russell. An owl-eyed Midwestern Philosophy professor with more gift than one might think for politics. Tries -- often aggressively -- to keep his candidate on the beam.

Don Blades:

CAST. 30s - 40s. Aggressive and ambitious political operator of the new order, where there are no rules, only winners and losers. Actor also serves as an understudy (role TBD).