GRIEF and #NYC Submission - Uglyrhino Originals Auditions
Uglyrhino Originals
GRIEF and #NYC - Photo/Resume Request
Uglyrhino Originals Showcase (approval pending)
Authors: David Kantounas (GRIEF) / Kyle Warren (#NYC)
Directors: Nicole Rosner/Danny Sharron
Casting: Kate Murray
1st reh: 5/30/11. GRIEF rehearses days, #NYC rehearses eves. Shows run in rep 6/6-6/24 at the Brooklyn Lyceum.
NYC appointment auditions begin 4/21 and end 4/27/11, with callbacks on 5/4 and 5/5.
To be considered, send picture/resumes by April 14, 2011 to:
GRIEF is the story of Pete, a hard-working, ambitious young professional living the suburban middle-class dream, whose life is unexpectedly turned upside down by a shocking discovery. Alternately brutal, warm and funny, the play explores what makes us obsessed with the lives of others and why, when the tears start, there's no stopping them.
In #NYC, no politician is as beloved as New York City Mayor John Kendrick, the four-term hero who triumphed during crisis and eliminated homelessness. But if the truth the mayor has been hiding comes to light, it could leave New York in ruins. History, legacy and death collide while a city races toward the worst disaster it has ever faced. And all because of Twitter.
Seeking:
GRIEF
Pete:
20s, British. Up-and-coming advertising professional. Dedicated and focused in his professional life to the point of exhaustion. Has not cried for over a decade, until he finds himself deeply affected by a shocking discovery that pushes him off the deep end. Able to shift from happiness to violence, from humor to grief at a moment's notice. This is a role for a brave actor with exceptional comedic and dramatic skill, with strong versatility, range and emotional power.
Jane:
20s, British. Pete’s wife. Like Pete, she is a young professional, and is ambitious and focused on her career. She is concerned by his transformation – both for the sake of his mental health and for the professional repercussions of his behavior. Bright, wry, sophisticated, sincere and pragmatic. Exhibits both strength and delicacy. Role for an actress with great emotional depth AND strong comic timing.
Boss:
Man, mid 30s–50s, British. Pete’s boss at the agency. Cutthroat, seasoned advertising executive. All business, no nonsense. Can switch from being your best friend to your worst enemy at the drop of a hat. Sees potential in Pete’s work, but is not afraid to jettison Pete when he fails to perform professionally. Role for an actor with strong comedic and verbal skills.
Trevor:
40s–60s, British. Neighbor of a deceased starlet; one of the first to discover her body. There is a calm, introspective, soothing quality about him. This quality, combined with his involvement in the discovery, has made him a sort of gatekeeper to the tragedy. Believes that he has found peace with his grief.
John:
50s, British. Father of the deceased starlet. Even after her death, he is intensely protective of his daughter and her memory, defending her against hangers-on, scandal-mongers and fans. Strong, powerful, angry and deeply sad. On the defensive.
Mary:
50s, British. The starlet’s mother and John’s wife. Warm, gentle, nurturing and kind. A generous spirit. A mother.
#NYC
Oliver Judd:
Late 20s–30s. Casting personnel state that they are particularly interested in casting this role as a person of color. Estate lawyer and aspiring writer. Married to Denise. In contrast to Denise’s level-headedness, Oliver feels deeply and intensely about everything, particularly his success as a writer (or lack thereof). He is able to experience fully the exhilaration of artistic and intellectual inspiration AND the crushing lows of intense rejection, almost to the point of melodrama. He is very driven and extremely loving.
Tracy Holstein:
Mid - late 20s. Newspaper journalist. Engaged to Todd. Intelligent, with a quick, curious mind and a playful spirit. Argumentative, but in a fun way, rather than an aggressive one. Passionate, opinionated and outspoken; not afraid to offend or step on toes. Very smart, but also impulsive, which sometimes leads her to speak before she thinks.
Todd Nevelson:
Mid – late 20s. Tracy’s fiancé. Middle-school Algebra teacher and confirmed New York ex-pat. Has done his best to distance himself from the city and its politics for almost a decade. Intelligent, genial, affable. All-around good guy. Normally very confident and decisive, until his return to New York forces him to confront his difficult and complicated relationship with the past.
John Kendrick:
60s. The intensely charismatic Mayor of New York City. His administration has been in office for over 14 years, and through his service to the city and its population he has achieved an almost god-like status among its citizens. A born leader, he is warm, personable and composed, and his authority is unquestioned. He is intelligent enough to be trustworthy, but not so much as to appear threatening. Role for a highly skilled actor with a strong range and presence.
Denise Powell:
Late 20s–30s. Casting personnel state that they are particularly interested in casting this role as a person of color. Oliver’s wife. Committed and high-ranking aide to Mayor Kendrick. Takes her profession and her career extremely seriously. Tough as nails in her professional life, but sincerely loves her husband and wants him to succeed — although her natural pragmatism stands in stark contrast to his artistic temperament. Believes wholeheartedly in Kendrick and his administration’s policies.
Helen Kendrick:
50s–60s. John’s wife and Todd’s mother. Very “Upper East Side”. Formidable, sophisticated and sharp, with a dry sarcastic wit. Poised and dignified; clearly a member of the upper crust, possessing a strong respect for propriety and manners. She is the strong woman behind the powerful man.
Producers’ statement: “We are committed to casting a diverse company. We are seeking actors of all cultures, ages, disabled and non-disabled.”
