HUNTINGTON THEATRE COMPANY 2011-12 SEASON **Updated** Equity Principal Auditions - Huntington Theatre Company Auditions

LORT

Huntington Theatre Company 2011-12 Season

– EPAs by Appointment in Boston

Boston, MA (LORT B+; $823/week minimum)

Equity Principal Auditions by APPOINTMENT:

Monday April 11, 2011 at Boston University Theatre Rehearsal Hall

AND 254 Huntington Avenue

Tuesday April 12, 2011 Boston, MA

10 AM – 12 PM walk-ins

12 PM – 6 PM by appointment

Lunch from 1:30 – 2:30.

Prepare either 1) TWO (2) contrasting monologues; or 2) TWO (2) brief contrasting monologues and a brief song. An accompanist will be provided on Tuesday, April 12^th only. If singing; bring sheet music.

For an appointment call/email Vicki Schairer at 617 273-1543 or
vschairer@huntingtontheatre.bu.edu. Leave a message with your name, AEA status, primary contact number and your preferred audition time period. Auditions will be given out in FIVE (5) minute slots

AEA walk-ins are welcome and will be seen from 10am to 12pm on both April 11th and April 12th.

CANDIDE

Music: Leonard Bernstein; Lyrics: Richard Wilbur

Newly adapted from the Voltaire by Mary Zimmerman

Director: Mary Zimmerman

1^st Rehearsal: 8/23/11. Runs: 9/21 – 10/16/11

Seeking:

Paquette:

(Female) Any Ethnicity. Early 20s-Late 30s. Seductive and charming; Paquette is the saucy maid; with great comedic timing. She will play multiple characters. We are looking for singers who are true MEZZO/SOPRANO (Low A-E).

Soldier/Governor:

(Male) Any Ethnicity. Early 40s-Early 60s. Powerful and manipulative; he has a menacing quality that is disturbing to others. We are looking for great character actors who are malleable and able to play multiple roles. We are looking for very strong singers - high BARITONE/TENORS (Middle E-flat-High A).

Innkeeper/Schoolteacher:

(Male) Any Ethnicity. Looking for a very strong true BASS who ideally has a low E-flat.

Orator/Grand Inquisitor:

(Male) Any Ethnicity. Looking for a very strong first tenor who sings to a high B-flat.

Orator's Wife:

(Female) Any Ethnicity. Looking for a very strong first soprano who sings to a High C.

BEFORE I LEAVE YOU

By Rosanna Yamagiwa Alfaro

Director: TBD

1^st Rehearsal: 9/20/11. Runs: 10/26 – 11/13/11. Possible extension to 11/20/11

Jeremy:

64 years old, a professor and novelist, quiet, kind, observant, worried to death about his health.

Trish:

58 years old, Jeremy’s sister, an ex-realtor, high energy, talkative, well intentioned but a bit oblivious and self-involved

Koji:

62 years old, Asian American, a theater professor and director, charming and ambitious, also bitter with a sharp tongue

Emily:

61 years old, Koji’s wife, an artist, thoughtful, discrete

Peter:

22 years old, half Asian American, son of Koji and Emily, a grocery store bagger, sensitive and caring like his mother but with his father's caustic wit

GOD OF CARNAGE

By Yasmina Reza

Director: TBD

1^st Rehearsal: 12/13/11. Runs: 1/11 – 2/5/12

Seeking:

Alan Raleigh:

(35-45) – a corporate lawyer, very engaged with his high-stress job, to the point of distraction. The schoolyard spat between his son and the Novak’s son is trivial to him, and he doesn’t think the parents should be a part of the reconciliation.

Annette Raleigh:

(35-45) – self-identifies as working in “wealth-management,” it is important to her that she takes responsibility for her sons actions and doesn’t look like a negligent mother in front of the Novak’s. She is stressed and high-strung at the start of the play, but reveals a dark side as things unravel.

Michael Novak:

(35-45) – a wholesaler, who is low-key, warm and welcoming. He is a peacekeeper and aims for fast resolution.

Veronica Novak:

(35-45) – is a writer and anthropologist, who has spent time studying and researching in Africa and the Middle East. She is uptight, resolute and firm, yet attempts to have a calm, easygoing demeanor. She too, reveals a dark quality in her personality.

MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM

By August Wilson

Director: Liesl Tommy

1^st Rehearsal: 2/14/12. Runs: 3/14 – 4/8/12

Important Note: For roles that describe the character playing an instrument, actors must play those instruments described.

Seeking:

Sturdyvant:

(Male) mid-50s - Causasian - preoccupied with money and insensitive to the performers with whom he prefers to deal with at arms length.

Irvin:

(Male) mid-50s - Caucasian - is a tall, fleshy man who prides himself on his knowledge of African American culture.

Cutler:

(Male) mid-50s - African American - plays trombone and guitar and is the leader of his group, which includes Toledo and Slow Drag. His knowledge of music is limited to the chord he is playing at the time he is playing it. He is the most sensible and energetic of his band mates and he has all of the qualities of a loner except introspection.

Toledo:

(Male) mid-50s - African American - is the piano player, in control of his instrument, understands it, and recognizes that its limitations are an extension of himself. He is the only one of the group who can read. He is self-taught but misunderstands and misapplies his knowledge, though he is quick to penetrate to the core of a situation and his insights are thought-provoking.

Slow Drag:

(Male) mid-50s - African American - is the bass player and is the most bored by life. He resembles Cutler, but lacks his energy. He is deceptively intelligent, though appears to be slow. He is a large man with a wicked smile.

Levee:

(Male) early 30s - African American - has a flamboyance that is sometimes subtle and sneaks up on you. His temper is rakish and bright. He lacks fuel for himself and is somewhat of a buffoon, but it is intelligent buffoonery, clearly calculated to shift control of the situation where he can grasp it. His voice is strident and totally dependent on his manipulation of breath. He is a trumpet player who often plays wrong notes. He often gets skill and talent confused with each other.

Ma Rainey:

(Female) 40s to 50s - African American - her manner is simple and direct, sometimes fierce, she carries herself in a royal fashion.

Policeman:

(Male) 30s to 50s - Caucasian - a policeman who tries to arrest Ma Rainey. He is firm and official.

Dussie Mae:

(Female) 20s-30s - African American - her greatest asset is the sensual energy which seems to flow from her.

Sylvester:

(Male) 20s-30s - African American - is an Arkansas country boy, the size of a fullback, a little overwhelmed by the people and atmosphere in the city. Most of the time, he stutters when he speaks.

THE LUCK OF THE IRISH

By Kirsten Greenidge

Director: Melia Bensussen

1^st Rehearsal: 3/6/12. Runs: 4/11 – 4/29/12. Possible extension to 5/6/12

Seeking:

Nessa Charles:

Mid to late 20s, African American, Hannah’s younger sister, laidback, superstitious, loyal

Hannah Douglass:

Early 30s, African American, married to Rich, mother to Mile’s, protective, a stalwart with a strong desire to be nurturing but at times she is overwhelmed by the demands of her family

Joe Donovan:

Early 30s, in the late 1950s, Irish American, a dreamer, friendly, follows his whims, he cares for his wife and family but is unable work an unfulfilling job to support them financially.

Mr. Donovan:

Mid 80s, but spry, Irish American, still all he was in the 1950’s but worn down by time and circumstance

Patty Ann Donovan:

Early 30s, in the late 1950’s, Irish American, married to Joe Donovan, mother of six, fiery, responsible, determined. Has capacity for compassion but this is often overshadowed by the hard work she needs to do to keep her family afloat

Mrs. Donovan:

Mid 80s, Irish American, still as she was in the 1950’s but she has been so depleted by hard living that she is now quite cantankerous.

Lucy Taylor:

Early 30s, in the late 1950’s, African American, married to Rex, mother of two, house wife, intelligent, loving, passionate, always on guard to protect her family, stubborn

Rex Taylor:

Early 30s, in the late 1950’s, African American, married to Lucy, a successful doctor, practical, resourceful and caring, knows how to put his foot down when necessary.

Rich Douglass:

Early 30s, African American, married to Hannah, Mile’s father, a voice of reason, but not immune to the stress put on his marriage and family.

Miles Douglass:

Nine years old, full of boyish pluck, African American, Rich and Hannah’s son

TARTUFFE

By Moliere. Translated by: Richard Wilbur

Director: Peter DuBois

1^st Rehearsal: 5/1/12. Runs: 5/30 – 6/24/12

Orgon:

(40s, any ethnicity) - Wealthy, gullible and foolhardy. Comes under the influence of the hypocrite Tartuffe. Once a trustworthy and respected person, Orgon tries to become the epitome of the pious person and goes to absurd extremes both in his words and deeds.

Elmire:

(40s, any ethnicity) - Orgon's second wife has reasonable attitude toward life. Sensible but firm.

Damis:

(30s, any ethnicity) - Orgon's son. Tries to prove Tartuffe a hypocrite and succeeds only in having himself disinherited. He is righteous, quick-tempered and determined.

Mariane:

(20s, any ethnicity) - Orgon's sometimes flippant daughter who is in love with Valère but being forced to marry Tartuffe. Sweet and demure.

Madame Pernelle:

(60s, any ethnicity) - Orgon's mother who is totally deluded and charmed by Tartuffe. Stern with her son and others. Believes she has the most well adjusted outlook on life.

Valère:

(30s, any ethnicity) - Mariane's hopelessly romantic suitor who is rejected by Orgon in favor of Tartuffe. He is not as cunning or charming as Tartuffe, but makes up for it in his exuberance and capacity to love.

Cléante:

(40s, any ethnicity) Orgon's brother-in-law who tries to get everyone to view things with calm and reason.

Dorine:

(30-40s, any ethnicity) - Mariane's maid. A cunning manipulator, outspoken and bold. She sees through all pretenses and though inferior in social position, she is the superior in wit and logic.

Flipote:

(20s, any ethnicity) - Madame Pernelle's maid.

M. Loyal:

(40s, any ethnicity) - An officer of the law. Full of grand flourishes of civic pride.