THE WHITE SNAKE Submission - Oregon Shakespeare Festival Auditions

LORT

THE WHITE SNAKE

– Submit Photo/Resume for NYC Appointment

Oregon Shakespeare Festival (Ashland, OR) LORT B+; $832/week minimum

Artistic Director: Bill Rauch

Director: Mary Zimmerman

Playwright: Mary Zimmerman

New York Casting: Stephanie Klapper

Oregon Casting: Joy Dickson

World Premiere. 1^st rehearsal: 1/3/12. Closes: 7/8/12

NYC auditions will be held October 20, 2011, by appointment only.

Seeking submissions from Actors' Equity Members only for these auditions.

For consideration, email or mail picture and resume, including cover letter stating which role you’re submitting yourself for to:

Stephanie Klapper Casting

39 West 19th Street, 12th Floor

New York, NY 10011

Or
klappercasting@gmail.com

Also indicate in the subject line or on envelope: THE WHITE SNAKE / AEA Self Submission

White Snake, or Lady White Snake is an old Chinese legend that exists in many forms. It is a staple of Chinese Opera, but it exists in prose and poetic forms as well. It has changed throughout the years in many ways, but the basic story is that a snake on a mountain practices self-cultivation long enough that she is able to transform herself to take on human form. She heads down the mountain with her companion, Green Snake (or “Greenie” or sometimes “Little Blue”) to see what the earth and people are like. There she falls in love with Xu Xian, a poor pharmacist’s assistant. The rest of the story concerns White Snake’s perpetual attempts to hide her true identity, while an evil Buddhist Monk who has perceived her true nature constantly tries to expose her and destroy her marriage. At the end of the story the Monk manages to imprison her beneath a Pagoda. In some versions she is released centuries later, sometimes by Greenie, sometimes by Tagath
a Buddha; in some she is released a couple of decades later by her son.

Casting Director’s Note: * Asian Actors or actors with Asian backgrounds, or those ethnically ambiguous or ethnically diverse, are strongly encouraged to submit for all roles.

All actors should be able to move well and be physically adept, physically very much in their bodies.

Preparation Note: If given an appointment, be prepared to read sides which will be posted/given upon confirmation. Also prepare 16 bars of a song to sing a cappella as well as a brief Shakespearian monologue. (*White Snake does NOT require singers.) The Shakespeare should be performed in a contemporary and conversational manner—very down-to-earth, not formal or reverential.

SEEKING:

White Snake:

Asian female, 20s-30. Beautiful, mysterious., classic romantic lead. Young, crafty, and smart. Must move well. May also play another role in the season. Strong Shakespeare skills a must. AEA or non-union.

Green Snake:

Asian female, 20s-30s. She is a total spitfire, spunky girl, quick tempered. Very funny, lively, and friendly. She goes around disguised as White Snake’s maid, but is really her immortal pal (they are both actually snakes disguised as people). She is the funnier character. May also play another role in season. Must move well. Strong Shakespeare skills a must. AEA or non-union.