THE WOOD **Updated** Equity Principal Audition - Rattlestick Playwrights Theater Auditions
Rattlestick Playwrights Theater
THE WOOD – Equity Principal Auditions
Rattlestick Playwrights Theater LOA-NYC (approval/salary level pending; 2010-11 weekly minimum: $270).
Artistic Dir: David Van Asselt
Writer: Dan Klores
Dir: David Bar Katz
Casting: Judy Bowman Casting
1st reh: 8/1/11. Runs 8/31-10/16.
Equity Principal Auditions:
Wednesday, June 29, 2011 Actors' Equity Association Audition Center
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM 165 West 46th Street, 2nd Floor
Lunch from 1 - 2. New York City
Please prepare a brief, contemporary dramatic monologue.
Please bring a picture & resume, stapled back-to-back.
New play about Mike McAlary, the larger-than-life columnist for “The Daily News” and “The New York Post”, and his missionary zeal to ferret out the truth in the Abner Louima case.. Takes place in racially charged late-1990s NYC.
Seeking (Updates, posted 6/20/11: All roles are available unless otherwise specified; all descriptions have been revised):
Mike McAlary:
AVAILABLE ROLE. Caucasian man, late 30s - early 40s. Wildly charismatic, confident, overly ambitious and intelligent columnist. His work is his life, even during his final moments. He'll do anything to report on the best stories. Has lots of enemies due to his track record of controversial stories that “burn” people. While he appears reckless and impulsive at times, his love of his wife and children keep him grounded. LEAD.
Abner Louima:
AVAILABLE ROLE. Haitian black man, late 20s - early 30s. Thin. Hard-working. Loving husband. Moved to NY from Haiti with his wife to establish a better life and a future for his children. Believes in the “American Dream”. After being badly beaten and raped by a cop, he is left desperate for Mike's help. Actor must speak, or have facility with, Haitian Creole. LEAD.
Justin Volpe / Others:
AVAILABLE TRACK. Volpe: Man, mid 20s. Police officer, accused of the crime committed against Louima. Defensive, convincing, a good talker, but also helpless. Comes across as a loving, innocent man who cares deeply for his wife and his job. Appears clean-cut, but also slightly urban/blue-collar. Actor may play other characters as well.
Doug / Melvin:
AVAILABLE TRACK. Caucasian male characters, 30s. Track requires a versatile character actor. Doug: “New York Times” reporter. Trim. Nerdy. Interviews Mike. Unobtrusive and not pushy, but keenly interested in Mike’s life. Academic, a college boy. Melvin: Deputy Commish, a brash NY politico.
Melvin Grossman (aka Garbus) / Marvin Kornberg / Others:
AVAILABLE TRACK. Caucasian male characters, 50s-60s. Grossman (aka Garbus): Opposing lawyer on the controversial Prospect Park rape case. Kornberg: Former confidant of MacAlary’s, now defending Volpe against the rape charges. Despite his stance on the case, he doesn’t want to see his old friend McAlary get burned. A bulldog who knows how to work the press in order to assist his clients and himself. Actor plays other ensemble characters. Must be able to transition from street-smart and “ethnic” to urbane.
The following roles are cast. Auditioning performers will be considered as possible (emergency) replacements, should any become necessary.
Alice McAlary:
CAST (Kim Director). Woman, late 30s, Mike's wife. Attractive, dark-haired. Caring, loving and wants Mike to stop worrying about his work and focus on his health. However, she supports him through anything. Well-versed in the “journalism world”.
Micheline Louima / Nurse / Others:
CAST (Melanie Charles). Micheline: Haitian Black woman, late 20s. Abner's wife. Flirtatious. Caring, by his side the entire time. Admiring of and extremely in love with her husband. Thinks the world of him. Protective and sticks up for him.
Tommy:
CAST (David Deblinger). Late 30s. Reporter. Handsome. Mike’s friend and colleague. Very talkative, forward, brash, opinionated, but a very loving friend torwards Mike – his right-hand man. Eruptive temper at times. Somewhat jealous and angry at Mike for stealing some of his stories in the past, but always backs him up.
