TRAVESTIES Submission - The McCarter Theatre Auditions
The McCarter Theatre
LORT
TRAVESTIES – Submit Photo / Resume for NYC Appointments
The McCarter Theatre (Princeton, NJ) LORT B; $750/week minimum
Artistic Director: Emily Mann
Author: Tom Stoppard
Director: Sam Buntrock
Casting: Laura Stanczyk Casting
1st Rehearsal: 2/14/12. Runs: 3/13/12 – 4/1/12
NYC auditions will be held October 17-19, 2011, by appointment only.
Seeking submissions from Actors' Equity Members only for these auditions.
For consideration, email picture and resume to Meryl Ballew at:
Indicate in the subject line: “Travesties / NYC Appointments / AEA Self Submission
Deadline for submissions: October 14, 2011
NOTE: TRAVESTIES takes place in 1917/1918 in Zurich, Switzerland. Almost all of the characters below are people of historical significance, slightly altered by the memory of Henry Carr. An ear for dialect, sense of language, timing and farce are all crucial for every actor in the play.
Henry Carr:
BRITISH Early 30s to late 40s. A member of the British upper classes and a relatively minor English consular official, Carr begins the play as an old man, reminiscing about his time in Zurich and the fervor of creation and change happening then. His memory twists and turns and facts, personalities and THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST morph into his own interpretation of the era. A tour de force role. The actor must be able to change ages believably, to negotiate wildly complicated language, have great timing and be genuinely dotty and funny, while possessing intellect, some slyness and passion.
James Joyce:
IRISH. Mid to late 30s. The famous Irish playwright, aged 36 at the time of the play. A “prudish, prudent man.” He owns two suits and has yet to publish his greatest works. Somewhat impoverished, proper and prim. Managing a small theatre company and producing THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST while writing ULYSSES. This actor must have a tremendous ear and facility for language and like everyone else in the play, have a magnificent sense of farce and timing.
Lenin:
RUSSIAN. 40s to early 50s. The famous Russian revolutionary. Aged 47 at the time of the play. On the eve of the Russian revolution, planning his return to Russia, he is passionate, paranoid, autocratic. And a bit mad.
Nadya:
RUSSIAN. 40s to early 50s. Nadezhda Krupskaya, Lenin's wife. Russain. Aged 48 at the time of the play. Dry, focused on getting the job done. A steady balance to Lenin’s zeal.
Tristan Tzara:
FRENCH/ROUMANIAN. 20s to early 30s. The founder of Dada. A Romanian/French avant-garde poet, born Samy Rosenstock. Early 20's at the time of the play. Boyish, charming, mischievous, in love with Gwendolyn. Terrifically smart and articulate. Makes all the connections between art, politics, and philosophy. Must have passion and some madness.
Cecily:
BRITISH. 20s. A member of the upper classes. A young librarian. Based loosely on Cecily from THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST. Intelligent, attractive, very self-assured and in charge of herself. Rigorous. Eventually Carr's wife and we see her as a much older woman at the end of the play. Must have a great sense of language.
Gwendolyn:
BRITISH. 20s. A member of the upper classes. Carr's younger sister and based on Gwendolyn in THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST. Beautiful, sexual, self-possessed. In love with Tristan Tzara.
Bennett:
BRITISH. 40s - 60s. Carr's butler. The quintessential manservant. Always in possession of himself . Dry, witty, obervant - dutifully getting Carr back on track whenever he wanders. A servant of the first order.
