Breakdown
2015-16 SEASON:
WEST SIDE STORY, ALL THE WAY, LIVING ON LOVE, AH, WILDERNESS!, GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER, DISGRACED and JOSEPHINE
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WEST SIDE STORY
music: Leonard Bernstein
lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
book: Arthur Laurents
Dir: Joey McKneely
1st reh: 10/13/15. Runs: 11/10- 12/27 (LORT B)
TONY
Late Teens–Early 20s. Handsome, sandy-haired (Polish), older teen-ager. Has outgrown the Jets. Tenor.
RIFF
Late Teens–Early 20s. Glowing, driving, intelligent, slightly wacky leader of the Jets. Tenor.
DIESEL
Late Teens–Early 20s. Lieutenant to Riff, big, slow, steady. Baritone.
BABY JOHN
Late Teens–Early 20s. Youngest member of the Jets, awed at everything, even being a Jet; tries to act like a big man, but is vulnerable; Baritone.
A-RAB
Late Teens–Early 20s. Small of stature, enjoys everything, takes nothing seriously, unaware, can be explosive. Baritone.
ACTION
Late Teens–Early 20s. Most aggressive member of the Jets, a cat-like ball of fury. Baritone.
SNOWBOY
Late Teens–Early 20s. Bespectacled, self-styled expert. Baritone.
ANYBODY’S
Late Teens–Early 20s. Scrawny teen-aged girl, pathetically dressed to imitate the Jets. Wants desperately to be taken seriously.
VELMA
Late Teens–Early 20s. Riff’s girlfriend, young, slithery, sexy, lost in a world of jive. Flexible voice parts.
GRAZIELLA
Late Teens–Early 20s. Girlfriend of Diesel, impressed with herself. Flexible voice parts.
BERNARDO
Late Teens–Early 20s. Handsome, proud, fluid leader of the Sharks, with a sardonic chip on his shoulder. Latino. Baritone.
CHINO
Late Teens–Early 20s. Shy, gentle, sweet-faced young boy; Maria's intended husband. Latino. Baritone.
PEPE
Late Teens-Early 20s. Lieutenant to Bernardo, typically proud. Resentful of discrimination. Latino. Baritone.
MARIA
Late Teens–Early 20s. Lovely young, obedient girl; excited & enthusiastic about her new life in America, but with stubborn inner strength that allows her to evolve into a strong woman. Latina. Soprano.
ANITA
Late Teens–Early 20s. Older, wiser in the ways of the world, flashy, sharp-tongued, & with a knowing sexuality. Latina. Alto/mezzo-soprano.
CONSUELA
Late Teens–Early 20s. Tough, young girl with bleach blond hair & lots of baubles. Latina. Mezzo-soprano.
ROSALIA
Late Teens–Early 20s. Young girl, more demure, not too bright. Latina. Mezzo-soprano. Sings SOMEWHERE solo
DOC / OFFICER KRUPKE
Mid 40s–Mid 60s. Drug store owner, tired, worn out. Non-singing. OFFICER KRUPKE:
Mid 40s–Mid 50s. Not-too-bright street cop; aggressive; hard-nosed. Non-singing. Also plays DOC.
LIEUTENANT SCHRANK / GLAD HAND
Early 40s–Mid 50s. Plainclothes policeman used to being in charge, superficially pleasant to cover his venom, fear, bigotry. Non-singing. GLAD HAND: Early 40s–Mid 50s. Nerdy, overly cheerful & ill-equipped social director at the local gym dance. Non-singing.
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ALL THE WAY
by Robert Schenkkan
Dir: Emily Sophia Knapp
1st Reh: 11/28/15. Runs: 1/5 - 4/9/16 (LORT B)
LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON
Mid 50s. 36th President. Ambitious, tireless, imposing, ruthless. Brash, powerful, persuasive, energetic. A magnetic force to be reckoned with.
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
Mid 30s. African American. Civil Rights Movement leader until assassinated in 1968. Passionate, committed, grounded, with a deep belief in his cause.
LADY BIRD JOHNSON / KATHARINE GRAHAM / KATHARINE ST. GEORGE
Late 40s–Early 50s. First Lady of the US. Well educated, shrewd, capable with a good mind for business and an independent spirit. KATHARINE GRAHAM: Early 40s – Late 40s. Educated, cultured, intelligent and influential. KATHARINE ST. GEORGE: Late 50s–Early 60s. Representative from NY. Republican. Born to privilege, fiscally conservative, determined, focused. Early supporter of fair pay for women – coined the phrase “equal pay for equal work.”
GEORGE WALLACE / JAMES CORMAN / MIKE MANSFIELD / WALTER REUTHER
Early 40s–Late 40s. Governor of AL. Oozing with Southern charm; bit oily. Uses this charm to get what he wants no matter the cost. Pugnacious. Segregationist. JAMES CORMAN: Late 30s–Early 40s. Representative from CA. Democrat. Bright, intensely private, courtly, old-fashioned, sometimes moody. MIKE MANSFIELD: Mid 50s – Leading Senate Democrat; major supporter of LBJ’s Great Society legislative program. Anti-war stance on Vietnam. Liberal, fair-minded, principled, humble. WALTER REUTHER: Mid 50s. Labor union leader & major supporter of the Civil Rights Movement. Outspoken, impassioned. Aggressive go-getter.
RICHARD RUSSELL / JIM MARTIN / EMANUEL CELLER
Early/Mid 60s. Democratic Senator from GA; former Georgia governor. Conservative Democrat; key opponent of the Civil Rights Movement. JIM MARTIN: Mid 40s. Representative from AL. Republican. Former military man, originally a conservative Democrat. EMANUEL CELLER: Late 60s – Mid 70s. U.S. Representative from NY. Democrat. Active, feisty, vocal about his beliefs.
STANLEY LEVISON / JOHN McCORMACK / SEYMORE TRAMMELL
Late 40s–Early 50s. Progressive, liberal, social activist. Close advisor to King. Suspected communist. JOHN McCORMACK: Mid 60s–Early 70s. Representative from MA. Democrat. Fair, impartial, restrained, kindly, paternal. A teetotaler, but also warmhearted wheeler-dealer. SEYMORE TRAMMELL: Mid 40s. Political associate of George Wallace.
RALPH ABERNATHY
Late 30s–Early 40s. African American. Minister & close associate of King. Pragmatic, shrewd, an excellent strategist. Calculated, careful, self-contained, cautious.
ROY WILKINS / AARON HENRY
Late 50s–Early 60s. African American. Civil rights activist. Director of the NAACP. Principled, focused, and strong-willed. AARON HENRY: Late 30s – Early 40s. African American. Head of the Mississippi branch of the NAACP. A Civil Rights activist, veteran, early proponent of voting rights and co-founder of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party
JAMES EASTLAND / WILLIAM MOORE McCULLOCH
Late 50s – Early 60s. Senator from MS. Conservative Democrat and opponent of the Civil Rights Movement. WILLIAM MOORE McCULLOCH: Late 50s–Early 60s. Representative from OH. Republican. Conservative, but a staunch supporter of the Civil Rights Movement – braving rejection from his party to support the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
STOKELY CARMICHAEL
Late Teens–Early 20s. African American. Civil rights activist. Gradually develops more radical political stances and abandons his allegiance to nonviolent protest, becoming a leader in the Black Power movement.
The roles of Hubert Humphrey, Strom Thurmond, J. Edgar Hoover, Robert Byrd, Fannie Lou Hamer, Coretta Scott King, Cartha DeLoach, Howard Smith, Everett Dirksen, Carl Sanders, Edwin King, Walter Jenkins, William Colmer, Bob Moses, David Dennis, Robert McNamara, Karl Mundt, Lurleen Wallace, and Muriel Humphrey Have Been Cast.
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LIVING ON LOVE
by Joe DiPietro, adapted from Peccadillo by Garson Kanin
Dir: Peter Amster
1st Reh: 12/3/15. Runs: 1/13 -2/25/16 (LORT B)
RAQUEL DE ANGELIS
Late 40s- mid 50s. One of the greatest opera singers on the planet, she couldn’t be more beguiling. When Raquel De Angelis enters a room, everyone in the room knows it. Must be able to credibly sing operatic material.
VITO DE ANGELIS
Late 40s – Mid 50s. Her husband. One of the greatest conductors on the planet. His Italian accent is thick. His temper is legendary. He has Einstein hair.
BRUCE
Early 50s – Late 50s. A steadfast, loyal servant and ex-opera singer, nearly identical to Eric. Must be able to credibly sing operatic material. Must play the piano.
ERIC
Early 50s – Late 50s. A steadfast, loyal servant and ex-opera singer, nearly identical to Bruce. Must be able to credibly sing operatic material. Must play the piano.
The roles of Robert Samson and Iris Peabody Have Been Cast
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AH, WILDERNESS! by Eugene O’Neill
Dir: Greg Leaming
1st Reh: 12/15/15. Runs: 1/20 - 4/10/16 (LORT B)
NAT MILLER
Early 50s – Late 50s. Tall, spare, stoop-shouldered, an old New England type. A shrewd lifelong journalist who attempts an air of sober respectability, but whose temper and sense of humor often flare up, poking holes in his otherwise calm outward appearance.
ESSIE MILLER
Early 50s. Short, stout, maternal and soft. Has a bustling, no-nonsense manner and though she is older now, she retains some of the wide-eyed, excitable nature of the pretty girl she was.
MURIEL McCOMBER
Mid-Teens. Pretty, graceful, sweet-natured and somewhat naïve. Filled with a sense of wonder and awe about life, yet nervous and easily frightened of her impending womanhood.
TOMMY MILLER
10-12. Energetic and good natured, restless. A young boy bursting with life and enthusiasm.
The roles of Sid Davis, David McComber, the Bartender, Lily Miller, Wint Selby, the Salesman, Richard Miller, Arthur Miller, Mildred Miller, Norah, and Belle Have Been Cast
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GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER
by Todd Kreidler, based on the screenplay by William Rose
Dir: Frank Galati
1st Reh: 1/26/16. Runs: 3/9 - 4/17/16 (LORT B)
MATT DRAYTON
Early 60s – Late 60s. Liberal, intellectual, workaholic publisher of San Francisco’s newspaper The Guardian.
JOHN PRENTICE
Late 30s. Quiet, warm, level-headed. A brilliant medical research doctor. Must be African American.
MATILDA “TILLIE” BINKS
Early 50s – Late 50s. Reserved, and a bit set in her ways. Hardworking and loyal, with an earnest gravitas born of real-life experience. She has worked for 27 years as a domestic for the Draytons. Must be African American. Must be able to sing.
JOHN PRENTICE, SR.
Late 50s – Early 60s. Strong, opinionated, a well-educated schoolteacher and self-made man. Must be African American.
HILARY ST. GEORGE
Late 30s – Early 40s. Sleek and sophisticated, well-dressed. Her highly polished exterior conceals a brittle quality and inner prejudices.
The roles of Mary Prentice, Monsignor Ryan, Christina Drayton, and Joanna Drayton Have Been Cast
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JOSEPHINE: A NEW MUSICAL
music by Steve Dorff, lyrics by John Bettis, book by Ellen Weston & Mark Hampton from a story by Kenneth Waissman
Dir: Joey McKneely
1st Reh: 3/29/16. Runs: 4/27 - 5/29/16 (LORT B)
JOUJOU
Early 20s – Mid 30s. Flamboyant, over the top, eager, and willing to help whenever he is needed; bitter that he never had a successful stage career, but tries to be cheery whenever he can. Josephine’s clandestine confidante, he has unexpected strength.
JO BOUILLON
Mid 30s – Early 50s. Playful, yet with a determined edge; always tries to see the good in people and help them in any way he can. A bit world-weary.
PRINCE GUSTAV VI
Early 30s – Early 40s. Debonair and charismatic, regal. Scandinavian in appearance. Genuinely has feelings for Josephine, but cannot abandon his royal duties for her.
BRICKTOP
Early 30s – Early 40s. African American. Saucy, sassy bartender that is jealous of Josephine and what she has; easily enraged. No-nonsense, pulls no punches.
YOUNG JOSEPHINE
10 – 14. African American. Feisty, energetic. A spitfire with lots of talent and big ambition.
MAMA
Mid 40s – Early 60s. African American. Josephine’s mother. Stern, takes no excuses. Doesn’t have time to listen to Josephine’s dreams.
SVEN
Early 20s – Mid 30s. Scandinavian in appearance, charming, funny, vivacious. Knows when to give advice and when to be discreet.
BERT
Mid 30s – Mid 40s. African American. Long-time Vaudevillian. Funny and charismatic, but he’s been on the road a long time. Nothing is new to him.
BENNY
Mid 30s – Mid 40s. African American. Long-time Vaudevillian. Funny and charismatic, but he’s been on the road a long time. Nothing is new to him.
BESSIE SMITH
Mid 20s – Mid 30s. African American. Outgoing, vivacious, a bold personality and an outstanding jazz vocalist. A bit of a diva.
SERAFINA
Teens – Early 20s. African American. Young, talented singer, sweet and naïve. A great beauty.
HERMANN GÖRING
Mid 30s – Mid 40s. Cruel, ruthless, single-minded, obsessive. One of the leaders of the Nazi party and commander-in-chief of the Luftwaffe.
The role of Josephine Baker Has Been Cast
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DISGRACED
by Ayad Akhtar
Dir: by Michael Donald Edwards
1st Reh: 3/8/16. Runs: 3/30 - 4/24/16 (LORT D)
EMILY
Early/Mid 30s. Lithe and lovely, ethereal yet with an inner strength and conviction of purpose. An artist, sensitive and perceptive.
AMIR
Late 30s – Early 40s. Of South-Asian origin. Smart, driven, and determined. Sharp-edged and tenacious. A lawyer with a keen intellect, a fiery temper, and an ability for compartmentalizing his feelings.
JORY
Mid/Late 30s – African American. Commanding, forthright, intelligent, brash, and acerbically funny. Beautiful but in a severe, almost masculine, way.
ABE
Early 20s. Of South-Asian origin. Has been totally Americanized in terms of outward appearance. Vibrant, endearing, with an underlying sweetness.
The role of Isaac Has Been Cast
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