BILLIE JEAN Equity Principal Actors - Chicago Shakespeare Theater Auditions

BILLIE JEAN - Chicago EPA

Revised

Chicago Shakespeare Theater | Chicago, IL

Location changed to Acting Studio Chicago, 10 E. Hubbard.

AUDITION DATE

Wednesday, April 9, 2025
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM (C)
BREAK: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

CONTRACT

CAT
$1089.50 weekly minimum (Tier 6)

SEEKING

Equity actors for roles in BILLIE JEAN (see breakdown). All roles will be understudied. As theater-makers, we are charged with engaging honestly and deeply in conversations about our humanity, and our inhumanity. Chicago Shakespeare Theater is deeply committed to welcoming artists, audience members, and staff of broadly diverse and intersectional identities, including (but not limited to) race, ethnicity, ability, faith/belief tradition, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, age, socio-economic background, and nationality. Acknowledging the entrenched structural inequities around race in the American theater, we are especially focused on addressing equity and inclusion for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) individuals within our IDEA efforts.

PREPARATION

Prepare two contrasting monologues not to exceed 3 minutes. You do not need to prepare a classical monologue (but are welcome to if it is a strong suit.)

LOCATION

Acting Studio Chicago
10 W. Hubbard St.
Suite 203
Chicago, IL 60654
Located 2 blocks from the RED LINE. Use Spot Hero to find parking. They can validate some folks...instructions on parking at the 401 N. State Parking Garage:
https://www.actingstudiochicago.com/parking/

PERSONNEL

Written by Lauren Gunderson
Directed by Marc Bruni
Produced by: Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and Harriet Leve
New York Casting: The Telsey Office, Karyn Casl CSA, Charlie Hano CSA
Chicago Casting: Bob Mason, Associate Alexis Taylor
EXPECTED TO ATTEND:
Casting Director: Bob Mason
Casting Associate: Alexis Taylor

OTHER DATES

First Rehearsal: June 17, 2025
First Preview: July 18, 2025
Opening Night: July 24, 2025
Closing Night: August 10, 2025

OTHER

https://www.chicagoshakes.com/
EPA Procedures are in effect for this audition.
An Equity Monitor will be provided.
Notice: Audition Call Type: EPA

BREAKDOWN

SEEKING:

NOTE: With the exception of BILLIE JEAN, all roles act as an ensemble.
BILLIE JEAN: 18+, white, the one and only, growing into her power and voice. She is savvy, tough, but also a people person who loves to listen and connect. She is a leader but not by her own insistence rather she has been chosen by her peers because she is smart, kind, and determined. Equality is her evergreen metric, her forever goal.
YOUNG BILLIE JEAN/Girl: (18+ to play younger) 12-16, white, our hero in her youth, smart, watchful, ambitious, but still a girl of the 40s/50s, who was raised to be polite and conservative.
WOMAN ONE: Betty - Billie Jean’s mom, 40s.
WOMAN TWO: Althea/Venus/others, Black, 30s, tennis champion.
ROSIE/CHORUS: El Salvadorian-American, 20+.
WOMAN THREE: Karen/Marilyn/others, white, 18-30.
WOMAN FOUR: Gladys/Reneé Richards, Trans woman, white, 40s years.
WOMAN FIVE: (THIS ROLE HAS BEEN CAST) Margaret/Others, white.
WOMAN SIX: Ilana (South African), Billie Jean’s partner / Others, white, 20s+
LARRY: Billie Jean’s husband. Athletic, kind, thoughtful man. White, 20s-40s.
MAN ONE: (THIS ROLE HAS BEEN CAST) Clyde/Perry/Bill/Jack, white, 50s+.
MAN TWO: Reporter/Gerry/British Reporter, white, 20s-50s.