ELEANOR DUSE DIES IN PITTSBURGH - NYC EPA
Aan Steele Productions LLC
AUDITION DATE
Jul 21, 2017
1:30 pm - 5:30 pm (EDT)
CONTRACT
Showcase-NY Basic Showcase code
SEEKING
Seeking: understudies for all characters. These are historical figures. See breakdown for more info.
PREPARATION
Using the role descriptions and character research of these historical characters and what they were like during the time of YOUR actual age range, prepare a brief monologue to serve your interpretation. (This is Duse’s nightmare, so anything goes. Get the essence of your interpretation of the character )
LOCATION
Actors' Equity New York Audition Center
165 W 46th St
16th Fl
New York, NY 10036
PERSONNEL
Aan Steele, Director/Producer and Ted Mornel, Associate Director
Writer: Don Nigro
OTHER DATES
For the DreamUp Festival at The Theater For the New City, at least five performances, possibly more, will scheduled at matinees and/or evening times between August 27 and September 17th
OTHER
In a room in a hotel in Pittsburgh, on the last night of her life, Eleanora Duse is tormented in her nightmare by her ex-lover, the insufferable but charming Italian playwright D’Annunzio.
EPA Procedures are in effect for this audition.
An Equity monitor will be provided.
Equity’s contracts prohibit discrimination. Equity is committed to diversity and encourages all its employers to engage in a policy of equal employment opportunity designed to promote a positive model of inclusion. As such, Equity encourages performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, and ages, as well as performers with disabilities, to attend every audition.
Always bring your Equity Membership card to auditions.
BREAKDOWN
Eleanora Duse:
(note playwright’s spelling) is the impression of the Italian actress born in 1858 whose Grandfather was Luigi Duse, from Commedia dell’arte, famous for removing the comedic mask. Eleono-ra’s acting inspired notables such as Constantin Stanislavski, George Bernard Shaw, and proponents of “method acting”. Eva Le Gallienne wrote The Mystic In The Theatre: Eleonora Duse and is Eva in the play.
“Duse was born in Vigevano, Lombardy, and began acting as a child. Both her father and her grandfather were actors, and she joined the troupe at age four. Due to poverty, she initially worked continually, traveling from city to city with whichever troupe her family was currently engaged. She came to fame in Italian versions of roles made famous by Sarah Bernhardt. She gained her first major success in Europe, then toured South America, Russia and the United States; beginning the tours as a virtual unknown but leaving in her wake a general recognition of her genius. While she made her career and fame performing in the theatrical warhorses of her day, she is today remembered more for her association with the plays of Gabriele d'Annunzio and Henrik Ibsen. In regard to her general character, it is important to note that reading was a lifelong passion.” - from Wikipedia.
Desiree Wertheimstein:
“Duse’s harried companion, housekeeper, friend” (author’s words).
Gabrielle D’Annunzio:
“a moustachioed dandy, a great ladies’ man in his own mind, now well past his prime, but more than a little charm remains. (author’s words).
“D’Annunzio was an Italian writer, poet, journalist, playwright and soldier during World War I. He occupied a prominent place in Italian literature from 1889 to 1910 and later political life from 1914 to 1924. He was often referred to under the epithets Il Vate (the Poet)[3] or Il Profeta (the Prophet).
D'Annunzio was associated with the Decadent movement in his literary works, which interplayed closely with French Symbolism and British Aestheticism.” - from Wikipedia.
Sarah Bernhardt:
The most noted Diva from the Victorian era, she appears “wearing only her underwear>” - author’s words.
Enrichetta Checchi Bullough:
“an attractive but rather respectable looking young woman” - (au-thor’s words). Duse’s daughter from her marriage to “a poor bit player I couldn’t help betray-ing” (Duse’s line). Duse sent Enrichetta to a wet nurse and boarding schools out of necessity - to continue performing. Enrichetta is furious at Duse for “abandoning” her.
Henrik Ibsen:
famous Norwegian playwright who is suffering from hearing loss and dementia.
Benito Mussolini:
Italian Fascist leader and friend to D’Annunzio.
Eva (LeGallienne):
Young actress seeks insight from Duse before opening on Broadway.
Equity’s contracts prohibit discrimination. Equity is committed to diversity and encourages all its employers to engage in a policy of equal employment opportunity designed to promote a positive model of inclusion. As such, Equity encourages performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, and ages, as well as performers with disabilities, to audition.
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