Geva Theatre Center 2024-25 Season - Rochester, NY EPA
Geva Theatre Center | Rochester, NY
Saturday, August 17, 2024
11:00 AM - 7:00 PM (E)
Lunch 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
To schedule an audition appointment please go to:
https://calendar.app.google/iMLhVn76iX2CRAGo8. Once you have secured an audition appointment please fill out the following form:
https://forms.gle/2oYqgWFEdELGoXzJ6.
LORT Non-Rep
$1100 weekly minimum (LORT B)
$807 weekly minimum (LORT D)
Equity actors for roles in Geva Theatre Center's 2024-25 Season (See breakdown).
All will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, familial status, sexual orientation, national origin, ability, age, or veteran status.
All roles will be understudied.
Please prepare EITHER 2 contrasting one-minute monologues OR a one-minute monologue and a one-minute song. If you would like to submit a video audition, please see details in Breakdown.
Geva Theatre
75 Woodbury Blvd
Rochester, NY 14607-1717
Rehearsal space.
Expected to attend:
Elizabeth Williamson (Artistic Director)
Jasmine B. Gunter (Resident
Director/Associate Producer)
Fiona Kyle (Artistic Associate)
Thalia Schramm (General Manager)
See breakdown for production specific personnel.
See breakdown for production specific dates.
An Equity Monitor will not be provided. The producer will run all aspects of this audition.
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.
Video Submission Instructions:
Please submit your headshot, resume and video audition at:
https://forms.gle/2oYqgWFEdELGoXzJ6. Please
prepare EITHER 2 contrasting one-minute monologues OR a one-minute monologue and a
one-minute song. Please tape your monologues in one continuous video and upload them digitally
using the submission form
All submissions will be reviewed and weighed equally, whether in person or via video.
Book by Mel Brooks Thomas Meehan
Music & Lyric by Mel Brooks
Original Direction & Choreography by Susan Stroman
Co-Production with Berkshire Theatre Group & Bay Street Theater
Director/Choreographer: Gerry McIntyre
Berkshire Theatre Group Dates: June 27-July 21, 2024
Bay Street Dates: August 1-25, 2025
Geva Dates: September 25-October 27, 2024
All Roles Have Been Cast
Co-Conceived by Todd Kreidler
Director: Taneisha Dugin
Performances: October 15-December 1, 2024
Fielding Stage, LORT D
SYNOPSIS: From Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson comes this autobiographical one-actor play chronicling Wilson’s life as a Black artist in the Hill District in Pittsburgh. Through stories about his first jobs, first loves, and experiences with racism, we go deep into the life of one of the most celebrated writers of the 20th century, from his roots to the completion of his history-making American Century Cycle, his ten-play series showcasing Black experience from across the twentieth century.
UNDERSTUDY: for AUGUST WILSON - Male identifying, African American, 40s-60s
Written by Charles Dickens, adapted by Harrison David Rivers
Director: Elizabeth Williamson
First Rehearsal: October 22, 2024
Performances: November 21-December 29, 2024
Wilson Stage, LORT B
This is a world premiere production that is still in development; characters and descriptions are subject to change.
SYNOPSIS: Charles Dickens’ holiday classic returns to the Geva stage in a new adaptation by Playwright in Residence Harrison David Rivers. Over the course of a single night, notorious grump Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by four ghosts. But will their intervention prompt him to change his “humbug” ways? Filled with humor, heart, hope – and a little bit of horror – A Christmas Carol reminds us that it is never too late to have a change of heart.
EBENEZER SCROOGE (Any Ethnicity, Male-identifying, 50-60s) A man of business. Incredibly wealthy, but frugal. Miserly even. Personal loss has made him hard. He will be cracked open by play’s end.
BOB CRATCHIT (Any Ethnicity, Male-identifying, 30-50s) SCROOGE’S clerk. A devoted husband and father. Long-suffering and compliant. He will stand up to his employer by play’s end.
FRED HOLYWELL (Any Ethnicity, Male-identifying, 20-30s) SCROOGE’S nephew and only living relative. A doting husband. Playful and generous. His persistence will be rewarded by play’s end. Doubles as FEZZIWIG and THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT / AS CAST.
MAN (Any Ethnicity, Male-identifying, 30-40s, Physically Disabled) A mystery, until he is not. An instigator. His true identity will be revealed by play’s end. Doubles as SOLICITOR 1, ELLIS and THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS FUTURE / AS CAST.
MRS. CRATCHIT. This role has been cast. (Any Ethnicity, Female-identifying, 30-50s) BOB CRATCHIT’S wife. Cheeky, yet grounded. Her hope will be buoyed by play’s end. Doubles as SOLICITOR 2 and MRS. FEZZIWIG.
FAN (Any Ethnicity, Female-identifying, 20s) SCROOGE’S sister. SCROOGE’S sister. A compassionate advocate. Doubles as PAST and MARTHA / AS CAST.
BELLE (Any Ethnicity, Female-identifying, 20-30s, Open to all physical types) SCROOGE’S great love. Clever and spirited. Doubles as LILY / AS CAST.
APPRENTICE EBENEZER (Any Ethnicity, Male-identifying, 20s) Bookish and earnest. Doubles as PETER / AS CAST.
Written by Christina Ham
Director: TBD
First Rehearsal: December 17, 2024
Performance Dates: January 14-February 9, 2025
Wilson Stage, LORT B
SYNOPSIS: September 16, 1963. When Nina Simone heard that four Black girls had been killed in the bombing of the 16th Avenue Church in Birmingham, Alabama, her first impulse was to try and build a zip gun; instead she channeled her rage into “Mississippi Goddamn,” the song that marked the emergence of Nina Simone, the Civil Rights activist. Infused with traditional hymns along with songs including “Four Women,” “I Loves You, Porgy,” and “Young, Gifted and Black,” Nina Simone: Four Women looks at an artist and the women around her as their journey leads them down a path of discovery and healing.
NINA SIMONE (30) - A.K.A. “Peaches”. Timeless. A woman of dark skin and temperament that cloaks wounds both present and historical. Bach and the Blues infuse her life. She is a tornado of vulnerability. Complexity is her complexion and resistance and rebellion her anthem. She should boast the agility of improvisation on the keys and the polyvocality of a herald. She should be able to hear a song only once and be able to not only perform it, but to lift the song to another level of being. She lives hard and loves the same. She has a high school education, but possesses well-rounded music training both self-taught and by private music teachers. Whatever her mood swings they should never be so pronounced to upstage her accomplishments. She should possess the attributes of a modern-day prophet.
SARAH (40s) - A.K.A. “Auntie”. Also of dark skin. Her hands are rough. Molded from years of working in the white folks home since she was yea high. Groomed to put others before herself. This type of welding has created the invisible woman that she has become. Her smile is inviting never letting on that trouble lives on her horizon. Her dark skin has determined how she will be treated by the outside world. Her life has been defined by black and its volatile relationship to white. She has a remedial education at best as she comes from a large family where everyone had to work and carry their weight. She possesses the tender shoulder you can cry on and a honeysuckled voice of pain. She doesn’t sing the blues but has lived it.
SEPHRONIA (30s-40s) - Her skin is yellow. She is of a softer disposition because that is what her hair type and skin color warrant. She’s never been dark enough to cause offense, but she’s just light enough to offend herself at times. She’s the painful reminder that she is a child of violence. She’s not light enough to be white nor dark enough to be black leading to an inescapable purgatory. She’s joined the Civil Rights Movement hoping this will make her black enough and create an acceptance. Her mother doesn’t understand her and her father’s disowned her. Her mother holds her accountable for why she wasn’t able to find a man of her own. She’s opened her heart to many men who’ve made her empty promises. She is a D minor key, the saddest of them all.
SWEET THING (Late 20s) - Her skin is tan. She’s enticing whether she wants to be or whether she’s paid to be. She’s been tossed to and fro by life and the blows that it’s delivered by the men that have come and gone from her life. She’s lived on the streets for quite some time and been in and out of trouble most of her life. She’s a pistol but has still never gotten what she really wants—love. She is the kind of woman that will steal your man when you’re not looking. Her looks have been the bane of her existence since she was a little girl.
SAM WAYMON / MUSICIAN (20s) - Nina’s younger brother. Plays piano, Hammond B-3 Organ, and tambourine. Stays out of Nina’s way.
Written by Louisa May Alcott, adapted by Heather Chrisler
Director: Jackson Gay
First Rehearsal: January 30, 2025
Performance Dates: February 25- March 23, 2025 (potential ext. March 30, 2025)
Wilson Stage, LORT B
SYNOPSIS: Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel comes to fresh life in this inventive, theatrical adaptation which follows as the March sisters – Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy – gather in the family attic. From making up fairy stories, writing for their pretend newspaper, and playing make believe, they graduate to scenes of love, loss, and – for Jo – artistic self-discovery, as they come of age against the backdrop of the American Civil War.
LITTLE WOMAN 1: Jo
LITTLE WOMAN 2: Meg, Professor Bhaer
LITTLE WOMAN 3: Amy, John Brooke
LITTLE WOMAN 4: Beth, Laurie
Written by Vickie Ramirez (Tuscarora)
Director: Randy Reinholz (Choctaw)
In Association with Friends of Ganondagan and Native Voices
First Rehearsal: March 20, 2025
Performance Dates: April 15-May 11, 2025
Wilson Stage, LORT B
SYNOPSIS: Brewster’s back after almost a decade and things have changed. Brews is proud of his success working for a large corporation, and wants to share it with the people of his Rez in Upstate New York. After all, it’s been a bad year, and Brews believes partnering with his corporation on a new bottled water factory would be a great opportunity for the Rez to create its own industry and sustain itself. But to his old love Connie, it’s a betrayal of everything the Haudenosaunee stand for. Who will win?
NOTE: We encourage Native Americans, First Nations, Alaska Natives, or Hawaiian Natives actors to apply. While we encourage actors to self-identify and express any concerns around their consideration for the role to the producers/director, it is industry standard that producers/director do not ask the ethnic backgrounds of the performers.
BREWSTER WHITE (Late 30s/Early 40s, Mixed Blood, Mohawk, Male Identifying) Handsome but a little weathered. Smooth-talker.
CONNIE SMOKE (Mid to Late 30s, Tuscarora, Female Identifying) Attractive but fierce - NOT easygoing.
GARY SMOKE (Late 30s/Early 40s, Mohawk, Male Identifying) Handsome, polished - a career politician.
KAREN FARMER (Mid to Late 30s, Mohawk, Female Identifying) Future Clan Mother and former Beauty Queen. Wife to Art.
ART FARMER (Early to Mid-30s, Tuscarora, Male Identifying) Connie's Brother and Karen's husband. Gary's assistant. Former Soldier. The baby of the Group.
Book by Douglas McGrath
Words and Music by Gerry Goffin & Carole King, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil
Music by Arrangement with Sony Music Publishing
Orchestrations, Vocal and Incidental Music
Arrangements by Steve Sidwell
Additional Music Arrangements by Jason Howland
Co-Production with Pioneer Theatre Company (Originating Theatre)
Director: Karen Azenberg
Choreographer: Gerry McIntyre
Pioneer Theatre First Rehearsal: January 29, 2025
Pioneer Theatre Performances: February 14-March 1, 2025
Geva Theatre First Rehearsal: May 13, 2025
Geva Theatre Performances: May 28-June 29, 2025
Wilson Stage, LORT B
SYNOPSIS: Before she was hit-maker Carole King, she was Carole Klein, an up-and-coming songwriter from Brooklyn. Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is the inspiring story of how she made her mark on the music industry – and found her own voice in the process. This Tony Award-winning musical with a book by the late Oscar and Tony-nominated Douglas McGrath features the unforgettable songs “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” “You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feeling,” “Natural Woman,” and “I Feel the Earth Move” from King’s iconic songbook.
CAROLE KING: (Female Identifying, 25-35) An aspiring singer/songwriter. A unique, appealing, funny and vulnerable girl from a Jewish family in Brooklyn. Talented, good natured, unassuming and often the peace maker in difficult situations. A reluctant star with no pretense and a passion for music. A powerful, distinctive voice. Voice Part: Mezzo Soprano (F3 -F5).
GERRY GOFFIN: (Male Identifying, 25-40) Carole’s boyfriend, songwriting partner and eventual husband. He is smoldering, dark & handsome with a rebel vibe. Although sexy, he is innately sympathetic, wounded and tortured. An ambitious artist always striving for more. Sings well. Baritone/tenor. Voice Part: Tenor (C3-G4).
CYNTHIA WEIL: (Female Identifying, 25–40) A songwriter who becomes romantically involved with
Barry Mann. Carole’s best friend. She is sophisticated, smart & chic with a quick wit. Although self-confident and sarcastic, she is also extremely likeable. Strong comic timing who sings extremely well. Belt. Voice Part: Mezzo Soprano (F3-E5).
BARRY MANN: (Male Identifying, 25-40) A songwriter who becomes romantically involved with Cynthia. He is good natured, appealing & neurotic. Ambitious, but likeable. Comedic with a great voice. A strong high tenor comfortable with pop & rock style singing. Voice Part: Tenor (C3-A4).
DON KIRSCHNER: (Male Identifying, 40-60s) An influential music publisher and producer. He is a fast talking, energetic force of nature. Powerful, direct & sometimes intimidating, but he has a real affinity for his writers and artists. A hit maker. Voice Part: Bass/Baritone (A2-C4).
GENIE: (Female Identifying, 40s-60s) Carole’s Jewish mother. Once an aspiring playwright, she has been broken down by life & her husband’s infidelity. Protective of Carole and unforgiving of her husband’s mistakes.
Videos
