Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival 2019 LOA and SPT Seasons - Philadelphia EPA
Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival
AUDITION DATE
Tue, Dec 18, 2018
10:30 am - 6:30 pm (EST)
Lunch 2 to 3.
As the theatre building opens at 10am, the theatre asks that actors do not arrive before 10am.
PLEASE NOTE: ACCOMPANIST WILL ONLY BE PRESENT FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE DAY, UNTIL 2PM.
CONTRACT
LOA LOA ref to LORT: $730/week (2018 min salaries)
SPTSPT 9: $679/week (2018 min salaries)
SEEKING
Equity actors for 5 productions in the 2019 LOA and SPT summer seasons. See breakdown.
There are a few SM positions available. See separate notice on Casting Call for info.
PREPARATION
Prepare EITHER
1) a brief monologue from one of the plays, or a monologue that will illuminate your ability to play one of the roles. Actors auditioning for ANTONY & CLEOPATRA or HENRY IV, PART 1 should prepare a brief Shakespearean monologue, OR; 2) Prepare 16 bars of a song and a 1 minute monologue that will illuminate your ability to play a role in CRAZY FOR YOU and/or ANTONY & CLEOPATRA, PRIVATE LIVES, THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP, or HENRY IV, PART 1. If singing, bring sheet music; an accompanist will be provided. Please bring a picture and resume, stapled together. PLEASE NOTE: ACCOMPANIST WILL ONLY BE PRESENT FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE DAY, UNTIL 2PM.
LOCATION
Walnut Street Theatre
825 Walnut St
Philadelphia, PA 19107-5107
PERSONNEL
Producing Artistic Director: Patrick Mulcahy
Associate Artistic Director: Dennis Razze (expected to be in attendance and also has the authority to influence decisions on SM hiring)
OTHER DATES
See breakdown for rehearsal and run dates
Performances run on TUE at 7PM, WED THRU SAT at 8PM, some SAT at 2PM, SUN at 2PM, and some SUN nights at 7:30 PM
OTHER
www.pashakespeare.org
An Equity Monitor will not be provided. The producer will run all aspects of 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.
BREAKDOWN
Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival – Summer Season 2019
All races/ethnicities are strongly encouraged to audition.
CRAZY FOR YOU (LOA)
Book by Ken Ludwig, music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin
Director: Gina Lamparella.
Choreographer: Stephen Casey.
Musical Director: Ryan Touhey.
1st rehearsal: May 21, 2019. Runs June 12 – 30.
All roles are ethnicity
BOBBY CHILD - Male 25-40 baritone. A New Yorker in love with musical theatre, forced to work in a bank by his controlling mother. Falls in love with Polly and disguises himself as Bela Zangler in order to put on a show that will save Polly’s theater. Charming, charismatic leading man in the Astaire mode, with a strong comic flair. Excellent tapper, partner dancer, singer, actor and physical comedian.
BELA ZANGLER - Male 35-50 baritone. Dapper producer of New York’s musical theater, a` la Florenz Ziegfeld. Strong actor, physical comedian and singer.
LANK HAWKINS – Male 25-40 Rough-hewn, intense cowboy/saloon keeper. Strong comic actor. A mover who sings in some chorus numbers.
POLLY BAKER - Female mid 20s- mid 30s mezzo soprano. Charming, energetic leading lady. Spunky and full of life. Can hold her own as the only woman in a town full of men. Excellent singer and comedic actress. Strong tapper and partner dancer in the Astaire-Rogers style.
IRENE ROTH - Female 25-39 mezzo soprano. Overbearing New York society debutante. Engaged to Bobby, but eventually seduces Lank with the song “Naughty Baby.” Excellent singer, dancer, and comic actress.
MOTHER (MRS. LOTTIE CHILD) – Female 50-65. Non-singing role. Bobby’s business-oriented and controlling mother. She wants him to forego his ideas of being in musical theatre and make a career in the bank.
EUGENE FODOR - Male 25+ baritone. An intrepid adventurer who, with his sister, is writing a guide book to the American West. Stereotypically British. Comedic actor. Sings and dances in “Stiff Upper Lip.”
The following roles are CAST. Auditioning performers will be considered as possible replacements, should any become necessary.
EVERETT BAKER – ROLE CAST. Male 50-65. Polly’s father. Kindly, befuddled charmer. Character man. Sings in some chorus numbers.
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THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP – A PENNY DREADFUL (SPT)
By Charles Ludlam
Director: Jim Helsinger. 1st rehearsal: May 31, runs June 20 – July 14
The following roles are CAST. Auditioning performers will be considered as possible replacements, should any become necessary.
LORD EDGAR / JANE TWISDEN / AN INTRUDER / IRMA TRACK- ROLE CAST. Male. Any ethnicity. 30-50s. Quick comic timing and the ability to transform from Lord of the manor, to maidservant, to a mysterious intruder. Seeking very strong comic able to play a multitude of characters, both male and female.
LADY ENID / NICODEMUS / ALCAZAR / PEV AMRI TRACK- ROLE CAST. Male. Any ethnicity. 30-50s. Quick comic timing and the ability to transform from Lady to limping servant to tour guide. Seeking very strong comic able to play a multitude of characters, both male and female.
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ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA (LOA)
By William Shakespeare
Director: Eleanor Holdridge.
1st rehearsal: June 7, runs July 10 – Aug 4. In rep with Private Lives.
EGYPTIANS (diverse group including characters with African/Middle Eastern backgrounds)
CLEOPATRA: 30-45. Intelligent, astute, strong, incredibly charismatic and a brilliant actor, she is capable of playing many things to get what she wants. Although she can play the coquette, using traditionally female tactics of tears and tantrums, it is calculated. She both wants what Antony can give her in terms of political capital as well as the heart of the man himself. Her need to play him politically does not negate her overwhelming love for him. She is aware that she is always in the public eye, and probably lonely within that. She has a great sense of humor and should be very funny, winning the audience to her side.
CHARMIAN: 40-50s. She is strong, intelligent, a terrific advisor to her Queen. She has a wicked sense of humor and a down-to-earth quality. She provides tough love and reasoned response, and is a terrific advisor. Prickly around the edges. NOT a yes-person. She will make a joke when she’s dying inside.
ALEXAS:20s-30s. Highly competent functionary, he takes himself and the bureaucracy he leads very seriously. . Maybe he’s in love with Cleopatra. He will take the lines of “an Egyptian) in V.i and our hearts should break for him. A bit of a Malvolio.
MARDIAN: 20-30. Cleopatra’s clown. Gender is open to the full range of possibilities. Funny, self-deprecating, wily, charismatic. S/he/they hide pain under the aspect of humor. A musician or singer. Should be able to sing or perform something at an audition.
ROMANS: (mostly Caucasian)
ANTONY: Forties/Fifties. War-weathered and wearied, still fit but perhaps he’s gotten a little soft. He is a complex man with divided and competing identities. The culture and sense of honor that is Rome is in his blood, yet his heart and imagination are filled with the creative atmosphere of Egypt. He is drowning in his love for Cleopatra, exhausted by the pressures of Rome, tired of leadership, but unable to say no to either.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Twenties to early thirties. Fiercely intelligent, might be tall, charismatic, he cultivates the weakness of others for his own strength. He is a brilliant actor, showing anger and brotherly love where perhaps he does not feel it. Paul Ryan.
ENOBARBUS: Fifty to sixty-five. He exemplifies the civilized man. Witty, erudite, plain-spoken, incredibly smart, he understands those around him with empathy and depth. His loyalty and sense of responsibility is strong, so deep remorse is inevitable
AGRIPPA: Around 40. Caesar’s architect and leading general. Astute, powerful, and a bit of a yes-man, he is nonetheless a fierce warrior. Believes in order and the rule of the few. Has the confidence and patience to be good at public relations.
EROS and “as cast”: 30 to mid-forties. Antony’s right-hand dude. Misses Rome. Very critical of Antony, and yet he loves and admires the man he used to be. Honorable, loyal, but doesn’t understand the power-dynamic in Egypt. Wishes to be in Rome. Note that the character will take lines of other Romans to become bigger than it is in the script.
MAECENAS: 50-60s. Caesar's culture minister. Coming from vast wealth, he educated, erudite, well-spoken, elegant, and empathetic. He is a reconciler. Probably aware of Caesar's intentions, he steadfastly does what he thinks best for Rome.
LEPIDUS: 40s. A yes-man who adores Caesar and admires Antony. Not very powerful, but good at paper-work. Weak head for liquor and maybe women. Easily manipulated.
OCTAVIA: Twenty-five to Thirty. Filled with love and the desire to please. Perfect on the surface, everything she was trained to be, but feels inadequate underneath. Loving her brother, wanting to do right by her husband, she too dutiful to be truly happy.
Actors may track in rep with Private Lives.
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PRIVATE LIVES (LOA)
by Noel Coward
Director: Dennis Razze.
1st rehearsal: June 7, runs July 18 – Aug 4
All roles likely to track in rep into Antony and Cleopatra. Please see ethnicity notes for A&C.
ELYOT CHASE: (Age 35-50) An absolutely sophisticated gentleman, Elyot has a refined wit which is sometimes acerbic--a weapon he utilizes often. He can be romantic, playful, spiteful, romantic and rude, all within a brief period of time. May track in rep as Antony or other Roman leader in Antony & Cleopatra. See ethnicity notes for A&C.
SIBYL CHASE: (Age 20s) A first time bride, very romantic but threatened by Elyot’s first wife Amanda. She has spirit and intelligence but is prone to whining and petulance, too. May track in rep as Octavia in Antony & Cleopatra. See ethnicity notes for A&C.
AMANDA PRYNNE: (Age 30-45) Elyot’s first wife, now recently married to Victor, with a fiery temper and a tendency toward impulsive behavior, she is totally charming and a perfect match/foil for Elyot. May track in rep as Cleopatra or Charmian in Antony & Cleopatra. See ethnicity notes for A&C.
VICTOR PRYNNE: (Age 30-45) a proper gentleman who has recently married Amanda. Is very pleased to describe himself as “normal.” No match for Elyot’s piercing wit, he is however physically able to take on Elyot. May track in rep as Antony or other Roman leader in Antony & Cleopatra. See ethnicity notes for A&C.
LOUISE: (Age early 20s) A “frowsy looking girl” who speaks only French. She is Amanda’s impertinent and somewhat clumsy maid played by an actress with skills in physical comedy. May track in rep as Octavia in Antony & Cleopatra. See ethnicity notes for A&C.
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HENRY IV, PART 1 (SPT)
All races/ethnicities are strongly encouraged to audition and roles may of any ethnicity.
by William Shakespeare
No director – Elizabethan-style brief rehearsal model. Actors paid to come in off-book.
1st rehearsal: July 19. Runs July 24 – August 4
PRINCE HAL – 20s-early 30s – King Henry’s eldest son and heir. Spends most of his time in the tavern with Falstaff and friends, but has greater plans to do greater things. Can change gears from playful to fierce as needed. Wiser than he appears to some but still finding his way, untested until he is, capable of some compassion even when circumstances require suppressing it. His nobility is inescapable. Athletic, skilled stage combatant.
HOTSPUR – 20s-early 30s – a valiant and expert soldier and leader in battle. Volatile, direct, impatient, fierce. Loves his wife. Athletic, skilled stage combatant.
WORCESTER – 40s-50s – uncle to Hotspur, shrewd strategist.
DOUGLAS – 30s-40s – a fearless and plainspoken Scottish nobleman. Actor should have comedic chops and a solid Scottish accent. Athletic, skilled stage combatant.
NORTHUMBERLAND/ARCHBISHOP – 50s - Northumberland is Hotspur’s father, at first on the side of the king but then a leader of the rebellion. The Archbishop also backs the rebellion.
OWEN GLENDOWER/WESTMORELAND – 50s+ - Glendower is a Welsh rebel who captures Mortimer and backs his claim to the throne. A colorful character. Westmoreland is a lord loyal to the King.
The following roles are CAST. Auditioning performers will be considered as possible replacements, should any become necessary.
KING HENRY IV – ROLE CAST. 40s-50s – Formerly Bolingbroke in Richard II, plagued by guilt over his deposition of Richard and by insurrections in the north. Deeply troubled by his son Hal’s antics and absence from court, but even more proud following Hal’s reformation and bravery in battle.
FALSTAFF – ROLE CAST. 40s-50s – a decadent aristocrat whose appetite for food, drink, and festivity is matched only by his wit and intellect. He leads Prince Hal (so he thinks) toward a life of debauchery and endeavors to teach him the ways of the world.
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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