TAPROOT THEATRE COMPANY 2023 SEASON - SEATTLE EPA
Taproot Theatre Company
AUDITION DATE
Fri, Aug 12, 2022
2:30 pm - 10:30 pm (PST)
Break 4:30-5:00pm
APPOINTMENTS
Please email casting@taproottheatre.org for an appointment. Please include a digital copy of your headshot and resume.
CONTRACT
SPT
$495 weekly minimum (Tier 4)
SEEKING
Equity actors for roles in Taproot Theatre Company 2023 Season (see breakdown).
If you are unable, or you do not wish to attend the in-person audition, you may submit a self-tape of two short monologues (no more than 3 minutes total) OR one monologue and a short musical theatre selection. You may also use the accompaniment at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1F60mPnVk5a0TcXHwfNXJByuDI1DwNGlL?usp=sharing . Submit at https://airtable.com/shrCqjthxRoxPgT7B
Taproot does not discriminate in their season casting based on race, color, religion, sexual orientation, sex or gender identity, age, citizenship, national origin, veteran status, marital status, mental, physical, or sensory disability, or any other protected and otherwise underrepresented groups of individuals.
PREPARATION
Please prepare two short monologues (no more than 3 minutes total) of your own choosing OR one monologue and a short musical theatre selection of your choosing. A cappella singing will be accepted. An accompanist will be provided.
LOCATION
Taproot Theatre
204 N 85th St
Seattle, WA 98103-3604
Google Map
PERSONNEL
Bretteney Beverly, Associate Artistic Director
Expected to attend:
Karen Lund, Producing Artistic Director
Pilar O'Connell, Casting Consultant
Arika Matoba, Casting Associate
OTHER DATES
See production specific dates in breakdown.
First rehearsal of 2023 season will be December 27th, 2022.
The season begins on January 27, 2023 and ends on December 31st, 2023
BREAKDOWN
A Woman of No Importance, by Oscar Wilde
Dates:
Rehearsals Begin: 12/27/2022
Opening Night: 1/27/2023
Closing Night: 2/25/2023
Synopsis: Gerald’s prospects are bright as he celebrates his new position working for the notorious Lord Illingworth. But behind the gossip and banter at Lady Hunstanton’s party, secrets are at play. Will the unveiling of Gerald’s parents’ past change the trajectory of his future? Will he choose money and position or virtue and sacrifice? And what of the charming young Hester, who has captured his heart?
SEEKING:
Lady Jane Hunstanton: Lady Jane is the hostess of the dinner party around which the events of the play occur. Her country estate is known as Hunstanton Chase.
Gerald Arbuthnot: Very young and innocent Gerald holds a position as a bank clerk and is the victim of a scheme by his mother to keep the identity of her real father from her. He has fallen head over heel for Hester Worsley and suddenly finds a tempting offer of becoming secretary to Lord Illingworth extended to him. What he doesn’t know when this offer comes is that Illingworth is his father.
Mrs. Rachel Arbuthnot: The past twenty years that Mrs. Arbuthnot has raised her son Gerald under the cloud of the shame of illegitimacy has created a pious woman willing to sacrifice all for her beloved son. She is the titular woman not important enough for George Harford to marry.
Lord George Harford Illingworth: The stereotypical British dandy, Lord Illingworth has no visible means of support and is a notorious rake with a long history of woman used and tossed away. His chance meeting with Gerald leads to the discovery that the young man is his son, but his own dissolute history ruins his efforts to win the boy’s affections. Without an heir, society recasts him as a man of no importance.
Mr. Kelvin: Lord Illingworth can resist everything but temptation; Mr. Kelvin has found that the secret to a good life is finding the will to resist temptation. He is one of the guests at the dinner, a member of Parliament, father of eight and currently at work writing a major address on the one topic he considers to truly of national interest and importance: purity.
Hester Worsley: Hester is a pretty young America currently visiting Hunstanton Chase. She is the epitome of American Puritanism who is not afraid to speak her mind about issues relating to sexual purity, gender equality and the double standard. When she falls in love with Gerald Arbuthnot, the moral of the play becomes clear: her father’s financial status becomes the means by which Mrs. Arbuthnot’s sacrifices are finally rewarded as good deeds. Mother and son both find through Hester the route to escape from economic distress.
Lady Caroline Pontefract: Married to husband number four, Lady Caroline is somewhat overbearing and underendowed with intellect. Her advice to the women at the dinner party is that men are good for two things: paying compliments and paying the bills.
Sir John Pontefract: Husband number four spends most of the dinner party under the thumb of his wife, doing as he is told.
Lord Henry Weston: Brother of Lady Caroline, Lord Henry has a notorious past in which the financial lives of others have crumbled around them. Despite this—or possibly because of it—he is always in demand at London’s most fashionable parties.
Mrs. Allonby: The niece of Lord Brancaster who is one of the guests in attendance at the Hunstanton’s party outside of London. Her high standing among fashionable social circles in London has lent her a marked preference for such parties that place within London than rather among the surrounding outlying country manors.
Farquhar: Lady Jane Hunstanton’s estate butler.
As It Is In Heaven, by Arlene Hutton
Dates:
Rehearsals Begin: 2/23/2023
Opening Night: 3/24/2023
Closing Night: 4/22/2023
Synopsis: “Tis a gift to be simple” sing the Shaker women of Pleasant Hill. But as the young women in the community claim new spiritual gifts, Sister Hannah and the other elders must judge whether these gifts are real or rebellion. Set during America’s surge of Utopian communities, the play wrestles with belief and doubt in a swiftly changing world.
SEEKING:
THE EASTABLISHMENT:
Peggy: The cook. Meek, quiet and trustful, easily hurt
Hannah: An eldress. Tries to be merciful and kind.
Phebe: A deaconess. Seeks righteousness.
Betsy: The peacemaker, but also a gossip.
Rachel: A longtime Shaker. Pure in heart.
Izzy: The youngest. Raised with Shakers. Persecuted for righteousness’ sake.
NEWCOMERS:
Fanny: A newcomer. Independent. Accused falsely.
Polly: A newcomer. Poor in spirit, needy, bitter.
Jane: Mournful, sad.
Jeeves Takes A Bow, by Margaret Raether
Dates:
Rehearsals Begin: 4/17/2023
Opening Night: 5/19/2023
Closing Night: 6/17/2023
Synopsis: Bertie’s back! And this time his talent for trouble trails him to the Big Apple. When childhood chum Binkey Binkersteth knocks, one knacky notion leads to masterful mayhem and soon the notorious Knuckles McCann is fitting Bertie for a Chicago overcoat. Fortunately, the unflappable Jeeves is close at hand with a stiff cuppa joe and a penchant for putting things right!
SEEKING:
Bertram Wilberforce Wooster: Our hapless hero, embarked on an American adventure armed only with his handsome fortune, his talent for trouble, and his remarkable manservant.
Jeeves: Bertie’s valet and, in Bertie’s words, “one of the wonders of the world.”
Nigel Bingham-Binkersteth (“Binkey”): Bertie’s stagestruck, lovestruck chum, also residing in New York these days despite being intended for diplomatic service in Washington.
Ruby LeRoy: An ambitious young actress and the object of Binkey’s desire.
“Knuckles” McCann: A tough guy of dubious reputation who has taken an active paternal interest in Miss LeRoy’s career. At least, she’s been overheard calling him “Daddy.”
Vivienne Duckworth: A serious-minded Englishwoman on her first trip to the States. She is well acquainted with Bertie and Binkey and has a low opinion of both.
Hello Girls, by Peter Mills and Cara Reichel
Dates:
Rehearsals Begin: 6/5/2023
Opening Night: 7/14/2023
Closing Night: 8/12/2023
Synopsis: “Imagine a time when the world was divided. A world where freedom is under assault … A world where nationalism is on the rise…it’s 1918, of course”.
Helmet, check. Gas Mask, check... Lipstick, check. In this new musical, Grace Banker and her fellow switchboard operators are answering the call when the Bell Battalion Telephonic Ladies’ Switchboard Unit #1 make history as America’s first female soldiers.
SEEKING:
Grace Banker: Articulate and poised, with a core of steely strength that makes itself apparent as she grows into her role as leader.
Suzanne Prevot: From New York City. Feisty, sardonic, tough talking. A close friend of Grace’s from AT&T.
Helen Hill: From Idaho. A typical small-town farm girl… Sweet, over-enthusiastic, wholesomely kooky and prone to nervous panic.
Bertha Hunt: Married to a Navy doctor who is also serving. Older, wiser, reliable – The Den Mother. Extremely knowledgeable about military matters.
Louise Lebreton: 18. Fearless, flirty, headstrong and often insubordinate. Born in France, she has family fighting with the French army.
Cpt. Joseph Riser: The Signal Corps officer who recruits and trains the women. A career army man, a stickler for rules and order, he is skeptical of the women’s presence in the army.
Lt. Ernest Wessen: Head of the recruiting center for the Signal Corps
Pvt. Eugene Matterson: An enlisted man who works closely with Lt. Riser.
Pvt. Robert Dempsey: A Signal Corps operator at the Paris Telephone Exchange
Gen. John Pershing: Commander of the American Expeditionary Forces. Hard, relentless, inflexible, with a deep sense of honor and American individualism and identity.
Last Drive To Dodge, by Andrew Lee Creech
Dates:
Rehearsals Begin: 8/14/2023
Opening Night: 9/22/2023
Closing Night: 10/21/2023
Synopsis: Prophet and Ro are chasing dreams barely whispered on the wind that sweeps the dusty Texas plain, where ranching is brutal work and dreams are fragile. Set at the end of the Cowboy Golden Age, Last Drive to Dodge examines race, love, and legacy in a time when everyone is scrambling for their piece of the American Dream.
SEEKING:
Ro: Black woman, 30s. She's been working in the Bailey household for three years of her five-year contract. She's too good at caring for and listening to others. She's more imaginative and passionate about stories and nature than her own dreams and desires. But the minute she gives herself permission, she could take over the world.
Prophet: Black man, 30s. A Cowboy on the Bailey ranch. A prideful man with a restless nature, and a deep heart that doesn't know just how deep it is yet. He feels he has a special connection with universe and a prophetic foresight. When he gets a vision, he will make it happen.
Bennett: White man, 40s. A former Confederate soldier and owner of the Bailey ranch. A widower. A man slowly losing himself, his mobility, his ranch, and everyone around him. He's got many feelings, but only two methods of expressing them: rage and silence. Hard work, making something of yourself, and no complaining are his tenants.
Millie: White woman, 30s. Her recent divorce has left her with the task of rebuilding her life. She takes pride in her fancy clothing and over-enunciation, as it allows her to hide her shameful upbringing. But the more time she spends at home, the more evident that the air of sophistication is just like that fancy clothing...a costume.
A Voice, Another Voice: Voices on the wind. Intuition. Guts. Wisdom. Bravery.
Yet Another Voice: Ancestors and future generations.
The Wickhams: Christmas At Pemberley, by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon
Dates:
Rehearsals Begin: 10/23/2023
Opening Night: 11/24/2023
Closing Night: 12/31/2023
Synopsis: Pemberley is set for a grand Christmas. Mrs. Lydia Wickham is coming (alone), everyone’s favorite orange biscuits are baked, and the festivities are about to begin. Everything’s just right. That is, until an unwelcomed visitor arrives with scandal in hand. The family and staff must come together to protect young Lydia and bring the contents of the visitor’s secretive letter to light. In the process, another love story might be forming, and the Darcys are getting ready to announce a surprise of their own!
SEEKING:
Mrs. Reynolds: The housekeeper at Pemberley. Tough, no nonsense, and utterly capable, but with great warmth under her tough love exterior. She has a strong, motherly soft spot for Wickham, whom she practically raised. Mrs. Reynolds pretty much drives every scene she’s in, but finds the funny, and even the tender in those scenes as well.
Lizzy (Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy): Mistress of Pemberley. Cheerful, curious, spunky, independent and of course, very intelligent. Lizzy tends towards happiness even when disappointed; she’s often amused or delighted by things that would vex less capable characters. It’s part of what makes her an attractive heroine. Dialect: RP
?Cassie: The new housemaid, a village girl, an orphan who came from less than nothing. Determined, feisty, with a sharp and ready sense of humor, she values hard work and independence. Dialect: Derbyshire
??
Lydia: Lizzy’s younger sister. Flirtatious, flighty and funny, smarter than she lets on but with a major case of denial about her marriage. For Lydia, happiness is just a matter of adding an exclamation point to as many statements as possible. Transforms over the course of the play from the “silly girl” that Wickham married to a strong, brave woman finally taking control of her life. Lydia has funny bones and is adept at turning on a dime from beat to beat. Dialect: RP
Brian: A footman at Pemberley. Bright, naïve, earnest and cheerful, very appealing but a bit too impetuous in speaking his thoughts. A budding inventor and enthusiastic problem-solver who doesn’t always get what the problem is. He grew up on the estate after his parents died and was practically raised by Mrs. Reynolds. Younger than Wickham by a couple of years, but old enough to have played with him when they were kids. Dialect: Derbyshire.
Darcy: Master of Pemberley. Two years of marriage to Lizzy Bennett have, if not transformed him entirely from the proud and brooding Darcy, certainly softened his notorious edges. He is clearly smitten with his bride and admires her enormously. He is happy being in love. The new Darcy is a bit more flexible, especially in the face of pushback from Lizzy and Mrs. Reynolds. Except when it comes to Wickham. That is a trigger that brings out the old Darcy. Dialect: RP.
Wickham: Grew up at Pemberley, son of the former steward. Charming, rakishly handsome, a bold liar, and unrepentant womanizer, yet capable of absolute sincerity, when needed. Very nimble at staying just barely ahead of trouble. He is genuinely hurt over what he perceives as his mistreatment at the hands of Darcy. He has a deep and genuine attachment to Mrs. Reynolds. Dialect: RP.
Requirement for proof of vaccination/negative test:
Everyone entering the audition venue (i.e., venue employees, Equity members, non-members, casting personnel, creatives, producers, musicians, COVID Safety Managers, etc.) will be required to undergo a symptom check and provide one of the following prior to entry into the venue:
o Proof of full vaccination. “Fully vaccinated,” as defined by the CDC, is more than 14 calendar days following receipt of a final dose of an FDA or World Health Organization authorized or approved vaccine.
(OR)
o Proof of a negative PCR test result taken no earlier than 48 hours prior to entry into the audition venue.
(OR)
o Proof of two negative antigen test results (e.g., the first taken the night before and the second taken no less than 2 hours) prior to entry into the venue. Results of non-proctored at-home antigen tests will not be accepted.
Two-ply cloth face masks, surgical masks, singer’s masks and respirators (N95, KN95 or KF94) will be allowed for face coverings. Single-ply face masks, gaiters and bandanas are not acceptable face coverings. Everyone in the holding room and audition room will always wear a face covering as described above, except for the actor when they are actively auditioning. The time spent unmasked should be as minimal as possible. Face coverings must be worn correctly (covering the nose and mouth). Singer’s masks can be found at www.broadwayreliefproject.com/singersmask.
If the risk level for KING County is trending upwards and may rise to High (Red) we will contact members with appointments at least 24 hours before the first audition appointment time to let them know there is a chance that the auditions may need to be postponed or cancelled. All members with appointments will be notified if the auditions must be postponed or cancelled.
We encourage members to prepare for their audition at home, to the extent that they can (e.g., get dressed, hair/make-up, etc.) to avoid crowding in bathrooms and dressing rooms. Additional information required in notice:
Holding/Audition room information:
The audition room can accommodate no more than 19 individuals at a time.
The holding room can accommodate no more than 40 individuals at a time.
OTHER
taproottheatre.org
Taproot Theatre Company requires every employee, volunteer, and contractor to present proof of vaccination against COVID-19. Proof of vaccination can be vaccine card (copy or photo accepted), WA state immunization printout, or verified medical record printout from medical provider.
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.
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