THE HAIRY APE - NYC OPEN CALL Producing Org TBD | ,
Notice: Audition Call Type: Open Call
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM (E)
We will have 4 hour-long sessions throughout the day: 10am, 11am, 3pm and 4pm. Choose whichever is convenient for you and be there 15-minutes ahead of time.
Showcase-NY
$250 Stipend
Equity actors for roles in THE HAIRY APE (See breakdown).
Please prepare the Sides located at:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1fW2dVI ZJGQEKGbZ8OtVApKfDkbKM_hiF?usp=sharing .
Please come prepared to move. During this process we will explore inhabiting apes. There may be a scene or transition when all will move with ape-like gestures. I think of it as a scale of 0-100% ape… perhaps some moments require 50/50 ape/human, other times only 10% ape. We’re interested in blurring the lines about what makes us human vs. animalia. After the monologue, you may be asked to stay in the room to present an ape movement study. This can be anything from an ape taking a nap, keeping watch, eating a banana, impressing a mate, etc, etc, etc. You have free reign to go as big or as nuanced as you please and anywhere on the scale of 0-100%. Please keep action under 30 seconds. If you have time, you may also be asked to stay until the end of the hour-long session for a brief group movement exercise.
Cre8ive NYC
134 W 29th St Fl 2
New York, NY 10001
Written by Eugene O'Neill
Amanda Berkson: Associate Producer, Assistant Director, & Stage Manager
Expected to attend:
Hayden Eric: Producer, Director, & Production Designer
Callbacks - Tuesday, March 12th
Rehearsing: March 29th to April 11th Performances: April 12th @ 2pm & 7pm
OTHER
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.
THE HAIRY APE
SYNOPSIS: The Hairy Ape by Eugene O’Neill was written in the midst of a revolution. Organized labor, industry, and capital, on a scale the likes of which human society had never seen, wreaked havoc on entrenched social systems. It was the dawn of a new day… a new version of society. Not unlike a transition we currently face heading into Q2 of the 21st century.
Our examination of The Hairy Ape will seek to contextualize Eugene O’Neill’s story against the backdrop of human progress, as told through software release updates:
v0.1 (alpha): 2 million years ago, early man wield fire and tools
v0.2 (beta): 2800 years ago, the Phoenicians sail the Mediterranean
v1.0 (full release): 312 years, the first commercially successful steam engine is invented v1.1: The firemen's forecastle of an ocean liner-an hour after sailing from New York. v1.2: Section of promenade deck, two days out-morning.
v1.3: The stokehole. A few minutes later.
v1.4: Same as 1.3, a half hour later.
v1.5: Fifth Avenue, New York. Three weeks later.
v1.6: An island near the city. The next night.
v1.7: In the city. About a month later.
v1.8: In the city. Twilight of the next day.
v2.0 (full release): The modern day. An engine running out of steam.
Scenes v0.1, 0.2, 1.0, & 2.0 will be the main focus of this developmental workshop. First, we frame the story, then dive deep into a specific character… and then address the modern calamity.
YANK: Man who works on a ship. He is a leader among the other workers and finds himself rebelling against the authoritarian upper class he feels does not appreciate his hard work. Additional “ape business” to be determined.
PADDY & Others: An aged ship worker. He is able to see the monotony of the work and is seemingly aware of the hierarchy of capitalist society. He could be seen as symbolizing the voice of reason and disappears midway through the play as Yank begins his rebellious quest. Additional roles to be determined: “ape business,” shipworker, high society New Yorker, union worker, etc.
MILDRED & Others: A young, wealthy socialite who faints at the sight of Yank working in the ship. Terrified of his behavior and appearance, she calls him a “filthy beast” inciting his rebellion against the upper class. Additional roles to be determined: “ape business,” shipworker, high society New Yorker, union worker, etc.
APE INTERLOPER, MILDRED’s AUNT, & Others: Seeking performer with strong movement skills and a collaborative spirit to develop a non-speaking Ape role. This role will not include a big, furry costume. Additional credit as “Movement by…” or similar to be added. Title of Ape role to be determined. Also has strong comedic chops for dialogue heavy scenes, when playing Mildred’s Aunt and/or Others.
Videos
