The Witches - Pasadena EPA
City of Rancho Cucamonga/Main Street Theatre Company
AUDITION DATE
Aug 01, 2017
10:00 am - 2:00 pm (PDT)
APPOINTMENTS
EPA rules in effect. In-person sign-ups begin at 9:00AM on 8/1/17.
CONTRACT
TYA Minimum - $499.75/wk
SEEKING
Looking for 8 Versatile Actors of all ethnicities. All characters will speak in various, mostly English, dialects. All roles may involve puppetry. Puppetry experience not essential but willingness to learn and practice essential.
PREPARATION
Please prepare a 1 minute monologue, and be ready with a contrasting piece in case we’d like to see more. If you have a British accent, we’d love to hear it!
LOCATION
Boston Court
70 N Mentor Ave
Pasadena, CA 91106-1745
Parking available behind building and on the street
PERSONNEL
Adapted by David Wood from Roald Dahl's Book
Producer: City of Rancho Cucamonga/MainStreet Theatre Company/Murry Hepner
Director: Abigail Deser
OTHER DATES
First Rehearsal: September 19, 2017. First Performance: October 9, 2017. Opening Night: October 14, 2017. Show closes: October 29, 2017
OTHER
All performances are matinees (weekday mornings for school groups, weekends for families). Local hires preferred. Modest travel stipend is available for cast members who live between 50-65 miles from the theatre. All performances are at the 550 seat Lewis Family Playhouse.
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
David Wood’s adaptation of Dahl’s classic story pits a young orphan Boy against child-hating witches determined to rid England of all its children. Even when the Boy is turned into a mouse, he and his Grandmother come up with a way to thwart the witches’ plan. The adaptation is funny, scary and true to Dahl’s novel. 8 actors will play multiple roles in the telling of the story, which includes puppetry and other elements of theatre magic!
AEA Actors of all ethnicities are encouraged to audition.
Please note: Role in parenthesis may or may not be played by cast member listed
BOY: ADULT MALE (20 - 35), to play child. A sweet and loving, perhaps quirky young boy who leads us through this fantasy adventure. Strong British dialect essential. Small in stature. Comfortable addressing a large audience. Physically playful. Puppetry experience helpful but not essential. Actor’s age doesn’t matter, must be able to convey “boyishness”.
GRANDMOTHER: FEMALE (40+). A wise, cigar-smoking older woman who is not interested in moralizing. She is direct and blunt but also kind and loving. No nonsense. Age of actor not as important as ability to communicate age. Dialect either slight Scandinavian or British.
GRAND HIGH WITCH: MALE (40+) (To play a woman) A larger-than-life figure who looks much like your average conforming female but is, indeed, an evil, murderous witch whose mission it is to wipe out all children. Witch dialect which seems to resemble English with a Slavic accent.
DISPLAY WITCH/WITCH 2/ MRS. JENKINS: FEMALE. (40+) Display Witch is a non-speaking, cameo role that requires physical specificity and careful movement. Witch 2 is an acolyte of the Grand High Witch and tries in all ways to live up to her Guru’s expectations. British dialect. Mrs. Jenkins is the mother of the very indulged Bruno, speaks with a cockney-dialect and is quite likely an accomplished boozer.
LAWYER/SAILOR/DOORMAN/HEAD WAITER: MALE. (25-45) Each of these roles will be defined by clear physical choices, are a bit larger than life, and will support the comic tone of the play. Moves well. All British dialects.
DOCTOR / MR. JENKINS / HEAD CHEF: MALE. (40+) Each of these roles are comic archetypes and require a strong physical commitment to character. Doctor delivers news to the Boy that his grandmother is too sick to return to Norway and thereby sends them off to their adventure with the witches. Mr. Jenkins sports a cockney dialect and likely a loud tie. He is a boozer and a brute, no matter his size. Head Chef is part of a wonderful slapstick bit involving his sous-chef and a mouse. Possibly some puppetry involved. Puppetry experience not essential but willingness to learn and practice a must.
TREEHOUSE WITCH/ WITCH 1/ (FROG): FEMALE. (20- 40) Treehouse Witch carries a snake and is the first to attempt to lure Boy to his death. British dialect. Witch 1 is an acolyte of the Grand High Witch and strives to meet her esteemed Boss’s expectations in every way. Likely to require some puppetry. The Frog is a victim of the High Witch’s evil machinations. Full-bodied physical choices will bring this non-speaking, sweet, character to life.
BRUNO / (FROG) / SECOND CHEF: MALE. (20’s + to play a boy and others) Bruno is another Augustus Gloop. He is a piggish and rude boy and lacks empathy. The Frog, however, is sweet and a victim of the High Witches evil machinations. Full-bodied physical and vocal choices will bring these characters to life. Second Chef gets involved in a slapstick bit with the head chef that will require movement and a great sense of humor!
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.
Videos
