Tuesday, April 16, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Auditions are at the Woodstock Opera House. Use the side entrance on Dean Street.
Participants should arrive by 6:45 p.m. to fill out an audition form, be prepared with a one-minute comedic or dramatic contemporary monologue, cold-readings from the script and stay until auditions have concluded for the evening at 9 p.m. We will begin the process promptly at 7 p.m.
The first cast read thru will be on Monday, April 22 from 6:30 to 9:00pm at SARA in Woodstock.
There is a $10 script fee for all actors cast in this production.
Rehearsal Schedule:
Sunday’s – 6:00-9:00 p.m.,
Tuesday’s and Thursday’s - 6:30 – 9:30p.m.
As we get closer to tech week, we will rehearse 4 days a week beginning two weeks prior to Tech on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday & Thursday. Schedule may also vary based on actor availability.
Tech week is Sunday, June 9 – Thursday, June 13, 6 – 11 p.m.
Performances: Dates: June 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29 at 8pm and June 23 and 30 at 2pm
All performances will be at the Woodstock Opera House.
About the play:
In the summer of 1986, a group of military defense lawyers tackle a case of murder in Guantanamo Bay, in which the defendants may have been covering up for their superior officers. The Navy lawyer, a callow young man more interested in softball games than the case, expects a plea bargain and a cover up of what really happened. Prodded by a female member of his defense team, the lawyer eventually makes a valiant effort to defend his clients and, in so doing, puts the military mentality and the Marine code of honor on trial.
Note from the Directors:
These are the main characters in the play, however there are several witnesses and military guards also needed. The Judge, Doctor, and corpsmen can be cast as women as we, too, are valuable members of the military. Please come and audition. During the run of the show, all males will need to be clean shaven.
Character Descriptions
• LT. COL. NATHAN JESSEP (Marine) 40s +
Jessep is the youngest Colonel in the North American Command, he makes sure everyone knows how good he is at being in control. Often, he chooses to appear powerful rather than to make prudent, life- saving decisions. He has the utmost faith in his own authority as a Marine, and in the sanctity of the Marine Corps.Commanding Officer in Guantanamo Bay.
• LT COM. JOANNE GALLOWAY (Navy) Mid to late 20s-early 30s
She's worked hard to come as far as she has. She talks her way into being assigned as a second lawyer so each defendant has one of their own. She is extremely intelligent, and forthcoming. Calls the shots as she sees them. Is not intimidated by Kaffee.
• L.T. J.G. DANIEL KAFFEE (Navy) - Mid to Late 20s-early 30’s
Young, inexperienced JAG Attorney, attended Harvard Law on a Navy scholarship. The son of a famous lawyer, Kaffee is afraid to try his best and not measure up. To escape this, he simply doesn't try. At the opening of the play, he is far more concerned about his office softball team than the cases he's working on. As he gets more involved in this case, his priorities start to change.
• L.T. J.G. SAM WEINBERG (Navy) – Mid to late 20s-early 30s
Smart JAG Attorney, friend to Kaffee, and moral voice of the play. Sam is not as involved in the case as Kaffee or Galloway, but he works on it with them nevertheless.
• CAPT. Jack Ross (Marine) - 30s+
A lawyer assigned to prosecute Dawson and Downey. Emotionally uninvested in the case, he expects Kaffee to ask for a plea bargain. He sees his job as to save face for the military as much as possible - which entails punishing the accused just leniently enough that they won't talk about any breaches of protocol.
• DR. WALTER STONE (Navy) - 40s+
Career Navy Physician, who serves as an expert witness at trial.
• PFC. WILLIAM SANTIAGO (Marine) – early 20’s
A young Marine whose death sets the story in motion.Although he dies before the action of the play begins, Santiago appears in a few flashbacks. At one point, he wrote a letter offering to turn another soldier in for a minor breach in protocol in exchange for being transferred off the base.
• PFC. LOUDEN DOWNEY (Marine) - -early 20s
Accused of murdering Private William Santiago in conspiracy with Dawson. Downey usually follows Dawson's lead. He believes completely in the military ideals of honor and integrity, and that makes it hard for him to admit that any of his commanding officers have led him astray. No close family, not outgoing, answers to Squad Leader Dawson.
• LANCE CPL. HAROLD DAWSON (Marine) - Late 20s
Young Marine accused of murdering Santiago. Good leader. Dawson is slightly faster on his feet than Downey, and tends to make decisions for both. Dawson has the utmost respect for military protocol and honor. He was held back from promotion for not following Kendrick's orders.
• LT. JONATHAN KENDRICK (Marine) – 30’s-early 40’s
Platoon Commander of Rifle Security Company (RSC) Windward. Lives by the code Unit, Corps, God, Country. Employs questionable disciplinary techniques.
• CAPT. MATTHEW MARKINSON (Marine) - 40s+
Older, but outranked by Jessup. Served 21 years in USMC and second-in-command at GITMO.A captain stationed on Guantanamo Bay, under Colonel Jessep who once worked with Dawson, Downey and Santiago. He suggested transferring Santiago off the base, but Jessep chose not to. Markinson has trouble with the fact that his C.O. is so much younger than he is.
• CAPT. ISAAC WHITAKER (Navy) - Late 40s+
Supervising JAG attorney in Washington with sharp wit.Whitaker oversees the military lawyers in Washington, D.C. He allows Joanne Galloway to work on the case even though Kaffee was the only lawyer officially assigned to it.
• JUDGE JULIUS RANDOLPH (Marine) - 40s+
Trial judge presiding over Court Martial; tough but fair.
• CPL. JEFFREY HOWARD (Marine) – Early – mid 20s
Squad leader at GITMO, extremely likable, testifies at trial.
•Marines, Sailors, M. P’s, Lawyers, etc. – can be men and woman. Looking to cast 5 ensemble members to complete our cast.
There is no pay.
For further information contact the director at madfranklin52@gmail.com
or the producer at rogerzawacki@comcast.net
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