Nickel and Dimed by Joan Holden, based on Nickel and Dimed, Or (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich
Directed by Brian Hansen
Performance Dates: September 12-October 5
About the Play: Can a middle-aged, middle-class woman survive when she suddenly has to make beds all day in a hotel and live on $7 an hour? Maybe. But one $7-an-hour job won’t pay the rent; she’ll have to do back-to-back shifts as a chambermaid and waitress. This isn’t the first surprise for acclaimed author Barbara, who set out to research low-wage life firsthand, confident she was prepared for the worst. This play shows us the life a third of working Americans now lead and makes us ask the question: should anyone have to live it?
About this Production: Nickel and Dimed is highly episodic. It follows the adventures encountered by the major figure (Barbara) as she tries to support herself with a series of minimum wage jobs. The remaining five members of the company play her publisher, her boyfriend, and the many co-workers she encounters. So, for all except the actress playing Barbara, the emphasis will be on quick, bold character choices, the very essence of sketch comedy … except the characters are very real, honest, and seldom intentionally funny. To make the challenge even more intriguing, the staging will call for a great deal of precision pantomime work from the entire company. Although there is no singing required of the performers, this production will be accompanied by live music.
The Actors: The play was written for a cast of six:
Barbara: 50’s
Four women ages 30-50’s, varying ethnicities, who will each play several different roles
One man, who will also play several different roles
Audition Requirements: Cold reading from the script.
Auditions Dates and Times: July 19th 10-12 a.m. and 1-3 p.m.; July 20th 6-8 p.m. Call backs dates and times will be announced at the initial auditions. All those who wish to audition are free to come at the time of their choosing. But please come at the beginning of the time slot as there will be some explanation of what is being sought. Everyone will receive a copy of a possible rehearsal schedule at the audition.
All auditions will be at the Adobe Theatre 9813 4th St. NW ABQ
For more information, contact Brian Hansen,
hansenbk@earthlink.netor
(805) 637-4032.
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