WAM Theatre Announces Auditions for Fall Production:
The Last Wife by Kate Hennig
Auditions will be held for the WAM Theatre fall mainstage production on May 7 and 8 in Lenox. Artistic director Kristen van Ginhoven has announced that this year’s production will be the Northeast Regional Premiere of The Last Wife by Kate Hennig. It will be directed by Kelly Galvin and it will run from October 13-November 5 in Lenox.
“WAM Theatre opened our 2016 Fresh Takes play reading with The Last Wife, to a sold out and enthusiastic crowd. Presenting this play is exciting for many reasons- one of which is that this is the first Fresh Takes play to be chosen as a WAM Mainstage Production.” said Kristen van Ginhoven, WAM Artistic Director. “Plus Kelly Galvin, WAM’s first Fresh Takes Curator, will be directing this production. We couldn’t be more excited to have Kelly at the helm directing The Last Wife.”
A contemporary reimagining of the compelling relationship between Katherine Parr, Henry VIII’s sixth and final wife, and the King, The Last Wife is a funny, powerful examination of patriarchy, sexual politics, and women’s rights.. There are roles for three women, two men, and one child. Actors should speak in their own voices and accents; actors of diverse backgrounds will be considered for all roles.
Equity actors will be hired on a Small Professional Theatre Agreement contract, category 3. Non-Equity professional actors will be hired on a contract directly with WAM Theatre at the same weekly rate as SPT, category 3. PLEASE NOTE: This is an Equity audition call. EMC candidates and Non-Equity actors will be seen as time permits and are encouraged to submit a photo and resume and indicate their non-union status in their request. Any actors without appointments are welcome to show up on day of the audition and will be seen at the first available opening of the day.
WAM Theatre invites interested professional actors to submit a resume and headshot (as PDF and JPEG attachments) for an audition appointment to Hope Rose Kelly, General Manager, at
hope@wamtheatre.com with ‘Submission: The Last Wife’ in the subject line. Deadline is Thursday, May 4, 2017.
Auditions will be held on Sunday, May 7th from 10 am-2 pm and Monday, May 8th from 10 am-2 pm at the WAM Theatre offices, 56 Church St, 2nd Floor (above Bistro Zinc Restaurant – enter the door on the left side when facing the front of the building), Lenox, MA – Parking available on the street or in lot behind building.
Actors should prepare a one-minute contemporary monologue (memorized) and bring headshot and resume to the audition. Script available upon request. Please also be prepared to read from the script if time permits. Sides and script will be provided at the audition. Callbacks will be held on Monday, May 8th 2:30-6 pm and will include an opportunity to delve into the sides.
The first rehearsal will be on Tuesday, September 19, 2017. Rehearsals will take place in Studio 1 of the Elayne Bernstein Production Center at Shakespeare & Company at 70 Kemble St, Lenox, MA 01240. All performances will take place at Elayne Bernstein Theatre, which is in the same building as the rehearsal space.
For a character breakdown and complete audition information visit
http://www.wamtheatre.com/the-last-wife-audition-info-and-casting-breakdown/
For more information about the play visit:
http://www.wamtheatre.com/the-last-wife/
Character Descriptions:
Kate (Katherine Parr) – Any ethnicity, in her 30s. A Lady of the Court, later a Queen. Brilliant, strategic, strong. Fighting for authority over her own life.
Bess* – Any ethnicity, 11-14yrs. *This role will likely be cast with an adult actor (18 or older) but younger actors are welcome to audition. A princess. Naive, lively, wants to be loved. Eager to know how she fits in.
Mary – Any ethnicity, late 20s. A Princess. Whip smart, impulsive, vulnerable. She is wary of being hurt.
Henry – Any ethnicity, in his 50s. A King. Confident, unapologetic, “a bull in a china shop”. Always protecting his power.
Thom – Any ethnicity, late 30s. A Naval Officer. Sensual, passionate, ambitious. He wants it all.
Eddie – Any ethnicity, 6-9yrs. A prince. Thoughtful, sensitive, clever. Feels secure in the world as he knows it.
About the Playwright: Kate Hennig
WAM Theatre: 2016 Fresh Takes Reading Series. Writing: Her writing includes poetry, stories, articles for industry publications, a dissertation, two blogs, and a research paper. As a playwright Kate has been a member of the Groundswell Playwrights’ Unit 2003 (More), Tarragon Playwrights’ Unit 2004 (More), and the Banff Playwrights’ Colony 2007 (More) and 2008 (Waterworks). Her play, The Eleventh David was produced in August 2006 as part of the SummerWorks Festival, to great critical and audience acclaim. Kate has written a monologue for movement and voice called The Penelope Principle. She has written two highly subscribed blogs documenting her acting experiences with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and with Billy Elliot: The Musical on Broadway. Her play Waterworks was given a reading at the Stratford Festival in 2012. Venues: The Banff Centre, Nightwood Theatre, Tarragon Theatre, Blyth Festival, Grand Theatre, Shaw Festival, Stratford Shakespeare Festival, Theatre Aquarius, Theatre Passe Muraille, and Volcano. Et Cetera: Kate’s writing has been funded by the Toronto Arts Council, and by the Ontario Arts Council through the Creators’ Reserve.
About the Director: Kelly Galvin
WAM Theatre: Emilie remount (Associate Director), Artistic Associate (2012-2014), Fresh Takes Inaugural Playreading Series (Curator and Producer), Blue Stockings reading (Director), Emilie (Producer). Elsewhere: Directing: Southwest Shakespeare Company (Photograph 51), Boston Playwrights’ Theatre (Memorial), Shakespeare & Company (The Clean House reading, Fall Festival of Shakespeare 2008-2013, Bankside Preludes), Boston University School of Theatre (The Cherry Orchard, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Dancing at Lughnasa, The Duchess of Malfi, The Tall Girls, Changes of Heart). Assistant Directing: Bedlam NYC, Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, Boston Center for American Performance, Shakespeare & Company. 2016 Directing Observership, Huntington Theatre Company. 2017 Artistic Development & Directing Internship, Arena Stage. Training: MFA Directing and Certificate in Arts Administration, Boston University. Wellesley College (BA, Political Theory and Theatre Studies).
ABOUT WAM THEATRE
Based in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, WAM Theatre is Where Arts and Activism Meet. The company was co-founded in 2010 by Canadian director, actor, educator, and producer Kristen van Ginhoven. WAM’s vision is to create opportunity for women and girls through the mission of theatre as philanthropy.
Inspired by the book Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, WAM donates a portion of the proceeds from its theatrical events to organizations that benefit women and girls.
Since 2010, WAM Theatre has donated more than $32,500 to twelve nonprofit organizations and provided paid work to more than 200 theatre artists. In addition to the main stage productions and special events, WAM Theatre’s activities include a comprehensive educational outreach program and the Fresh Takes Play Reading Series. For more information, visit
www.WAMTheatre.com
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