EnActe Arts is seeking performers for the following roles in its upcoming touring production of The Jungle Book: Rudyard Revised. Open to non-union actors/singers/dancers of all ages, all genders, all ethnicities living within the contiguous United States. Preference for actors local to the Bay Area. Must have a valid work visa.
An original EnActe Arts production, The Jungle Book: Rudyard Revised is a celebration of the original story’s roots - the jungles of South Asia. Devised in-house by the EnActe Conservatory, students with deep cultural ties to South Asia, the story unfolds with all of our beloved characters, but makes sure to hold Rudyard Kipling’s colonist gaze accountable.
A timely and compelling story for all audiences, Mowgli’s journey through loss, love and identity shows us what really matters in building and maintaining a community. As the animals in the jungle and the human village collide, the play tries to imagine what it might be like if we can find connection with each other, and repair our relationship with the environment.
PERSONNEL
Directed by: Vinita Sud Belani
Music Composer: George Brooks - Hindustani Classical Jazz Fusion musician
Choreographer: Aparna Sindhoor and Anil Natyaveda, Navarasa Dance Theatre
Scenic Design: Kala Chaupal and artwork by indigenous artists in India
PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS Please submit your Headshot & Resume through our Google Form, and indicate any characters you are interested in. Within the form, please also sign up for an audition slot using the Doodle Poll. We will email you with Zoom details as well as sides to prepare. Auditions will take place via Zoom on Friday, November 19th from 5:00p PST to 7:00p PST. For roles involving singing and/or dancing, please come warmed up and prepared for a singing and/or dancing segment of the audition. Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSclf7ciNhzbZJfP5i-Xrxh4p11x3h1fhM2gWvPdERFOj79o7g/viewform?usp=sf_link **Remember to fill out the Doodle poll!**
Deadline to submit: Wednesday, November 17th by 5:00pm PST
Questions? Email danholland@enacte.org
BREAKDOWN Pronouns listed are those of the character, not of the actors playing them. Please feel free to audition for any characters you feel you are drawn to.
SHER BAAGH 40-60, he/him, Asian/South Asian. Complicated and often misunderstood, Sher Baagh roams the Jungle in search of revenge. He believes that he is fighting to protect the jungle against the threat of humans, whose violence against him has traumatized him. Other skills - singing
MAYUR Any age, any gender, any ethnicity. A peacock in every way, Mayur is a preening, at times self-absorbed, but ultimately charming and winsome creature. One of the few animals in the play who is not a part of the Jungle Book narrative, they spend their time coming up with ways in which Rudy (Rudyard Kipling) should change and update the more problematic undercurrents of the original story. Other Skills - voice acting for animation
CHEEL Any age, any gender, any ethnicity. Cheel is a nervous kite who has a literal bird’s eye view of the entire jungle and each of its inhabitants. This comes with a remarkable clarity of thought - Cheel sees everything and everyone as they are, though often what they see makes them upset. Other skills - trained dancer, experience in ballet or contemporary dance a plus.
RAMA 21+, he/him, any ethnicity. A domesticated bull in the village, Rama does the traditional tasks assigned to bulls on a farm and is the leader of the farm animals. However, there is a spark inside of him that reminds him of who he really is - a wild bull who longs to be free in the jungle. Other skills - trained dancer, singing a plus.
HAATHI 40+, he/him, any ethnicity. An elephant and Rama’s peer in the village, Hathi is used for labor, but knows that his true place is in the wilderness. Disciplined, strong, trustworthy and in tune with the needs of his herd, Haathi is a reliable leader for the village animals. Other skills - singing, dancing.
RUDY 40+, he/him, Caucasian, British accent. Author of the original Jungle Book, Rudyard Kipling - aka Rudy - is now older and wiser. Framed in this imagined, reclaimed lens, he narrates and edits the story, accepting how the original could have better represented its roots in the jungles of South Asia. Rudy’s best quality is that he is aware of the debt that he owes to those who are educating him - and through him, decades of colonial audiences. Other skills - singing
MAMTA 30-35, she/her, South Asian. Mamta means maternal love, and Mowgli’s mother stands for exactly that. Resilient and brave, she knows that her power lies in her love for her child. Other skills - trained Indian classical singer
COMPENSATION $16.50 per hour, rehearsals and shows EnActe will cover the travel and lodging costs for out-of-town talent. (Travel/lodging accommodations may be shared) Snacks/food offered during rehearsal hours.
REHEARSAL DATES over Zoom: Nov. 20, 2021 - Dec. 18, 2021 in-person: Jan. 3, 2022 - Feb. 18, 2022
SHOW DATES: Feb. 19-20, 2022 (Mexican Heritage Plaza, San Jose, CA) March 2-6, 2022 (Mexican Heritage Plaza, San Jose, CA) March 9 - 13 (Cowell Theater, San Francisco, CA) August 17-21, 2022 (Matchbox Theater, Houston, TX) Additional TX and WA touring dates TBD
EnActe Arts is a registered 501(c)(3) theatre and theatre education non-profit organization which produces contemporary theatrical projects that explore multicultural issues with particular reference to South Asia, and provides education programs to foster Performing Arts talent in the community.
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