Upcoming Auditions in Nashville 8/19/15

Directors and producers in the Nashville region are seeking actors for upcoming productions of Mary Poppins, Bat Boy, August: Osage County, First Baptist of Ivy Gap - and new productions from Actors Bridge Ensemble and Blackbird Theater. We've gathered the details together here to make your planning easier. So now you have no excuse!

August 28 and 29

First Baptist of Ivy Gap by Ron Osborne

Presented by Robertson County Players

ABOUT AUDITIONS Scheduled for Friday, August 28, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, August 29, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Willow Oak Center for Arts & Learning, 726 South Main Street, Springfield

CHARACTERS Edith Ellington: age 40-45; Mae Ellen Rafferty: age mid-20's; Olene Wiffer: age mid-20's;
Luby Moore: age 45-55; Sammy Porter: age 16-20; Vera Reynolds: age 40-45

ABOUT THE PLAY During WWII, six women gather at the church to roll bandages and plan the church's 75th anniversary. Overseeing things is Edith, the pastor's wise-cracking wife who dispenses Red Cross smocks and witty repartee to Luby, whose son is fighting in the Pacific; Mae Ellen, the church's rebellious organist who wants to quit but hasn't the courage; Olene, who dreams of a career in Hollywood; Sammy, a shy newcomer with a secret; and Vera, an influential Baptist with a secret of her own. When Luby learns her son has been wounded, she confounds the others by blaming the vulnerable Sammy. Twenty-five years later, our "First Baptist Six" reunite. Back to reconcile with Luby - whose son died of his wounds - is Sammy, whose own son is now in Vietnam; and Olene, whose flashy show business career will set the town on its ear. There to welcome them are Vera, her secret still safe; Mae Ellen, still rebellious and still looking for an escape; and Edith, whose biggest challenge isn't the church's upcoming centennial but revelations that shake relationships formed over a quarter of a century. With humor and pathos, these six very different women find comfort, forgiveness and redemption in each other.

SPECIAL NOTE A perusal script is available at the Gorham McBane Library in Springfield.

August 29

The Nether by Jennifer Haley

Presented by Actors Bridge Ensemble

Directed by Jessika Malone

CASTING 3 men, 1 young girl; SIMS/PAPA - A successful businessman, (age 45-70); DOYLE - A lonely science teacher (age 45-70); IRIS - A shining little girl (must be between the ages of 10-16); AND WOODNUT - A fresh-faced guest (age 18-35) Note: the role of Morris, a female detective, has been cast. Actors Bridge is committed to producing theatre that reflects the reality of our vibrant and diverse community; casting is open to performers of all races, gender-expressions, and disabilities.

QUESTIONS? Email the director at jessikamalone@gmail.com

AUDITIONS Saturday, August 29th by appointment. Visit this link to sign up: www.tinyurl.com/netherauditions Auditions will be held at Actors Bridge Studio, 4304F Charlotte Avenue, Nashville. Cold reading from the script, sides available in advance after sign-up. Callbacks: Sunday, August 30 by invitation

PERFORMANCES Friday, October 23-Saturday, October 31.

REHEARSALS Begin September 7 - evenings/weekends

ABOUT THE SHOW The Nether is a daring examination of moral responsibility in virtual worlds. As Detective Morris, an online investigator, questions Mr. Sims about his activities in a role-playing realm so realistic it could be life, she finds herself on slippery ethical ground. Sims argues for freedom to explore even the most deviant corners of our imagination. Morris holds that we cannot flesh out our malign fantasies without consequence. Their clash of wills leads to an outcome neither could have imagined. Suspenseful, ingeniously constructed, and fiercely intelligent, Haley's play forces us to confront deeply disturbing questions about the boundaries of reality. Winner of the 2012 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, The Nether is both a serpentine crime drama and haunting sci-fi thriller that explores the consequences of living out our private dreams.

September 8 and 9

August: Osage County by Tracy Letts

Directed by Bradley Moore

Presented by ACT 1

AUDTION LOCATION Tulip Street United Methodist Church, 522 Russell Street, Nashville from 6 to 8:30 p.m. each evening

PERFORMANCE DATES November 6-21 at Darkhorse Theatre, 4610 Charlotte Avenue, Nashville

ABOUT AUDITIONS Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script. Please bring a headshot, if you have one and a copy of your theater resume. All roles are available.

CHARACTERS

Beverly Weston (Age Range: 55-65) The father of the Weston family, an alcoholic and washed-up poet. His mysterious disappearance one evening and eventually discovered death are the reasons for the family's reunion. The reasons for his implied suicide are a major plot point that bring some of the family's dark pastpainfully back into the light.

Violet Weston (Age Range: 55-65) The mother of the Weston family. Undergoing treatment for oral cancer, she is addicted to several prescription drugs, mostly depressants and narcotics. After an ugly rant at Beverly's funeral dinner, the family's focus shifts to keeping her clean. Despite her drug-induced episodes, she is sharp-tongued and shrewd; she is aware of the family's many secrets and not hesitant to reveal them for her own benefit.

Barbara Fordham (Age Range: 40-50) The oldest daughter of the Weston Family. Mother of Jean and wife of Bill, though they are currently separated. She is a college professor in Boulder, Colorado. She wants to save her marriage, but has the intense need to control everything around her as it falls apart.

Ivy Weston (Age Range: 38-45) The middle daughter of the Weston family. The only daughter to stay in Oklahoma, she teaches at the local college, and her calm and patient exterior hides a passionate woman who is gradually growing cynical. She is secretly having an affair with her "cousin", Little Charles, and plans to move to New York with him.

Karen Weston (Age Range: 35-40) The youngest daughter in the Weston family. She is newly engaged to Steve, whom she considers the "perfect man", and lives with him in Florida, planning to marry him soon. Karen can talk of little else but her own happiness even at her father's funeral, and she clearly chooses to lie to herself about her sleazy fiancé rather than face the reality of not getting a happy ending.

Bill Fordham (Age Range: 40-50) Barbara's estranged husband and Jean's father. A college professor, he has left his wife for a younger woman named Cindy, one of his students, but wants to be there for his family. His marriage is disintegrating and his patience is slowly running thin.

Jean Fordham (will be played by an older actor. Age Range: 18-22) Bill and Barbara's smart-tongued 14-year-old daughter. She smokes pot and cigarettes, is a vegetarian, loves old movies, and is bitter about her parents' split. More naive than she would like to believe. she is a molestation victim at the hands of her future uncle Steve, but reacts violently to Johnna coming to her rescue.

Steve Heidebrecht (Age Range: 40-50) Karen's fiancé. A businessman in Florida (whose business, it is hinted, centers around the Middle East and may be less than legitimate), and not the "perfect man" that Karen considers him. He flirts with Jean throughout the play, plies her with marijuana, and molests her.

Mattie Fae Aiken (Age Range: 55-65) Violet's sister, Charlie's wife and Little Charles' mother. Just as jaded as her sister, Mattie Fae constantly belittles her son and antagonizes her husband. Eventually she reveals the major plot point that Beverly, not Charlie, is the real father of Little Charles.

Charlie Aiken (Age Range: 50-60) Husband of Mattie Fae and the presumed father of Little Charles. Charlie, a genial man, was a lifelong friend of Beverly. He struggles to get Mattie Fae to respect Little Charles.

"Little" Charles Aiken (Age Range: 25-35) Son of Mattie Fae and Beverly-but, like everyone else, he believes Charlie is his father. Unemployed and clumsy, his mother calls him a "screw-up", which may be a self-fulfilling prophecy. He is secretly having an affair with Ivy, who is revealed to actually be his half-sister.

Johnna Monevata (Age Range: 25-30) A Cheyenne Indian woman, whom Beverly hires as a live-in housekeeper shortly before he disappears. Violet is prejudiced against her, but she wins over the other family members with her cooking skills, hard work, and empathy. Johnna is the silent witness to much of the mayhem in the house.

Sheriff Deon Gilbeau (Age Range: 40-50) A high-school classmate and former boyfriend of Barbara's, who brings the news of Beverly's suicide to the family.

September 5

Bat Boy, the Musical, by Brian Flemming and Keythe Farley

Presented by Street Theatre Company

Directed by Cathy Street, musical direction by Rollie Mains

ABOUT THE SHOW Bat Boy is directed by Cathy Street and musical directed by Rollie Mains. It is rated R for adult content and language. In this rock 'n' roll cult classic, a supernatural half bat/half boy discovered in a cave in West Virginia attempts to integrate into a narrow-minded town. He tries to fit in, but happiness is shattered as the town hears the shocking story of Batboy's unholy origin.

ABOUT AUDITIONS 10 a.m.-4 p.m. with potential callbacks on Tuesday, September 8th. Auditions will be held at Bailey Middle School, 2000 Greenwood Avenue. Please bring your headshot and resume and prepare a 16 bar cut in the appropriate show style. Bring sheet music in appropriate key (an accompanist will be provided-no CD's please). Please be prepared to provide weekend and evening availability from October 4-November 22. All ethnicities are encouraged. Auditions are by appointment only. Please email auditions@streettheatrecompany.org with any questions and to schedule an appointment and visit www.streettheatrecompany.org for character descriptions.

PERFORMANCES November 6-22

September 12

The Crucible by Arthur Miller

Presented by Blackbird Theater Company and Lipscomb University Department of Theatre

Directed by Beki Baker

AUDITIONS Saturday, Sept. 12 (1:00-6:00 pm, 5-minute slots); Callbacks: Sunday, Sept. 13 (1:00-6:00 pm); Location: Lipscomb University Theatre (black box). Please prepare a one-minute dramatic monologue. Headshot/resume requested. To make an appointment, email greg@blackbirdtheater.com.

PRODUCTION INFORMATION Rehearsals: January 11-February 18 (6-10 pm, M-F); Performances: February 19-20, 25-27 @ 7:30 p.m. and February 21 and 28 @ 3:30 p.m. Roles are paid.

ROLES

John Proctor, 40s - CAST

Elizabeth Proctor, his wife, 30s/40s - CAST

Deputy Governor Thomas Danforth, 60s

Judge John Hathorne, 60s

Reverend Samuel Parris, Salem's minister, 40s - CAST

Tituba, slave from Barbados, 30s/40s

Reverend John Hale, 30s - CAST

Thomas Putnam, 40s/50s

Ann Putnam, his wife, 40s - CAST

Ezekial Cheever, 30s/40s

Marshall George Herrick, 30s

Giles Corey, 70s/80s

Francis Nurse, 60s/70s

Rebecca Nurse, his wife, 60s/70s

Reserved for Lipscomb Department of Theatre Abigail Williams, teen; Betty Parris, teen; Susanna Walcott, teen; Mercy Lewis, teen; Mary Warren, teen; and Hopkins, guard

EDITOR'S NOTE: Send your audition announcements to Jeffrey Ellis, BWW Nashville senior contributing editor, at jeffreyellis37215@att.net for inclusion in this column.