Breakdown
2015-16 REPORTORY SEASON:
WEST SIDE STORY ALL THE WAY LIVING ON LOVE AH WILDERNESS GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER JOSEPHINE: A NEW MUSICAL DISGRACED __________________ WEST SIDE STORY music: Leonard Bernstein lyrics: Stephen Sondheim book: Arthur Laurents Dir: Joey McKneely 1st reh: 10/13/15. runs 11/10-12/27 in Mertz Theatre TONY Late Teens–Early 20s. Handsome, sandy-haired (Polish), older teen-ager, who has outgrown the Jets. Tenor. RIFF Late Teens–Early 20s. Glowing, driving, intelligent, slightly wacky leader of the Jets. Tenor. DIESEL Late Teens–Early 20s. Lieutenant to Riff, big, slow, steady. Baritone. BABY JOHN Late Teens-Early 20s. Youngest member of the Jets, awed at everything, even being a Jet; tries to act like a big man, but is vulnerable; Baritone. A-RAB Late Teens–Early 20s. Small of stature, enjoys everything, takes nothing seriously, unaware, can be explosive. Baritone. ACTION Late Teens–Early 20s. Most aggressive member of the Jets, a cat-like ball of fury. Baritone. SNOWBOY Late Teens–Early 20s. Bespectacled, self-styled expert. Baritone. BIG DEAL Late Teens–Early 20s. Ensemble role; flexible voice parts. ANYBODY’S Late Teens–Early 20s. Scrawny teen-aged girl, pathetically dressed to imitate the Jets, and wants desperately to be taken seriously by them. VELMA Late Teens–Early 20s. Riff’s girlfriend, young, slithery, sexy, lost in a world of jive. Flexible voice parts. GRAZIELLA Late Teens–Early 20s. Girlfriend of Diesel, impressed with herself. Flexible voice parts. MILLIE Late Teens–Early 20s. Ensemble role. Flexible voice parts BERNARDO Late Teens–Early 20s. Handsome, proud, fluid leader of the Sharks, with a sardonic chip on his shoulder. Latino. Baritone. CHINO Late Teens–Early 20s. Shy, gentle, sweet-faced young boy, the intended husband of Maria. Latino. Baritone. PEPE Late Teens–Early 20s. Lieutenant to Bernardo, typically proud, resentful of discrimination. Latino. Baritone. NIBBLES Late Teens–Early 20s. Ensemble role; Latino. Flexible voice parts. ANXIOUS Late Teens–Early 20s. Ensemble role; Latino. Flexible voice parts. MOOSE Late Teens–Early 20s. Ensemble role; Latino. Flexible voice parts. MARIA Late Teens–Early 20s. Lovely young and obedient girl, excited & enthusiastic about her new life in America, but with stubborn inner strength that allows her to evolve into a strong woman. Latina. Soprano. ANITA Late Teens–Early 20s. Older, wiser in the ways of the world, flashy, sharp-tongued, & with a knowing sexuality. Latina. Alto/mezzo-soprano. CONSUELA Late Teens–Early 20s. Tough, young girl with bleach blond hair & lots of baubles. Latina. Mezzo-soprano. MARGARITA Late Teens–Early 20s. Ensemble role; Latina. Flexible voice parts. FRANSISCA Late Teens–Early 20s. Ensemble role; Latina. Flexible voice parts. ROSALIA Late Teens–Early 20s. Young girl, more demure, not too bright. Latina. Mezzo-soprano. DOC Mid 40s–Mid 60s. Drug store owner, tired, worn out. Non-singing. Also plays OFFICE KRUPKE. LIEUTENANT SCHRANK Early 40s–Mid 50s. Plainclothes policeman used to being in charge, superficially pleasant to cover his venom, fear, and bigotry. Non-singing. Also Plays GLAD HAND. OFFICER KRUPKE Mid 40s–Mid 50s. A not-too-bright street cop; aggressive; hard-nosed. Non-singing. Also plays DOC. GLAD HAND Early 40s–Mid 50s. Nerdy, overly cheerful and ill-equipped social director at the local gym dance. Non-singing. Also plays LIEUTENANT SCHRANK. ______ ALL THE WAY by Robert Schenkkan Dir: Emily Sophia Knapp 1st reh: 11/28/15. runs: 1/5/- 4/9/16 in Mertz Theatre LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON Mid 50s. 36th President. Ambitious, tireless, imposing, ruthless. Brash, powerful, persuasive, energetic. Magnetic force to be reckoned with. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. Mid 30s. African American. Civil Rights Movement leader until his assassination in 1968. Passionate, committed, grounded, with a deep belief in his cause. LADY BIRD JOHNSON / KATHARINE GRAHAM / KATHARINE ST. GEORGE Late 40s–Early 50s. First Lady. Well educated, shrewd, capable with a good mind for business & an independent spirit. KATHARINE GRAHAM: Early 40s–Late 40s. Educated, cultured, intelligent, influential. KATHARINE ST. GEORGE: Late 50s –Early 60s. U.S. Representative from NY. Republican. Born to privilege, fiscally conservative, determined, focused. Early supporter of fair pay for women – coined the phrase “equal pay for equal work.” GEORGE WALLACE / JAMES CORMAN / MIKE MANSFIELD / WALTER REUTHER Early 40s–Late 40s. Governor of Alabama. Oozing with Southern charm, a bit oily. He uses this charm to get what he wants no matter the cost. Pugnacious. Segregationist. JAMES CORMAN: Late 30s – Early 40s. U.S. Representative from California. Democrat. Bright, intensely private, courtly, old-fashioned, sometimes moody. MIKE MANSFIELD: Mid 50s – Leading Senate Democrat, and a major supporter of LBJ’s Great Society legislative program. Anti-war stance on Vietnam. Liberal, fair-minded, principled, humble. WALTER REUTHER: Mid 50s. Labor union leader and major supporter of the Civil Rights Movement. Outspoken and impassioned. An aggressive go-getter. RICHARD RUSSELL / JIM MARTIN / EMANUEL CELLER Early/Mid 60s. Democratic Senator from Georgia, and former Georgia governor. Conservative Democrat and key opponent of the Civil Rights Movement. JIM MARTIN: Mid 40s. U.S. Representative from Alabama. Republican. Former military man, and originally a conservative Democrat. EMANUEL CELLER: Late 60s – Mid 70s. U.S. Representative from New York. Democrat. Active, feisty, vocal about his beliefs. STANLEY LEVISON / JOHN MCCORMACK / SEYMORE TRAMMEL Late 40s–Early 50s. Progressive, liberal, social activist. Close advisor to Martin Luther King, Jr. Suspected communist. JOHN McCORMACK: Mid 60s – Early 70s. U.S. Representative from Massachusetts. Democrat. Fair, impartial, restrained, kindly, paternal. A teetotaler, but also a warmhearted wheeler-dealer. SEYMORE TRAMMELL Mid 40s. Political associate of George Wallace. RALPH ABERNATHY Late 30s–Early 40s. African American. Minister and close associate of Martin Luther King, Jr. Pragmatic, shrewd, an excellent strategist. Calculated, careful, self-contained, cautious. ROY WILKINS / AARON HENRY Late 50s–Early 60s. African American. Civil rights activist and director of the NAACP. Principled, focused, strong-willed. AARON HENRY: Late 30s – Early 40s. African American. Head of the Mississippi branch of the NAACP. A Civil Rights activist, veteran, early proponent of voting rights and co-founder of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. JAMES EASTLAND / WILLIAM MOORE McCULLOCH. Late 50s – Early 60s. U.S. Senator from Mississippi. Conservative Democrat and opponent of the Civil Rights Movement. WILLIAM MOORE McCULLOCH: Late 50s–Early 60s. U.S. Representative from Ohio. Republican. Conservative, but a staunch supporter of the Civil Rights Movement –braving rejection from his party to support the Civil Rights Act of 1964. STOKELY CARMICHAEL Late Teens–Early 20s. African American. Civil rights activist. Gradually develops more radical political stances & abandons his allegiance to nonviolent protest, becoming a leader in the Black Power movement. The roles of Hubert Humphrey, Strom Thurmond, J. Edgar Hoover, Robert Byrd, Fannie Lou Hamer, Coretta Scott King, Cartha DeLoach, Howard Smith, Everett Dirksen, Carl Sanders, Edwin King, Walter Jenkins, William Colmer, Bob Moses, David Dennis, Robert McNamara, Karl Mundt, Lurleen Wallace, and Muriel Humphrey Have Been Cast. =
LIVING ON LOVE by Joe DiPietro, adapted from Peccadillo by Garson Kanin Dir: Peter Amster 1st reh: 12/3/15. 1st Preview: 1/13/16. Closes: 2/25/16 in the Mertz Theatre RAQUEL DE ANGELIS Late 40s – Mid 50s. One of the greatest opera singers on the planet, she couldn’t be more beguiling. When Raquel De Angelis enters a room, everyone in the room knows it. Must be able to credibly sing operatic material. VITO DE ANGELIS Late 40s – Mid 50s. Her husband. One of the greatest conductors on the planet. His Italian accent is thick. His temper is legendary. He has Einstein hair. BRUCE Early 50s – Late 50s. A steadfast, loyal servant and ex-opera singer, nearly identical to Eric. Must be able to credibly sing operatic material. Must play the piano. ERIC Early 50s – Late 50s. A steadfast, loyal servant and ex-opera singer, nearly identical to Bruce. Must be able to credibly sing operatic material. Must play the piano. The roles of Robert Samson and Iris Peabody Have Been Cast __________________ AH, WILDERNESS! by Eugene O’Neill Dir: Greg Leaming 1st Reh: 12/15/15. 1st Preview: 1/20/16. Closes: 4/10/16 in the Mertz Theatre NAT MILLER Early 50s – Late 50s. Tall, spare, stoop-shouldered, an old New England type. A shrewd lifelong journalist who attempts an air of sober respectability, but whose temper and sense of humor often flare up, poking holes in his otherwise calm outward appearance. ESSIE MILLER Early 50s. Short, stout, maternal and soft. Has a bustling, no-nonsense manner and though she is older now, she retains some of the wide-eyed, excitable nature of the pretty girl she was. MURIEL McCOMBER Mid-Teens. Pretty, graceful, sweet-natured and somewhat naïve. Filled with a sense of wonder and awe about life, yet nervous and easily frightened of her impending womanhood. TOMMY MILLER 10-12. Energetic and good natured, restless. A young boy bursting with life and enthusiasm. The roles of Sid Davis, David McComber, the Bartender, Lily Miller, Wint Selby, the Salesman, Richard Miller, Arthur Miller, Mildred Miller, Norah, and Belle Have Been Cast ____________________ GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER by Todd Kreidler, based on the screenplay by William Rose Dir: Frank Galati 1st reh: 1/26/16. 1st Preview: 3/9/16. Closes: 4/17/16 in the Mertz Theatre MATT DRAYTON Early 60s – Late 60s. Liberal, intellectual, workaholic publisher of San Francisco’s newspaper The Guardian. JOHN PRENTICE Late 30s. Quiet, warm, level-headed. A brilliant medical research doctor. Must be African American. MATILDA “TILLIE” BINKS Early 50s – Late 50s. Reserved, and a bit set in her ways. Hardworking and loyal, with an earnest gravitas born of real-life experience. She has worked for 27 years as a domestic for the Draytons. Must be African American. Must be able to sing. JOHN PRENTICE, SR. Late 50s – Early 60s. Strong, opinionated, a well-educated schoolteacher and self-made man. Must be African American. HILARY ST. GEORGE Late 30s – Early 40s. Sleek and sophisticated, well-dressed. Her highly polished exterior conceals a brittle quality and inner prejudices. The roles of Mary Prentice, Monsignor Ryan, Christina Drayton, and Joanna Drayton Have Been Cast __________________ JOSEPHINE: A New Musical music by Steve Dorff, lyrics by John Bettis, book by Ellen Weston & Mark Hampton from a story by Kenneth Waissman Dir: Joey McKneely 1st reh: 3/29/16. 1st Preview: 4/27/16. Closes: 5/29/16 in the Mertz Theatre JOUJOU Early 20s – Mid 30s. Flamboyant, over the top, eager, and willing to help whenever he is needed; bitter that he never had a successful stage career, but tries to be cheery whenever he can. Josephine’s clandestine confidante, he has unexpected strength. JO BOUILLON Mid 30s – Early 50s. Playful, yet with a determined edge; always tries to see the good in people and help them in any way he can. A bit world-weary. PRINCE GUSTAV VI Early 30s – Early 40s. Debonair and charismatic, regal. Scandinavian in appearance. Genuinely has feelings for Josephine, but cannot abandon his royal duties for her. BRICKTOP Early 30s – Early 40s. African American. Saucy, sassy bartender that is jealous of Josephine and what she has; easily enraged. No-nonsense, pulls no punches. YOUNG JOSEPHINE 10 – 14. African American. Feisty, energetic. A spitfire with lots of talent and big ambition. MAMA Mid 40s – Early 60s. African American. Josephine’s mother. Stern, takes no excuses. Doesn’t have time to listen to Josephine’s dreams. SVEN Early 20s – Mid 30s. Scandinavian in appearance, charming, funny, vivacious. Knows when to give advice and when to be discreet. BERT Mid 30s – Mid 40s. African American. Long-time Vaudevillian. Funny and charismatic, but he’s been on the road a long time. Nothing is new to him. BENNY Mid 30s – Mid 40s. African American. Long-time Vaudevillian. Funny and charismatic, but he’s been on the road a long time. Nothing is new to him. BESSIE SMITH Mid 20s – Mid 30s. African American. Outgoing, vivacious, a bold personality and an outstanding jazz vocalist. A bit of a diva. SERAFINA Teens – Early 20s. African American. Young, talented singer, sweet and naïve. A great beauty. HERMANN GÖRING Mid 30s – Mid 40s. Cruel, ruthless, single-minded, obsessive. One of the leaders of the Nazi party and commander-in-chief of the Luftwaffe. ENSEMBLE – Any age, plays multiple roles. Flexible voice part. ENSEMBLE – Any age, plays multiple roles. Flexible voice part. [ENSEMBLE] – Any age, plays multiple roles. Flexible voice part. The role of Josephine Baker Has Been Cast ===== Historic Asolo Theater (LORT D): DISGRACED by Ayad Akhtar Dir: Michael Donald Edwards 1st Reh: 3/8/16. 1st Preview: 3/30/16. Closes: 4/24/16 EMILY Early/Mid 30s. Lithe and lovely, ethereal yet with an inner strength and conviction of purpose. An artist, sensitive and perceptive. AMIR Late 30s – Early 40s. Of South-Asian origin. Smart, driven, and determined. Sharp-edged and tenacious. A lawyer with a keen intellect, a fiery temper, and an ability for compartmentalizing his feelings. JORY Mid/Late 30s – African American. Commanding, forthright, intelligent, brash, and acerbically funny. Beautiful but in a severe, almost masculine, way. ABE Early 20s. Of South-Asian origin. Has been totally Americanized in terms of outward appearance. Vibrant, endearing, with an underlying sweetness. The role of Isaac Has Been Cast ======= Asolo Rep is also seeking mature men and women, young men and women, and children to fill understudy roles throughout the 2015-2016 season.
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