Breakdown
2015-16 SEASON 4,000 MILES by Amy Herzog Directed by: Stephen Nachamie 1st rehearsal: 09/01/15 Runs: 09/25 – 10/19/15 A 20-something man travels across country via bicycle to land on his still-radical 90-year old grandmother’s Greenwich Village doorstep and has to face the terrible truth about his journey. This play has some sexual and adult language. SEEKING: Leo Joseph-Connell Male, 20s. Smart, funny, well educated, extroverted, and usually charming, but right now he’s a bit of a mess. Sensitive by nature, he’s now hiding from the pain of guilt, dulling it with chat, drugs and cycling: a lost soul in protective covering. Lovable. Has contemporary values of a privileged kid mixed in with grief, 60s hippie philosophy and loneliness. Vera Joseph Female. 90 (actors younger in age who can play 90 also considered). Smart. Sassy. Comfortable in her skin, funny and insightful. A communist radical in her NYC heyday, she still believes in Marx. Tolerant of human frailty. Although has physical limitations, including poor eyesight and hearing loss, she still works, helps her neighbors, keeps her rent-controlled, book-filled apartment neat. Bec Female, 20s. Smart, caring and well-meaning young woman, who is fed up with Leo but loves him and doesn’t know what to do with their relationship. World travelled through her social work, constructing houses and teaching English. Now, back in school to make a difference. Wants a meaningful, mature relationship, but is not so tolerant of human faults. Not a big believer in forgiveness. Must appear to be athletic and strong. (Note: role may be cast as AEA or non-AEA) Amanda Female, 20s. Young woman, Chinese American. Fashion-forward, Downtown New Yorker, college student. Enthusiastic and a bit of a party girl, at least on this night when she’s had too much to drink and comes home with Leo. She has substance though – which becomes evident when her distrust of Leo is aggravated by her hatred of communists. (Note: role may be cast as AEA or non-AEA) _________ A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL Book by Joseph Robinette; Music & Lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul Directed by: Maggie Mancinelli-Cahill Musical directed by: Josh Smith Choreographed by: Freddy Ramirez First rehearsal: 11/02/15 Runs through: 12/27/16 (Thanksgiving Day off/Christmas Eve off (performance in the AM)/Christmas Day off) This sparkling Tony-nominated musical is based on the classic holiday movie about Ralphie and his exploits to get a Red Ryder carbine-action air rifle for Christmas. Mother, The Ol’ Man, Miss Shields, robbers, bullies, and even Santa and his elves, join the kids and townspeople of Homan, Indiana in this rousing, tap-dancing show. SEEKING The Ol’ Man Male, 40s-early 50s. (bari-tenor) Preoccupied 40s dad with a hard exterior and soft center. Passionate about crossword puzzles, furnaces, swearing and turkey. A good family man who has to exude warmth at key moments. Brings down the house with, “A Major Award.” (some dance – waltz, soft-shoe, kick line – but if you tap, great) Jean Shepherd/Narrator Male, late 40s-early 60s. (sings baritone in ensemble numbers – but this is primarily an acting role). The glue of this tale is the magic brought to life by this charismatic storyteller. Good-natured, wise and droll, he is very funny. Comfortable as an old shoe with the audience. Onstage, he assumes different roles as he weaves the story – the mailman, neighbors, delivery man, etc. We feel the story through his observations. Likeable – and Jean Shepherd-esque as possible. Mother Female, 30s-40s. (mezzo) Warm, affable; there’s still a bit of the girl in her – and a spark between her and The Ol’ Man -- but she’s no pushover. She’s a mother of her era (1940) who knows how to make a little go a long way. She keeps everything and everyone running in the house – and comes always from a position of love. (some dance – if you tap a bit, great) Miss Shields Female, mid 30s-late 50s. (mezzo-belt) Prim and proper – stern when needed -- on the outside, warm and humorous on the inside – but, in Ralphie’s fantasies, she becomes a dazzling, toe-tapping show stopping force. (Must tap very well). The roles of Ralphie and Randy have been cast. NOTE: Chorus auditions will be held later this summer __________ NAKED INFLUENCE, a world premiere By Suzanne Bradbeer Directed by: Maggie Mancinelli-Cahill First rehearsal: 12/29/15 Runs through 02/14/16 Set in Washington, a suspenseful story of an exotic dancer who wants to better herself, but gets caught in power politics when she dances for the wrong congressman -- who won’t take no for an answer. By Suzanne Bradbeer, the author of our 2013 hit drama, The God Game. Ethnically diverse casting encouraged. SEEKING Dennis Male, late 40s-50s, Very attractive, charming, smart, deeply lonely and used to getting his way. A U.S. Congressman recently separated from a long marriage and at loose ends. Loves power and the good life. He’s not a “bad guy,” but will go a long way to protect himself at the expense of others. Dangerous when threatened. Tommy Male, late 20s-early 30s, Strong, sexy, compassionate. Mothers would like daughters to bring this guy home. An attractive, rookie D.C. cop with substance who wants to do the right thing. Torn between feelings and duty for the first time and not sure how to handle it. Conventional but emotionally available. Surprised and embarrassed that he can’t accept Lucy’s past, he seriously questions his values for the first time. Lucy Female, 30’s. Intelligent, ambitious, strikingly attractive, in great shape. An exotic dancer, who has managed to be popular with clients, while still holding the line between personal and professional. Wants to better herself by returning to school, but she loves her dancing and is not ashamed of her body. She thinks she can handle anything, but her friends see her being closed off. She hasn’t been in a serious relationship in a long time and gets blindsided by the smitten Congressman. (performs a lap and pole dance –no nudity) The roles of Samantha and Angie are already cast. _________
THE BLUE-SKY BOYS By Deborah Bervoort Directed by: TBA runs: Mar 11 – Apr 3 This delightful story loosely based on history, features the Space Task Force that helped launch the first Apollo mission. Winner of the Galileo Prize from the Alfred Sloan Foundation, this will be the second production of the play. The play focuses on how this eclectic team figured out how to get a man to AND from the moon with the aid of a “think tank” made up of Buck Rogers, Apollo, Icarus, the Red Baron, Snoopy, Galileo, Louis Leakey, etc. who appear and disappear into the woodwork…. SEEKING Howard Haggerty Male, 50s. Astrophysicist from MIT. Adviser to Pres Kennedy sent to keep an eye on the scientists. Smart –conventional – rule-based -has to be convinced that these guys aren’t crazy. Nobody’s fool, he ultimately realizes that this team can and will be the one to get the job done. Jed Berman Male, 40ish. Creative leader of the Apollo mission. Unconventional and brilliant (always wears red socks and a red bow tie). A great mind and out-of-the-box thinker, governed by perfectionism. Generous emotional nature. Tortured when they fail. Vencel von Volp Male, 30ish. German scientists assigned to the Task Force. The nerdy numbers man of the team – not as concerned for the human factor. Obsessed with the statistics and formulas. German accent. Actor 1, 2, 3 Male. Each needs to be versatile to play the imaginary think tank characters. Physical and verbal dexterity. Comedic. Accents. All ages and ethnicities: (one of these parts will be cast with a non-AEA actor) Actor #1: Buck Rogers, Icarus, Dr. Charles Townes, Tycho Brahe Actor #2: Galileo, The Red Baron, Reporter Actor #3: Apollo, Snoopy, Louis Leakey The role of CJ Caldwell will be cast as Non-AEA. __________ THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL by Horton Foote Directed by: TBA Runs: Apr 22 – May 15 Carrie Watts, a senior citizen of Houston, Texas, is forced to live with her son, Ludie, and intolerant daughter-in-law, Jessie Mae. Mrs. Watts decides to take her social security check and run away to see her childhood home for the last time. This touching and gentle tale centers on the people she encounters, sharing their dreams and their lives. Cast is multi-ethnic. SEEKING Ludie Watts Male, mid 30s-early 40s, African American. An accountant with a nervous condition, which has caused him to take off work for a couple of years. Responds to pressure by being the calm, unassertive, peacemaker. He can’t stand up to his domineering wife and feels guilty for not being a better provider. Hates needing his mother’s pension check to make ends meet, but that is his reality. Loving and kind by nature. Texas accent. Carrie Watts Female, 65-70, African American. Charismatic storyteller. Kind, devout, talkative woman, who is displaced and now lives with her son and daughter-in-law. Becoming frail with dizzy spells and a bit forgetful, she loves to sing and tell stories about the past. Determined –some might say conniving, but circumstances have made her bold. Stubborn when tested. Has a deep need to go home one more time. Jessie Mae Watts Female, 30s, African American. Attractive aging beauty, determined and frustrated, she loves her husband, but wants more from life than being stuck in a small house with her mother-in-law. Needs to be the alpha female to make her feel like she’s in control. She hates hearing about the past because it makes her so sad, but there’s a part of her that remembers better years and yearns for more. Seems small-minded, but necessity has made her seem smaller than she is.
Thelma
Female, 20s. A young, naïve and good-hearted fellow traveler who befriends Carrie, sharing stories and food on the bus ride. A bit scared and lonely, she’s moving home when her service-husband is deployed. A sensitive young woman who doesn’t get a chance to express herself very often and is happy for the chance to share Carrie’s company and kindness.
NOTE: The roles of the Sheriff/Houston Ticket Agent #2 and Houston Ticket Agent #1/Roy will be cast as Non-AEA. |