BERGEN COUNTY PLAYERS ANNOUNCES OPEN AUDITIONS
FOR BARBARA LEBOW'S DRAMA A SHAYNA MAIDEL ON JULY 22 AND 24
Bergen County Players (BCP) of Oradell, one of America's foremost theater groups, will hold open auditions for Barbara Lebow's moving drama A Shayna Maidel, to be directed by Carol Fisher. Auditions will take place at the Little Firehouse Theatre, 298 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell, NJ on July 22 and 24.
Borrowing elements from a number of post-World War II books, this delicate drama about a Polish family split in half for over a decade and then reunited in New York after the liberation of the concentration camps is "an example of heart-on-sleeve theatre, but it's got a big heart, and an ample sleeve, and is irresistible." (Los Angeles Times). Winner of multiple Obie and Outer Critics Circle Awards, A Shayna Maidel is a mesmerizing "exploration of human strength and frailty, softened by moments of humor, leaving you with a sense of hope." (Anchorage Daily News).
When
Open Auditions (in order of arrival):
Monday, July 22nd at 7:30pm
Wednesday, July 24th at 7:30pm
Callbacks (by invitation only):
Monday, July 29th at 7:30pm
Performance Dates
October 26 - November 16, 2013
Where
Bergen County Players
298 Kinderkamack Rd, Oradell, NJ 07649
Breakdown
Mordechai: Late 60s but looks wonderful. Father of Rose and Lusia. Could pass for a much younger man. Religious, devout, elegant. Very old Europe. The hub of the family wheel. He represses any emotions which would betray weakness or vulnerability. This does not mean he doesn't feel them.
Rose: Early to mid 20s. Daughter of Mordechai. Sister of Lusia. Pretty and bright. Assimilated but not ashamed of /or trying to hide her Jewish identity. Very little memory of her childhood in Poland but deeply curious about it.
Lusia: Late 20s to Early 30s. Sister of Rose. Daughter of Mordechai. Very much a stranger in a strange world. Haunted by her past but careful not to let others know. Strong and Stubborn and hopeful. Not self pitying.
Duvid: mid 30s. (appears younger in memory sequences) Husband of Lusia. For most of the play only appears as a ghost/dream. Funny, handsome. Deeply loves Lusia.
Mama: Various ages. Mother of Rose and Lusia. Wife of Mordechai. Pretty and generous woman. Appears only as a memory.
Hannah: Lusia's childhood friend. She ages from 14-late 20s. Only appears in Lusia's memory.
NOTE: Each of the actors with the exception of Rose must be able to sustain a Yiddish accent for various periods of time. Mordechai and Luisa must sustain it for the entire play. Duvid, Mama and Hannah must be able to sustain it for shorter periods of time.
Audition will consist of readings from the script. If you have any questions please email the director at
carol.fisher@nyumc.org. Scripts can be emailed or arranged for pick up; please advise of preference.
Rehearsals will begin the end of July or beginning of August.
