Waterwell Productions Inc
CONTRACT
Mini $700 weekly minimum + pension and health
SEEKING
Equity actors for roles in 7 MINUTES (see breakdown).
This will be a union production with a fully vaccinated company, using protocols from Equity, SDC, and New York State as our minimum safety standards
INSTRUCTIONS
Please prepare and tape a contemporary monologue under 2 minutes from a play or theater piece (no TV/ film please). Please send via a downloadable link. Along with the monologue please email your headshot and resume and your Equity number. Include a video slate with your name, pronouns and where you are based.
Deadline: Thu, Dec 16, 2021
SUBMIT TO
PERSONNEL
Lee Sunday Evans, Artistic Director
Adam Frank, Managing Director
Arian Moayed, Co-Founder + Board Chair
Viewing auditions:
Waterwell Associate Director (TBD)
Waterwell Artistic Producing Intern (Michelle Reiss)
Casting Director (Taylor Williams)
OTHER DATES
HERE Arts Center Mainstage Theater
Rehearsals: Feb 14 - March 14, 2022
Performances: March 15 - April 10, 2022 (subject to change)
Extension: April 11-17, 2022
OTHER
www.waterwell.org
Equity’s contracts prohibit discrimination. Equity is committed to diversity and encourages all its employers to engage in a policy of equal employment opportunity designed to promote a positive model of inclusion. As such, Equity encourages performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, and ages, as well as performers with disabilities, to submit.
BREAKDOWN
Waterwell presents the English-language premiere of 7 Minutes by Stefano Massini (The Lehman Trilogy)
Translated by Francesca Spedalieri
Directed by Mei Ann Teo
SHOW DESCRIPTION:
11 women who work in a textile factory have been elected to serve on a union committee that represents 200 workers. When the play starts, they have 90 minutes to vote on a request unexpectedly put to them by the factory’s new owners: will they agree to give up 7 minutes of their 15-minute daily rest break without understanding the repercussions if they don’t?
Originally set in France and based on a true story, Waterwell’s production sets the play in the United States, translating the story into a riveting examination of organized labor and collective action in this country.
NOTE: This play is a real-time, heated conversation between 11 women who do not shy away from conflict and are not people pleasers. We are looking for actors that have enormous emotional nuance and depth; capacity for bold acting work that is rooted in sustained, non-performative presence; and bring distinctive passion, perspective and character to this story about working-class women and femmes grappling with the power dynamics of contemporary work and the emotional impact of the choices they have to make when fighting for their economic survival. For this production, we are looking for fiercely compelling actors. Femme-identifying people--Cis-gendered or transgendered women, or non-binary, gender non-conforming people-- are encouraged to submit.
Linda (50s-60s) - has worked at this textile factory for 30 years. Hard-worker, unflappable work ethic, and an independent thinker who is fiercely loyal and loving but never soft of heart. Though she is grounded and level-headed by nature, she starts the play thrown off balance and we should register how unusual this is for her. Her presence demands your attention without performative invention; has enormous emotional range, and deft facility with text. Linda is deeply intuitive of the group dynamic and is able to navigate resistance smartly and with ease.
Denise (late 40s-60s) - Nicole's mother. Has worked on the floor of this textile factory for 30 years in the carding department, “more cigarettes than thoughts.” Denise has worked at the factory with Linda for their entire careers. She is quiet and never interested in drawing attention to herself, but unwavering in her dedication to the bigger picture of what’s at stake. Whole-heartedly trusts Linda and is a very good listener. Grounded and perceptive.
Danielle (mid-to-late 30s, early 40s) - works in the carding department, I am my work. A real firebrand who is loath to back down in any fight. Intensely smart, she is well-respected and trusted by the other women in the room. Has the fire and drive to sustain the primary conflict with Linda, is extremely facile and vibrant with text. Holds deeply personal stakes that drive her action - does not respond to philosophical arguments.
Mahtab (30s-40s) - an Iranian immigrant, and a skilled floor worker doing demanding physical work each day who is not afraid to call fear by its name. She has a concentrated energy about her, doesn't suffer fools but will keep to herself unless it’s necessary to engage. Not afraid of confrontation but isn't a 'fighter' like Rachel or Danielle. She won’t say much until she says what others are afraid to say.
Leyla (30-40s) - immigrant, works in the spinning department doing detailed and tedious work. Comes from a traditional Muslim family, experimenting with some small rebellions but ultimately, very responsible and a straight arrow.
Ines (30-40s) - an immigrant from Mexico, Central or Latin American who works in the factory’s office. She is a bit reserved but has strong relationships with everyone in the group and is always paying attention even when it seems like she might be tuned out. Has a deep connection to what is happening in the world and understands the fragility of her own job because of that.
Rachel (mid-30s), works in the factory as a weaver, has long-tattooed arms and an overall rebellious spirit that she wears proudly. Independent-minded, enjoys rough verbal sparring, and then initiates a brawl when someone crosses a line. Confrontational on the outside but big, sensitive heart on the inside and not afraid of admitting when she’s wrong. Acerbic wit and knows when to talk less and listen more when high stakes are at hand.
Alexis or Alex (30s) - works in the dyeing department. Has had a hard life but is never self-pitying. Newer to the factory, has protected herself from getting into relationships with most people she works with, and then at the end, surprisingly opens up about her personal story and then expresses a big emotional attachment to Linda that should feel surprising coming from someone who presents as so guarded.
Jordan (late 20s-30s) - works in the factory as a weaver, she dreams of a more normal, easy life, definitely rooted in American culture and identity. Can be truly mean, but never lies. She hates work - all she wants is stability and to not have to think too hard. Her approach to getting through the day is to just keep your head down and do the work, so she gets increasingly frustrated and restless through the course of the debate in the play. In moments, Jordan doesn’t know or care about what she doesn’t know or care about.
Nicole (mid-to-late 20s) - Denise's daughter, works in the dyeing department for a few years, will move on from this job as soon as she gets a chance: if I could, I'd bite the world. She is spiky, prickly, not a people pleaser in any way but has a vulnerable center and is able to be wounded by her mom. She always has a comeback.
Sophie (20s) - works in the accounting department and is quite sharp about numbers and has a sense that her whole life is ahead of her. She has a certain self-possession that does seem beyond her years, but she is still a kid in many ways. When the other women tease her, she might try and hide how deep it cuts but isn't able to.
Equity’s contracts prohibit discrimination. Equity is committed to diversity and encourages all its employers to engage in a policy of equal employment opportunity designed to promote a positive model of inclusion. As such, Equity encourages performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, and ages, as well as performers with disabilities, to submit.
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