A SIMPLE GIFT - Lenox MA EPA
Hancock Shaker Village
**Updated Breakdown**
AUDITION DATES
Sat, Mar 24, 2018
9:30 am - 1:30 pm (EST)
Sun, Mar 25, 2018
9:30 am - 1:30 pm (EST)
APPOINTMENTS
CONTACT: Associate Producer Elizabeth Aspenlieder to book an audition: lizaspenlieder@gmail.com
CONTRACT
SPT SPT 3; $344/week min
SEEKING
Equity actors who can sing for various roles in this play with music. See breakdown.
PREPARATION
Please prepare 1 monologue, 16 bars of an a cappella song, and be prepared to read sides (provided). Please bring a headshot and resume with you to the audition
LOCATION
Seven Hills Inn
40 Plunkett Street
Lenox, MA 01240
music room
PERSONNEL
Produced by Chaos Trade Productions LLC in association with Hancock Shaker Village.
In attendance at the EPA:
T Cat Ford (Producer. Playwright/composer)
Elizabeth Aspenlieder (Associate producer)
OTHER DATES
Rehearsal Dates: 1st rehearsal Monday, August 6. Rehearsals run through Thursday, August 23.
Performance Dates: Friday, August 24 (8:00 pm), Saturday, August 25 (2:00 pm & 8:00 pm), and Sunday, August 26 (2:00pm)
Location: Hancock Shaker Village, Hancock MA
OTHER
An Equity Monitor will not be provided. The producer will run all aspects of this audition.
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 attend every audition.
Always bring your Equity Membership card to auditions.
BREAKDOWN
Synopsis
A SIMPLE GIFT is a play with music (all a cappella singing) set in a Shaker community in the late 1830's. At that time, the Shaker movement was growing. Shaker farms were prosperous and the movement's spirituality had undergone a charismatic revival that involved seeing visions, elaborate rituals and speaking in tongues.
Into this setting a vagrant Appalachian girl appears. She is running from an abusive fundamentalist preacher father and toward what she sees as her salvation, the devil. Having never experienced a safe environment, she questions everything. Where is she? Is this heaven on earth, as the Shakers literally believe, or hell?
Seeking:
Eva Ann Stanton – 16, a vagrant girl from Appalachia. She is smart but has a limited understanding of the world. Having never experienced kindness, she is wary of the others and misinterprets their actions. (Can be played by an older actor.)
Isaac – 50s+ A Shaker brother. Isaac is tireless in his efforts to help others and share his joy and delight in this life. He doesn’t think of himself, only of his fellow brothers and sisters.
Clara – 40s, Shaker sister. Left with the Shakers as a child, she has never quite fit in. She is blunt, very loving and bewildered by her feelings for Calvin.
Aurelia – 60s+ As Eldress of the Shaker community, she is a charismatic leader. The weight of her responsibilities is balanced by her fervent faith.
James – 50s+ As Elder of the community he is well intentioned but overwhelmed by the decisions he must make on behalf of others. He works hard to prove his worth to the community and, in doing so, makes mistakes.
Calvin – 40s – A shy Shaker brother, who has always questioned the Shaker life, but has never had the courage to leave. He is in love with Clara.
Ruth – any age – A Shaker sister who is an “instrument”, a conduit between this world and the spirit world. She speaks in tongues, sees visions and bestows spiritual gifts. She is exuberant when touched by the spirit, shy all other times.
Annie – 50s+ A rough-hewn Shaker sister. She is strong in her faith and direct in her speech. She is never afraid to say exactly what she thinks.
George Pierson – 40s+ - Neighbor to the Shakers. He is profane and angry; hurt and scared. A brutal and very sad drunk.
Female Singer Angel – any age – Must have a legit voice (no belting) with medium to high range. Must be able to convey power and love.
Male Singer Angel – any age – Must have a legit tenor voice (no belting). He must be able to convey power and love.
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 audition.
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