FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE Equity Principal Auditions - New York Stage and Film Auditions

Show Personnel:
Book: Itamar Moses
(Based on the novel by Jonathan Lethem)
Music and Lyrics: Michael Friedman
Directed by: Daniel Aukin

---

Based on the best-selling novel by Jonathan Lethem, this is the story of black and white America in the 1970s. This is the story of prison and college, Brooklyn and Berkeley, soul and rap, murder and redemption, and of living in a society that you don’t belong to. It explores what might be possible if two teens, Dylan and Mingus, living in their vibrant world of street games and comic book heroes actually ... maybe … had superpowers.

---

Roles are available unless otherwise specified. For pre-cast roles, auditioning performers will be considered as possible (emergency) replacements, should any become necessary. Some available roles may be offered/accepted (without auditions) before the EPA; casting notice will be updated as/when this occurs.

[NOTE: The roles of MINGUS, DYLAN, REV GIBB/MARILLA, ARTHUR, ROBERT, MITCH, DESMOND, LALA, JARED, SOLVER GIRL all age in the piece from teenagers to early 30’s—but are intended to be played by actors who appear to be in their 20’s to perhaps 30ish].

BARRET RUDE, “JUNIOR”: Male; African American; late 30’s-late 40’s. Mingus’ father. Former lead singer of a 1960s, moderately successful soul group called The Subtle Distinctions. Sinking into obscurity and cocaine addiction. An idiosyncratic singer and personality. Strong Pop/R&B sound.

ROBERT WOOLFOLK: Male; African American; 20’s to early 30’s ; a neighborhood bully; Dylan’s arch enemy who has the knack of showing up at the worst possible times. Starts dealing drugs, winding up in prison. Masculine yet boyish, vulnerable yet dangerous, comic. Character singer. (also plays a member of THE SUBTLE DISTICTIONS)

REVEREND GIBB: Female; African American; 20’s-30’s. Pastor at a neighborhood store front church. An assertive straight shooter. Big Belt with power. Gospel/Pop/R & B sound (also plays MARILLA-a young girl from the neighborhood; outspoken, big personality GOSPEL SINGER and AS CAST)

DYLAN EDBUS: Caucasian; 20’s; cerebral and sensitive with an openhearted boyish charm. Is able to break out his Brooklyn neighborhood cycle of poverty/drugs/failure to become a successful music critic.

ABRAHAM EDBUS:40-50; Caucasian; Dylan's father, an avant-garde artist; introverted, as a strained relationship with his son. Character singer.

DESMOND: AFRICAN AMERICAN; 20’s; a record producer; great young character actor; versatile, specific with good humor and pathos. (also plays GABE, a Stuyvesant High School student, RAF-an inmate, HENRY-Dylan’s oldest friend from the neighborhood, member of the SUBTLE DISTICTIONS and AS CAST)

MINGUS RUDE: [CAST] Male; African American/Mixed Race; 20’s; street savvy, hip, urban, charismatic. A graffiti artist.

BARRET RUDE, “SENIOR”: [CAST] Male; African American; Late 50’s-70. The father of Barrett Rude Jr., an on parole ex-preacher who has constant conflict with his son's drug-addicted and sinful lifestyle. Vulnerability—vital, but dangerous.(also plays AARON X. DOILY-a local homeless man)

ARTHUR: [CAST] Male; Caucasian; 20’s. Dylan's only white friend during his elementary and middle school years, Arthur and Dylan are forced to become friends because of their race. Bookish, smart, nerdy, funny—is unable to get out of the neighborhood and becomes a neighborhood kingpin-though ultimately, becomes legitimate entrepreneur. (also plays a member of THE SUBTLE DISTICTIONS)

LALA: [CAST] African American; 20’s; a sweet young girl from the neighborhood (also plays ABBY-Dylan’s girlfriend at Berkeley)

RACHEL: [CAST] Caucasian; 30’s; Dylan’s mother, who has run off; a feisty idealist. Raw angry, hippyish—A crazy eccentric

SOLVER GIRL: [CAST] Caucasian; 20’s; pretty; bright eyed, optimistic. good pop/musical theatre belt/mix (Also plays HEATHER-Dylan’s girlfriend at summer camp, LIZA-a Stuyvesant High School student and AS CAST)

JARED: [CAST] Caucasian; 20’s; handsome, preppy. A Stuyvesant High School student/friend of Dylan’s, then a glib ambitious Dream Works executive and AS CAST. High Baritone comfortable with falsetto, or Tenor