OFF BROADWAY
MAGDALENE (A Musical Play) – Equity Principal Auditions
Producer: Emerald Green Productions Off Broadway A; $539/week minimum
General Manager: AF Productions
Music: James Olm
Book and Lyrics: Shad Olsen and James Olm
Creative Consultant: Richard Maltby
Director: Richard Burk
Musical Director: James Olm
Casting: Lewis & Fox Casting
1st rehearsal: 5/23/11
Runs: 6/14/11 – 9/4/11, at the Theatre at St. Clements, NYC
Equity Principal Auditions:
Monday, April 18, 2011 at Shetler Studios
9:30 AM – 5:30 PM 244 West 54th Street, 12th Floor
Lunch from 1 - 2. NYC. Line up/enter through 244 West 54th St. ONLY
AND
Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at the Actors' Equity Audition Center
9:30 AM — 5:30 PM 165 West 46th Street, 2nd Floor
Lunch from 1 - 2. NYC
Prepare a brief song (32 bars). Bring sheet music in correct key; accompanist provided buy may not transpose.
Bring picture and resume, stapled together.
STORYLINE:
Inspired by the Gnostic Gospels, MAGDALENE sheds a light on Mary Magdalene, giving her the recognition she has not received historically. Instead of being the prostitute, she is an outspoken, and enlightened disciple of Yeshua (Jesus), Mary embarks on a journey to fight patriarchy, prejudice and violence before finding her own truth through her relationship with Yeshua.
Seeking:
Mary:
Mezzo Soprano/High Alto (solid low f to full voice high f#) with belt: early 30s. Mary Magdalene as an unmarriageable girl, haunted by feelings of self-doubt and worthlessness, angry at the restrictions placed on women, tortured by love she feels she doesn’t deserve. Brazen, temperamental. Exudes sexuality. An actor willing to bear her heart and soul, yet show the dirt under her fingernails.
Peter:
Tenor: late 20s-mid 30s. A disciple. Yeshua’s right hand man. Likes control, serious. A chauvinist, representative of the culture. A major opponent to Mary. Truly believes in Yeshua and wants what is best for his people, but also likes the power that comes with being with a leader. Excitable and ambitious with a plan for the ministry that is constantly frustrated by Yeshua’s radical thinking.
Annas:
Tenor II/Baritone: 30s-early 50s. Pompous and bombastic. First High Priest of Judea. He was appointed by the Roman legate and is eager to please Pilatus, although deep down he loathes him. He loves the power that a priest is given. He uses religion to his advantage. He has a deep seated sexual fascination with Mary.
Jacob-Father of Mary:
Bass: older, weathered look. Late 30’s-early 50’s. A brutal, assaulting man. Smelly. Sells wool. Abusive father, only looking to her daughter as a potential profit or free labor. He’s patriarchal to its worst extreme.
Levi:
Tenor: mid 20s. A disciple. Warm and welcoming. Sweet and gentle. Is often controlled by Peter. The most youthful of all the disciples, if not in age then in spirit. Commands respect through his honesty. Loves but constantly tries to balance-out Peter. Protective of Mary and Yeshua.
Rivkah:
Alto: early 40s-early 50s. A blind and weathered old crone of a midwife. Saucy, direct, an imposing presence but a loving one. Deeply wise with something ancient and mysterious about her. Probably a descendant of the Witch of Endor. Distracts you with a frank and edgy humor.
Pilatus:
Baritone: late 30s-late 40s. Pontius Pilate, not as a haunted, conflicted martyr of Christendom, but as the ruthless, tyrannical governor of the Province of Judea that history records. Striving to elevate his station and keep Jerusalem under tight Roman control, he goes to whatever extremes necessary. The epitome of a dirty, ruthless politician who publically acts as if he is a friend of the people – with clean hands. Threatening, explosive.
The following roles have been CAST. Actors auditioning will be considered for possible replacements.
Yeshua:
Tenor: early 30's. Jesus Christ as a human being. Sometimes conflicted, sometimes ridiculous, sometimes sexual. Seek simplicity and innocence int eh face of overwhelming obstacles. Wise and ahead of his time, a passionate and charismatic leader but also an inviting, boyish charm. A kid at heart.
Little Girl:
Soprano, teens-early 20s. A pure spirit. Plays an innocent lamb and a spritely child. Her voice is sweet and ethereal and her face is trusting, adoring, breathtaking. Perhaps and angel, the embodiment of the Holy Spirit, a fairy, but whatever she is, she is the heart and soul of the show.
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