THE FREEDOM OF THE CITY
– Equity Principal Auditions
Irish Repertory Theatre New York City ANTC (salary level pending; 2011-12 weekly minimum: $428).
Artistic Dir: Charlotte Moore
Producing Dir / Stage Dir: Ciaran O’Reilly
Author: Brian Friel
1st reh: 9/4/12. Runs 10/5-11/25.
Equity Principal Auditions:
Tuesday, July 31, 2012 Irish Repertory Theatre
10 AM - 6 PM 132 West 22nd Street
Lunch from 1 - 2. New York City
Prepare a contemporary monologue, 2 minutes or less. Actors will play multiple roles; choice of material should reflect range, with different characters and accents. Please bring a photo and resume, stapled back-to-back.
Set in Derry, Northern Ireland during and in the aftermath of a civil rights meeting, the play conjures the events of"Bloody Sunday". When the police disrupt the peaceful protest, three unarmedstrangers Lily, Michael and Skinner take refuge from the streets and find themselves inexplicably in the Mayor's Parlor in the Guildhall. Their presence causes panic amongst the security forces andrumors fly that terrorists have captured the seat of government. Tensions escalate and ominous preparations are made to deal with the crisis. Oblivious to these dangers, the three marchers drink the municipal whiskey and enjoy the luxury of their surroundings.
Seeking (all roles are available):
Lily:
40s. Mother of 11 children. Working class. Heart of gold. Salt of the earth. Great sense of humor. Derry accent.
Skinner:
20s, early 30s. Edgy, restless, lean, taut and charismatic. Has lived by his wits on the streets for years. His facile patter belies a keen intelligence and a social awareness. Northern Irish accent.
Michael:
20s, early 30s. Decent, thoughtful, idealistic well-meaning young man. Given to preaching the party line. Naïve, but passionate in his idealism. Derry accent.
Judge:
60s, English. Testy. Acerbic. Has an agenda, and does not appreciate when witnesses waver from it. Upper-class English accent.
Constable B:
30s, 40s. Nervous. Northern Irish accent.
Dr. Dobbs:
American woman, 30s/40s. Professor and sociologist. Immersed in academia, and loves it.
Balladeer:
30s, 40s. Actor must sing and play an instrument (ideally an accordion, but guitar or banjo is good, too).
Priest:
30s/40s/50s. Has gravitas. An excellent pulpit presence. Northern Irish accent.
O’Kelly:
Woman, 30s/40s. TV reporter for RTE Radio. Irish accent.
Brigadier Johnson-Hansbury:
40s/50s. Formal. Precise. Confidence bordering on arrogance. In charge of security on the day of the event. Very aware of his position as a high-ranking military officer. English accent.
Dr. Winbourne:
40s/50s. Expert witness from the British Army’s forensics department. Expert. Methodical, Professional, cryptic. English accent.
Army Press Officer:
30s/40s. Professional. Matter-of-fact. Cool under pressure. Very used to handling the press. English accent.
Professor Cuppley:
40s/50s. Expert witness. Mortician. Clearly relishes his expertise. English accent.
Soldiers:
20s/30s. English working-class accents.
Reporters:
English, Irish and American accents.
Videos
