THE UNBELIEVING Submission - The Civilians Auditions

THE UNBELIEVING - EQUITY VIDEO SUBMISSIONS

The Civilians

CONTRACT

Off Broadway $688 weekly minimum

SEEKING

Equity actors for roles in THE UNBELIEVING (see breakdown).

INSTRUCTIONS

Please slate with your name and your place of residence/location. If you are using an iPhone to video record, be sure to film horizontally and in a well-lit space (not backlit). Please prepare the monologue for the character you are auditioning for at https://www.dropbox.com/sh/iucpd46j2pfsxf4/AACb9xzb-WqG9oHCFmMeIVTAa?dl=0 .
Submit at: https://forms.gle/MYdvcJEqUsRBfF498

Deadline: Fri, May 13, 2022

PERSONNEL

Producer: The Civilians / Margaret Moll, Managing Director
Director: Steve Cosson
Playwright: Marin Gazzaniga
Casting: JZ Casting

Viewing auditions:
Casting Director: Geoff Josselson
Casting Director: Katja Zarolinski

OTHER DATES

Rehearsals start: 9/27
Tech: on or about 10/13
Previews: on or about 10/20
Opening: on or about 10/27
Closing: 11/20

OTHER

thecivilians.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

The Civilians: In the classic tale of religious conversion, finding God holds the promise of a life filled with purpose and meaning. But what happens when this transformation occurs in reverse, and a faith you have built your life around begins to fall away? The Unbelieving takes a penetrating look into the lives of practicing clergy members— Catholics, Episcopalians, Evangelicals, Fundamentalists, Jews, Mormons, Muslims—who have stopped believing in God.

Staged by NYC’s acclaimed downtown theater company The Civilians in the investigative-theater style they pioneered, The Unbelieving tells the intimate stories of these faith leaders. Using their actual words, obtained during a groundbreaking study by philosopher Daniel C. Dennett and qualitative researcher Linda LaScola, the play explores the struggles, courage, and great humor of these “unbelievers” as they face the hardest decision of their lives— whether to continue living in secret or to risk everything by telling the truth.

Seeking:

Johnny - [early 40s] A white Pentecostal pastor. Southern, gregarious. Preaching is all he knows, and he is great at it. Has the gift of gab, a storyteller. Speaks in tongues. Fearful that preaching is all he’s good at, but takes a leap of faith and leaves, no longer able to deal with living a lie. Doubles as Critic 2, Christopher Hitchens, and Jerry DeWitt.

Sherm/Jim - [30s] A white Orthodox rabbi. Sherm is a young rabbi, married with several children. Highly rational about becoming an atheist but has decided to live his life in the closet about this and continue in his job and raise his children orthodox. Linda suspects he is shut off from his real feelings. Jim [50s] white, believing Episcopal priest. Jim is the only believer in the play, highly verbal and a worthy debater, who goes head to head with Linda defending the value of myth. Doubles as Dan Dennett, Bobby C., and Albert Mohler.

Elizabeth/Maureen - [50s-60s] An Episcopal priest. Elizabeth is a liberal clergy member, who has continued to rationalize staying in her role because she is doing good, helping people, but walking the line in her sermons and wearing the mask is taking a toll. Maureen [80] is a former Catholic nun. Maureen joined the convent at 14, left at 33. She only processed her experience later in life when she found the community of non-believers via the Clergy Project. She reflects on the experience with humor and anger. Doubles as Critic 1.

Dennis/Mohamed - [50s] A Black, Former Charismatic Evangelical Preacher from Dominica. Vibrant. Leaving his church left him broken for a decade but he has found his way to a meaningful, secular life. Mohamed [40] is a Black, former Muslim Imam from Ivory Coast. Mohamed still has outrage and anger about the beliefs he was taught/raised with and how hard it is to leave Islam. Passionate. Doubles as Richard Dawkins.

Joe [40s] ROLE CAST. Mormon bishop / Sam Harris / Michael/Seventh-day Adventist /CBC Radio Announcer.  Joe is highly emotional, in pain, feeling that the beliefs he was raised with were lies perpetuated by the Mormon church, and distressed at his role in this. He is grappling with telling his leader but can’t bring himself to. Michael no longer believes and struggles with how to stay in the job (feeling he must as it’s the only thing he’s ever known). In frustration he one day blurts out that he doesn’t believe in God at a church meeting and is put on sabbatical.

Linda [50s-60s] ROLE CAST. The interviewer, a qualitative researcher. Raised Italian-Catholic, now atheist. Highly rational. A dogged curiosity, driven to understand how people who don’t believe in a supernatural God can preach that they do. Finds compassion for the clergy’s plight in the course of her interviews.

Adam [40s] OFFER OUT ON THIS ROLE. White Church of Christ worship minister from Southeast. No longer believes in God but trapped. Terrified he will lose his job, family and community if he publicly states his change of beliefs. A music minister who finds solace in the music (some singing).

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.