THE WASHINGTON STAGE GUILD 2010-2011 SEASON Equity Principal Audition - The Washington Stage Guild Auditions

The Washington Stage Guild 2010-11 Season

– Equity Principal Auditions by APPOINTMENT in DC

Washington DC SPT (approval/salary level pending; 2009-10 minimum weekly: $318).

Artistic Dir: Bill Largess

Exec Dir: Ann Norton

Equity Principal Auditions by APPOINTMENT:

Monday, August 30, 2010 Undercroft Theatre

Tuesday, August 31, 2010 Mt. Vernon Place United Methodist Church

12:30 PM – 8:30 PM both days 900 Massachusetts Avenue, NW

Break from 3:30 – 4:30. Washington DC 20001

Use the side entrance on Massachusetts Ave.

For an appointment, e-mail
info@stageguild.org (preferred) or call 240/582-0050, M-F, 11-6. Do not call the church. Equity Members without appointments will be seen throughout the audition day, as time permits.

Please prepare a brief monologue (up to two minutes), preferably one that shows verbal facility.

Please bring a picture & resume, stapled together (do not e-mail picture and resume).

Theatre states that it presents eloquent plays of idea and argument, passion and wit, highly verbal plays from around the world and from all periods.

2010-11 season:

Darwin in Malibu by Crispin Whittell. Dir: Steven Carpenter. 1st reh: 10/4/10. Runs 10/28-11/21. May extend to 11/28.

Thomas Huxley:

40s-50s. Early advocate of Darwin's theory; turns up to see him after nearly a century. Intellectual, sarcastic and dismissive of anything with which he disagrees.

Sarah:

"About 18". Tanned Californian surfer girl. Unflappable and good-natured.

Charles Darwin:

CAST. Auditioning performers will be considered as possible replacements, should any become necessary. 60s. The evolutionary theorist, now inhabiting a Malibu beach house. Laid-back and enjoying California.

Bishop Wilberforce:

CAST. Auditioning performers will be considered as possible replacements, should any become necessary. Man, 60s. Bishop of Oxford; believes the Bible is all literally true. Sincere but rigid.

Magic by G.K. Chesterton. Dir: Alan Wade. 1st reh: 12/13/10. Runs 1/6/11 – 1/30/11. May extend to 2/13/11.

The Duke:

50s-60s. Scatter-minded nobleman. Speaks in non-sequiturs and supports both sides of most issues. Often foolish, but cares deeply about his niece and nephew and their happiness.

The Conjurer:

Man, 20s-30s. Witty, intelligent showman with many secrets. When badgered, he shows a dangerous temper -- and yet his attraction to Patricia makes him sympathize with others more than he expects.

Patricia Carleon:

Irish, 20s. Has been living in England. Romantic, and inclined to find the supernatural wherever she is. Attracted to the Conjurer, but afraid of his actions.

Morris Carleon:

Irish, 20s. Has been living in America, and tries to be as"American" as he can, in speech and attitude - - a determination that hides deep insecurity. Skeptical and self-assured until faced with something he cannot explain, when an underlying instability is revealed.

Rev. Cyril Smith:

30s. Very"modern" clergyman who views the world rationally, and doesn't want to press his beliefs on anyone. Faced with the Conjurer's apparently inexplicable actions, he refuses to believe in anything but a logical explanation.

Dr. Grimthorpe:

Written as male but may be cast as female, 40s-50s. Affable English country doctor, amused by the Conjurer's tricks and Morris's skepticism until their conflict seems to be leading to tragedy. Practical and plain-spoken.

Hastings:

Written as male but may be cast as female, 30s-50s. The Duke's secretary. Aware of the absurdities of the Duke's requests, but faithful in carrying them out. Dry and unflappable.

Red Herring by Michael Hollinger. Dir: Steven Carpenter. 1st reh: 2/7/11. Runs 3/3/11 – 3/27/11. May extend to 4/10/11.

Note: All actors play multiple roles: the principal characters listed below, plus various clerks, policemen, priests, corpses, etc.

Lynn:

Female, late teens-20s. Senator Joseph McCarthy's daughter. In love with James and determined to help him even if that leads her into some questionable situations.

James:

20s. All-American young man who has become a Soviet agent, and hopes that won't affect his relationship with Lynn.

Maggie:

30s. Policewoman dedicated to her career and to solving the cases she's been assigned, even if that gets in the way of her love life.

Frank:

30s. FBI agent. In love with Maggie, and torn between helping her and pursuing his own cases.

Mrs. Kravitz:

50s. Landlady of a dockside boarding house, and a spy for the Russians. Skillful manipulator and quick-thinker.

Andrei:

Man, 50s. Herring fisherman caught up in Mrs. Kravitz's schemes. Has to “play deaf” for much of the play.

The Apple Cart by George Bernard Shaw. Dir: Bill Largess. 1st reh: 4/4/11. Runns 4/28/11 – 5/22/11. May extend to 6/5/11.

1929 play set"in the future".

Note: The play is being adapted in a way that will combine some characters; others will be doubled or tripled by one performer. The cast will total nine actors, playing the following roles.

King Magnus:

40s-60s. Suave, witty and eloquent; master diplomat and politician. His position in the country is threatened; spends the play out-maneuvering his opponents.

Proteus:

Man, 40s-60s. Prime Minister; career politician with a short temper. Frustrated. Determined to remove the king's influence from government, preferably in private.

Boanerges:

Man, 30s-50s. Union leader; has gotten into Parliament and thinks of himself as a"common man". Thinks a lot of himself, but often outwitted.

Balbus, Nicobar, Crassus, Pliny:

Written as males but may be cast as females, 30s-70s. Career politicians; more concerned about keeping their jobs than with doing them well.

Vanhattan:

Written as male but may be cast as female, 30s. The American ambassador. Very enthusiastic and forthright, and not one to stand on ceremony.

Pamphilius and Sempronius:

Written as males but may be cast as females, 20s-30s. The King's secretaries; smooth and professional.

Amanda:

40s-50s. Postmistress General. Very popular politician who wins elections by joking and mocking her opponents, singing comic songs and coining catch-phrases. Fond of the King, but not willing to stick her neck out for him.

Lysistrata:

Woman, 40s-50s. The Powermistress General. Former schoolteacher, now a serious and dedicated politician who supports the King and is frustrated by the government's support of corporations who care more about profits than the public good.

Princess Alice / Orinthia / Queen Jemima:

One actress plays all three. Alice: Teens. Magnus’s daughter. Sweet, and as diplomatic as her father. Orinthia:30s-40s. Magnus’s mistress. Brilliant, beautiful, intellectual equal to the King. Queen: 40s-50s. Magnus’s wife. Domestic and loving. Wishes to protect her husband from cares and worries.

www.stageguild.org

Theatre’s statement: “The Stage Guild is an equal-opportunity employer with a strong record of non-traditional casting; all actors are encouraged to audition for any role for which they feel suited.”