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.
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.”
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