Writers Theatre Inc
CONTRACT
CAT $850 weekly minimum (Tier V)
SEEKING
Equity actors for roles in Writers Theatre 2022-23 Season (see breakdown).
Writers Theatre is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All submissions will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, familial status, sexual orientation, national origin, ability, age, or veteran status.
INSTRUCTIONS
SEE PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS IN BREAKDOWN. Submit at bit.ly/22-23EPAs-WT
Deadline: Fri, Jul 15, 2022
PERSONNEL
Viewing auditions:
Bobby Kennedy, Interim Artistic Director
Katie Galetti, Casting Director/Artistic Producer.
OTHER DATES
TIGER STYLE!
1st Rehearsal – week of 8/29/22
Final Dress – 9/28/22
1st Preview – 9/29/22
Opening – 10/7/22
Closing (5 week run) – 10/30/22
ONCE
1st Rehearsal – week of 1/16/23
Final Dress – 2/15/23
1st Preview – 2/16/23
Opening – 2/24/23
Closing (5 week run) – 3/19/23
A DISTINCT SOCIETY
1st Rehearsal – week of 5/22/23
Final Dress – 6/21/23
1st Preview – 6/22/23
Opening – 6/30/23
Closing (5 week run) – 7/23/23
OTHER
https://www.writerstheatre.org/
To promote the health and safety of all participants, Writers Theatre requires that all members of the cast, crew, production team, and staff be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Writers Theatre will be following the rules that all Chicago theatres largely agreed to: vaccination verification and mandatory mask wearing.
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
All roles will be understudied.
PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS:
If you are auditioning for TIGER STYLE and/or A DISTINCT SOCIETY, please prepare 2 contrasting monologues of your choice. Please tape your monologues in one continuous video.
If you are auditioning for ONCE, please prepare a contemporary monologue, and prepare a one-minute song of your choice accompanying yourself with the instrument of your choosing; or record a separate video showing your instrumental abilities.
TIGER STYLE!
Written by Mike Lew, Directed by Brian Balcom
SEEKING:
ALBERT CHEN - Asian, late 20s to early 30s. Software programmer and hacker, concert cellist, Harvard graduate; overqualified for his job and pretty much everything else in life.
JENNIFER CHEN – Asian, 30s. Accomplished doctor, concert pianist, early Harvard graduate; overqualified for her boyfriend and pretty much everything else in life.
TZI CHUAN/MELVIN/DAD/GENERAL TSO – Asian, 30s to 60s. Doubles as both a parent and every other authority figure in Albert and Jennifer’s life. Tzi Chuan is the old man who talks to you at the park, might be someone you know or not; Melvin promotes go-getters; Dad loves you but doesn’t have time for your damage; General Tso puts you in Communist jail for being too nice.
THERAPIST/MOM/COUSIN CHEN/MATCHMAKER – Asian, 30s to 60s. Doubles as both a parent and every other authority figure in Albert and Jennifer’s life. The Therapist can help almost anyone handle their feelings; Mom loves you but doesn’t have time for your damage; Cousin Chen fights communist oppression; the Matchmaker can help almost anyone find a partner.
RUSS THE BUS/REGGIE /CUSTOMS GUY – White, 30s. Every white guy just cruising along in life; Russ loves his do-nothing job, Reggie wants to go to Bonnaroo, and Customs Guy is deeply invested in protecting orphans from those pesky Manchurian Snow leopards.
ONCE
Book by Enda Walsh
Music & Lyrics by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová
Music Direction by Matt Deitchman
Directed and Choreographed by Katie Spelman
Notes from the Music Director: Instruments we are specifically interested in for ONCE are typical Irish Trad instruments, including (but not necessarily limited to): Guitar, Bass, Mandolin, Ukelele, Violin, Cello, Piano, Accordion, Percussion (Cajón & Drum Set)
REGARDING MUSICAL ABILITY: We welcome submissions from people of all musical backgrounds - the music of Once straddles the worlds of folk, Irish trad, and rock, so while advanced instrumental/vocal proficiency will be required for some tracks, the most valuable musical asset is experience in ensemble-based music-making and storytelling.
SEEKING:
GIRL: plays intermediate piano; is concise, brief, poignant, with an odd sense of humor. Knows who she is and what she wants - just trying to find the best way through the world. Czech (Eastern European) accent. BIPOC actors are encouraged to submit for this role.
GUY: plays advanced guitar; A struggling Irish musician. Lost and a bit sad, but extremely appealing. Works with his Da in a vacuum repair shop. Irish Accent.
BARUSKA: girl's mom; a brusque but kind woman with a kooky sense of humor. Plays varying instruments, possibly including accordion and concertina. BIPOC actors are encouraged to submit for this role.
DA: Plays mandolin; Guy's wise and stoic father who wants the best for his son.
EMCEE: the emcee of the bar; a person about town, everyone knows them. Keeper of the chaos. Young, scrappy, and delightful, plays multiple instruments. Irish accent.
SVEC: plays advanced percussion (Drum kit +); A real oddball. Loves television and coffee. Very endearing. Czech (Eastern European) accent.
ANDREJ: plays advanced bass and guitar. Earnest and kind. An employee at a fast-food chain, but has big dreams. Czech (Eastern European) accent.
BILLY: plays advanced/intermediate guitar; the funny and charismatic owner of the music store where Girl plays piano. Loud, funny, and protective of Girl but also has a vulnerability. Irish Accent.
BANK MANAGER: plays advanced cello. Seems quite prim and proper but has a secret passion for music. Irish accent.
REZA: plays advanced violin. A sexy, funny, smart Czech girl. Often a bit larger than life. Czech (Eastern European) accent.
EX-GIRLFRIEND: plays advanced violin. Guy’s ex-girlfriend who now lives in New York. Kind, lovely and personable. Czech (Eastern European) accent.
IVONKA: Girl's daughter, 6-10 years old. BIPOC actors are encouraged to submit for this role.
A DISTINCT SOCIETY
Written and Directed by Kareem Fahmy
SEEKING:
PEYMAN GILANI A man in his 50s. Iranian. A cardiac surgeon. Speaks with a Persian accent. He is grounded.
MANON DESJARDINS A woman in her early 40s. White French-Canadian. The Head Librarian at the Haskell Free Library. Speaks with a mild Québécois accent. She is enigmatic.
DECLAN SHEEHAN A 15-year-old boy. White Canadian. A high school student. The child of Irish immigrants to Québec. He is lonely.
BRUCE LAIRD A man in his mid-to-late 30s. Black American. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agent. He is charming.
SHIRIN GILANI A woman in her mid-20s. Iranian. PEYMAN’s daughter. A medical student. Her accent is milder than her father’s. She is forthright.
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.
Videos
