The Heights Players announces auditions for its upcoming March production of The Picture of Dorian Gray”, directed by Cameron McIntosh.
Open call auditions will take place at The Heights Players, 26 Willow Place, Brooklyn, NY 11201.
IMPORTANT AUDITION INFORMATION:
Please bring a headshot and resume. Sides will be provided.
20 years pass between Acts 1 and 2. Any characters appearing in both acts, with the exception of Dorian, will be aged through make-up, as well as through the actor’s performance. “Aging roles” will be asked to read twice - once as their character’s Act 1 age, and again as their character aged 20 years.
All roles require believable upper-class English dialects. You will be expected to audition in-dialect.
Dates:
Monday, January 15th and Tuesday, January 16th, 2017.
Time: 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Callbacks (By Appointment):
Wednesday, January 17th at 7:00 p.m.
ABOUT THE SHOW:
Set in the decadent world of Victorian London, a beautiful young man called Dorian Gray becomes infatuated by the exquisite portrait that Basil Hallward has painted of him. He makes a Faustian pact with the devil that he will remain forever young while the picture grows old. With influence from philosophical discussions with Lord Henry Wotton, Dorian embarks on an adventure of pleasure, decadence, and self-indulgence - exploring evil as a means to create beauty. The consequences for Dorian’s sins are reflected in his portrait, rather than himself. Oscar Wilde’s only novel caused an immediate scandal when it was first published in 1890 and its themes of youth and decay, innocence and corruption, art and reality are even more relevant to us in the 21st century than in the 19th.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:
Dorian Gray – Male, 18-24. An exceptionally beautiful and charming young man. His beauty holds a power over everyone he meets, of either gender. After Basil Hallward paints a magnificent portrait of him, Dorian makes a pact with the devil that the painting will age and scar on behalf of Dorian, while Dorian gains immortality, and remains young and beautiful for eternity. Dorian has a remarkable charm and air of innocence, even when committing the most heinous acts, and saying the most terrible things. Must be comfortable with partial nudity.
Lord Henry Wotton – Male, 30-45, Aging role. A noble, just ending his youth. Referred to mostly as Harry, he almost obsessively presses his philosophies that the only things in life worth pursuing are pleasure and self-indulgence onto Dorian, and that the only traits that hold any value are youth and beauty. He openly encourages Dorian’s growing vanity, with a subtly vicarious nature. Basil blames him for corrupting Dorian’s mind, and turning him into a monster. Harry is a strategically charming and convincing conversationalist.
Basil Hallward – Male, 30-40, Aging role. The painter responsible for the portrait of Dorian. A tortured soul, Basil struggles with obsessive feelings towards Dorian in an era when acting on these feelings could get a man executed. He seems perpetually uncomfortable with himself, and comes off as socially incapable in the presence of his infamously charming and sociable friends. He’s frustrated with the world, and feels misunderstood and helplessly alone.
Sibyl Vane – Female, 18-24. A young actress, innocent and naïve, beginning to gain notoriety for her extraordinary leading performances in the works of Shakespeare. She gains Dorian’s affections after he sees her play Juliet, and quickly falls in love and agrees to marry him. However, falling in love in real life for the first time has ruined her ability to fake romance on stage, destroying her acting abilities. Dorian instantly falls out of love with her after bringing his friends to see her perform poorly in “Twelfth Night”. He ends their romance in a remarkably cold and cruel fashion, driving Sibyl to end her life akin to her most famous role, Ophelia.
Ensemble roles – We are seeking a group of actors of varying ages to play two or more supporting roles, as well as help with scene and set changes.
Lady Agatha – Female, 40+. Harry Wotton’s Aunt.
Duchess of Harley – Female, any age. appears alongside Lady Agatha when visited by Dorian and Harry Wotton.
Mr. Isaacs – Male, 40+. Owner of a theatre troupe Sibyl performs with. He works the box office, then gets on stage to play the leading male roles he’s typically too old for.
Lady Wotton – Female, 25-35, Harry Wotton’s wife.
Mrs. Vane – Female, 40+, Sibyl’s mother.
James Vane – Male, 20-30, Aging role. Sibyl’s brother, attempts to kill Dorian to avenge his sister.
Victor – Male, 40+, Dorian’s butler.
Mrs. Leaf – Female, 40+, Dorian’s maid.
Mr. Hubbard – Male, Age open, an art dealer.
Servants 1 & 2 – Open gender, 20-30s. Part of a very trippy, drug-fueled hallucination Dorian has. There is an aggressively sexual nature to these characters. Must be comfortable with partial nudity. Strong dance and movement backgrounds a plus.
Alan Campbell – Male, 40+ - One time friend of Dorian’s, Alan is a scientist blackmailed by Dorian to help dispose of the bodies of Dorian’s victims.
Opium Seller – Open gender, 40+. Runs an opium den in London, has met Dorian and been caught up in his crime circles before.
Adrian Singleton – Male, 30s-40s. The aftermath of one of many young men Dorian has taken in and corrupted over the years. He is now an impoverished opium addict.
Duchess of Monmouth – Female, 30s. Harry Wotton’s sister, she is a child in the first act but not seen until the second act.
Hetty Merton – Female, 20s. A young girl from a lower-class village. She falls in love with Dorian and begs him to take her away somewhere. Dorian breaks her heart, but does not end her life.
Head Gamekeeper – Male, any age. Runs a hunting range were a man is accidentally shot.
REHEARSAL & PROUDCTION DATES:
Rehearsals are scheduled to begin Sunday, January 21st. Generally, rehearsals are held Sunday through Thursday evenings from 7pm—10pm.
The production runs from March 2nd through the 18th, with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. (6:30 p.m. call) and Sundays at 2:00 p.m (12:30 p.m. call) . Thursday, March 8th and 15th are mandatory brush-up rehearsals, which will begin at 7:30pm.
The Heights Players is a membership organization. There is no pay or stipend for any role or position. There is a $20 membership fee if cast.
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