Audition Dates/Times - February 9 and 10, 7pm-9pm
Synopsis - What effect does it have on a person--a soul, a life--to have freedom and self-respect stripped away and then, ostensibly, returned years later after decades of incarceration? The Exonerated attempts to answer this question through the words of six innocent men and women who, after years in jail, emerged from death row to try to reclaim what was left of their lives.
Character breakdown
DELBERT: African-American, 60 A seminary drop out, radical and poet. His whole personality is like an old soul song: smooth, mellow and with an underlying rhythm that never lets up.
SUNNY: white, 50. A bright, pixie-ish yoga teacher from California; her lightness and positivity contrast with moments of great depth and clarity.
ROBERT: African-American, 30s, A former horse groomer from the deep South; hardened but not lacking a sense of humor. Deep rural Mississippi accent.
GEORGIA/FEMALE ENSEMBLE 1: African-American, 30's. Robert's wife. also Southern; opinionated, outspoken and extremely warm. She and Robert have a lovingly contentious relationship. Love to speak their minds.
GARY: white, 45. A Midwestern hippie and an organic farmer. Clearly was in the late 60's and early 70s. He is generally good-natured, friendly and quite smart.
KERRY: white, 45. A 19-year-old trapped in a 45-year-old's body, born and bred in Texas. Kerry was imprisoned for 22 of his 45 years and is eager to rediscover the world. Always makes sure he connects with whomever he is talking to. Strong Texas accent.
DAVID: African-American, 40. A gentle, sad man, born and raised in northern Florida (otherwise known as Southern Alabama). Has a very strong spiritual sense and had aspirations to the ministry before being put to death row at 18. He is continually engaged in a battle between resignation and hope.
SANDRA/SUE/FEMALE ENSEMBLE 2: white, 40. Sandra is married to Kerry. Sweet, nurturing, loves Kerry dearly and has a great sense of humor about him. She has a strong Texas accent. Sue is married to Gary. Salt of the earth; she is also an organic farmer. She has a STRONG upper Midwestern accent - think Fargo.
MALE ENSEMBLE 1 & 2: both white, 35-50. Male Ensemble 1 & 2 play police officers, attorneys, suspects, and other supporting characters. Both actors should be good with dialects and characterization, and different from each other in build and appearance. Both roles require highly versatile, commanding actors.
Audition requirements: Monologues should be chosen from the play itself, primarily because it is the actual words from the exonerated. Monologues will be available for download from The Ridgefield Theater Barn website Sides will be handed out at callbacks.
For more information, please email
info@ridgefieldtheaterbarn.org and put “Exonerated” in the subject line.
Videos
