THE VEGETABLE: Or “From President to Postman”
By F. Scott Fitzgerald, Directed and Edited by Tyler Phillips
PERFORMANCE DATE:
November 2, 2020 6:30PM MST
LOCATION:
The NextStage Virtual Studio (on Streamyard)
CALL SYNOPSIS:
NextStage is currently seeking comedic actors from around the world for a virtual production of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s farce, THE VEGETABLE, for a newly edited, radio-play style presentation with 5 actors at least 18 years of age to play 13 different speaking roles. Tracks are not necessarily age or gender-specific - we are looking for the best actors for these wild roles.
Fitzgerald’s only full-length play is this three act, nearly one hundred year old farce about an inexperienced, narcissistic, and delusional man who becomes President and nearly deconstructs the entire union by appointing unfit family members to office and making rash decisions to protect his power. Some work just stands the test of time, yeah? According to our NextStage research, this rare work has only been produced a few times since its 1929 closing on Broadway. Our team is breathing new life into this piece on Election Night-Eve as we virtually present it in a radio-play format with original piano music interludes and a 1920’s virtual costume contest where you can tag @nextstagecompany on insta to show off your best speakeasy attire to enter to win cool prizes!
To be considered you must fill out the following Google Form and submit the required materials by October 1st at the latest:
https://forms.gle/Adck2xSm7JRvotvw6
ACTOR TRACKS:
ACTOR 1
JERRY SCOTT - A man in his early 30s whose only ambition was to be a postman. After drinking some of Snook’s sketchy bootleg liquor on the night of the Republican Convention, Jerry suddenly finds that he has been elected President of the United States.
DETECTIVE: A detective hired by Charlotte to find Jerry after he disappears
ACTOR 2
CHARLOTTE FROST - Jerry’s absolutely fine and amazing wife who he blames for his stunted ambition and boring life.
ROBERT FISH - Doris’ most current fiancé and potentially the Junior Senator from Idaho.
ACTOR 3
DORIS - Charlotte’s young and naïve sister who seemingly can’t go a few days without being engaged.
SNOOKS - A mysterious bootlegger who creates sketchy concoctions in the homes of his customers
JUDGE FOSSILE: A high-ranking judge, likely a member of the Supreme Court
NEWSBOY - A Newsboy
ACTOR 4
DADA - Jerry’s elderly and senile father
STUTZ-MOZART - The leader of a jazz band hired to play at Doris and Fish’s wedding.
MR JONES - The top aide to President Frost
PUSHING - A high-ranking, war-obsessed, General and also Jerry’s boss before he becomes President
ACTOR 5
FRANCES - the narrator of the story is a character loosely based off of F Scott Fitzgerald who delivers the author’s original stage directions and often interacts with the other characters
AUDITION MATERIALS:
OPEN AUDITIONS
Deadline Oct 1, 2020: Actors must submit a comedic monologue in the farcical style that is less than 3 minutes in length via a video file or video link.
CALLBACKS
Our creative team will host live callbacks over ZOOM on October 3, 2020. Actors selected for callbacks will receive sides via email.
REHEARSALS:
GENERAL REHEARSALS
Starting the week of October 5, 2020, based on actor availability, over ZOOM
TECH REHEARSALS
October 28 + 29
“DRESS” REHEARSAL
November 1
Videos
