American Repertory Theater Company
AUDITION DATE
Wed, Jun 15, 2022
10:00 am - 6:30 pm (EST)
(Break 1:30-2:30)
APPOINTMENTS
Email for an appointment at amrep.artistic@gmail.com
CONTRACT
LORT Non-Rep $1008 weekly minimum (LORT B)
SEEKING
Equity actors for roles in American Repertory Theater Company's 2022-23 Season (see breakdown).
Boston based actors are encouraged to attend.
PREPARATION
Please prepare one contemporary, dramatic monologue. Actors may also sing a short selection of their choice (optional). An accompanist will be provided.
LOCATION
Loeb Drama Center
64 Brattle St
Cambridge, MA 02138-3443
2nd floor, check in with receptionist.
PERSONNEL
Emma Watt, Line Producer (expected to attend)
Twilight Los Angeles
Director - Taibi Magar
Conceived Written and Revised by - Anna Deavere Smith
Life of Pi
Director - Max Webster
Playwright - Lolita Chakrabarti
Puppetry and Movement Director - Finn Caldwell
OTHER DATES
Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992
First Rehearsal - Tuesday August 9, 2022
Opening - Thursday September 1, 2022
Closing - Saturday September 24, 2022
Life of Pi
First Rehearsal - Tuesday October 25, 2022
Opening -Thursday December 15, 2022
Closing - Sunday January 29, 2023
OTHER
https://americanrepertorytheater.org
An Equity Monitor will not be provided. The producer will run all aspects of audition.
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 attend every audition.
Always bring your Equity Membership card to auditions.
BREAKDOWN
Some roles will be understudied.
TWILIGHT: LOS ANGELES, 1992
Synopsis: One verdict can change the course of history. The news of the police officers’ acquittal in Rodney King’s police brutality case reverberated throughout the streets of Los Angeles. Variously called a “riot, a revolution, or a social explosion,” the events that followed the verdict drew worldwide attention. Playwright, actor and scholar Anna Deavere Smith responded artistically by dissecting the anatomy of the unrest. She interviewed over 350 Los Angelinos in preparation for the performance. Declared a “rich, panoramic canvas of a national trauma” by The New York Times, Smith’s transformative study of the 1992 L.A. civil unrest reveals the fault lines that set the city ablaze. Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 is equal parts meticulously researched reportage and stirring cry for reform.
Please note that these character tracks are not final. Additionally, there are a few character tracks like Cornel West that are played by all actors embodying the role simultaneously in choral moments. Each track includes a number of characters, some of which may be of various genders, ages, or ethnicities.
TRACK 1 - THIS ROLE IS CAST. Jay Woong Yang, Joe Viola, Judith Our, Jessye Norman, Walter Park, Mrs. June Park, Chris Oh, Maxine Waters, Jin Ho Lee, Mrs. Young-Soon Han, As Cast.
TRACK 2 - THIS ROLE IS CAST. Rudy Salas Sr, Josie Morales, Elaine Young, Federico Sandoval, Octavio Sandoval, Alice Waters, As Cast.
TRACK 3 - Ted Briseno - Police Officer, accused of beating Rodney King; Stanley K. Sheinbaum - Former president, Los Angeles Police Commission; Anonymous Man - Juror in Simi Valley trial; Daryl Gates - Former chief of Los Angeles Police department; Talent Agent - Anonymous Hollywood talent agent; Shelby Coffey III - Editor, Los Angeles Times; Cornel West – Scholar; Reginald Denny - Semi-truck driver, victim; Bill Bradley - Senator, D-New Jersey, As Cast.
TRACK 4 - THIS ROLE IS CAST. Angela King, Gina Rae AKA Queen Malkah, Katie Miller, Elvira Evers, Maxine Waters, Elaine Brown, Maria, As Cast.
TRACK 5 - THIS ROLE IS CAST. Charles Lloyd, Keith Watson, Paul Parker, Twilight Bey, As Cast.
LIFE OF PI:
Synopsis: After a cargo ship sinks in the middle of the vast Pacific Ocean, a sixteen year-old boy named Pi is stranded on a lifeboat with four other survivors - a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan, and a Royal Bengal tiger. Time is against them, nature is harsh, who will survive?
PISCINE MOLITOR PATEL: Known as Pi, male, South Asian, 16. Actor may use their own accent. Pi grew up in Pondicherry in India and is emigrating to Canada with his family and the animals from his father’s zoo. He is a dedicated Hindu, a clever and curious boy, asking questions of the world around him and the rules it lives by. He is honest, empathic, open, innocent and full of wonder. As he navigates being alone at sea and surviving, he finds strength, tenacity, and unexpected friendship. He is also in deep exploration of his faith and unable to choose between different religions. He likes them all. Pi is remarkable because even after he survives the most terrible shipwreck and loss, he remains open to the possibilities of the world. A physically demanding character.
NURSE /AMMA /ORANGE JUICE: female, South Asian, 40s. NURSE is a Spanish speaker in Mexico. A firm but empathic mother figure to the traumatized Pi. She is kind, warm and capable. AMMA is Pi’s mother. Actor may use their own accent. She is Indian, devoted to her Hinduism and from Pondicherry. She has two children whom she adores but also keeps in check. She is a caregiver, a loving mother, and concerned about the needs of her family. She is equal to her husband, their skills are complementary and their relationship is strong. ORANGE JUICE is an orangutan puppet operated by 3 actors. Note: This track will work with two experienced puppeteers to realize OJ.
FATHER /GHOST FATHER: Male, South Asian, 40s, Actor may use their own accent. FATHER is from Pondicherry and dreamed of being a circus ringmaster but has happily settled for owning a zoo. He is instinctive, passionate, and secular. He has absolutely no time for religion. He loves the animals and worries for their welfare. The political situation in India aggravates him as he can no longer ensure his family’s safety. The decision to leave is his. He does not want to go but for safety decides to emigrate with all animals to Canada. They are not wealthy and travel on a cargo ship. He is a strong, caring, thoughtful, and good father.
RANI / GHOST RANI /2nd cover Pi: Female, South Asian, 20’s. Actor may use their own accent. RANI is Pi’s sister. She is 19 and very clever, a complete genius at Math. She is sharp, funny, witty, and keeps her brother in check. She knows he is the favorite and that’s to be expected given that he’s a boy! She is a fierce young woman who if she had survived would have done great things. If doubling as PI, the character will be female.
MR OKAMOTO / CAPTAIN: Male, Japanese, 50. MR OKAMOTO: Actor may use their own accent. He is a senior member of a Japanese shipping corporation insurance team who come to investigate the sinking of a Japanese ship. He is in Mexico having traveled from Tokyo. He is a serious, practical, company man, not warm or empathic. He wants to get the job done and go home. He has no children. His wife was once very sick but she is better now. He does not believe in God and is convinced of that truth. CAPTAIN runs the Tsimtsum which will sink. He is in charge.
LULU CHEN: Female, East Asian, 20s. Actor may use their own accent. Lulu is a Canadian official in the embassy in Mexico. She has traveled from Mexico City and is charged with managing the humorless Mr. Okamoto. She is young and ambitious. She is official but warm, empathic and open to having her opinion changed. She starts to like Pi and sympathizes with him more and more.
COOK /Voice of RICHARD PARKER: Male, 30-40. French accent. This track may be Black or White. COOK is a looming presence, angry, unhappy, quick to react against people, and threatening. He works on the Tsimtsum but believes he is better than that. He is determined to survive the shipwreck and do anything that requires. He is ruthless. When RICHARD PARKER speaks this track also manipulates the puppet with three puppeteers.
MAMAJI /PANDIT-JI /1st cover Father: Male, South Asian, 40’s. Actor may use their own accent. MAMAJI is uncle to Pi. Affectionate, loving, a bit of a joker. He is married to Mrs. Biology Kumar. A Hindu who conducts puja, a fantastic swimmer who runs clubs for swimming. He lived in France for two years and has happy associations with that country. He is a loving, solid presence in Pi’s life. PANDIT-JI is a Hindu priest who lives and breathes his vocation. He is trying to persuade Pi to be more Hindu. He does not take kindly to other religions intruding on his territory.
MRS BIOLOGY KUMAR / ZAIDA KHAN /1st cover Amma & Nurse: Female, South Asian, 40’s. Actor may use their own accent. MRS B-K is a warm and independent woman of science. A teacher who loves the natural world. She is married to Mamaji. She is a strong voice with clear political opinions and compares the animal world to the human one. She loves Rani because of her natural ability in science and math. She sees her as a similar soul. ZAIDA KHAN is a dedicated Muslim. She is clear-minded about her own beliefs and judgmental of others.
FATHER MARTIN / COMMANDER GRANT-JONES /RUSSIAN SAILOR: Male, Black, 40s. FATHER MARTIN. Actor may use their own accent. A Christian priest who is certain of his faith and trying to persuade Pi to join his church. He is benign. COMMANDER GRANT-JONES. Actor may use their own accent. He will be renamed to be an American Navy Officer from the 1940’s. He is precise, definitive, no-nonsense and does not listen. He instructs Pi and says the unthinkable. RUSSIAN SAILOR. Speaks Russian only. Befriends Pi on the ship and survives on the lifeboat with a broken leg. Some puppetry.
COVER 1: Female, South Asian, 16 - PI alternate, 2nd cover Rani. If doubling as PI, the character will be female.
COVER 2: Male, 30’s/40’s: 1st cover for Mr. Okamoto, Mamaji, Panditji, Cook, Richard Parker, Commander Grant Jones, Father Martin, Russian Sailor. 2nd cover for Lulu Chen (as Leonard Chen).
COVER 3: Female, South Asian, 30’s: 1st cover – Lulu Chen, Rani, Mrs. Biology Kumar, Zaida Khan, 2nd cover – Mamiji for Mamaji, Mrs. Okamoto for Mr. O, Amma, Nurse)
COVER 4: Male, 30's: 2nd cover – Mamaji, Pandit-ji, Father, Mr. Biology-Kumar for Mrs. BK, Mr. Khan for Zaida K; 3rd cover – Rani (as Ravi), Cook, Richard Parker. PUPPETEERS, As Cast.
Requirement for proof of vaccination/negative test:
Everyone entering the audition venue (i.e., venue employees, Equity members, non-members, casting personnel, creatives, producers, musicians, COVID Safety Managers, etc.) will be required to undergo a symptom check and provide one of the following prior to entry into the venue:
o Proof of full vaccination. “Fully vaccinated,” as defined by the CDC, is more than 14 calendar days following receipt of a final dose of an FDA or World Health Organization authorized or approved vaccine.
(OR)
o Proof of a negative PCR test result taken no earlier than 48 hours prior to entry into the audition venue.
(OR)
o Proof of two negative antigen test results (e.g., the first taken the night before and the second taken no less than 2 hours) prior to entry into the venue. Results of non-proctored at-home antigen tests will not be accepted.
Two-ply cloth face masks, surgical masks, singer’s masks and respirators (N95, KN95 or KF94) will be allowed for face coverings. Single-ply face masks, gaiters and bandanas are not acceptable face coverings. Everyone in the holding room and audition room will always wear a face covering as described above, except for the actor when they are actively auditioning. The time spent unmasked should be as minimal as possible. Face coverings must be worn correctly (covering the nose and mouth). Singer’s masks can be found at www.broadwayreliefproject.com/singersmask.
If the risk level for Middlesex County is trending upwards and may rise to High (Red) we will contact members with appointments at least 24 hours before the first audition appointment time to let them know there is a chance that the auditions may need to be postponed or cancelled. All members with appointments will be notified if the auditions must be postponed or cancelled.
We encourage members to prepare for their audition at home, to the extent that they can (e.g., get dressed, hair/make-up, etc.) to avoid crowding in bathrooms and dressing rooms. Additional information required in notice:
Holding/Audition room information:
The audition room is 627 square feet and can accommodate no more than 6 individuals at a time.
The holding room is 850 square feet and can accommodate no more than 23 individuals at a time.
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 audition.
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