Actors Theatre of Louisville
**CANCELLED**
AUDITION DATE
Wed, Mar 18, 2020
11:00 am - 7:00 pm (EDT)
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Lunch Break
APPOINTMENTS
To request an appoinment please contact Sujotta Pace at auditions@actorstheatre.org or 502.584.1265 x 3011. Email preferred.
CONTRACT
LORT Non-Rep LORT $717 per week minimum.
SEEKING
Actors Theatre is working to create and maintain an environment of mutual trust where people are treated with dignity and respect. We seek an environment that is absent of intimidation, oppression and harassment and upholds our Core Values of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Brave Curiosity, Listening and Sharing, and Adaptability. With our Anti-Harassment Policy, Actors Theatre will prevent and correct inappropriate behavior and we ask all involved to uphold these and join us in this work.
PREPARATION
Sides will be provided with appointment time.
LOCATION
Actors Theatre of Louisville
316 West Main St
Louisville, KY 40202-1216
PERSONNEL
Kevin Ramsey, Playwright/Director/Choreographer (He/Him/His)
Emily Tarquin, Artistic Producer & Casting Director (They/Them/Theirs)
Sujotta Pace, Interim Casting Coordinator (She/Her/Hers)
OTHER DATES
First Rehearsal: June 2, 2020
Tech: June 12-19, 2020
Previews: June 17 & 18, 2020
Open: June 19, 2020
Close: August 2, 2020
OTHER
Production previously produced at Milwaukee Repertory Theater
EPA Procedures are in effect for audition.
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
***In reference to the information below – these are descriptions of the characters as identified in the script and in collaboration with the creative team. They are not meant to be exhaustive of who should play these roles and we seek to cast as expansively and authentically as possible. We are committed to the most inclusive representation of race/ethnicity, gender, body type, and ability on our stages.
As an ADA compliant theatre, we welcome performers of all abilities and will make all reasonable accommodations in order to cast performers, regardless of disability, in any role possible. We also recognize that most characters are written on the binary (use he/him or she/her pronouns) and we invite gender non-conforming, genderqueer, transgender, and non-binary actors to submit for the roles they most identify with. We list race/ethnicity when specific to the character but are otherwise seeking all races and ethnicities.
Please let us know if you have any questions, concerns, or if there are any accommodations we can provide to make your audition experience positive. Submit any accommodation request either in the note section of your breakdown submission or by emailing Sujotta Pace at space@actorstheatre.org.
Synopsis
Chasin' Dem Blues, the untold story of Paramount Records, is a foot-stomping, roofraising, musical celebration. It thrills audiences with storytellers' accounts of how a small Midwest town changed the landscapes of American music, and ushered in the sound of the early 20th century, a sound that still reverberates today. Paramount Records was located in Grafton, Wisconsin, during the time of the Great Depression, and was a small recording studio in an old chair factory. Louis Armstrong, Alberta Hunter, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Skip James, Son House, Ma Rainey, Lawrence Welk and even Jimmie O’Bryant’s Famous Original Washboard Band recorded folk, gospel and blues music for Paramount Records in that studio and surrounding areas. This exuberant musical celebration of the popular music of the time is sure to enchant and entertain
Please note: The ensemble is an exciting, diverse group of dynamic actors, singers and musicians who are versatile in the music, acting and singing styles to celebrate this exciting blues event. Performers auditioning should feel free to bring in any instruments and musical skills they would like to showcase.
SEEKING:
QUEEN (she/her, 35–55, African American) She is a powerhouse gospel and blues singer/ actress with a great voice and a lot of presence who moves well. Tap movement experience preferred. (In addition to sides, actress should prepare blues up-tempo & ballad, as well as, the spiritual Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child”)
PROFESSOR (Caucasian - Male age 25 – 50) A versatile pianist, vocalist, and actor with a great voice and a lot of presence (who will also serve as the Musical Director). In addition to the sides, actor should prepare two contrasting blues compositions that show range and versatility. Some suggestions of songs (but not limited to) are Big Chief or Tipitina (Professor Longhair) · The Original Pinetop Boogie Woogie (Pinetop Smith) · Confessin' the Blues (Jay McShann)
HARP (he/him, 35-60, Open to all ethnicities) Extremely versatile musician with great singing voice. Must play electric guitar, banjo, acoustic guitar/resonator guitar, national steel guitar, and the harmonic very well. (Prepare contrasting pieces for each instrument (ie Skip James, Son House, Charley Patton, Blind Lemon Jefferson)
Electric Guitar (Single note soloing and rhythm ability) styles of B.B. King, Albert King, Muddy Waters)
Acoustic Guitar standard tuning (finger-picking blues styles of Blind Blake, Blind Lemon Jefferson)
Resonator or Acoustic Guitar open G tuning (finger-picking delta blues styles of Son House (slide guitar) and Willie Brown)
Resonator or Acoustic Guitar open E minor tuning (finger-picking style of Skip James)
Banjo Guitar standard tuning--(could be played on an acoustic guitar) Papa Charlie Jackson, Ma Rainey, Alberta Hunter (the styles have some jazzier chord changes)
Harmonica—keys C and G (ability to play cross harp blues styles)
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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