Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival 2017 LOA and SPT seasons - Philadelphia EPA
Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival
AUDITION DATE
Jan 17, 2017
10:30 am - 6:30 pm (EST)
Lunch 2 to 3.
CONTRACT
LOA
LOA (ref to LORT) & SPT-9 2017 Salaries pending; 2016 amounts: LOA $ 690/week and SPT-9 $622/week
SPT
SEEKING
Equity actors for 5 productions in the 2017 summer season. See breakdown
PREPARATION
Prepare one of the following 2 options:
1) Prepare a brief monologue from one of the plays, or a monologue that will illuminate your ability to play one of the roles. Actors auditioning for AS YOU LIKE IT or TROILUS & CRESSIDA should prepare a brief Shakespearean monologue, or
2) Prepare 16 bars of a song and a 1 minute monologue that will illuminate your ability to play a role in EVITA and/or THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES (by Canny/Nicolson), THE THREE MUSKETEERS (by Ken Ludwig), AS YOU LIKE IT or TROILUS & CRESSIDA.
IMPORTANT: If singing, please note that the accompanist will only be provided between 9:30am and 1pm. Bring sheet music.
Bring picture and resume
LOCATION
Walnut Street Theatre
825 Walnut St
Philadelphia, PA 19107-5107
As the theatre building opens at 10am, the theatre asks that actors do not arrive before 10am.
PERSONNEL
Evita director: Dennis Razze / choreographer: Stephen Casey / musical director: Nathan Diehl
The Hound of the Baskervilles director: Jim Helsinger
The Three Musketeers director: Rick Sordelet
As You Like It director: Matt Pfeiffer
Troilus & Cressida - no director (cast-devised staging)
OTHER
Either one or both of the following will be in attendance at the EPA:
Producing Artistic Director: Patrick Mulcahy
Associate Artistic Director: Dennis Razze
An Equity Monitor will not be provided. The producer will run all aspects of this 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
Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival – Summer Season 2017
EVITA
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Tim Rice
Director: Dennis Razze. Choreographer: Stephen Casey. Musical Director: Nathan Diehl.
1st rehearsal: May 23, 2017. Runs June 14 – July 2.
All characters are Argentinian.
EVITA:
Female. Character ages from 18 to 33. Actress must be able to project both a toughness and charisma. She is beautiful, ambitious and rises to become the spiritual leader of Argentina by the age of 26. With few other options, she uses sexuality to build power. Must be a trained vocalist with strong vocal stamina and excellent control. A legit Mezzo with a clear, strong mix that can belt to a high G and sing to a low E (below middle C). Requires a passionate, strong actor who moves well.
CHE:
Male, 20-35. Dashing, impulsive, jealous, and manipulative. A political activist and the narrator of the show. A radical who asks tough questions and demands answers. An actor/singer that must move very well with a high, rock tenor voice that can sing a low A to high B, falsetto to high F.
PERON:
Male, 30-50. An officer in the Argentinean army who rises to become the Argentine President. Dignified, charming, and authoritative. A strong actor and singer who can play character/leading man. Vocal bass/baritone to high F.
MISTRESS:
Female, 18-23. Beautiful, fragile, vulnerable, innocent young girl who plays Juan Peron’s teenaged Mistress. She is “dismissed” out of Peron’s life by his future wife, Eva. The Mistress ponders the rejection during her song, Also in the ensemble. Must be able to move well and sing a low A to a high E.
MAGALDI:
Male, 30 – 40. A tango singer with whom Eva has her first love affair. A charming loser – never quite made it. With the first number in the show, he sets up the world in which Eva exists and establishes a Latin flavor. Also ensemble. Latin , larger than life, but real at the same time. Sings high tenor High G.
ENSEMBLE
(Actors auditioning at the EPAs may also be considered for the following ensemble parts)
Female Ensemble/Evita Understudy
Age 20-28, excellent soprano with high belt, dance skills a plus
3 Male Dancers/Ensemble
Age 20-30, strong jazz dance skills and tango specialty ability. Tenor vocal range a plus.
-------------
THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES
Adapted from Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel by Steven Canny and John Nicholson
Director: Jim Helsinger. 1st rehearsal: May 30, runs June 21 – July 16
SHERLOCK HOLMES
(Lead): Male, 30-50, any ethnicity. The world's greatest detective. Also portrays the villain, Stapleton, his sister Cecile, the servants, Mr. & Mrs. Barrymore, and a local yokel. Seeking strong leading comedic actor, who can play a wide variety of roles and voices.
DR. JOHN WATSON
(Lead): Male, 30-50 any ethnicity. The consummate faithful companion, narrator of the story. A little bit slow on the take but earnest, and well-meaning. Seeking strong comic sidekick character actor. Some doubling.
SIR HENRY BASKERVILLE
(Lead): Male, 20-35 any ethnicity. The inheritor of Baskerville Hall. Also plays his uncle Sir Charles, Dr. Mortimer, a Cabbie, and several yokels. Seeking young comedic actor, who can play a wide variety of roles and voices.
--------------
THE THREE MUSKETEERS
by Ken Ludwig, adapted by Alexandre Dumas
Director: Rick Sordelet. 1st rehearsal: June 9, runs July 12 – Aug 6
D’ARTAGNAN
early 20’s - Youthful exuberance, cheerful, romantic, athletic and strong. Eager for adventure. Sword fighting/stage combat expertise a must. Singing a plus.
SABINE
early 20’s - Intelligent, inquisitive, spirited. A beautiful Tom Boy who creates life on her terms. Sword fighting/stage combat expertise a must.
ATHOS
40’s- A Nobleman with a secret, hiding in the ranks of the Musketeers. Strong, athletic. Sword fighting/stage combat expertise a must.
ARAMIS
30’s - Intellectual, philosophical, pious. The life of adventure conflicting with the calling of the Lord. Sword fighting/stage combat expertise a must. Musical instrument a must.
PORTHOS
late 40’s - Sir Toby Belch and Falstaff had a baby. Comic, loud, brassy, heart of gold. Fiercely loyal to the ones he loves, a demon from hell to his enemies. Sword fighting/stage combat expertise a must.
TREVILLE
late 40’s early 50’s - Grizzled, Hard boiled, seen it all, heart of gold. The leader of the Musketeers. Athletic. Sword fighting/stage combat expertise a must.
CONSTANCE
early 20’s - A Rustic Beauty, A Blonde lovely girl next door. Hand maiden and spy for Queen Anne . A little ditzy. Athletic. Sword fighting/stage combat expertise a must.
ROCHEFORT
Late 20’s early 30’s - An opportunistic snake in the grass. In the employ of the Cardinal. Sword fighting/stage combat expertise a must.
MILADY
late 20’s mid 30’s - Stunning beauty. Athletic, cunning, coy, charming, and lethal. A super spy of her era with a black heart. Sword fighting/stage combat expertise a must.
KING LOUIS
late 30’s - 50’s - Danny Kaye funny. Great mime skills. Total fop with an air of self importance. He is easily led by the Cardinal or is he? Stage Combat a plus.
QUEEN ANNE
late 20’s to mid 30’s - Angelic, classical beauty. Conflicted between the song in her heart and her duties as the Queen of France. Sword fighting and Stage Combat a must
CARDINAL RICHELIEU
40’s - 50’s- Reptilian, calculating, uber-intelligent, smooth and ruthless. He simply thinks he is the King. Runs a complex network of nefarious intrigues and spies to secure his power in France.
All roles may double (within this play and track in rep into As You Like It), sword fight, dance, sing, play musical instruments, perform mime and stage combat, and be comfortable with heights.
------------
AS YOU LIKE IT
by William Shakespeare
Director: Matt Pfeiffer. 1st rehearsal: June 9, runs July 20 – Aug 6
Musical ability a plus for this production for all roles. All roles may track in rep into The Three Musketeers.
Rosalind:
20's- mid 30's. A spirited and witty woman. Brave, Edgy and Strong, as well as a true romantic. She seeks to find her place in the world and she desires her world to be filled with love and virtue.
Duke Senior / Duke Frederick:
50+. Senior: The rightful duke, banished from court after being deposed by his usurping brother. A kind, generous, and forgiving man, living and enjoying his life despite his misfortunes. Frederick: Duke Senior’s usurping brother. Impulsive and vengeful. A powerful presence.
Jacques:
40+. A lord attending on Duke Senior, whom he loyally followed into the forest after his banishment. A man who delights in his melancholy. Contemplative, articulate, witty.
Touchstone:
30's-40+. A clown. Exceedingly bright. Vacillates between appearing incredibly simple, and having a faster tongue and mind than most of the people around him. Sports some airs of sophistication, and swears to have once been a courtier.
Celia:
20s – early 30s. Daughter to Duke Frederick. Cousin to Rosalind; they were raised together, and have a bond as close as sisters. Sweetly funny and endearing, she is able to keep pace with Rosalind in the arenas of intelligence, wit and spirit.
Orlando:
20s – early 30s. A young man still defining his relationship with manhood and independence. Innocent and at times a bit hapless—though still intelligent enough to verbally spar with Rosalind, and to hold his own against her razor-sharp wit.
Oliver:
30s. Orlando’s older brother. Threatened by his younger brother, he abuses his power by denying Orlando his rights. Begins the play selfish and power-hungry, but a single act of great generosity on his brother’s part teaches him humility and compassion, and allows him to open himself up to love.
Silvius:
20s – early 30s. A shepherd. Good-natured. Madly in love with Phebe, who is not particularly interested in him, but he is impossible to dissuade; he’ll do anything for her love, no matter how extreme. Love is everything to him.
Phebe:
20s – early 30s. A shepherdess. Direct, energetic and single-minded, she goes after what she wants—even though she only wants what she can’t have.
Corin/LeBeau-:
50+. Corin: A country shepherd. Good-natured and world-wise, although his education comes from nature as opposed to conventional schooling. A natural philosopher who is content living outside of the court./Le Beau: A courtier attending on Duke Frederick, but not entirely sympathetic to his bad behavior. Refined and in-the-know about all of the “goings-on” in court.
Audrey:
30s. A country woman. Saucy and bawdy, she strikes a strong contrast to the refined ladies from the court.
Adam:
60+. The aging former servant of Sir Rowland de Boys, now loyal servant to Orlando. Strong of heart, but physically frail. The model of honesty and loyalty.
Amiens:
20's-40s. A lord attending on Duke Senior. Actor in this role must be a STRONG SINGER, comfortable with solo singing. Like the Duke, Amiens tries to stay merry in his new-found home in the forest, entertaining those around him with song. Particularly interested in actors who can accompany themselves on guitar, banjo, or the like.
Charles:
30-40. A wrestler at the court. The unbeatable champion, at the top of his game. A strong and imposing mountain of a man. Fight experience a must.
--------------
TROILUS & CRESSIDA
by William Shakespeare
No director – Elizabethan-style brief rehearsal model.
1st rehearsal: July 21. Runs July 26 – August 6.
Troilus
20s - young warrior, son of Priam. Lovesick, charming, a bit awkward. Falls in love with Cressida, but when betrayed by her he turns bitter and vengeful.
Hector
late 20s - 30s - Eldest son of Priam, an honorable heroic leader, he challenges the Greeks.
Paris
20s-30s - son of Priam, he refuses to give up Helen.
Aeneas
40s-50s - a Trojan commander
Pandarus
60s - uncle to Cressida.
Cressida
20s – Beautiful Trojan woman. Daughter to Calchas. A tactician of necessity, given the circumstances. Beloved by Troilus, she pledges her fidelity but seems to prove false.
Cassandra
20s - Priam’s mad daughter
Agamemnon
50s-60s - Greek general
Nestor
60s - an elderly sage, the oldest of the Greek commanders.
Ulysses
30s – 40s – intelligent, cunning, cold-blodded. Cleverly manipulates Ajax and Achilles for the Greek cause.
Achilles
30s - The greatest of the Greek warriors. Very proud. In love with Patrocles.
Ajax
20s-30s - A blockheaded goon, lunk of a warrior.
Diomedes
20s – early 30s. Charged with escorting Cressida to the Greek camp, he falls for her.
Thersites
30s-50s - A scurrilous commentator/clown. Acid-tongued.
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.
Videos
