LORT
SUPERIOR DONUTS – OPEN Auditions in Albany
Capital Repertory Theatre (Albany, NY) LORT D; $566/week minimum
Producing Artistic Director: Maggie Mancinelli-Cahill
Chief Administrative Officer: Philip Morris
by Tracy Letts
Director: Mark Fleischer
NYC Casting Director: Stephanie Klapper
1st rehearsal: 8/23/11. Runs: 9/16 – 10/16/11
OPEN Auditions (Equity and non Equity actors):
Thursday, July 14, 2011 at the Capital Rep
11 AM – 3 PM 111 N. Pearl Street
Albany, NY 12207
No advanced appointment necessary.
Prepare a brief monologue. Bring picture and resume, stapled together.
Synopsis: Written by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright, Tracy Letts, SUPERIOR DONUTS is a rough and tumble comedy that centers on the off-beat friendship that grows between shop owner, Arthur Przybyszewski, a cantankerous, white, former-hippie and Franco Wicks, an ambitious black twenty-something with a talent for writing – and a debt problem. Pressures from local collection thugs, the neighbor who wants to buy the donut shop and awakenings of the heart all lead to the revelation of long-held secrets. Arthur joins life again after years of hiding from emotions, Franco learns to accept grace and Max, the Russian capitalist gets his life dream – to own the biggest store on the block.
All roles open. Some roles will be cast with non-union actors.
Tenative Equity roles:
Arthur:
Late 50s-early 60s (he must appear 59). Gruff. Charismatic. Frozen in the 1970s. Hair, clothes, in fact everything about Arthur’s appearance leads to an impression of a complete nonchalant attitude toward life. He works to stay uninvolved. Smart, literate, savvy, well-educated, but hides it with the life he’s made behind the donut counter. He’s definitely from Chicago and has a certain machismo attitude that makes him fit into the neighborhood. However, despite being 59, Arthur often possesses the insecurities of a teenager. A draft evader, he still hasn’t reconciled his actions during the Viet Nam War, but his anti-establishment beliefs still linger and inform his actions and values. Wry. Witty. Dry humor. Just beneath the surface, he’s attractive and lovable. Actor must be in good physical shape and be comfortable doing stage combat, for prolonged fight sequence.
Franco Wicks:
20s. African-American. The spark plug of the play. Energetic. Funny. Smart. Literate AND Chicago street smart. Adept at assessing people and situations. Versatile wordsmith: goes from street lingo to college kid in a flash. Is used to talking his way in and out of situations – but he can be tough too. Willing to work –learn – ambitious. His Achilles heel: gambling and balancing a life on the streets with his ambition to write. You can see the street in Franco – in his physicality and quick response to threat. Actor needs to have verbal and physical dexterity.
Max Tarasov:
45. Russian. Smart small business owner. Wants a good life. Distrusts all the neighborhood “punks,” who happen to be Black. Has respect for the police and flirts with the underworld if necessary as well. Warm. Comic. Russian accent and knowledge of some Russian very helpful. He has many of the play’s funniest lines. A man of business who likes Arthur. He can be a tough guy too – especially with hired backup.
Luther Flynn:
50s. Irish decent. Street tough. An enforcer for local loan sharks. No longer needs to get his hands dirty, because he is accompanied with muscle at all times. Dapper, as someone from the streets who has cleaned up – but you can still hear and see that he’s lived a physical life with faded memories of brute force. You wouldn’t want to mess with Luther. He is capable of hurting people if he’s ordering his henchmen to do the dirty work or stepping in a bit to make a point. Doesn’t necessarily have to be a big guy, and doesn’t have to be in the great shape -- but he has to still have the machismo that got him where he is. Familiarity with stage combat helpful for prolonged fight sequence with Arthur.
Officer James Bayley:
43. African American Chicago beat cop. He’s seen a lot and knows how and when to pick his battles. Can be tough, no nonsense, but like a seasoned pro, he’s part cop/part social worker. Understands the neighborhood. Recognizes a real threat and can let other stuff roll off his back. Isn’t in the greatest shape. Would rather talk to somebody than run after them. He loves Star Trek. His hobby is going to Trekkie conventions.
Officer Randy Osteen:
49ish woman. Irish American. Single. Chicago beat cop, Randy plays down any femininity on the job. She can be tough, a little rough around the edges. She used to being one of the boys. If she’s not doing her job, she’s a little shy and awkward, especially with the opposite sex. She cleans up nicely. Underneath her cop exterior, she has a big heart and would like to find a way to open up and have Arthur open up.
Tentative non-Equity roles:
Kiril Ivakin:
20s-30s – Russian immigrant. Big, hulking body-builder with insinuated connections to the mob. Max brings him in as the counterpart to Kevin, the Irish muscle man in the play. Kiril is imposing physically and would strike fear in the hearts of most from his appearance -- but has a big heart and is courteous to ladies. A gentle giant that could hurt someone on demand. Speaks Russian in the play (we can teach, but knowing a little of the language is a big plus).
Kevin Mager:
20s. Irish American. Street punk with muscle. Flaunts his place in the small-time mob world he inhabits. Serves as the physical back up for Luther when collecting bad debts and parsing out punishment for other infractions in the territory. A wise-ass who knows people are afraid of him. Machismo pours out of him – the way he thinks, walks into a room, sizes up a situation. Has to be in very good physical shape.
Lady Boyle:
72ish. Irish decent. The neighborhood bag woman, Lady is a regular at Superior Donuts. Lives on the Chicago streets with all that brings: tough, charming and a mind of her own. She comes in and out of the present, hears what she wants to hear, but has all her instincts and insights in place. Unkempt exterior, but there’s something about her that has earned her nickname of “Lady.”
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