A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM IN HARLEM - EQUITY VIDEO SUBMISSIONS
Pittsburgh Public Theater Corporation
CONTRACT
LORT Non-Rep
$926 weekly minimum (LORT C)
SEEKING
Equity actors for roles in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM IN HARLEM (see breakdown).
Pittsburgh Public Theater is encouraging audition videos from all folks who identify as being from the African diaspora with the ability to embrace Shakespeare's language as well as passion to celebrate Black culture.
INSTRUCTIONS
Please prepare two brief monologues - one from the Shakespeare canon and one from the sides available at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PheTNZ8Jx2r09U-wkc4hqnciGZzJXb0Y AND a brief cut of an a cappella song of any genre. All materials should not exceed five minutes total. Submit at https://pct.formstack.com/forms/pptmidsummeraudition .
Deadline: Tue, Sep 20, 2022
BREAKDOWN
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM IN HARLEM submissions
Seeking:
Puck - Puck is a reflection of the African trickster God known by many names including Exu Elegba. A divine messenger of a higher God (Oberon)—a guardian, a protector, and communicator who helps guide the fate of humans. As a trickster, Exu is associated with disorder and destiny and represents all the bewilderment and confusion one faces when attempting to make the proper choice.
Fairies - The “fairies” of the forest represent the convergence of African spiritual forces in the Diaspora and are inspired by a wide pantheon of African gods. The fairies/spirits movements are defined by a vocabulary of African dance in the Diaspora. Their scenes begin and end with dance and/or rhythm. There are at least 3: Peaseblossom, Mustard Seed, Cobweb.
Egeus- Father of Hermia, he is a conservative West Indian immigrant and violently opposes same-sex relationships. He wants his daughter Hermia to marry a man with financial promise. He is willing to see her die if she chooses to marry a woman. Egeus speaks with an accent.
Hermia - A young woman who attracts others with her inner beauty that is defined by sincerity, compassion, and curiosity. She has recently come to terms with her own sexuality and fallen in love with a cool and mysterious woman, Lysandra, but she is being threatened by her father. She is short in stature.
Lysandra - A courageous and free-spirited young woman, who is unafraid to be who she is, wherever she is, whenever she is. She speaks her mind and creates her own sense of style and claims who she loves. She fears no one and loves adventure.
Helena - A tall beautiful young Latina woman from Spanish Harlem. She is lively and talkative and wears her emotions on her sleeves. She obsesses on guys she’s attracted to. She had a one-night stand with the wealthy Demetrius and is now head over heels in love with him and will do whatever she can to keep him. She and Hermia have been best friends for most of her life, and she constantly negatively compares herself to her.
THE MECHANICALS (the working people of Athens/Harlem) - The mechanicals represent the working folk of Harlem—security guards, construction workers, mechanics, sanitation workers, etc. They toil for hours by day, but at the end of their shifts when their work is done, they gather on street corners, vacant lots, and fill the air with the richness of their laughter and stories. They rejoice in their fellowship and exhibit the comic genius buried within the community. Many nights they dream of transcending their current station—and creating a new destiny for themselves and their community. Together they agree to create a performance for the Duke on his wedding night that could be their chance at a life of fame and fortune. The mechanicals include:
Quince - A YMCA rec. leader who loves theater and always tries to find ways to incorporate it into their life. It is Quince’s idea to create a play for the Duke.
Bottom - A security guard who guards things of little significance, though they take the job very seriously. Loves to talk. Loves attention. Loves the sound of their voice. Has an answer for everything and will talk for as long as you let them. Quince casts them as “Pyramus” though they would be happy to play every part if you let them.
Flute - A young man working as a summer intern picking up trash for the city. He has feminine qualities that he works to cover up by embracing an attitude of “THUGLIFE”, though a piece of him relishes the opportunity to explore his feminine instincts performing the role of “Thisbe”, which he resists at first but comes to fully embrace.
Snug - He is a ladies man who talks with a deep stutter and so to compensate spends more time dancing than talking. He idolizes Michael Jackson. When Quince casts him in the role of “the Lion” and he turns it into a dancing lion inspired by the scarecrow in “The Wiz”.
Snout - An immigrant who speaks with an accent. Currently a janitor that often carries a broom and sings to themselves and dreams of being an American star. Snout has a smile that is infectious and is always willing to share it. Quince casts Snout as “the Wall” in the play.
Starveling - Hangs out and smokes a lot of weed. Does not currently have a job and is probably not looking. He is a spoken word artist. He resists the capitalist system and pursues his own form of employment. He is cast as “Moonlight” in Quince’s play.
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 submit.
PERSONNEL
Viewing auditions:
Artistic Director - Marya Sea Kaminski
Casting & Literary Director - Brian Pope
Resident Director - Justin Emeka
OTHER DATES
1st Rehearsal - 1/3/23
Runs - 2/19/23
OTHER
ppt.org
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 submit.
Videos
