SANTA PAULA THEATER CENTER
125 SOUTH 7TH STREET, SANTA PAULA, CA 93060
805.525.4645 www.santapaulatheatercenter.org
SANTA PAULA THEATER CENTER TO HOLD AUDITIONS FOR
THINGS I KNOW TO BE TRUE BY ANDREW BOVELL
Santa Paula Theater Center announces auditions for the first Main Stage show of Season 2022, the award-winning play THINGS I KNOW TO BE TRUE by Andrew Bovell on Sunday Dec. 12th from 2:00-4:00 PM and Monday Dec. 13th from 7:00-9:00 PM. Invited callbacks will be held Tuesday Dec. 14th from 7:00-9:00 PM. Auditions and callbacks will be held at The Santa Paula Center. 125 S. Seventh Street, Santa Paula, CA 93060.
THINGS I KNOW TO BE TRUE will play from February 25th-April 3rd, 2022 with performances on Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 PM and Sunday Matinees at 2:30 PM. No appointments necessary, cold readings will be taken from the script. BE PREPARED FOR MOVEMENT in the auditions. This is a non-equity production. THERE IS NO PAY.
SPTC Artistic Director Jessi May Stevenson directs and inquiries about auditions and play may be directed to her at
jessimaystevenson@me.com.
PLEASE NOTE: ALL ACTORS, MUST SHOW PROOF OF VACCINATION TO AUDITION. SPTC REQUIRES ALL PRODUCTION PERSONNEL TO BE FULLY VACCINATED.
In THINGS I KNOW TO BE TRUE, Bob and Fran Price have been together for over thirty years. It should be time for them to slow down and smell the roses – until the lives of their 4 adult children come crashing through the back door... Set over the course of one year, the grown children try to redefine their lives separately from the hopes and dreams of their parents. As what is real and genuine in the Price family falls apart under scrutiny, Bob and Fran must redefine their relationships with their children and with each other. But ultimately, beating its way steadily through the work, is the low-level fears we all must live with: that we love too much, or that we don’t love enough; and that one day we will have to say goodbye. THINGS I KNOW TO BE TRUE is about love in its many forms. At times comforting and supportive. At others suffocating and destructive. But always love.
What is most exciting about this play is its unique way of storytelling. While the acting is naturalistic, it features great use of well-oiled, non-naturalistic physical movement to represent the familiarity and unconscious patterns of this nuclear family. It emphasizes their emotional connection and creatively adds another layer of understanding to what each character is going through. As they address the audience in long, personal monologues, bodies are lifted, turned, tumbled; hands caress and hold, brush past others; gestures and actions are hinted at, and furniture is pushed across the stage. This brings an elegance, a fluidity that is deceptively simple and more than a little bit magical.
“This is a story about family, that thing you spend your life trying to escape from only to yearn for what you’ve lost if you ever do,” said playwright Bovell. Critics give the play high praise:
“A thing of beauty. Exquisitely observed. An absolute gem.” -Daily Telegraph;
“An intricate, inventive study of family life. Genuinely beautiful.” -Evening Standard;
“Genuinely haunting and fervently recommended.” -Independent
ALL ROLES ARE OPEN AND INCLUDE:
Bob: 60-70
Cis-male, father and retired auto factory worker. A family man, through and through, Bob has worked hard to provide his children the opportunities he did not have. Forced into early retirement, he meticulously tends his garden maintaining a control there he is unable to achieve with the world around it. Actor must also be comfortable with physical theater.
Ethnicity: All Ethnicities
Fran: 55-65
Cis-female, mother and career senior nurse. Fran has a fierce strength to accompany her deep commitment to her family. In the wake of her husband’s early retirement, she finds herself more and more the decision maker. She’s a realist who can allow the practicalities of life to eclipse her more maternal instincts. Actor must also be comfortable with physical theater.
Ethnicity: All Ethnicities
Pip: 30-45
Cis-female, the oldest child and education department administrator. She’s a mother of two in a seemingly content marriage. However, she is on the verge of pursuing happiness in a way that departs radically from the ideal life her family believes she has. Actor must also be comfortable with physical theater.
Ethnicity: All Ethnicities
Mia/Mark: 30-40
Transgender female. Mia is introduced and seen for the majority of play as Mark and begins the process of transitioning to female at the start of the second act. She is the second child born and an I.T. Specialist. In most people’s eyes, Mia is the no-drama child, leading a stable, relatively uncomplicated life. But when she shares her true identity with her family, their support and understanding are put to the test. Actor must be comfortable performing as both masculine and feminine on stage and must also be comfortable with physical theater. *We highly encourage submission of transgender or non-binary identified actors for this role.
Ethnicity: All Ethnicities
Ben: 28-35
Cis-male, enjoying life as the youngest child until age 10, Ben is the apple of his mother’s eye. He has successfully forged a career in finance and leads the free-wheeling life money can bring. Ben effortlessly drops in and out of family life until shady professional decisions catch up with him. Actor must also be comfortable with physical theater.
Ethnicity: All Ethnicities
Rosie: 18-25
Cis-female: the baby of the family who doesn’t know who she is yet or what she wants to be. She adores her family and the comfort it brings to be with them. Returning home from a foray into the outside world, she finds the family structure she’s known her entire life to be in the throes of change. Actor must also be comfortable with physical theater.
Ethnicity: All Ethnicities
For more information about the auditions, visit
www.santapaulatheatercenter.org
Videos
