Public Playhouse Announces Auditions for two upcoming productions!

Daughters

By John Morgan Evans

Directed by Dustin Milberg

In this beautifully- written, heartfelt comedy, four generations of Italian-American women gather in the kitchen of the DiAngelo's Brooklyn home to deal with life, death, and cannelloni, while the dying family patriarch is in the bedroom listening to Italian opera records. Warm and funny, Daughters is one of the best-written family plays of the last few years, with five incredibly rich and clever roles for women.

These five are very REAL people and need to come across as such.  We are not looking for caricatures but the honest connection between the five women

Tessie – age 40 (35 – 45) – Outspoken, obstinate, controlling - a take-charge neurotic.  The director is looking for sincerity and the woman trying to hold it all together despite being on the verge of a nervous breakdown. 

Mom – age 65 (55 – 70) – A hard-working homemaker, absent-minded, often puts her foot in her mouth - dishes up endless batches of manicotti and lasagna.  The director is looking for the “you don’t eat enough, you’re wasting away” mother.  He wants to see the woman with the best of intentions but not very wise to the world.

Patty Ann – age 35 (25 – 40) – Shallow, self-indulgent, relishes status as wife of a Long Island businessman.  The director is looking for a woman who would spend all day on Rodeo Drive , probably drives the $70,000 BMW SUV, Versace everything, and external polish is critical.  This character must show the struggle to maintain appearances while she is being torn apart inside.

Grandma – age 93 (55 – 100) – Sensible and silent - never learned English but always effectively communicates her good nature to those she loves.  The director is looking for an actor who comes across as sincere and wise even though everyone speaks of her as if she was not in the room.  If you can speak Italian, it is a huge plus.

Cetta – age 17 (15 – 24) – Independent, energetic, strong-willed, resilient and beautiful.  The director is looking for a young woman trying to grow up too fast and is probably capable of it.  She must show that she is near going down the same path as her mother (Tessie) and at a critical point in her life.  She must show real emotion and the struggle between listening to her heart and her head.

Rehearsals start August 9, with performances September 12–October 4.  Prior to tech, rehearsals are generally Mondays - Wednesdays from 6-10pm, Saturdays from 10am - 5pm and Sundays from 5:30-10pm.  The show will perform at CoHo Theatre.   Actors will receive a stipend for reimbursement of travel costs.  One AEA umbrella contract is available.

Auditions will be held at CoHo Theater Monday, June 30 from 5:30PM - 9PM, by appointment only.  Bring a headshot and resume to the audition, and prepare a 1-2 minute contemporary monologue.

Please read the play prior to the audition.  Although Multnomah County Library does not carry the play, copies are available through Powell’s, www.amazon.com, www.samuelfrench. com, and www.biblio.com.  A copy may be borrowed from Public Playhouse with a $5 refundable deposit. 

Email auditions@publicplayhouse.org or call 503-922-0532 to schedule an appointment. Callbacks will be held Tuesday, July 1.

It's a Wonderful Life:
A Live Radio Play

Adapted for the stage by Joe Landry

Directed by Mary McDonald-Lewis

This bittersweet, classic tale of Christmas regret and redemption is told with an unusual twist: it takes place in 1946, in a run-down Portland, Ore. radio station, where five actors must take on all the roles of the show, due to a stuck snowbound train that's left them with only one quarter of a cast!  With the help of a cantankerous stage manager and a table of sound effects, the cast manages to just barely pull off a Christmas miracle.

 Cast - 3 Men, 2 Women

These five are radio actors who've been hired to perform "It’s a Wonderful Life," but certainly not under these conditions!  They are true theatre troupers, though and bring all their quirks, and passion, and talent, to the microphones -- even under duress. 

All must be gifted voice actors -- though most of the performance is read, radio-show style, there is memorization, and characterizations must be honest, straightforward, and distinctly differentiated one from the other.

Ages have been indicated so as to provide the most appropriate vocal range based on the characters played by each, but it is important to note that no matter what the actor's age, they are playing a wide range of character ages and must be believable in all roles.

 Male 1 -- age 36 -- George Bailey (and Young George)

Male 2 -- age 60 -- Announcer, Joseph, Mr. Gower, Henry F. Potter, Uncle Billy Bailey, Ernie, Pete Bailey (child), Mr. Bailey, Old Man Collins, Ed, Man, Guiseppe Martini, Nick, Bridgekeeper, Binky

Male 3 -- age 30 -- Harry Bailey (and Young Harry), Bert the Cop, Clarence Oddbody, AS-2, Sam Wainwright, Lawyer, Dr. Campbell, Randall, Tom, Man 2, Schultz, Charlie, Carter, Horace the Bank Teller, Tommy Bailey (child), Mr. Welch, Man at Restaurant

Female 1 -- age 32 -- Mary Hatch Bailey (and Young Mary)

Female 2 -- age 50 -- Rose Bailey, Violet Bick, (and Young Violet), Zuzu Bailey (child) Ruth Dakin Bailey, Edwina Hatch, Passerby at Run on Bank, Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Davis, Janie Bailey (child), Henrietta (child), Mrs. Welsh, Matilda, Sadie

REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE DETAILS

Rehearsals start November 3, with performances December 5-20. 

Prior to tech, rehearsals are generally Mondays - Wednesdays from 6-10pm, Saturdays from 12- 5pm and Sundays from 5:30-8pm. 

The show will perform at CoHo Theater.  Actors will receive a stipend for reimbursement of travel costs.

Auditions will be held at CoHo Theater Monday, July 7 from 6-9pm, by appointment only.  Bring a headshot and resume to the audition, and prepare a 1-2 minute contemporary monologue.  Sides will be provided at the audition and are available ahead of time electronically upon request.

Please read the play prior to the audition.  Copies are available through Playscripts, Inc.: http://www.playscripts.com.   A copy may be borrowed from Public Playhouse with a $5 refundable deposit.

 Email auditions@publicplayhouse.org or call 503-922-0532 to schedule an appointment. Callbacks will be held Tuesday, July 8 from 6-9pm.