Audition announcement:
Theatre & Dance Program
Straight White Men
by Young Jean Lee
DIRECTED BY ZEINA SALAME
WHEN: 15-minute individual appointments on Saturday Sept. 17th from 12:00 noon – 6:45pm
and small group callbacks by invitation, time(s) TBD from 11am-4pm Sunday Sept. 18th
Not available? Email Zeina at zsalame@uvm.edu to arrange a prerecorded video audition.
WHERE: Royall Tyler Theatre Building Room TBD. Check for updated signs and postings.
SIGN UP & DETAILS ON THE THEATRE & DANCE CALLBOARD BY THE COPY MACHINE
characters:
In the world of the theatre …
Person in Charge 1: is playing a theatricalized version of themselves; must identify as transgender or nonbinary or some variation of gender/no gender other than cis; highly interactive with audience during the preshow sequence; their lines in the opening sequence will be modified to reflect their own lived experience and narrative in as much as they care to share it for our purposes. Must physically touch the other performers in the piece for “action figure posing” transition sequences throughout.
Person in Charge 2: is playing a theatricalized version of themselves; must identify as transgender or nonbinary or some variation of gender/no gender other than cis; highly interactive with audience during the preshow sequence; their lines in the opening sequence will be modified to reflect their own lived experience and narrative in as much as they care to share it for our purposes. Must physically touch the other performers in the piece for “action figure posing” transition sequences throughout.
“The Stagehands”: The playwright makes a note that “if possible, the stagehands should be female.” TWO of these female/femme stagehands will be prominently featured in the transitional action of the play as “characters.” Those two will officially be members of the CAST & CREW simultaneously. They will be required to attend a number of rehearsals for their blocking/choreography but will not have lines/dialogue to memorize. YES – they will be actual stagehands moving set/props around as needed. All other stagehand assignments will be made my Production Manager Sara Nelson (and will be students of any gender).
In the world of the play …
ED, the father: will be played by Wayne Tetrick
MATT, the eldest: must be played by a cisgender (including cis-passing/presenting), white (or white-passing/presenting) man.
JAKE, the middle: must be played by a cisgender (including cis-passing/presenting), white (or white-passing/presenting) man.
DREW, the youngest: must be played by a cisgender (including cis-passing/presenting), white (or white-passing/presenting) man.
UNDERSTUDY TO THE FAMILY MEMBERS: must be played by a cisgender (including cis-passing/presenting), white (or white-
passing/presenting) man.
WHAT TO PREPARE:
ALL STUDENTS AUDITIONING FOR THIS PIECE SHOULD READ THE PLAY IN ADVANCE
AND BE PREPARED TO CHAT ABOUT ITS CONTENTS AND
THEIR COMFORT LEVELS PARTICIPATING IN THIS WORK.
For – THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE --- Sign up for a 15-minute audition slot. Be prepared to have a conversation with Zeina about the play and do some improvisation/storytelling exercises.
For – THE STAGEHANDS – Sign up for a 15-minute audition slot. Be prepared to have a conversation with Zeina about the play and why you are interested in supporting the piece as a featured stagehand.
For THE BROTHERS MATT, JAKE, and DREW:
Sign up for a 15-minute audition slot. Prepare a 1-minute monologue from any contemporary play or piece of prose. It should ideally be memorized but if it is not totally there, please bring a copy you in case you forget your lines. Be prepared to workshop your monologue with Zeina, then also prepared to have a conversation about the play, its themes, why you want to be in it, etc.
WHAT ELSE???
• Typed resumes and printed out headshots (even if casual/informal) are strongly encouraged.
• Please bring a typed, HARD COPY, of your class schedule, conflicts, and other major dates to staple to your audition form.
• Please review the draft calendar and production dates and cross check your availability.
• Perusal copies are available for 2-hour checkout in Royall Tyler Theatre.
• Due to the overlap in production schedules, members of the cast of WALKING are NOT eligible to be cast in Straight White Men.
QUESTIONS?
o Email the DIRECTOR Zeina Salame at zsalame@uvm.edu
o Email the STAGE MANAGER Shannon Smith at scsmith@uvm.edu