AUDITIONS
Professional Theater Auditions
THE PITMEN PAINTERS
By Lee Hall
Directed by Sarah May
Beck Center for the Arts will hold auditions for the final Studio Theater production of the 2012/2013 Professional Theater Season, The Pitmen Painters by Lee Hall. This wonderful play, fresh from an acclaimed run in London and on Broadway, tells the true story of a group of Newcastle (UK) miners whose lives were changed when they found themselves taking an art class by mistake in the 1930s. They went on to gain worldwide attention as artists known as the Ashington Group. Like Hall’s acclaimed film and musical Billy Elliot, this script tells another inspiring story of what happens when working class laborers (or any disenfranchised group) are exposed to the arts and have the opportunity to realize their potential.
Sarah May, who recently directed Ensemble Theatre’s award-winning production of The Normal Heart, returns to Beck Center’s Studio Theater to direct this touching and entertaining show. Some of Sarah’s past Beck shows include Mamet’s Race, Wings starring Dorothy Silver, Frozen, The Children’s Hour, The History Boys, A Piece of My Heart, and The Diary of Anne Frank.
Sarah is looking for an experienced ensemble of 7 men and 2 women to bring this exciting story to life. The production will preview on May 30 and run weekends through July 7. All roles are open; both Equity and non-Equity actors are encouraged to audition. Please note: Actors already cast in The Iceman Cometh and other April/May plays may audition for this show. Rehearsals will begin in late April. Two AEA contracts are available. All performers 18 and over receive a stipend.
Audition dates: Monday, January 28 and Tuesday, January 29, 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Call Beck Center Customer Service at 216.521.2540 x10 to schedule an appointment.
Rehearsal dates: Begin in late April 2013.
Production dates: May 31 through July 7, 2013
Actors will be asked to read from the script. You may perform a short monologue if your work is not known by the director. Note: We will work with a dialect coach in rehearsals, but actors are encouraged to take a “stab” at the accents in the readings.
Cast Requirements:
The action of the play takes place between 1934 and 1947.
Most of the characters are based on real people and age through the piece
The roles are:
George Brown: 40-60’s, the oldest & leader of the group, a stickler on details, bossy labor representative.
Oliver Kilbourn: mid 30-40’s, thoughtful, becomes the most famous and accomplished of the miner/artists.
Jimmy Floyd: 40-60’s, a regular hard-working bloke, timid, curious, always surprised by life.
Young Lad: 20’s, youthful, eager to find regular work in the mines, to find out where he fits in.
Harry Wilson: 45-60, not able to work as miner since being gassed in WWI, a dental engineer, a Marxist.
Robert Lyon: 40-55, British painter and Art professor, upper class, unintentionally self-involved & elitist.
Susan Parks: 20’s, an earnest young art student and life model, later in her 30’s. (very brief nudity)
Helen Sutherland: 40-50, wealthy, cultured, and influential patron of the arts, posh, beautiful, well-meaning.
Ben Nicholson: 30-40, (1 nice scene) a famous young British artist, helped found arts colony at St. Ives.
Note: The miners’ scenes have a delicious interaction reminiscent of Shakespeare’s rude mechanicals. This show should be great fun! Call Sarah at 216.410.1781 if you have questions.
Monty Python’s SPAMALOT
Beck Center will hold auditions for its summer production of Monty Python’s SPAMALOT on Monday, February 25 and Tuesday, February 26 at Beck Center in Lakewood.
WHEN: By Appointment on Monday, Feb. 25th (beginning at 6PM) and Tuesday, Feb. 26th (beginning at 5PM). Call 216.521.2540 x10 to schedule an appointment time.
WHERE: Beck Center in Lakewood. 17801 Detroit Ave. 44107
PREPARATION: For this open call all you need to prepare is one 90 second vocal selection from the Broadway repertoire. An accompanist will be provided. Please bring sheet music in your key. Singing ~a cappella~ is discouraged. NO Dance necessary at this open call. There will be a dance call during callbacks.
REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE: “Spamalot” runs July 12 through August 18 - Performances are 8PM on Fridays and Saturdays, and 3PM on Sundays. Rehearsals will begin on June 1.
ROLES: All roles are OPEN! Casting will likely be 13 men and 7 women. More information on roles and doubling can be found at
www.theatricalrights.com/monty-pythons-spamalot
2 AEA contracts are available { Guest Artist} . All non-equity actors 18 and over receive a stipend. Age ranges for this production are 18 to 65. No one under 16 will be considered for this production.
CALLBACKS: Actors invited to callbacks will be asked to return sometime during the weekend of March 2/3. At this time there will be a dance call as well as vocals from the show and scene work.
STAFF for this production includes Scott Spence (Director/Artistic Director), Larry Goodpaster (Musical Director), Martin Cespedes (Choreographer), Becky Adams (Stage Manager), Trad Burns (Set/Light Design), Aimee Kluiber (Costume Design) and Carlton Guc (Sound Design)
Audition appointments are being taken as of Friday, January 18.
Call 216.521.2540 x10 to get your appointment. If it totally impossible for you to attend one of these two open call dates, email Scott Spence at grumio85@aol.com. Every effort will be made to see you if at all possible.
Youth Theater Auditions
BYE BYE BIRDIE
Directed by Russ Stich
Show Dates: May 10-12 & 17-19, 2013; Mackey Main Stage
Auditions: February 23 & 24, 2013
Open to all Beck Center students ages 6 to 19
