Downtown Chula Vista's Intimate Live Theatre

AUDITION NOTICES

Monday, April 5, 2010 and Tuesday, April 6, 2010 at 7 pm. NOTE: This date is a change from a previous notice. To Kill a Mockingbird Adapted by Christopher Sergel Based on the book by Harper Lee Directed by Daniel Zisko Scout, a young girl in a quiet southern town, is about to experience the dramatic events that will affect the rest of her life. She and her brother, Jem, are being raised by their widowed father, Atticus, and by a strong-minded housekeeper, Calpurnia. The black people of the community have a special feeling about Scout's father and she doesn't know why. A few of her white friends are inexplicably hostile and Scout doesn't understand this either. Unpleasant things are shouted and the bewildered girl turns to her father. Atticus, a lawyer, explains that he's defending a young Negro wrongfully accused of a grave crime. Since this is causing such an upset, Scout wants to know why he's doing it. "Because if I didn't," her father replies, "I couldn't hold my head up." When she asks why take on such a hopeless fight in 1935, he tells her, "Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason not to try." Roles are available as follows: SCOUT (9-11) A young girl about to experience the events that will shape the rest of her life. She should, ideally, seem as young as nine. Scout is courageous and forthright. If a question occurs to her, she'll ask it. JEM (11-13) He is a few years older than his sister Scout, and like his sister - perhaps even more than his sister - he's reaching out to understand their unusual and thus not conventionally-admirable father. ATTICUS Father to Jem and Scout. A defense laywer in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama. He's quietly impressive, reserved, and civilized. It's typical of Attitcus that when he found out he was an extraordinary shot with a rifle, he gave up shooting - because he considered it gave him an unfair advantage over animals. Determined to give a black man the best defense possible in a time where most lawyers would let them hang for a crime. CALPURNIA African American: Black, proud and capable, she has raised the motherless Jem and Scout. She's a self educated woman with high standards, her discipline to Scout and Jem is uncompromising. DILL (10-12) Small, blond, and wise beyond his years. Dill is neater and better dressed than his friends. There is an undercurrent of sophistication about him, but his laugh is sudden and happy. MAUDIE ATKINSON A woman of Atticus' generation, she is lovely and sensitive. She has a wisdom and compassion that suggests the best of the South in this period. WALTER CUNNINGHAM Poor farmer who shares the prejudices of the period, but can be reached as a human being. Can be a leader and do the right thing when called upon to do so. REVEREND SYKES The black minister of the First Purchase Church. Imposing man with strong presence. Needs to have a "minister" voice. HECK TATE Town sheriff and ally of Atticus. He does his duty as he sees it and enforces the law without favor. STEPHANIE CRAWFORD The town gossip...and enjoys it. She sometimes can't help saying things that are petty, but only because she enjoys stirring things up. BOO RADLEY A pale recluse who has not left his house in fifteen years. It takes an emergency to finally make him emerge and when he does so, he is not sure about how to deal with people. MRS. DUBOSE An old woman who lives on the street. She constantly torments Scout and Jem, but is fighting her own unseen demons. Her existence ends up having an huge impact on the lives of Scout and Jem. TOM ROBINSON Robinson is the young black man who is accused of a horrible crime. He is young and handsome, but with a crippled left arm. JUDGE TAYLOR County Judge. He does what he can within his courtroom to see that justice is done. BOB EWELL A poor little man who lives with his family next to the town dump. He is hateful and mean, a drunk who likes to take his frustrations out on his children. He thinks the trial will make him important, but when it backfires he begins to look for revenge. MAYELLA EWELL Bob's oldest daughter, she is bringing the accusation on Tom Robinson. She has a desperate need of companionship which has overwhelmed her. To Kill a Mockingbird will perform June 4 through July 3. Auditions will be cold reading from the script. Those auditioning for the children's roles are asked to bring a 1-2 minute prepared monologue. Please come ready to audition in a Southern dialect. Auditions will begin promptly at 7pm. No appointment is necessary. Please bring a head shot and theatre resume. If you have any questions, please contact the director at dan.zisko@gmail.com.

Sunday, June 6 and Monday, June 7, 2010 at 7 pm Arsenic and Old Lace by Joseph Kesselring Directed by Bob Christiansen The Brewster sisters may be among the most admired little old ladies in Brooklyn. Their reputation for helping those in need is legendary. If others only knew that their kindness extends to putting lonely, homeless old men out of their misery by poisoning them and burying them in their cellar. Their nephew Mortimer, a drama critic, is better known for his poison pen. He has just told an ecstatic Elaine, a minister’s daughter and neighbor to the Brewster sisters, that he will marry her. Then he discovers his aunts’ rather bizarre hobby. We also meet Mortimer’s two disturbed brothers, one who thinks he is Teddy Roosevelt and one who has a long criminal record. Mortimer begins to realize that insanity runs in his family, and tries to figure a way to get them all committed. Roles are available for one woman and eleven men. Some of the male roles may be doubled or tripled. The roles of Abby and Martha Brewster have been pre-cast. Actors can be any age, but must be believable playing the given age range. Elaine Harper (Major support, late 20s). Very much in love with Mortimer and willing to put up with his self-absorption. Very feminine, yet strong and determined. Mortimer Brewster (Lead, 30s). A good heart is hidden beneath a hefty layer of self-assurance and self-importance. When things get totally out of control, he tries to take control—and fails miserably. Very strong comedic acting needed. Prefer an actor 5’10” or taller. Teddy Brewster (Major Support, 40s). A Teddy Roosevelt look- alike. A likeable loony. Powerful voice. Jonathan Brewster (Major Support, 35-35). Menacing and mean. Very tall. A Boris Karloff look-alike. His humor is expressed in sneers and snarls, not smiles. Dr. Einstein (Major Support, 35-45). Jonathan’s partner in crime. He tries to rein in Jonathan’s temper, with limited success. Not tall, with an accent—think Peter Lorre. Officer O’Hara (Major Support, 30s). A policeman who wants to be a playwright, and clearly he is not cut out for police work. He doesn’t even notice a crime occurring is his presence. Rev Dr. Harper (Minor Support, 50 plus). Elaine’s father, the local minister. He is very fond of the Brewster sisters, but somewhat uneasy with Mortimer and his theatre-going habit. Officer Brophy (Minor Support, 40-55). Local beat cop, with a sickly wife. Officer Klein (Minor Support, 30-55). Another local cop, Brophy’s partner. Easy going. Mr. Gibbs (Minor Support, 70s). A lonely, homeless old man. He may be the next victim of the Brewster sisters. Lt. Rooney (Minor Support, 50-65). A police lieutenant. A very tough, driving, dominating officer, but not much better at his work than his men. Mr. Witherspoon (Minor Support, 60s or 70s). The elderly superintendant of the Happy Dale Sanitarium. A tight-lipped disciplinarian with a briefcase. Auditions will be by cold reading from the script. Scripts and sides are NOT available from the theater, but the play is available at many libraries or can be ordered through Dramatists Play Service, Inc. Auditions will begin promptly at 7 pm. No appointment is necessary. Please bring a head shot and theater resume. If you have any questions, email the director at bobchristiansen@bigfoot.com. Arsenic and Old Lace will run from July 23 to August 21, 2010.