Wanted for UMass Theater: Nimble performers who love comedy!
Do you love comedy? More importantly, do you love performing comedy? If the answer to those questions is yes, UMass Theater needs you at the auditions for its upcoming fall shows!
This fall, we present two comedies, and we’re auditioning for both Sept. 11 & 12. THE HATMAKER’S WIFE by Lauren Yee, willl be directed by Gina Kaufmann (familiar to audiences locally as a UMass faculty member and director of many works at Silverthorne Theater). It’ll be followed by THEY DON’T PAY? WE WON’T PAY! by Dario Fo and Franca Rame in translation by Jon Laskin and Michael Aquilante, directed by Behnam Alibakhshi, who brought us Aurash last year.
Both The Hatmaker’s Wife and They Don’t Pay? We Won’t Pay! require nimble actors with a keen sense of comic timing. Auditions will be held for both shows on Monday, September 11 and Tuesday, September 12 from 6:30 – 10:30 in The Curtain Theater. Performers can audition once to be considered for both shows! Please arrive in our Greenroom 15 minutes before your chosen audition time to register and fill out paperwork. Callbacks will be Wednesday, September 13 and Thursday, September 14 from 6:30 – 10:30 pm. Rehearsals are 4 hours per session for 5 sessions per week and are typically 6:30 – 10:30 pm.
DESCRIPTIONS:
The Hatmaker’s Wife, by Lauren Yee, is a whimsical, comic fable about finding family. Rehearsals start September 18th and performances run Oct. 27 – Nov. 4 in the Curtain theater.
Characters:
Hetchman – Our hero. Hetchman the hatmaker. Curmudgeonly.
Hetchman’s Wife – Also our hero. Nondescript. Does she have a name? Who knows.
Meckel – Hetchman’s neighbor and only friend. Cheerful, popular and kind. He is the opposite of Hetchman.
Wall – A wall. A storyteller. Guardian of the Hetchmans.
Voice – A young woman. Does she have a story?
Gabe – Voice’s boyfriend. Easy-going in a way Voice has never been.
Golem – A golem, akin to the Jewish Golem of Prague. Only makes sounds, but does intuit what is going on. Eats a lot. Made of mud.
The characters of Hetchman, Meckel and Gabe are male-identifying. The characters of Hetchman’s Wife and Voice are female-identifying.
They Won’t Pay? We Won’t Pay! is an Italian comedy about the conflict between working-class people and a capitalistic vision of rules and morality. This battle leads people to change and redefine morality principles in their social life when they are facing a brutal and unfair situation imposed by power holders because they want to survive. Rehearsals start October 2 and performances run Dec. 1-8 in the Rand Theater.
Characters:
Antonia – Unemployed Housewife
Giovanni – Antonia’s Husband; Factory Worker
Margherita – Antonia’s Younger Friend; Temp-Worker
Luigi – Margherita’s Husband; Factory Worker and Housing Policeman
Federal Agent and Undertaker
Giovanni’s Father – Elderly Man and Assistant Undertaker
Various Police Officers, Agents and Laborers
The roles of Housing Policeman, Federal Agent, Undertaker and Giovanni’s Father are played by the same actor.
How to prepare:
Please prepare a one-to-two minute contemporary monologue. Alternatively, you may chose to prepare one of the following monologues from They Don’t Pay: 1) P 5,6 Antonia OR 20 P 22,23 Giovani
All roles are open to actors of any race, ethnicity, gender identity, ability, age or body type. We are seeking a diverse cast. Please prepare a one-to-two minute contemporary monologue. Whimsy is appreciated, though not required. Most importantly — bring your true and open self! We look forward to seeing you. Community members welcome!
In addition to the monologue, auditioners will also play with a short scene from The Hatmakers Wife — a partner will be randomly assigned at the auditions. The audition scene: Page 16 – 17, Hetchman and Hetchman’s Wife, from “Ey. Ey, wife!” through “You look for hat. Yourself.” (No accents, please.)
Visit SignUp Genius for the signup sheet, a link to the scripts and audition scene, and additional details.