The Half Life of Marie Curie
By Lauren Gunderson
Directed by Laura Darling
In 1911, Marie Curie won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for her discovery of the elements radium and polonium. By 1912, she was the object of ruthless gossip over an alleged affair with the married Frenchman Paul Langevin, all but erasing her achievements from public memory. Weakened and demoralized by the press lambasting her as a “foreign” Jewish temptress and a homewrecking traitor, Marie agrees to join her friend and colleague Hertha Ayrton, an electromechanical engineer and suffragette, and recover from the scandal at Hertha’s seaside retreat on the British coast.
The Half-life of Marie Curie revels in the power of female friendship as it explores the relationship between these two brilliant women, both of whom are mothers, widows, and fearless champions of scientific inquiry.
Casting:
2 women.
Marie: A highly intelligent woman. She has been widowed and found love again, but also scandal. She is begrudgingly recognized for her achievements and has a hard time letting go of things that hurt her, both people and her research. She loves people fiercely and over the play, grows weaker because of her own discovery. Her heartache and shame encompass her, blinding her to her own potential at times.
Hertha: older than Marie. Strong willed, intelligent and loyal to all fault. A suffragette and electromechanical engineer. She is a steadfast companion, smart and sarcastic.
Age will not be a major factor in casting.
Auditions will take place at Albany Civic Theater, 235 Second Ave, Albany, NY 12209, on October 3rd and 4th. Sign ins begin at 6:30 and auditions start at 7pm.
Auditions will consist of cold side readings from the script. The Director will be looking for someone with a strong stage presence who can easily take direction and has on stage chemistry with their co-star as if they are old friends and equals.
Rehearsals will take place 2 to 3+ times a week from Sunday to Thursday at dates convenient to the cast and based upon availability.
Mandatory tech week is November 26th to November 30th.
Show dates are December 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16 and 17. The Sunday December 10th performance also includes a talkback. Mandatory strike is December 17th.
For any questions, please email lauramdarling@gmail.com