The LAVA Center announces auditions for Jan Maher’s play Ismene, funded in part by Greenfield Local Cultural Council.
If you’ve never heard of Ismene before, you are not alone. She is the forgotten sister of Antigone of Greek tragedy fame. For millennia she has wandered the earth wondering why, unlike everyone else in her family, she persists, restless and unresolved. Set in a small park in the present, Ismene is still looking for her own resolution. Enter Martha, a shy woman with a journal and an ear for listening.
In some sense, Ismene is Everywoman, witness to history, missing from the history books. The play was originally produced and performed in Seattle, WA, where it won “Best of Week Four” at New City Theater’s Directors’ Festival, and was featured in Seattle Public Theater’s Back by Populist Demand series. The Seattle Weekly characterized it as “probing, sensitive, and accessible…. rife with lyricism and unexpected humor.” Ken Freehill, Actors Equity Association, said, ”I was thrilled to have been part of the audience…. It’s a brilliant script and I was very moved by the production.” This revival production will bring three performances to The LAVA Center in September.
“I’ve wanted to do a full production of Ismene ever since we opened The LAVA Center, said Maher. “Because the set is simple — a park bench — and the cast just two, we can actually fit it into our stage area at LAVA. Funding from GLCC was the kickstart I needed to finally put it on the calendar! And because I’ve seen so many talented actresses perform in staged readings at LAVA over the past several years, I’m excited to be able to think about casting it from Western Mass.”
Auditions will be held at The LAVA Center on Sunday, July 27, 4–6 p.m. and Wednesday, July 30, 5–7 p.m. For more information, or to sign up to audition, go to http://bit.ly/4lBph1h