Tag Archives: CenterStage Players of Ohio

Centerstage Players and director Richard Zenk  announce auditions for TRIBES by Nina Raine at CenterStage Players in Lockland.

Audition Dates/Times: November 14th at 6:30pm.

Location: Lockland High School, 249 W Forrer, Cincinnati, OH 45215 – Park in the back parking lot and climb the stairs at door #10​.

Rehearsals: January 21 – March 22, 2018

Performance Dates: ​March 23-25 and 29-31, 2018 ​

Audition process:

1. Complete and save the fillable PDF audition at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdZGFQM_PHkaYvOWclI1WD_6wS8AXux2Kp22DcXLOpA2qyBVw/viewform?usp=sf_link.

2. Further information on the audition process will be emailed to those who send an audition form.

Synopsis
The play focuses on a comically dysfunctional family, made up of the parents Beth and Christopher and three grown children living at home, Daniel, Ruth and Billy, the last of whom is deaf, raised to read lips and speak but without knowledge of sign language. When Billy meets Sylvia, a hearing woman born to deaf parents who is now slowly going deaf herself, his interaction with her (including her teaching him sign language) reveals some of the languages, beliefs, and hierarchies of the family and the “extended family” of the deaf community.

Characters

• Billy (20-30) is deaf since birth. Brought up Oral. Wears hearing aids. He meets Sylvia who teaches him to sign, opening him up to a world he never knew before. He is sheltered, considerate, and a gentle spirit.

• Sylvia (20-30) was born with hearing but now rapidly going deaf. While she hasn’t wanted to let someone in, she falls for Billy. While Billy might see her as a vibrant new light in his life, the rest of the family sees her as “nice and funny”. Experience with ASL is a requirement and experience with the piano is a plus.

• Daniel (25-35) is Billy and Ruth’s brother, a pothead, emotional, and uncomfortable with change. He has always defined himself in reference to being Billy’s big brother. Once Billy starts to find himself, Daniel is unable to cope with the loss and his depression and childhood stutter return.

• Christopher (50-65) is Billy, Ruth and Daniel’s father. He would probably like to think of himself as liberal or at the very least “open-minded”, but in reality things are very black and white to him. He’s a writer and an academic. He loves his children, but wants all of them to be things they aren’t. He has spurned the deaf community.

• Beth (50-60) is the wife of Christopher and mother to Billy, Ruth & Daniel. She is sensitive and empathetic to the complexities of her children’s lives, but oblivious to the real issues. She enjoys having adult children whom she can relate to, but she could have possibly always treated them as adults. She is attempting to redefine herself as a mystery writer.

• Ruth (25-35) is Billy’s older sister. Like the rest of her family, she is struggling with self-identity. She is a typical middle child and is self-aware; perhaps the most self-aware of the entire family (in a way only a 20-something can be). At present she thinks of herself as an opera singer.

CenterStage Players and director Fred Hunt announce the auditions for CONEY ISLAND CHRISTMAS.

Pulitzer Prize winner Donald Margulies weaves together nostalgia, music and merriment for our annual holiday show for people of all ages and all faiths. CONEY ISLAND CHRISTMAS, based on the story “The Loudest Voice” by Grace Paley, introduces us to Shirley Abramowitz, a young Jewish girl who (much to her immigrant parents’ exasperation) is cast as Jesus in the school’s Christmas pageant. As Shirley, now much older, recounts the memorable story to her great-granddaughter, the play captures a timeless and universal tale of what it means to be an American during the holidays.

Audition location: Lockland High School Auditorium, 249 W. Forrer Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45215 (park in lot and enter Door #10)

Audition dates: Tuesday, September 19th (6PM-8PM) and Thursday, September 21st (6PM-8PM) – Callbacks TBD (if needed)

Auditionees can email the headshot to the director if available – not required.

No appointments are required. Auditions will be held in approximate order of arrival.

Rehearsals begin October 23rd, which is date of the first meeting and script read-through.

Production Dates:  December 7-10, 2017 (7:30PM THU/FRI/SAT and 2PM SAT/SUN)

Characters and Stage Ages (NO roles have been pre-cast):

Adults:

• Shirley Abramowitz – Stage Age 90+ (we can make you look older!) – Modern day Great-grandmother
• Mr. & Mrs. Abramowitz – Young Shirley’s Jewish parents (Approx. Age 35-50)
• Mr. Hilton – Drama teacher (Approx. Age 25-35)
• Miss Glace – Music teacher with a French accent (Approx. Age 25-35 – ability to play the piano is a plus)
• Mrs. Kornblum/Teacher/Coney Island Workers – Roles with a few lines (great for those starting or returning to the stage)

Students (Casting Grade 3 and Older):

• Young Shirley – Age 12 – Jewish girl with “the loudest voice”
• Clara – Shirley’s great-granddaughter (Approx. Age 12)
• Additional speaking roles for 7 other male and female students
  MANY additional speaking and non-speaking roles for pageant members (Approx. Age Grades 3-12)

For questions or information, contact the director, Fred Hunt at nwlsdhunt@fuse.net or 513.266.6755.