URI
Theatre department casting for ‘Eurydice,’ ‘Lady Windermere’s Fan’
The University of Rhode Island
Theatre Department is calling for actors to audition for its fall 2017
productions of “Eurydice” and “Lady Windermere’s Fan.” The auditions are open
to the public. To register, call the URI Theatre Department at (401) 874-5921 or visit the theatre office on the second floor of the Fine Arts Center, 105 Upper College Road, Kingston.
Eurydice
“Eurydice,” written by Sarah Ruhl,
explores the mythological Greek story of Orpheus and his wife, Eurydice. Told
through Eurydice’s unique perspective, the audience experiences her life in the
“overworld,” her tragic descent to the underworld, and the challenges, beauties
and questions that both worlds provide.
The Theatre Department seeks seven
actors, with auditions to be held in J Studio of the Fine Arts Center on Sept.
5, from 7 to 10:30 p.m. for juniors and seniors and Sept. 6, from 7 to 10:30
p.m. for all others. Call backs will be held in J Studio on Sept. 7, from 7 to
10 p.m. The first read-through will be held Sept. 9, at 12:30 p.m.
Actors should wear comfortable clothing they can move well in as the Theatre Department will be exploring ensemble movement and working on sides from “Eurydice.”
Actors are asked to prepare a 1- to
2-minute contemporary monologue, and may feel free to explore Ruhl’s other work
as source material.
Performances will be held in J
Studio from Oct. 12 through Oct. 14 and Oct. 19 through Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m.,
with additional performances Oct. 15 and Oct. 22 at 2 p.m. This production
provides the opportunity for completely open and flexible casting. There are no
pre-determined requirements.
The roles are:
The roles are:
- Eurydice
- Her Father
- Orpheus
- A Nasty Interesting Man/The Lord of the Underworld
- A Chorus of Stones:
- Big Stone
- Little Stone
- Loud Stone
Lady Windermere’s Fan
The Theatre Department also seeks 16
to 24 actors to star in “Lady Windermere’s Fan,” a play by Oscar Wilde. Set in
1893, the production portrays a Wildean world of London’s upper crust Victorian
Society, focusing on Lord and Lady Windermere — Arthur and Margaret — lovingly
married for two years.
Lady Windermere sees the world in
black and white, never gray, good or evil, never in between. Just 21, she is
about to celebrate her coming of age at a soiree to which her husband requests
she invite the center of gossip Mrs. Erlynne. Margaret refuses. Arthur insists
on helping Mrs. Erlynne gain access to Society.
Events escalate in the next 24
hours, during which time Lady Windermere learns what truly makes a good woman.
The questions of who is Mrs. Erlynne and what of Lady Windermere’s fan are
central to the story. In this world of manners and morals — how things seem and
how they are — it is the birthday gift and how it is handled that tells the
tale.
The cast will include nine women and
seven men, as well as eight extras for the Party-Ball Scene Act 2. Actors are
required to read the entire play (copies are available in the theatre office)
and prepare a 1- to 2-minute monologue from their choice of the following Oscar
Wilde plays: “A Woman of No Importance,” “The Importance of Being Earnest,” or
“An Ideal Husband.”
Actors should pay attention to the thought and language, and choose material that reveals something about themselves, as well as something about the character for whom you will audition.
Actors should pay attention to the thought and language, and choose material that reveals something about themselves, as well as something about the character for whom you will audition.
At auditions some actors will be
asked to read sides. At Call backs all will read sides from “Lady Windermere’s
Fan.”
Auditions will be held Sept. 5, from
6:30 to 10:30 p.m. in G Studio of the Fine Arts Center for juniors and seniors,
followed by auditions Sept. 6, at the same time and place for all others. Call
backs will be held Sept. 7, from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. in the Robert E. Will
Theatre of Fine Arts.
The first read-through and
discussion is scheduled for Oct. 14 from 1 to 5 p.m. Table work and limited
rehearsal will commence Oct. 17.
Understudy rehearsals are generally scheduled for Sunday evenings and understudies are required to attend cast rehearsals when their character is being directed.
Cast rehearsals are scheduled weekdays, Tuesday through Friday, generally 6 to 10 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m.
Understudy rehearsals are generally scheduled for Sunday evenings and understudies are required to attend cast rehearsals when their character is being directed.
Cast rehearsals are scheduled weekdays, Tuesday through Friday, generally 6 to 10 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m.
Rehearsals during Thanksgiving week
will be held Monday and Tuesday, but not Wednesday through Friday. Actors are
expected to return for tech weekend and dress tech. The company is expected to
attend photo shoots.
Performances will be held in the
Will Theatre from Nov. 30 through Dec. 2, 2017, and Dec. 7 through Dec. 9,
beginning at 7:30 p.m., with additional performances Dec. 3 and Dec. 10, at 2
p.m.
Efforts will be made to avoid
casting the same actors in both productions.
URI Theatre is committed to an environment of
inclusion and diversity. Auditions are open to any student, staff member, or
faculty member of the University of Rhode Island, as well as any member of the
community. Non-traditional and equal-opportunity casting is encouraged