New Jewish Theatre Auditions 2018 – 2019
April 28, 1-4pm
Equity and non-Equity auditions
General Auditions will be held Saturday, April 28, from 1-5pm
Callbacks will be Sunday, April 29, 5-9pm
All auditions will take place at the The J, 2 Millstone Campus Dr, 63146
Diverse casting sought for all productions. All roles are paid.
The New Jewish Theatre will hold auditions for Equity and non-Equity roles for the following productions:
- DISTRICT MERCHANTS, A Variation on Shakespear’s Merchant of Venice by Aaron Posner: Love and litigation, deep passions, and predatory lending are taken to a new level in this uneasy comedy, which wades fearlessly into the endless complexities and contradictions of life in America. Set among the Black and Jewish populations of an imagined time and place-—simultaneously Shakespearean, post-Civil War Washington, DC, and today, a remarkable tale of money, merchandise, and mercy.
- 1st rehearsal December 31, Jan 23 – Feb 10, Jacqueline Thompson directs
- TIME STANDS STILL, by Donald Margulies: The play focuses on Sarah and James, a photojournalist and a foreign correspondent trying to find happiness in a world that seems to have gone crazy. Theirs is a partnership based on telling the toughest stories, and together, making a difference. But when their own story takes a sudden turn, the adventurous couple confronts the prospect of a more conventional life.
- 1st rehearsal March 3, March 27 – April 14, Doug Finlayson directs
- I NOW PRONOUNCE, by Tasha Gordon-Solmon: After Adam and Nicole’s wedding culminates in an awkwardly timed fatality, the reception spins into an increasingly strange evening that leaves the bride and groom questioning just what it is they’re celebrating. But there’s no stopping the festivities: the flower girls are running amuck, the bridal party members are more preoccupied with their own flailing relationships, and everyone needs to stop ordering the blue drinks. Comedies end in marriage. Tragedies end in death. This play begins with both.
- 1st rehearsal April 22, May 15 – June 2, Edward Coffield directs
Character breakdown:
DISTRICT MERCHANTS, by Aaron Poser:
- Antoine – 50’s or 60’s, prosperous, powerful African American merchant. A man of intelligence and conviction.
- Shylock – 50’s or 60’s, prosperous, Jewish merchant and moneylender, pillar of his community, wounded, difficult
- Jessica – 20’s, Shylock’s daughter, whip-smart, sheltered and big hearted
- Benjamin Bassanio – 20’s or 30’s, ambitious, charming, determined, light-complexioned African American man
- Lorenzo (Ren) – 20’s or 30’s, bold, charming, unscrupulous, enthusiastic, curious and highly susceptible rascal.
- Portia – 20’s or 30’s, wickedly smart, witty, shrewd, wealthy and privileged white woman.
- Nessa – 20’s or 30’s, Portia’s servant, quick wit, sharp tongued and radically honest. African American woman
- Lancelot – 20’s or 30’s, Shylock’s servant, erudite, conflicted, hopeful, heartfelt in word and deed. African American.
TIME STANDS STILL, by Donald Margulies:
- Sarah Goodwin – 30’s, Photo journalist, Head centered, strong willed, defiant of her own weaknesses, used to having the most power in a room, sophisticated
- James Dodd – 30s, freelance writer, fiercely protective of Sarah, still reeling from time in a war zone, seeking a calm, domestic life
- Richard Ehrlich – 55, photo editor, sympathetic to Sarah and James intellectually but emotionally he is man who has just seen the light and that light is Mandy; despite his new love, he remains grounded and logical
- Mandy Bloom – 25, event planner, light on her feet, quite naive but with a desire to overcome it, a natural caretaker, unsophisticated, impulsively emotional, and warmly responsive to other people
I NOW PRONOUNCE, by Tasha Gordon-Solmon:
- Rabbi – An old rabbi, possibly pushing 80, probably pushing 90, and he looks his age, or older, like the smallest breeze might blow him away (doubles as his wife, Mrs. Goodman) Has a good sense of comic timing.
- Eva – late 20s-early 30s. A bridesmaid and Nicole’s friend from childhood. Type A, but not very good at it. Has no boundaries. She means well, but can’t seem to get things right. Any race/ ethnicity.
- Michelle – late 20s-early 30s. A bridesmaid and Nicole’s friend from high school. Believes in happy endings, and fairy tales. Off-beat, funny and skilled/nimble with language. Any race/ethnicity.
- Nicole – late 20s-early 30s. The bride. A perfectly nice, likable person when everything is going well, which, unfortunately, it is not. She is losing her sh*t. Kind of basic. Jewish.
- Seth – late 20s -early 30s. A groomsman and friend of Adam. Has always played by the rules. Blind sighted when he learns his marriage is ending. May finally have some fun, though he probably doesn’t know how to do that. Any race/ethnicity.
- Dave– late 20s-early 30s. Confident, self-aware, charismatic and over it all. Or at least wants to be. Any race/ethnicity.
- Adam – late 20s – early 30s. A groom. A finance guy with a heart, but still a finance guy. Honest for better and worse. According to some estimations, he has it all, but he is starting to question that. Jewish.
Preparation
- For the audition, please prepare two contemporary contrasting monologues not to exceed 3 minutes total
- Please bring picture and resume for each production for which you are auditioning plus one additional for the theatre (Please be sure the headshot and resume are stapled back-to-back, and that the resume includes up to date contact information)
- Please arrive prior to your appointment time; we may see you early if we are running ahead of schedule.
To make an appointment, call 314.442.3283, email npiper@jccstl.org.
Casting authority NJT Artistic Director Kathleen Sitzer, Directors Jacqueline Thompson, Doug Finlayson & Edward Coffield