Widows by Ariel Dorfman and Tony Kushner

[13 Women; 10 men (adjustable; some doubling, some role combining likely)] Production dates: November 18 - 21

Widows is a smoldering political allegory, co-written by Ariel Dorfman and Pulitzer prize winner Tony Kushner, that dramatizes, in a semi-mythical way, the consequences of human rights abuses in Chile during the ruthless regime of dictator Augusto Pinochet. Although the play’s setting is Chile, the strong political message applies to many countries where severe human rights abuses are ongoing, one angle we will be using in the Alfred production.

The story is set in a small Chilean town, gripped by oppression, completely peopled by women and children. All of them are waiting, seemingly in vain, for their men to return, all of whom have been abducted or otherwise swallowed up by the vicious fascist government. An old woman, some of whom consider crazy and others a shaman, forecasts a change on the horizon, and true to her word, the river begins delivering up the unidentifiable corpses of men to the women. This stirs them into a steady and growing revolt— demanding the return of their men, alive or dead, and if dead, their killers. Widows asks questions which cannot easily be ignored.

Through the use of rear screen video and still projections, powerful imagery, and imaginative use of lights, sound, and special effects, the “river” and other mythic qualities of this play will come to life.

Characters - Women Characters - Men Teresa Father Gabriel Yanina * Captain - authoritarian Katherina * Narrator - mature Rosa Emmanuel Alexandra Alexis Mariluz Lieutenant * Fidelia – a young woman Doctor Cecilia Philip Kastoria * Sofia – an old woman Philip Kastoria’s brother Mariluz Alonso (child) Lucia Amanda Beatrice Kastoria

Audition information: August 29th and 30th, Sat. and Sun., 2:00 PM; C. D. Smith III Theatre

It is recommended that anyone interested in auditioning should read the play ahead of time. Copies are available in the Perf. Arts Division main office (Room 010).

Everyone auditioning will do a monologue reading from the play itself. These should not be memorized but I recommend you spend time working on them. The more interpretative preparation the better you will do and more confident you will be. Go to http://my.alfred.edu/index.cfm/fuseaction/orientation.read.cfm for PDF’s of audition monologues and scenes - scroll down to “Audition for a Performing Arts Production” and click to open all PDF’s. Scroll down to specific Widows audition information. After everyone has done a monologue (you chose which you wish to do), we will do scene readings (also PDF’s at this same site). Characters listed above with an (*) are those with monologues you can chose from, or the general (all women) monologue.

Contact Steve Crosby ([email protected]) or call 871-2566 for more info.