Providence Players of Fairfax – AUDITION ANNOUNCEMENT
The House of Blue Leaves By John Guare Directed by Michael Donahue In this whacky, poignant comedy, Zoo attendant Artie Shaughnessy is a failed songwriter with visions of fame and glory. He copes with an overly medicated wife, an impatient mistress, an AWOL and homicidal son being pursued by military police, and beer-drinking nuns on the day the Pope visits New York City. His girlfriend convinces Artie to call his old school buddy Billy Einhorn, a famous film director from Los Angeles, to finagle a job writing music for Billy’s movies in a desperate attempt to find stardom. Set in 1965 in Queens NY, House of Blue Leaves is a unique blend of farce, dark comedy and drama. It illuminates the American dream and an obsession with celebrities that is still relevant today. Winner of the Obie and Drama Critics’ awards for Best American Play. This production contains mature themes and graphic language.
Eleven Roles (6 Women – 5 Men) – All Open The Providence Players of Fairfax is a non-profit community theater troupe. All participation is on a volunteer, non-compensated basis.
Performance Dates and Times Preview: March 13 7:00pm Curtain
Evening Performances: Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays; 7:30 pm Curtain March 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, & 29
Matinees: Sundays; 2:00 pm curtain March 16 & 23
Audition Dates Tues Jan 7, 6:30 ‐9:30 pm (In the James Lee Multi‐purpose Rm) Wednesday Jan 8, 6:30‐9:30 pm (In the James Lee Multi‐purpose Rm) Call‐Backs (if needed): Thursday Jan 9, 6:30‐9:300 pm (In the James Lee Urbanites Rm) Providence Players of Fairfax – AUDITION ANNOUNCEMENT
Location The James Lee Community Center 2855 Annandale Road Falls Church, VA 22042 (Look For Signs To Audition Room)
If you are not able to make initial auditions on Jan 7th or 8th, some initial auditions may be scheduled for early in the evening of Thursday January 9th with prior approval of the director. He may be contacted at [email protected]
Audition Information/Instructions
PLEASE RSVP to [email protected] with the dates you plan on auditioning.
HOW WE WORK: You are encouraged to plan to come to auditions on more than one of the audition evenings. This is not a requirement. Most PPF auditions have actors up and down to read multiple times in multiple combinations and scenes. Most actors find this fun. As space allows, you will be able to watch all the auditions. You may be asked to go into the hallway with audition partners and work a bit on a scene. We will do our best to get you up multiple times reading for parts you are interested in. You will also be asked to read for other parts you may not be auditioning for. The Providence Players strives to make our productions open to interested and engaged actors & actresses, regardless of their level of experience. We try and make our auditions as relaxing and fun as possible.
AUDITION PROCESS: Auditions will consist of readings from the script ‐ No monologue required.
AUDITION SIDES: Sides for the audition process will be supplied at auditions.
AUDITION FORM: Resumes and headshots will be accepted, but are not required. Please ALSO complete the attached PPF The House of Blue Leaves Audition Form and bring it with you to the audition. This will also be available on our website.
MEMBERSHIP: The Providence Players of Fairfax is a membership organization. Membership is not required to audition. If cast, actors in addition to production team members will be asked to become members of the Providence Players ($10) for the season (if they are not already).
RSVP: Please send us an RSVP if you plan to audition to [email protected] (or email us any questions you may have).
Rehearsal Schedule: A copy of the preliminary stage rehearsal schedule is included with this announcement and will be available online and at auditions. In addition to the stage rehearsal schedule, additional full cast readings of the play and some selected scene study and character work will scheduled based on actor availability prior to or in addition to the stage schedule. The schedule for these will be finalized a week or two after auditions. Unless indicated otherwise, all rehearsals will happen at the James Lee Providence Players of Fairfax – AUDITION ANNOUNCEMENT
Community Center. Rehearsals will be held in the evenings roughly from 6:30/6:45 to 9:45pm. and on Saturdays and Sundays as indicated.
Please come to auditions prepared to list any availability conflicts over this time period.
Character Summary 6 Women – 5 Men – All Open
The House of Blue Leaves Characters – Women (6 Roles)
Bunny Flingus (40s/50s)
Artie’s girl friend and downstairs neighbor. Amazing cook and supportive of Arti’s musical ambitions. Once Bananas (Artie’s wife) is out of the way, she plans on marrying Artie. Controlling of Artie and jealous of Bananas. But at the first chance she gets,, (an offer to move to Australia) she dumps Artie for a new life.
Bananas Shaughnessy (40s/50s)
Artie’s wife. Suffering from mental illness for a long time. Has not left apartment in months. Fears going to mental hospital, Although ill, she can be lucid and insightful at certain moments. She is killed by Artie at end of play.
Corrinna Stroller (20s to mid 30s)
Girlfriend of Billy. Famous actress who was injured in an accident on a movie set and was rendered partially deaf. She has not worked since the accident. She is a kind person.
Head Nun (Older)
Second Nun (mid 30s to mid 40s)
Little Nun (20s)
The Little Nun is one of three nuns who get trapped on the roof of Artie’s apartment after the Pope drives by. She has not taken her final vows and is not enthusiastic about becoming a Nun. After the two other nuns die in the explosion, she decides not to return to the convent. She is eventually hired by Billy to live in Bunny’s apartment and take care of Bananas.
Providence Players of Fairfax – AUDITION ANNOUNCEMENT
The House of Blue Leaves Characters – Men (5 Roles)
Artie Shaughnessy (40s/50s)
The story’s protagonist. His life is at a turning point and he is frustrated on a number of levels. His marriage to Bananas is empty. Because of her illness he feels little more than a caretaker. He has a girlkfriend (Bunny) who is selfish and controlling. He works as a zoo keeper but is really a frustrated song writer. Artie is also worried about his son Ronnie who is in the Army but, like Bananas, suffers from severe mental illness and has violent and paranoid fantasies. At end of play, feeling trapped and helpless, he kills Bananas.
Ronnie Shaughnessy (18 – early 20s) –
Teenage son of Bananas and Artie. In the Army but is AWOL and is at home. His parents are unaware of his presence in the Apartment for most of the play. He is severely mentally ill and plots to build a bomb to blow up the Pope on his visit to New York. Instead of blowing up the Pope he blows up two nuns and Corrinna Stroller. He is arrested but Billy gets him released.
Billy Einhorn (40s/50s)
Artie’s childhood best friend and has known Bananas for many years and gave her the nickname. Je is a famous Hollywood director and is involved romantically with Corrinna. At Bunny’s urging, Artie gets Billy to help him revive his career as a movie song writer but fails. When Corrinna dies, Billy convinces Bunny to go to Australia leaving Artie alone with Bananas.
A Policeman
The White Man
Providence Players Audition Form “The House of Blue Leaves”
Attach Resume if you have one
Name
Mailing Address
Home Work Phone Email Cell Phone
Note- If You are cast and are not already a member, you will be asked to become a member of the Providence Players. Membership is $10 per season.
The Shadow Box
__ I wish to be considered for any role.
__ I wish to be considered for any role, but have a strong preference for the roles checked below.
__I only wish/would prefer to be considered for the following roles (check):
Male Roles
___Artie ___Ronnie (late teenager) __ Billy ___ A Policeman
____ The White Man
Female Roles
___Bananas ___ Bunny ___ Corrinna ___Head Nun _____ 2nd Nun _____Little Nun
Notes From You About Role Preference
Providence Players Audition Form “The House of Blue Leaves”
Note – If you are submitting a theater resume – you may skip this section High School ___Y ____N - Approx. Number of Productions ______College ___Y ____N - Approx. Number of Productions ______Community ___Y ____N - Approx. Number of Productions ______Pro (Paid) ___Y ____N - Approx. Number of Productions ______
I have also done/worked on: Approx Approx Approx # # # Shows Shows Shows Directed Set Decoration Choreography Stage Managed Props Musician Stage Crew Lighting Box Office/House Set Design Sound Publicity Set Construction Costumes Photography Set Painting Makeup/Hair Musician
Do you have an interest in working on the production team if you are not cast?
Brief Summary of Theater Work in Last Two Years:
Scheduling Conflicts
We will be scheduling read throughs/character work/scene rehearsals throughout January and early February on a schedule based on cast availability. Stage rehearsals will be intensive from mid February thru March.
Please List Conflicts That Would Prevent Evening/Weekend Rehearsal in January:
Please List Conflicts That Would Prevent Evening/Weekend Rehearsal in February:
Are there dates in March that would prevent you from attending scheduled stage rehearsals?
Providence Players The House of Blue Leaves Preliminary Production Schedule
January 2014 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 New Years Day 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11 PPF Committee HOBL Auditions HOBL Auditions HOBL Auditions Meeting Date 6:30 – 9:30 6:30 – 9:30 6:30 – 9:30 (Call backs and initial auditions with Director approval)
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Play Reading Night
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Providence Players Board Once casting is complete, the director may schedule read throughs, character development th Meeting work and scene studies based on the availability of cast members prior to Feb. 10 . Stage rehearsals begin on February 10th.
26 27 28 29 30 31
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February 2014 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 PPF Committee Providence Meeting Date Players Board Retreat Date
9 NOTE: From 2/10 10 11 12 PP Theater 13 PP Theater 14 15 thru 3/30 – Times PP Theater Use Play Reading Use Rehearsal Use Rehearsal shown are theater Rehearsal 6:00 pm –10PM 6:00 pm –10PM access times not call times. The call 6:00 pm –10PM schedule will be set by Director
16 17 18 PP Theater 19 PP Theater 20 PP Theater 21 22 PP Theater President’s Day Use Rehearsal Use Rehearsal Use Rehearsal Use Set build Providence 6:00 pm –10PM 6:00 pm –10PM 6:00 pm –10PM Weekend Players Board 9 AM – 10 PM Meeting
23 PP Theater 24 25 PP Theater 26 PP Theater 27 PP Theater 28 PP Theater Use Set Build PP Theater Use Use Rehearsal Use Rehearsal Use Rehearsal Tech Set Up Weekend Rehearsal 6:00 pm –10PM 6:00 pm –10PM 6:00 pm –10PM 6:00 pm –10PM 9 AM – 5 PM 6:00 pm –10PM
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2 PP Theater 3 PP Theater Use 4 PP Theater Use 5 PP Theater Use 6 PP Theater Use 7 PP Theater 8 Theater Use Tech Weekend Rehearsal Rehearsal Rehearsal Rehearsal Use Rehearsal Dress Weekend 9 pm - 5 pm 6:00 pm –10PM 6:00 pm –10PM 6:00 pm –10PM 6:00 pm –10PM 6:00 pm –10PM 9:00 AM – 10 PM PPF Committee Meeting Date
9 PP Theater 10 PP Theater 11 PP Theater 12 PP Theater 13 Theater use 14 Theater 15 PP Theater Dress Weekend Use Dress Use Dress Use Dress Preview Performance Performance 9 pm - 5 pm Rehearsal Rehearsal Rehearsal Performance 5:00 pm –11PM 5:00 pm –11PM 5 PM – 10 PM 5 PM – 10 PM 5 PM – 10 PM 5:30 pm –11PM Opening Night Play Reading Party After Night Location TBD 16 PP Theater 17 18 19 20 PP Theater 21 PP Theater 22 PP Theater Performance Providence Players Performance 5:30 Performance Performance Matinee 12 pm- Board Meeting pm –11PM 5:00 pm –11PM 5:00 pm –11PM 6pm
23 PP Theater 24 25 26 27 PP Theater 28 PP Theater 29 Theater Performance Performance 5:30 Performance Performance Matinee 12 pm- pm –11PM 5:00 pm –11PM 5:00 pm –11PM 6pm
30 PP Theater 31 Use Strike 9 AM – 5 PM
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