[NEohioPAL] 2008/2009 Karamu Theatre Cast Needs

[Vivian C. Wilson]

2008/09 Season of "A L'il Night Music and 
a Whole Lotta Blues!"  

WAITIN' 2 END HELL (Comedy-Drama-Midwest Premiere) 
By William a. Parker 
October 24 - November 16, 2008 (Arena)  Director: Terrence Spivey 
Dante an d Diane Jones have been married for twelve years. What does Diane 
really want? The play raises issues about relationships, family values, and 
divorce problems in our community.  This comic family drama was an
Off-Broadway 
and a huge hit at the 2005 National Black Theatre Festival was first
produced by 
theatre legend Woodie King Jr. It plays on the title of Terry McMillan's
"Waiting to 
Exhale." 

CAST OF CHARACTERS

The play takes place in any City U.S.A.



Dante Jones: Black professional, college graduate, Parole Agent, Mid to late
30's.
Diane Jones: Black professional, Account Executive,  Mid to late 30's.
Alvin: Black, married to Angela for 5 years, was previously married, friend
of the  Jones couple
Mid to late 30's.
Angela: Asian, loves her some Alvin, her husband, was previously married,
accepts  her husband's leadership as head of their union, friend of the
Jones couple Mid to late 30's. 
Shay: Black, friend of the Jones couple. Was married (never again) and
divorce twice. Mid to late 30's.
Larry: Black,  friend of the Jones couple.   Was married (never again)
divorce twice. Mid to late 30's.
Mark: Black, well paid legal counselor, works with Diane at the advertising
firm, nice and smooth with an immaculate style of dress 

REHEARSAL START DATE: September 15, 2008


BLACK NATIVITY (Musical) 
By Langston Hughes 
December 5 - December 28, 2008 (Jelliffe) Director/Choreographer: Terence
Greene 
Karamu alum Langston Hughes annual foot stomping, hand clapping, shouting
for 
joy classic hits the stage once again for the Christmas holidays. This
colorful 
pageantry brings a new meaning to the birth of Christ and the spirit of 
Christmas every year. "Come All Ye Faithful" to witness this spiritual,
gospel 
stirring classic. 

CAST OF CHARACTERS


Seeking experienced African American singers and dancers between ages
21 and up. Singers: Must be able to sing GOSPEL and MOVE well.

REHEARSAL START DATE: October 20, 2008


A HOUSE WITH NO WALLS (Drama-Midwest Premiere) 
January 23 - February 15, 2009 (Arena) 
Director: Terrence Spivey 
Following the extraordinary success of Permanent Collection and 
bee-luther-hatchee , A House With No Walls represents the final part of  
Thomas Gibbons' "race trilogy" at Karamu. The play, inspired by real life 
events in Philadelphia, dramatizes the conflict between a conservative 
African-American academic and an ultra-liberal, Afro-centric political 
activist as they battle over a proposed site for a new American Liberty 
Museum, which happens to be on the grounds of George Washington's 
Philadelphia home and slave quarters. The play is a volatile exploration 
of whether or not African Americans should embrace the legacy of 
slavery as their primary cultural identity or discard this mantle of "victim

hood." 

CAST OF CHARACTERS
The present and 1796-1797, Various locations in Philadelphia.



Oney Judge: Black, slave, light skinned, mid 20's
Candence Lane: Black, conservative, academic, tastefully dressed, mid 30's
Salif Camara: Black, Afro-centric activist, about 60
Allen Rosen: White, mid 30's
Park Ranger:20White, about 60
Austin Judge: Black, slave, few years older than Oney, mid 20's
Steven Gardner: White, about 60
Tobias Humphreys: White, early 30's
Jacob Easton: Black, mid 40's
"George Washington:" White, about 60

REHEARSAL START DATE: December 8, 2008

  
17TH Annual R. Joyce Whitley ARENAFEST - Festival of New Works 
 March 30 - April 10, 2009 

THE BOW-WOW CLUB 

(Comedy Drama-Regional World Premiere-
Women's Month) 
By Levy Lee Simon 
March 13 - April 12, 2009 (Jelliffe)  Director: Hassan Rogers
The recipient of the Lorraine Hansberry Award, The Bow Wow Club is a serious

comedy about friendship, love, responsibility, and survival. Five teenage 
friends reunite after twenty years to reconnect emotionally and through 
discovery, revelation, and realities, they are forced to choose between
their 
stunning and fundamental differences and the undeniable power of their
lifelong 
bond. 

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Kirk Bright: US Army retiree,  married to Diane sixteen years, jovial, maybe
a little overweight, late 30's
Diane Bright: married to Kirk, large beautiful woman, born again, late 30's
Sal Anderson: transit worked, former football prospect, married to Beverly
for fifteen years, possible
alcoholic, angry and bitter, has a limp
Beverly Anderson: married to Sal, wants out of her marriage
Alexander Earle: college professor of African American History, not taken
serious by The Bow Wow Club, recently married to Freida, late 30's
Freida Earle:  White, a professor, politically and culturally aware,  
Lester McMichael: World-renowned singer/dancer, ladies man, sharp dresser,
late 30's
Loita Clarveax:  White French Model, sexy and exotic, Lester's girlfriend,
has her own way of looking at the world, 25 
years of age, (must be at least 5' 9 or taller)
Chuck Hooter: Associate professor of philosophy and religion, former
minister, soft spoken, 38 years of age
Perry Pennick: Chuck's lover, preppy and realistic, doesn't know when to
stop talking

REHEARSAL START DATE: January 26, 2009

LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR AND GRILL (Musical Drama-Ohio Premiere) 
By Lanine Roberston 
April 24 - May 24, 2009  (Arena)  Director: Caroline Jackson Smith
The time is 1959. The place is a seedy bar in Philadelphia. The audience is 
about to witness one of Billie Holiday's last performances, given four
months 
before her death. More than a dozen musical numbers are inter laced with
salty, 
often humorous, reminiscences to project a riveting portrait of the lady and
her 
music. 

CAST OF CHARACTERS
The play takes place in small bar in south Philadelphia - 1959.

Billie Holiday: the great jazz singer in the last year of her life (44)
Jimmy Powers: a piano player any age 

REHEARSAL START DATE: March 9. 2009


IT AIN'T NOTHING BUT THE BLUES (Musical Revue) 
By Charles Bevel, Lita Gaithers, Randal Myler, Ron Taylor and Dan Wheetman
Based on an original idea by Ron Taylor 
June 19 - July 12, 2009 (Jelliffe) 
Director: Terrence Spivey 
Co-authored by Karamu Alum, Charles "Mississippi" Bevels, this is a
not-to-be 
missed, foot stomping, finger snapping, an d hand clapping sizzling revue of
the 
blues and blues infused songs that changed the way the world hears the human

heartbeat with ravishing songs that trace the evolution of the blues from 
Africa to Mississippi to Memphis to Chicago. The musical was nominated for
four Tony's including Best Musical.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Seeking seven strong singers; 4 males, 3 females from ages 21 and up who can
sing
the BLUES, know the BLUES and maybe at times, lived the BLUES.  The range of
songs in the production consist  of "I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man" to
Strange Fruit" and artist from Huddie Ledbetter to Robert Johnson.

Please come prepared with a BLUES song for the auditions and comfortable
clothing to move. 

Also seeking a Banjo player.

REHEARSAL START DATE: May 25, 2009

 

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