[NEohioPAL] Ensemble Theatre Announces Auditions for WAITING FOR LEFTY by Clifford Odets

[Ensemble Theatre]

Ensemble Theatre's 2011-12 Season “Play Your Part!”

Announcng Auditions for the Modern American Classic:

WAITING FOR LEFTY by Clifford Odets

Directed by Ian Hinz

Auditions: Sunday, July 31st 1-3pm, Monday August 1st 7-9pm, Wed.
August 3rd5-7pm.

Coventry School, 2843 Washington Blvd, Cleveland Hts, OH 44118.

13 Roles are being cast.

Actors of all ages, races, genders and experience levels are encouraged to
audition.

Equity and non-equity actors will be considered for roles. Auditions will
consist of cold readings from the script.

Performance dates: October 7th – October 30th Fri and Sat. at 8pm and Sun.
at 2pm

Rehearsals will begin Sept. 12th and will be held at Ensemble Theatre at
Coventry School.

To allow for an efficient audition process please call 216-321-2930 or email
your name, equity status, and desired audition date to:
ian at ensemble-theatre.org

*Waiting for Lefty <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waiting_for_Lefty> *is a
series of interconnected scenes depicting workers for a fictional taxi
company. The focus alternates between the drivers' union meeting and
vignettes from their difficult, oppressed lives. The climax is a defiant
call for the union to strike. The play's wild success brought Odets
unexpected fame and fortune. Odets's dramatic style is distinguished by a
kind of poetic, metaphor-laden street talk, by his socialist politics, and
by his way of dropping the audience right into the conflict with little or
no introduction. Often character is more important than plot, which Odets
attributed to the influence of Anton Chekov. Instead of trying to create
historical account, Odets used the strike as a way to attack what he saw as
the larger issue: that in the middle of the Great
Depression<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Depression>the
capitalist structures of the time had remained unaltered.

Those involved with and in attendance of the initial production of Waiting
for Lefty agree that it had a dramatic impact on the audience. Harold
Clurman <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Clurman>, co-founder of the
Group Theatre said of the performance: The first scene of “[Waiting for]
Lefty” had not played two minutes when a shock of delighted recognition
struck the audience like a tidal wave. Deep laughter, hot assent, a kind of
joyous fervor seemed to sweep the audience toward the stage. The actors no
longer performed, they were being carried along as if by an exultancy of
communication such as I had never witnessed in the theater before. Audience
and actors had become one …

Odets wrote “Lefty” for The Group Theatre A New York
City<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City>theater collective
formed by Harold
Clurman <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Clurman>, Cheryl
Crawford<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheryl_Crawford>and Lee
Strasberg <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Strasberg> in 1931. It was
intended as a base for the kind of theater they and their colleagues
believed in — a forceful, naturalistic and highly disciplined artistry. They
were pioneers of what would become an "American acting technique". The name
"Group" came from the idea of the actors as a pure ensemble; there were to
be no "stars".

Ensemble Theatre believes that the arts are an essential and meaningful part
of life. The theatre offers an important forum for stimulating and provoking
thought about  the issues of contemporary life, and it is a place for
communal experience. Introducing future generations to the arts will
enlighten them about the human condition and provide them with a resource to
nourish them throughout their lives. All art, including theatre, should be a
celebration of diversity and human dignity. Ensemble adheres to this credo
with a policy of non-traditional casting and by valuing the contributions of
all who participate. The theatre strives for the highest possible level of
professionalism in all areas to nurture new talent, and to be ever mindful
of the power of art to entertain and move the audience.


Ensemble's 2011-12 Season: “Play Your Part!” Season Announcement Coming
Soon!

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*"Play Your Part" *
*in Ensemble Theatre's 2011-2012 Season!*
*Announcement coming soon!!*
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*www.ensemble-theatre.org*
*info at ensemble-theatre.org*
*O:216.321.2930  F:216.916.4531*
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