[NEohioPAL] BECK Announces Auditions for "33 Variations" by Moises Kaufman

[Scott Spence]

Beck Center for the Arts
Announces Auditions for 
33 Variations by Moises Kaufmann
 
Beck Center will hold auditions for 33 Variations, by Moises Kaufman (Laramie Project, Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde,          and The Marriage Plays) which will open the 2013-2014 Season in the Studio Theatre on October 11. 
 
Worlds collide in this exquisite play about "passion, parenthood, and the moments of beauty that can transform life".  In 1819 Ludwig              Van Beethoven struggles to complete his life's work despite deafness and debilitating health, while across time a present-day musicologist     tries to finish her research on Beethoven's Diabelli Variations before her ALS destroys her.  Her estranged daughter and her boyfriend become   her caregivers. The curator of Beethoven's papers in Bonn helps her understand the complicated relationship between Beethoven, his secretary, and a demanding music publisher. They all come together in a touching minuet about love and acceptance in this beautiful play.

Beck Center is thrilled to announce that the 8th member of the cast will be well known area pianist and music director Stuart Raleigh who will perform selections from Beethoven's Diabelli Variations live onstage as designated in the script. Mr. Raleigh recently retired after 34 years as Choral Director of the Baldwin-Walace Conservatory of Music, where he also served as music director of BW's opera and musical theatre programs, and chorus master of the Bach Festival at BW.
 
Director Sarah May is seeking an experienced ensemble of 3 women and 4 men to bring this smart, warm and funny script to life. Auditions will be held on Sunday, June 16, and Tuesday, June 18, from 6:30 to 8:30PM.  Equity and non-Equity Actors are asked to call Beck Center during business hours at 216-521-2540 to make an appointment.  Actors will be asked to read from the script; plan to arrive 15 minutes early to look over the material. Appointments will be taken beginning at 10AM on Tuesday, June 4th.
 
The production is scheduled to run in Beck's Studio Theatre from October 11 to November 17. Shows are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00,             and Sundays at 3:00, with a Preview on October 10. There will be no performance on Saturday, October 19. Rehearsals will begin after           Labor Day, around September 4.

It is anticipated that 2 AEA contracts will be available. All non-equity actors are compensated as well.
The Roles 
 
Note: Katherine, Clara, Schindler, and Diabelli should have some singing ability (but other cast members could conceivably                substitute) to perform the opening of the "Kyrie" portion of Beethoven's Mass.
 
Dr. Katherine Brandt, 50 to 70, a renowned musicologist determined to unlock one of the great mysteries of Beethoven's career                     before her health defeats her. She is sophisticated, single- minded and self-involved. Diagnosed with ALS she is passionate about                           completeing her work.
Clara Brandt, 25-40, Katherine's daughter, a lovely talented free-spirit who dabbles in the arts, and craves her mother's approval and love.
Mike Clark, 25-40, a male nurse, who becomes Clara's boyfriend and helps reconcile mother and daughter. Truly one of the nicest guys         written for the stage in years!
Ludwig Van Beethoven, was 49 to 53 when the play is set, a passionate, demanding genius whose deafness and deteriorating health threaten     to overwhelm him. 
Anton Diabelli, was 38-42 when the play is set, an Austrian music publisher, editor, and composer who in 1819 commissioned 50 leading composers of Europe to produce a variation on a mediocre waltz he had written. Fun, foolish, full of himself!
Anton Schindler, was 24-28 when the play is set, he was Beethoven's personal secretary and biographer, A dour and dedicated young man,    who some believe tinkered with Beethoven's     diaries to enhance his own role in history.
Dr. Gertrude Ladenburger,  35-65, (Gertie) the authoritative librarian of the Beethoven archives housed at Beethoven Haus in Bonn; a German woman (with accent) who also has a warm heart and an ironic sense of humor.
 
Please feel free to contact Sarah at 216-410-1781 or Maysie929 at aol.com with questions.




  
Scott Spence         
Artistic Director
Beck Center for the Arts

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