[NEohioPAL] AUDITIONS FOR "THE NIGHT THOREAU SPENT IN JAIL"

[Jeremy Benjamin]

LCCC Announces Auditions For

*THE NIGHT THOREAU SPENT IN JAIL*

By

Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee

Directed by Sarah May



WHAT: Lorain County Community College will hold auditions for the 2018 Fall
Production *The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail*, a lively theatrical portrait
of famed American writer, environmentalist and activist Henry David
Thoreau.  Written by Cleveland nativeJerome Lawrence and Elyria native
Robert E. Lee*, *best known for *Inherit the Wind* and *Auntie Mame, *this
wonderfully imaginative script takes an obscure moment in history and turns
it into an inspiring tale for our times. In 1849 young Henry David Thoreau
was sent to jail for refusing to pay his taxes to support a brutal war he
considered unjust. In the play Henry stews in his jail cell, while his mind
wanders back and forth in time reliving key moments and encounters that
shaped his life. We meet the teacher who inspired him, the girl he loved
but didn't marry, a runaway slave he tried to help, and the citizens of a
town who never understood the young man who marched to a different drum.
Thoreau's decision to go to jail for standing by his beliefs, or committing
what he called *civil disobedience, *set a precedent for all those who
would come after him: abolitionists, suffragettes, freedom riders,
conscientious objectors, peace advocates, and ecologists.  *Copies of the
playscript will be on reserve at the LCCC Bass Library until the audition
dates.*

WHO: Auditions are open to all LCCC students and staff, as well as actors
from the community. We are seeking a multi–generational, multi-ethnic
ensemble to bring the vibrant community of 19th Century Concord,
Massachusetts to life on stage.

WHEN AND WHERE: Auditions will be held Sunday afternoon, September 9 from
2:00 to 5:00 and Monday evening, September 10 from 7:00 to 9:00 in the
Cirigliano Studio Theatre inside The Stocker Arts Center 1005 N. Abbe Road,
Elyria, OH 44035.  *Actors will be asked to read from the script.* If you
would also like to perform a short monologue please inform the director at
the time of audition.  Feel free to contact Sarah at 216-410-1781 if you
have questions or concerns. Please call or email LCCC Director of Theatre
Jeremy Benjamin 440-366-7120 or jbenjami at lorainccc.edu with your planned
audition date.

PRODUCTION DATES: The production will run the weekend of November 15-17.
Rehearsals will begin October 1. Please bring a list of conflicts with you
to auditions.

CAST REQUIREMENTS:

2 young men, 18-30: to play Henry David Thoreau and his brother John.

3 character actors: to play Ralph Waldo Emerson, Bailey the town vagrant,
and Deacon Ball.

2 character women: to play Henry's mother and Mrs. Lydian Emerson.

1 young boy, age 8-11, to play young Edward Emerson, and other roles.

1 African American actor or actress: to play escaped slave, Williams, and
other roles.

1 young woman, 17-28: to play Helen Seward.

A versatile and energetic ensemble of actors and actresses, ages 8-80, to
play townspeople, soldiers, church members, pallbearers, the choir, the
town drunk, the town sheriff, farmers, merchants and Abe Lincoln.
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