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<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=5
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Media
Release, May 5, 2008<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=5
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=5
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Dobama/Karamu
Auditions for <i><span style='font-style:italic'>Caroline, Or Change</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Dobama and Karamu Performing Arts Theatrewill hold auditions for Equity
and non-Equity performers for their co-production of the musical <i><span
style='font-style:italic'>Caroline, Or Change</span></i> at Karamu House on
Tuesday, May 13 and Thursday, May 15 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Sarah May directs this exciting show<i><span style='font-style:italic'>
</span></i>that will open the 2008-2009 season for both theatres on September
19. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-style:italic'>Caroline, or Change</span></font></i>
revisits the early 1960’s, a period of sweeping change in race relations
as it affected two families: a Southern Jewish family, and the family of their
strong and proud African-American maid, Caroline. The Gellman’s little
boy Noah tries to cope with the recent death of his mother. He rejects the overtures
of his new step-mother Rose and worships Caroline as a surrogate mother figure.
Caroline, a single mother, struggles to care for her three children at home,
while her older son is off fighting in “some place they call <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Vietnam</st1:country-region></st1:place>.”
Noah and Caroline’s tentative and touching relationship is at the
heart of this show. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>This musical is actually sung-through, like a chamber opera, but
features a vibrant and clever score that blends blues, gospel, 60’s
R&B, and Jewish melodies. The show’s Musical Director, Ed Ridley
(Cleveland Play House, <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Playhouse
Square</st1:address></st1:Street>, Karamu, and Dobama) will be looking for 16
strong singer/actors to fill the exciting cast. The complexities of the score
require singers who can read and sight-sing music, as well as hear and sing
harmony for most of the roles! <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Auditions for Equity and non-Equity
performers will be held on Tuesday, May 13 and Thursday, May 15, from <st1:time
Minute="0" Hour="18" w:st="on">6:00</st1:time> to <st1:time Minute="0" Hour="21"
w:st="on">9:00PM</st1:time> at Karamu Theatre, <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address
w:st="on">2355 E. 89<sup>th</sup> St</st1:address></st1:Street>.</span></font></u></b>
Please come prepared to sing a short vocal selection (Broadway, Standards,
Blues, Gospel or Motown) and bring your sheet music. Performers whose work may
not be known to the director are encouraged to prepare a short (1 minute)
monologue. Actors may be asked to read from the script. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Please call 216-410-1781 or
216-231-8488 after May 4<sup>th</sup> to make an appointment. <o:p></o:p></span></font></u></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:
none'> </span></o:p></span></font></u></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Production Dates</span></font></u></b>:
September 19 October 12. <b><u><span style='font-weight:bold'>Rehearsals</span></u></b>
will begin around August 10. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Cast Breakdown</span></font></u></b>:
the show calls for 8 African-American women 18-60; 1 African- American Male
25-60; 2 African-American boys 7-12; and 2 white women 25-65; <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>3 white males 30-65; and 1 white boy 7-11.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>The Roles:<o:p></o:p></span></font></u></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Caroline Thibodeaux</span></font></u></b>,
a resilient African-American domestic, works for the Gellmans, should be able
to play 39, a strong alto singer and lead actress!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>In the Laundry room, the objects that
define Caroline’s work and keep her company:<o:p></o:p></span></font></u></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>The Washing Machine</span></font></b>,
an alto, R&B female singer. Ageless<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>The Dryer</span></font></b>, an
R&B baritone with strong, fun presence. Ageless, Also plays <b><u><span
style='font-weight:bold'>The Bus.<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>The Radio</span></font></b>, a Motown
trio of women, like the Supremes, (Alto and Soprano) <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Noah Gellman</span></font></u></b>, a
huge role for a white boy who looks 8, and is a strong boy soprano and actor in
no danger of imminent voice change!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Grandma Gellman, Grandpa Gellman, and
Grandpa Stopnick</span></font></u></b>, all older white character
actor/singers, much of their music is talk-sung, Jewish and comic.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Rose Stopnick</span></font></u></b>,
large role for white female soprano 28-45, Noah’s new stepmother.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Stuart Gellman</span></font></u></b>,
Noah’s father, 30-45, tenor, still mourns his wife’s death and
ignores his son. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Dotty Moffett</span></font></u></b>,
Caroline’s girlfriend, African American, 30’s, pragmatic about the
times, a domestic who is going back to school, fun part, soprano<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>The Moon</span></font></u></b>,
African American female singer, lyrical alto, the spirit of the night and change.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Emmie Thibodeaux</span></font></u></b>,
Caroline’s daughter, strong actress with a soprano belt, who embodies the
new young black-power movement, should look 16 or 17.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Jackie Thibodeaux</span></font></u></b>
and <b><u><span style='font-weight:bold'>Joe Thibodeaux</span></u></b>,
Caroline’s sons, should look 10 and 8, very musical kids needed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Joyce Casey
Terrence Spivey<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Artistic Director
Artistic Director <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Dobama Theatre
Karamu House<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> ###<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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