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<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNoSpacing align=center><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Beck Center Announces Auditions for</FONT></SPAN></div>
<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNoSpacing align=center><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt"><FONT face=Calibri>The Pitmen Painters</FONT></SPAN></div>
<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNoSpacing align=center><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT face=Calibri>By Lee Hall</FONT></SPAN></div>
<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNoSpacing align=center><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Directed by Sarah May</FONT></SPAN></div>
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<div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>Beck Center for the Arts will hold auditions for the final <FONT size=2><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Studio Theater production</FONT> </FONT>of the 2012-2013 Season, <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Pitmen Painters</I></B> by Lee Hall.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This wonderful play, fresh from an acclaimed run in London and on Broadway, tells the true story of a group of Newcastle<FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> <FONT size=2>(UK)</FONT></FONT> miners whose lives were changed when they found themselves taking<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>an art class by mistake in the 1930’s.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They went on to gain worldwide attention as artists known as the Ashington Group.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Like Hall’s acclaimed film and musical <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Billy Elliot</I></B>, this script tells another inspiring story of what happens when working class laborers (or any disenfranchised group) are exposed to the arts and have the opportunity to realize their potential. </FONT></div>
<div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri>Sarah May, who recently directed Ensemble Theatre’s award-winning production of <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Normal Heart</I></B>, returns to Beck Center’s Studio Theatre to direct this touching and entertaining show. Some of Sarah’s past Beck shows include Mamet’s <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Race</I></B>, <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Wings</I></B> <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">starring Dorothy Silver</I>, <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Frozen</I></B>, and <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Children’s Hour</I></B>, <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The History Boys</I></B>, <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">A Piece of My Heart</I></B>, and <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Diary of Anne Frank</I></B>.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></div>
<div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>Sarah is looking for an experienced ensemble of 7 men and 2 women to bring this exciting story to life. The production will preview on May 30 and run weekends through July 7. All roles are open; both Equity and non-Equity actors are encouraged to audition.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Please note:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Actors already cast in <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Iceman Cometh</I></B> and other April/<FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">May</FONT> plays may audition for this show. Rehearsals will begin in late <FONT size=2><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">April</FONT><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">. Two AEA contracts are available. All performers 18 and over receive a stipend.</FONT></FONT></FONT></div>
<div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><U><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri><FONT color=red><STRONG>Auditions will be held from 6:30 to 8:30, on Monday, January 28 & Tuesday, January<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>29. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Please call Beck Center, 216-521-2540<FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> x10</FONT>, to make an appointment. </STRONG></FONT></FONT></FONT></U></div>
<div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri>Actors will be asked to read from the script. You may perform a short monologue if your work is not known by the director.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Note! <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In rehearsals we will work with a dialect coach, <U>but actors are encouraged to take a “stab” at the accents in the readings.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></U></I><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"></SPAN></B></FONT></FONT></div>
<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNoSpacing align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Cast Requirements</FONT></SPAN></B></div>
<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNoSpacing align=center><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>The action of the play takes place between 1934 and 1947. Most of the characters are based on real people and age through the piece.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The roles are:</FONT></div>
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<div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNoSpacing><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri><U>George Brown:</U> <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>40-60’s, the oldest & leader of the group, a stickler on details, bossy labor representative.</FONT></FONT></div>
<div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNoSpacing><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri><U>Oliver Kilbourn:</U> mid 30-40’s, thoughtful, becomes the most famous and accomplished of the miner/artists. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></div>
<div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNoSpacing><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri><U>Jimmy Floyd:</U><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>40-60’s, a regular hard-working bloke, timid, curious, <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>always surprised by life.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></div>
<div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNoSpacing><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri><U>Young Lad:</U> 20’s, youthful, eager to find regular work in the mines, to find out where he fits in.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></div>
<div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNoSpacing><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri><U>Harry Wilson</U>: <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>45-60, not able to work as miner since being gassed in WWI, a dental engineer, a Marxist.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></div>
<div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNoSpacing><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri><U>Robert Lyon</U>: 40-55, British painter and Art professor, upper class, unintentionally self-involved & elitist.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></div>
<div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNoSpacing><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri><U>Susan Parks:</U><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>20’s, an earnest <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>young art student and life model,<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>later in her 30’s. (<U>Very</U> brief nudity!) </FONT></FONT></div>
<div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNoSpacing><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri><U>Helen Sutherland:</U> <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>40-50, wealthy, cultured, and influential patron of the arts, posh, beautiful, well-meaning. </FONT></FONT></div>
<div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNoSpacing><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri><U>Ben Nicholson:</U> 30-40, (1 nice scene) a famous young British artist, helped found arts colony at St. Ives.</FONT></FONT></div>
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<div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNoSpacing><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri>Note: The miners’ scenes have a delicious interaction reminiscent of Shakespeare’s rude mechanicals. This show should be great fun!!! <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT><A name=_GoBack></A><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>Call Sarah at 216-410-1781 if you have questions.</FONT></div>
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<div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #797979; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><STRONG><FONT color=firebrick>Beck Center for the Arts</FONT></STRONG></SPAN></div>
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