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<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" 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" align=center><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt"><FONT face=Calibri>The Pitmen Pai</FONT></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; FONT-SIZE: 18pt">nters</SPAN></div>
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<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" 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" 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=+0><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Studio Theater production</FONT> </FONT>of the 2012-2013 Season, <B><I>The Pitmen Painters</I></B> by Lee Hall.<SPAN> </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=+0>(UK)</FONT></FONT> miners whose lives were changed when they found themselves taking<SPAN> </SPAN>an art class by mistake in the 1930’s.<SPAN> </SPAN>They went on to gain worldwide attention as artists known as the Ashington Group.<SPAN> </SPAN>Like Hall’s acclaimed film and musical <B><I>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><I>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><I>Race</I></B>, <B><I>Wings</I></B> <I>starring Dorothy Silver</I>, <B><I>Frozen</I></B>, and <B><I>The Children’s Hour</I></B>, <B><I>The History Boys</I></B>, <B><I>A Piece of My Heart</I></B>, and <B><I>The Diary of Anne Frank</I></B>.<SPAN> </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> </SPAN>Please note:<SPAN> </SPAN>Actors already cast in <B><I>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=+0><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> </SPAN>29. <SPAN> </SPAN>Please call Beck Center, <A value="+12165212540">216-521-2540</A><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> </SPAN><I>Note! <SPAN> </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> </SPAN></U></I><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"></SPAN></B></FONT></FONT></div>
<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" align=center><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT face=Calibri>Cast Requirements</FONT></SPAN></B></div>
<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" 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> </SPAN>The roles are:</FONT></div>
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<div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri><U>George Brown:</U> <SPAN> </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"><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> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></div>
<div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri><U>Jimmy Floyd:</U><SPAN> </SPAN>40-60’s, a regular hard-working bloke, timid, curious, <SPAN> </SPAN>always surprised by life.<SPAN> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></div>
<div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><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> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></div>
<div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri><U>Harry Wilson</U>: <SPAN> </SPAN>45-60, not able to work as miner since being gassed in WWI, a dental engineer, a Marxist.<SPAN> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></div>
<div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri><U>Robert Lyon</U>: 40-55, British painter and Art professor, upper class, unintentionally self-involved & elitist.<SPAN> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></div>
<div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri><U>Susan Parks:</U><SPAN> </SPAN>20’s, an earnest <SPAN> </SPAN>young art student and life model,<SPAN> </SPAN>later in her 30’s. (<U>Very</U> brief nudity!) </FONT></FONT></div>
<div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Calibri><U>Helen Sutherland:</U> <SPAN> </SPAN>40-50, wealthy, cultured, and influential patron of the arts, posh, beautiful, well-meaning. </FONT></FONT></div>
<div style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><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"><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> </SPAN></FONT></FONT><A name=13c2b79dea1def20__GoBack></A><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>Call Sarah at <A value="+12164101781">216-410-1781</A> if you have questions.</FONT></div>
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