Masked: A New Musical - Workshop Auditions
Rubber City Theatre is holding auditions for a workshop production of
*Masked* A New Musical. We are casting local non-union actors and one AEA
actor. Audition appointments are by appointment only.
WHEN:
Sunday, December 8 from 5:00pm - 9:00pm
Monday, December 9 from 5:00pm - 9:00pm
Tuesday, December 10 from 5:00pm - 9:00pm
Accepting Video Auditions through December 10.
WHERE:
Rubber City Theatre
243 Furnace St
Akron, OH 44304
TO SCHEDULE AN AUDITION:
APPOINTMENTS CAN BE MADE BY E-MAIL to casting(a)rubbercitytheatre.com. Please
include your name, phone number, an attachment of your headshot and resume,
and your preferred day and/or time. You will receive a response within
three business days. We will endeavor to schedule you as near as possible
to your requested time, pending availability.
AEA contracts: One AEA Special Appearance Contract is available for this
production.
Non-AEA contracts:
Non-AEA actors are non-paid at this time.
PREPARATION: Please prepare a 32 bars of a contemporary musical theatre
song and be prepared to read from the script. An accompanist will be
provided. You will be auditioning for Dane CT Leasure, Director and
Artistic Director, and Russell Aguirre, Artistic Apprentice. Please bring a
copy of your most current headshot and resume. VIDEO AUDITIONS: Please
submit a video of 32 bars of a contemporary musical theatre song.
Rehearsals: Please note rehearsals are Monday through Thursday from
6:30-10:00pm, and Sundays from 4:00-9:00pm. At the beginning of the week
leading into opening, we will have Monday off. Workshop performances are
Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm, and Saturday and Sundays at 2:30pm, one
weekend of performances only.
We will only allow a couple conflicts during the rehearsal process, no
conflicts during the last week and show run.
Venue: This show’s rehearsal and performance location are at our new venue
at 243 Furnace St. Akron, OH 44304.
Production Notes: This is a workshop production; used as a part of
developing new works. We will be rough staging the show, and using basic
scenic elements, lighting, costumes, and props. The public performances are
to provide feedback to the creative team. If you are cast in the workshop
production, it does not guarantee an offer for the full production which
will rehearse in April and run during May. Offers and follow up auditions
for the full production will take place a few weeks after the workshop.
In reference to the character descriptions below - most characters we
encounter currently are on the binary and are written with the he/him or
she/her pronouns and you will see that are in the following descriptions.
But, however limiting the descriptions are, our casting seeks to be as
inclusive as possible and we invite gender non-conforming, genderqueer,
transgender, non-binary actors to submit for the roles they most identify
with. We will also list race/ethnicity when specific to the character but
are otherwise seeking all races and ethnicities. As an ADA compliant
theatre, we welcome performers of all abilities and will make all
reasonable accommodations in order to cast performers, regardless of
disability, in any role possible. Please let us know if you have any
questions, concerns, or if there are any accommodations we can provide.
(Language developed by Kevin Kantor and Emily Tarquin from the Actors
Theatre of Louisville).
Masked A New Musical by Rachel Dean and Amy Burgess
Director: Dane CT Leasure
Music Director: Jaron M. LeGrair
First rehearsal: January 6, 2020
Opens: January 24, 2020
Closes: January 26, 2020
Casting: 10W, 6M
Synopsis:
It is May, 1945, and the G.S. Good Rubber Factory in Akron, OH, is in the
throes of rubber production for World War II. With most of the men
overseas, it is no time to be frail for the female workers as they navigate
the new, harsh work environment of factory life, and discover the freedom
and agency that come with it. In this adaptation of Shakespeare's *A
Midsummer Night's Dream*, Helen, the factory forewoman, Billie, the factory
machinist, Ellie, the factory owner's daughter, and Sandra, a female Naval
Lieutenant turned filmmaker comprise a lovers' quartet on a collision
course with their burgeoning feelings for each other and the uncertainty of
a changing world. With the announcement of V-E Day, their newfound freedoms
are in danger, and all four must decide how to chart their futures. Mix in
Robert and Clarence (long-time partners and proprietors of the local Ritz
Theatre longing for the old days of sumptuous revelry and passion), Buck
(their mischievous assistant), Nick (the exceptionally handsome lead singer
of the band "The 4 Fs”), and a mad-cap masked party in the woods, and the
end of the war is sure to only be the beginning.
CHARACTERS:
1. Helen Brown (29) - She is headstrong, straight-forward, stubborn, and
follows the rules to the letter. She is the youngest factory overseer on
the floor, and everyone around her treats her like she is in charge. She is
good at her job and well-respected by the women working under her. Helen is
no-nonsense and, to the casual observer, someone who is closed off from
involvement in others’ affairs. She is brusque and doesn’t have room for
niceties. Hard outer shell, soft in the middle. She’s in love with Billie.
2. Eleanor “Ellie” Good (19 or maybe 21?) - Ellie’s energy is bright and
kind, and while she is certainly a beautiful young woman by any measure,
she presents herself without much fanfare even though her presence is the
kind that demands acknowledgement. Ellie is clearly aware of her effect on
others, and uses it strategically. A dreamer at heart, she wants to make
her father happy, but finds it takes her further and further away from her
own pursuit of happiness. Meets and falls head over heels in love with
Sandra.
3. Billie Harris (34) - A long time worker on the factory floor, Billie has
lived in Akron her whole life, and started working at the factory when she
turned 18, one of only a few women who worked on the floor before the war.
She is friendly, warm, familial, and outgoing - a stable presence in the
community. Billie keeps her private life private. She’s in love with Helen,
but because of their complicated history, sees Ellie as someone more
emotionally available.
4. Lt. Sandra O’Hare (26) - Sandra is a dashingly beautiful woman with the
confidence of a man. A lieutenant in the Navy and the youngest person in
charge of a department at the Office of War Information, she is able to
command the room and the attention of men and women alike with
forcefulness. She’s unquestionably in charge, intelligent, and quick, but
with a sense of humor that keeps her amused, upbeat, and sure in the face
of conflict. The only thing able to take her by surprise is her feelings
for Ellie, which run a little deeper than she expected.
5. Mr. GS Good/Frank (52) - Mr. G.S. Good - Owner and foreman of the
factory, Mr. Good has developed a sharp business acumen over the years
which has rarely steered him wrong. He is buttoned-up, strait-laced, and
very comfortable with maintaining tradition. His first concern is and
always has been whatever is best for the factory, which, to him, is
synonymous with what is best for the family. His daughter Ellie has him
wrapped around her finger, but not so much that he’ll miss an opportunity
to merge his company with the Knights’ via Ellie’s marriage. He loves his
daughter and wants what’s best for her, in his opinion, of course. - Frank
- a member of the Four F’s. Probably the only good player in the group.
6. Robert Sheridan (45) - Together with Clarence Ryan, co-owner of Akron’s
Ritz theater and its adjoining bar as well as the temporarily closed Summit
Lake Resort in the center of town. The two moved from New York to Akron in
1935, having survived the depression due to considerable real estate and
land holdings. They are part of the upper class of Akron, despite their
eccentric personalities. Robert has always been the frontman for the two’s
business exploits, a dynamic at play in their long-standing romantic
relationship as well.
7. Clarence “Clary” Ryan (39) - Longtime business and romantic partner of
Robert Sheridan. He’s always been the more detail-oriented and organized of
the two, both in business and life; he’s much more likely to feel the
stress of perfectionism and getting everything just right. This tendency to
be keyed-up is complemented well by Robert’s relaxed and playful approach
to life.
8. Buck (25) - Robert’s longtime personal assistant and bartender of the
Ritz Bar. Always up for a good time, he often is the deciding vote in
Robert’s favor in arguments between Robert and Clarence about how to throw
parties. It’s been awhile since they had either reason or venue for a
party, though; however, despite the war dragging on into tedium and Buck,
Robert and Clarence settling into a ho-hum routine, Buck is never far from
stoking some kind of mischief.
9. Nick Butz (30s) - Bandleader of the truly awful but always dogged Four
F’s. Always looking for gigs, always underemployed, and potentially the
least talented member of the group, he’s perhaps best defined by his
hapless determination and stick-to-it-iveness. Also, he may or may not have
a thing for Clarence.
10. Frances/Film Crew (30s) - Frances - a member of the Four F’s, and a
sometimes composer/songwriter for the band.
11. Finn (drag)/Factory Girl (Mary)/Film Crew (drag) (woman) (20s) - Finn -
a member of the Four F’s. - Mary - a bit of a busybody, but a well-meaning
one.
12. Factory Girl (Margie)/Fairy/Party Guest (20s-30s) - Margie - Doesn’t
talk much, but doesn’t need to - she is incredibly skilled at her work, and
communicates only what and when she needs to.
13. Factory Girl (Elaine)/Fairy/Party Guest (20s-30s) - Elaine - A
self-styled realist, though others might say pessimist. Efficient at her
job, and a valuable team member.
14. Factory Girl (Betty)/Fairy/Party Guest (20s-30s) - Betty - Smart and
analytical, but new to the job at the factory and prone to mistakes. She
tends to cower before authority.
15. Factory Girl (Ruth)/Fairy/Party Guest (20s-30s) - Ruth - Optimistic,
and often a source of wartime information for the other factory workers,
since her brother is on or near the front lines.
16. Factory Girl (Jean) /Fairy/Party Guest (20s-30s) - Jean - A bit nosy, a
bit talkative, and overall supportive of the other girls on the line and
hopeful for the war’s end.
