Cleveland Public Theatre announces Auditions for

THE BODY PLAY

By Madison Wetzell

Directed by Paige Conway

Looking to cast the following roles…

Amy: Amy’s mind, disembodied. Female, 20s-30s
The Body: Amy’s body. Just the body. Female, 20s-30s
Ensemble: Between 1 and 3 actors to play various roles each, mostly female, varying ages

We are open to seeing both AEA and non-AEA actors for these auditions.

About The Play…

Something is very wrong with Amy’s Body. One protagonist is played by two actors, a detached, neurotic mind, and her chaotic, screaming Body. The Mind submits her Body to the scrutiny of experts – doctors, therapists, yoga teachers – and ultimately explores what it might mean to BE a body. A meditation on chronic illness and the absurdity of being embodied.

About The Process…

This is a piece of physical theatre. As such, all actors’ work will be based in both textual analysis and intricate physicality, choreography, and movement work. Actors do not need to be trained in any specific type of physical work,but should be prepared and willing to explore movement in new ways. As it is a world premiere, actors should be prepared for significant script changes throughout the process. Amy, The Body, and the actor playing her girlfriend will have moments of light intimacy work.

The rehearsal room will be run with attention being placed on trauma-informed practices. This production will adhere to the CLEan House Standards.

Rehearsals will begin on or around February 17, 2025. Rehearsals are 5-6 times a week, with evening weekday rehearsals and some daytime weekend rehearsals. This is a paid opportunity.

Important Dates…

2/17/25 – First rehearsal
3/22/25 – Tech Starts
3/27/25 – First Preview
3/29/25 – Opening Night
4/12/25 – Closing Performance & Strike
4/13/25 – Possible hold for extension

THE BODY PLAY runs March 27 – April 12 Thu/Fri/Sat/Mon at 7:30pm, withs Sunday matinees at 3pm in the Gordon Square Theatre.

Important Information about The Play…

THE BODY PLAY contains depictions of the self-brutality that accompanies chronic illness and the difficulties of working through the medical system.

Auditions…

Wednesday, December 11^th, 6:30pm – 9:30pm

Saturday, December 14^th, 12:00n – 3:00pm

Auditions are by appointment only and will be scheduled in 10-minute increments. Prepared auditions will be individual, but you may be asked to stay and read with a fellow actor. Actors should plan to stay at the audition for up to 75 minutes, though you may be released sooner. The director, Paige Conway, will be watching the auditions. Auditions may be recorded for the playwright to view.

What to Prepare…

Prepare one comedic monologue, 60-90 seconds in length.
Some actors may be asked to do simple movement and contact work, so please wear clothes you can move in. No movement pieces need to be prepared.
Some actors may be asked to do cold readings from sides provided by CPT at the audition.
Headshot and Résumé

To schedule an audition appointment, please email auditions@cptonline.org. Please include [The Body Play Auditions] in your subject line. Be sure to include your name, email address, phone number, preferred audition time, and role you are auditioning for in your email. Send a copy of your headshot and resume as an attachment to your email. No phone calls please.

About the Playwright:

Madison Wetzell recently graduated with her playwriting MFA at Brooklyn College. She previously lived and worked in the Bay Area. Her full-length work includes Mediocre Heterosexual Sex (Buffalo United Artists; Z-Space Problematic Play Festival; Finalist, Bay Area Playwrights Festival; Semi-Finalist, O'Neill Theatre Center National Playwrights Conference), The Lost Ballad of Our Mechanical Ancestor (Shotgun Players Champagne Reading Series; Winner, Risk Theater Modern Tragedy Competition) and The Body Play (Honorable Mention, Jane Chambers Award; Finalist, Bay Area Playwrights Festival; LezWritesBTQ, 3Girls Theatre; New Voices Series, Town Hall Theatre). Her short play, The Official Unicorn Hunters’ Guide, was the winner of the audience-judged ShortLived VIII at PianoFight. She has developed new work with 3Girls Theatre, Playground SF, Shotgun Players, Soundwave SF, The Bechdel Group, and The Ground Floor at Berkeley Rep.

About the Director:

Paige Conway is a director with nearly a decade of experience as a freelancer in the Michigan theatre circuit, now based in Cleveland. With an extensive background in physical theatre and new play development, she often works on newer plays with less traditional structures. Paige has training in intimacy choreography and trauma-informed practices through Theatrical Intimacy Education. Select directing credits include: Funny, Like An Abortion (Cleveland Public Theatre), not-for-profit (or the equity, diversity and inclusion play) (Cleveland Public Theatre, co-directed with Jeannine Gaskin), These Mortal Hosts by Eric Coble (Williamston Theatre), the world premiere of New Releases by Joseph Zettelmaier (Williamston Theatre), Lungs by Duncan Macmillan (Kickshaw Theatre), Dreamscape, created and devised with The Collaboratory (Young Peoples’ Theater), Chalk by Walt McGough (Renegade Theatre Festival), the world premiere of Broken by John McLindon (BoxFest Detroit). Paige currently serves as the Associate Producer at Cleveland Public Theatre.