Please note slight changes in Audition and Callback Dates:

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Beck Center in Lakewood, OH announces auditions for Martin Sherman's BENT directed by Oberlin Professor of Theatre Matthew Wright.

Audition appointments will be taken beginning Tuesday, Dec. 26th at 2PM by calling the Beck Box Office at 216-521-2540 x10

Appointments will be taken for Sunday, January 14th beginning at 6PM. {No Sat. Appts due to possible weather issues}

Callbacks will now occur Monday Jan. 22nd.  

Mr. Wright will be employing a cast of 7 for this production {breakdown below}. It is anticipated that up to 2 AEA contracts will be available for this production (Special Appearance Tier One). All performers 18 and older receive a stipend for their participation.

CASTING BREAKDOWN: BENT

 Max: 30’s, fit, gay but passes straight, complex relationship to his identity, determined to survive whatever the price, fashionable, sophisticated, comes from money.

 Rudy: 20’s, dancer, more flamboyant than Max, sensitive, loves Max probably far more than Max loves him.

 Greta: 30’s-40’s, drag performer, acerbic, cynical, lives outside the club as straight

 Horst: 20’s, activist for queer recognition/rights, intellectual, a nurse by day

 Ensemble of three men: 20s-50’s, will play a number of important roles, including

·         Wolf: ununiformed Nazi, denizen of the “leather” scene

·         Freddie: Max’s older uncle, a closeted “poof,” fashionable and wealthy

·         Nazi Captain: power-mad, abusive

·         Guard: officious, dislocated from the human degradation surrounding him

·         Various prisoners, Nazis, etc.

 AUDITION REQUIREMENTS:

 Please prepare a contemporary monologue, not longer than 90 seconds in duration. Callbacks will involve reading from the script, and it is expected that all actors will have a working familiarity with it. There will also be a movement call during callbacks.

 ABOUT THE PRODUCTION:

 It is essential that all actors involved in this production be precise, involved story-tellers with excellent command of their bodies. The whole ensemble of actors will be engaged in choreographed “scene-changes” and will bear witness to the action of the play throughout. Changes in character for the men in the ensemble will be accomplished minimalistically and rely on strong physical characterization.

 The director very much hopes to cast the play with an eye to diversity, including consideration of non-binary individuals, people of all races and trans men.